Secure Location-Based Information Network

To address the Air Force need for a secure plant operation data network, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Secure Location-based Information Network (SLIN). This proposed system is based on spread spectrum wireless transmission, location tracking, speech recognition, text reading capability, and context-based access control (CBAC). The innovation in designing protective circuitry and optimizing the physical (PHY) layer under strong EMI will enable the SLIN to securely and reliably operate in plant and industrial environments. In this novel design, the identification, role of the operating personnel, and tasks, and the message-routing information are utilized in the authentication step. The interface consists of a wearable communicator with built-in cryptographer which communicates to installed access points. The location of the communicator is identified by the location calculator unit via the links between the communicator and the access points. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of SLIN by demonstrating a bench-scale system prototype in a laboratory environment. In Phase II POC plans to develop a complete integrated Phase II SLIN system, further optimize it, and perform extended tests of the device, subjecting it to physical challenges in a candidate plant.