Security for FLUTE over Satellite Networks

Abstract

Data transmission, such as software update, large file broadcasting and video on demand, can take advantage of the wide coverage and the broadcasting features of the satellite networks. The multicast technologies provide the support for these applications by efficiently using the expensive satellite bandwidth. One of them is the file delivery over unidirectional transport (FLUTE) protocol that is ideally for bulk of data reliable transmission over the satellite. However, FLUTE does not address any congestion control and security mechanisms. This paper is analyzing the advantages and drawbacks for security over different layers in a satellite network and presenting security considerations for the FLUTE over satellite networks by analyzing the threats and trying to provide security approaches at the reliable multicast transport (RMT) layer for it. The work presented in this paper also analyzes the logical key hierarchy (LHK) for FLUTE protocol and gives the recommendation on the hierarchy structure for efficient re-key.