Satellite communication system and method with message authentication suitable for use in financial institutions

A method for transmitting an authorized user message from a first transmitter location to a second receiver location, comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting the authorized user message from the first location;
• (b) receiving the authorized user message by a transceiver system;
• (c) determining at said transceiver system the position of the first location by receiving the authorized user messages by triangulation over a plurality of different communication paths to produce therefrom transmitter position data accurately defining the transmission site;
• (d) appending at said transceiver system the transmitter position data to the authorized user message;
• (e) retransmitting the authorized user message and said transmitter position data over a common communication channel;
• (f) receiving said authorized user message and said transmitter position data at said second location;
• and
• (g) comparing at said second location said transmitter position data with an authorized position data to authenticate the authorized user message, whereby the determination of said transmitter position data by said transceiver system introduces an independently verifiable message authentication parameter.

A radio transceiver for communicating with a position determining system for establishing the position of a transmitted signal by triangulation from radio signals comparing the transmission time thereof over different paths, said transceiver comprising:

• means for constructing a first authorized user message and transmitting it to the position determining system for appending thereto transceiver position data and forming thereby a second authorized user message;
• means for receiving said second authorized user message with a transceiver position data appended thereto from the position determining system, said transceiver position data indicative of the position of the transceiver which transmitted said first authorized user message;
• means for extracting said transceiver position data from said second authorized user message received from said position determining system;
• means for comparing said extracted transceiver position data with authorized position data;
• and
• means for authenticating said authorized user message responsive to said means for comparing.

A transceiver for communicating with a satellite system, said satellite system being of the type comprising at least three satellites in communication with a ground station, said satellite system comprising means for determining the position of a transceiver communicating therewith by comparison of the time taken for authorized user messages to reach said satellites by different communication paths from a single transceiver location and to append transceiver position data indicative of the location of said transceiver to second authorized user messages transmitted by said transceiver, said transceiver comprising:

• means for constructing a first authorized user message;
• means for transmitting said first authorized user message;
• means for receiving a second authorized user message from said satellite system;
• and
• a message authentication system comprising means for extracting said transceiver position data appended by said satellite system to said second authorized user message concerning the location of the transmitter of said second authorized user message;
• means for comparing said extracted transceiver position data to an authorized position data;
• and
• means for authenticating said second authorized user message based on said comparison of said extracted position data and said authorized position data.

A system for communicating authorized user messages from a previous position and a present position to a second location, which comprises:

• (a) mobile transceiver means located at a present position, comprising:
• (1) means for storing a previous position data indicative of the previous position of said mobile transceiver means, said previous position data having been received from satellite system means;
• (2) sender request means for transmitting a sender request to said satellite system means;
• (3) means for receiving said sender request with present position data appended thereto from said satellite system means;
• (4) means for storing said received present position data;
• (5) encryption means for encrypting an authorized user message using said previous position data to produce an encrypted authorized user message, and
• (6) transmitter means for transmitting said encrypted authorized user message to said satellite system means;
• (b) satellite system means, which comprises:
• (1) first means for receiving said sender request from said mobile transceiver;
• (2) position determining means for determining by triangulation the actual position of the mobile transceiver by receiving said sender request therefrom from different communication paths to determine said present position data;
• (3) second means for transmitting said sender request with said present position data appended thereto to said mobile transceiver;
• (4) third means for receiving said encrypted authorized user message from said mobile transceiver;
• (5) fourth means for appending said present position data to said encrypted authorized user message;
• and
• (6) fifth means for transmitting said encrypted authorized user message with said present position data appended thereto to receiver means;
• and
• (c) receiver means located at the second location, which comprises:
• (1) means for receiving said encrypted authorized user message with said present position data appended thereto from said satellite system means;
• (2) means for storing said present position data;
• and
• (3) means for decrypting said encrypted authorized user message using said previous position data.

A system for communicating authorized user messages from a previous location and a present location to a remote location, which comprises:

• (a) mobile transceiver means located first at said previous location and presently at the present location, comprising:
• (1) means for storing a previous position data indicative of the previous position of said mobile transceiver means, said previous position data having been received from satellite system means;
• (2) means for encrypting an authorized user message using said previous position data;
• (3) means for transmitting said encrypted authorized user message to said satellite system;
• (4) means for receiving a present position data from said satellite system means;
• and
• (5) means for storing said received present position data;
• (b) satellite system means, comprising:
• (1) first means of determining by triangulation the present position of said mobile transceiver means by receiving said encrypted authorized user message from said mobile transceiver means over different paths, and for generating said present transceiver position data responsive to the time of transmission over the different paths;
• and
• (2) means for appending said present transceiver position data to said encrypted authorized user message, and for transmitting to receiver means said encrypted authorized users message with said present transceiver position data appended thereto;
• and
• (c) receiver means, located at the remote location, comprising:
• (1) means for receiving from said satellite system means said encrypted authorized user message with said present transceiver position data appended thereto;
• (2) means for extracting said present transceiver position data from said encrypted authorized user message and for storing the same;
• and
• (3) means for decrypting said encrypted authorized user message using said previous position data.

A transceiver for use in connection with a satellite system of the type comprising means for detecting the position of a transmitter of a message, for appending information indicative of the location of said transmitter to said message, and for transmitting the same, said transceiver comprising:

• (a) triangulation means for causing said satellite system to determine the position of the transceiver by comparison of signals transmitted over different communication paths and to transmit a first and second present transceiver position data responsive thereto;
• (b) means for receiving said first transceiver position data from said satellite system and for storing the same;
• (c) means for encrypting a first authorized user message using a first previous transceiver position data;
• (d) means for transmitting said first encrypted authorized user message to said satellite system;
• (e) means for receiving a second encrypted authorized user message from said satellite system, said satellite system having appended thereto said second present position of the transmitter of said second authorized user message;
• (f) means for decrypting said second authorized user message using a second previous position data;
• and
• (g) means for storing said second present position information for use in subsequent decryption of received authorized user messages.

A radio transceiver for use in connection with a satellite system, said satellite system being of the class comprising means for determining by triangulation means the location of a transmitter antenna by processing radio signals communicated over different paths to determine therefrom the location and for transmitting a message indicative of said location, said transceiver comprising:

• means for storing a first transceiver position data;
• means for combining a first authorized user message with transceiver position data;
• means for transmitting the combined position data and authorized user message on a single communication channel;
• means for receiving authorized user messages from said satellite system;
• and
• means for authenticating the authorized user messages by comparison with a second transceiver position data at the receiving means.

A transceiver for use in connection with a satellite system, said satellite system being of the class comprising at least three satellites and a ground station, said ground station comprising means for determining by the triangulation the location of a transmitter responsive to the relative time taken by a message sent by said transmitter to reach each of said satellites, and said satellite system comprising means for appending present transceiver position data to said message, said transceiver comprising:

• means for interrogating the satellite system with a request for information indicative of the transceiver present position;
• means for encrypting a first authorized user message based on a first previous position data previously received from the satellite system;
• means for storing a first present position data received from said satellite system;
• means for transmitting said first encrypted authorized user message encrypted using said first previous position data to said satellite system;
• means for receiving a second encrypted authorized user message from said satellite system having appended thereto a second present transceiver position data;
• means for extracting said second present transceiver position data from said second encrypted authorized user message;
• and
• means for decrypting said second authorized user message using a second previous position data received from said satellite system.

A transceiver for use in connection with a satellite system of the type comprising at least three satellites and a ground station, said ground station being adapted to determine the position of a transmitter of a given authorized user message responsive to measurement of the relative time taken for the given message to reach the satellites over different communication paths, and for appending that position information to said messages, said transceiver comprising:

• means for storing a first present transceiver position data representative of the transmitter position determined by said satellite system;
• means for encrypting a first authorized user message incorporating previously stored transceiver position data;
• means for transmitting said encrypted first authorized user message to said satellite system;
• means for receiving second present transceiver position data from said satellite system and for storing the same;
• means for receiving a second encrypted authorized user message from said satellite system;
• and
• means for authenticating said second authorized user message responsive to a second previous position data received from said satellite system.

A system for communication of information between remote locations and a central location, said system comprising:

• a number of remote terminal means at said remote locations, said remote terminal means each being enabled to accept user input data and each being operatively connected to means for transmitting authorized user messages responsive to said user input data;
• a position determining system, comprising means for receiving said authorized user messages and for determining by triangulation from the differences in transmission time from the different remote locations the remote terminal location of a means transmitting the received authorized user message, means for appending the remote terminal location information indicative of the location of said remote terminal means to said authorized user message, and means for transmitting a composite signal of said authorized user message and said remote terminal location information;
• and
• central station means at said central location, said central station means comprising means for receiving said authorized user message transmitted by said position determining system, means for extracting said remote terminal location information from said authorized user message received from said position determining system, means for comparing said remote terminal position information to an authorized terminal position information key, and means for authenticating said authorized user message responsive to matching of the key information with the transmitted location information.

A method of communication of information between remote terminal devices and a central processing station, said method comprising the steps of:

• at a remote terminal means, assembling an authorized user message;
• transmitting said authorized user message to a satellite system;
• at said satellite system, detecting by triangulation from the transmission time between the remote terminal devices over different paths to the satellite system the position of a transmitter from which said authorized user message has been received;
• combining the detected transmitter position data with said authorized user message and transmitting the combined signals;
• at said central station, extracting said transmitter position data from said combined signals;
• comparing said extracted transmitter position data to an authorized position data;
• and
• authenticating said authorized user message responsive to said comparison step when the detected position data corresponds to the authorized position data.

Method for transmitting data from a mobile transceiver having a previous location and a present location to a second location, comprising the steps of:

• (a) at said present location:
• (1) receiving present transceiver position data with a satellite system in response to triangulation analysis of signals transmitted from a transmitter site over different communication paths;
• (2) storing a former said present transceiver position data to provide previous transceiver position data;
• (3) combining with a present authorized user message a stored previous transceiver position;
• and
• (4) transmitting said combined authorized user message;
• (b) at said satellite system:
• (1) receiving said transmitted combined authorized user message;
• (2) further combining present transceiver position data to said combined authorized user message;
• (3) transmitting said authorized user message combined with said present transceiver position data;
• and
• (c) at said remote location:
• (1) receiving said authorized user message together with said present transceiver position data;
• (2) storing said present transceiver position data to provide stored previous transceiver position data;
• and
• (3) authenticating said authorized user message using stored previous transceiver position data.

In a radio data transmission authentication system including a data message transmitter and data receiving station therefor, the improvement comprising:

• an intermediate system adapted to detect by triangulation the location of said transmitter by receiving and timing data transmission messages transmitted by said transmitter over multiple paths to the intermediate system and to formulate a combined signal by combining with the data transmission signal a further signal representative of the detected location of the transmitter;
• means for transmitting said combined signal indicative of the transmitter location on a common communication channel to said data receiving station;
• and
• data authentication means at the data receiving station for receiving said combined signal and correlating said further signals representative of the location of the transmitter with a designated position of the transmitter to authentic transmitted data whereby unauthorized communications not sent from an actual authorized location are eliminated so that the authorized location only need be secured against unauthorized communications.

A data transmission authentication system, comprising in combination,

• source means at a transmission location for introducing and transmitting a message over a communication channel,
• message modification means for determining by means of messages transmitted over different paths using triangulation the transmission location and combining with said message for transmission therewith on the same channel a further message identifying the determined transmission location of the source means,
• utilization means at a message reception station for receiving the combined message,
• a common communication channel for transmitting the message combined with the further message to said utilization means,
• authentication means at the message reception station for comparing the further message with locally derived source location data at the reception station, and
• means qualifying said message for utilization by the utilization means only upon satisfactory comparison of the further message and the locally derived source location data to assure that the transmission came from its authorized source location.

The method of transmitting an authorized user message from a first location to a second location, comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting the authorized user message from a transmitter at the first location,
• (b) identifying the transmitter location from which the message was transmitted by triangulation analysis of the message transmitted over a plurality of paths,
• (c) combining with the message an authenticating message derived from the location identified to provide a combined message transmitted over a common transmission channel,
• (d) receiving the combined message at a reception station for utilizing the message contents,
• (e) authenticating the message contents by verifying an authorized location of the source with the transmitted authenticating message, and
• (f) securing the first location against the transmission of unauthorized messages.