Endpoint Antenna Beamforming for Jamming Nulling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks are vulnerable to radio jamming attacks, which can disrupt communications between cell sites and endpoint devices, causing a decrease in signal-to-noise ratio and potentially forcing devices to fall back to less secure GSM mode, allowing for exploits such as traffic interception and credential theft.

Innovation Solution

An endpoint device with multiple antennas is used to detect and mitigate jamming attacks by sweeping a beam to locate the source of the impairment, forming a null in the direction of the jamming signal to attenuate it, and directing beams towards desired signals to maintain communication without falling back to GSM.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If LTE networks use standard communication protocols, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but vulnerability to radio jamming attacks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidvulnerability to jamming

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful jamming signal into a useful directional reference by using the nulling beamformer to identify the direction of maximum interference. The system transforms the adverse jamming effect into beneficial directional information that enables the antenna system to selectively reject interference from specific directions while maintaining reception from desired directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating spatially selective signal processing characteristics. The nulling beamformer assigns different processing weights to signals from different directions, providing high reception quality for desired signals while creating low reception quality (nulls) in directions where jamming signals originate, thus achieving local quality optimization in the spatial domain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If endpoint devices implement beam forming with multiple antennas, then jamming detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejamming detection capabilityVSAvoidantenna system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by designing the antenna system to perform multiple functions: standard LTE communication reception, jamming signal detection, directional localization, and adaptive nulling. The same antenna array and signal processing infrastructure used for normal MIMO operations is also utilized for security functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting jamming conditions and adapting its beamforming weights without external intervention. The endpoint device autonomously monitors for interference, identifies jamming directions, and reconfigures its nulling beamformer in real-time, eliminating the need for manual configuration or external control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If nulling beamforming is applied to reject jamming signals, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but reception of desired signals in null directions may be degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidsignal reception in null directions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the received signal quality and jamming conditions, then using this information to dynamically adjust the nulling beamformer weights. The system measures the actual interference environment, updates its directional nulling strategy accordingly, and verifies the effectiveness of the nulling, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions while protecting against jamming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively reduces the interference from jamming signals, allowing LTE communications to continue securely without falling back to GSM, thereby enhancing the security and reliability of LTE networks.

Implementation Method 1

Endpoint device antenna beam forming based jamming detection and mitigation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBeam forming:

Implementation Method 2

generates a null in the direction of the source of the communication impairment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNull formation:

Data Source

PatentUS9699664B2Endpoint device antenna beam forming based jamming detection and mitigation

Publication Date: 2017.07.04 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for locating a source of a communication impairment are disclosed. For example, the method detects the communication impairment, performs a sweep to locate a direction of the source of the communication impairment, wherein the sweep is performed in response to the detecting the communication impairment at the endpoint device, and generates a null in the direction of the source of the communication impairment.