Electronic Apparatus Beacon Spoofing Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices are vulnerable to spoofing of location information, which threatens their security, especially in proximity-based technologies where simplified security measures or random MAC addresses are used to protect user privacy.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus equipped with a communicator, memory, and processor that receives beacon signals from external devices, calculates distances, and identifies spoofing by analyzing the consistency of distance information between devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If simplified security measures or random MAC addresses are used to protect user privacy, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to location information spoofing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a third-party verification mechanism where the electronic apparatus acts as an intermediary to verify location information. Instead of directly trusting the MAC address or location data from external devices, the system uses beacon signals from multiple external devices and distance calculation to verify the authenticity of location information, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the electronic apparatus continuously monitors and verifies location information by receiving beacon signals from external devices, calculating distances, and comparing them with reported location data. This feedback loop allows the system to detect and respond to spoofing attempts while maintaining user-friendly operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If proximity-based technologies develop with location information sharing, then adaptability is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to increased security threats from spoofing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidobject-generated harmful factors
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting and preventing location spoofing before it can cause harm. The system pre-establishes verification mechanisms using beacon signals from multiple external devices and distance calculations, allowing it to identify and block spoofing attempts before they can compromise security, thus enabling adaptability while mitigating harmful factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If location information from external devices is accepted without verification, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to detect spoofing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the electronic apparatus to autonomously verify location information using built-in capabilities. The system automatically receives beacon signals, calculates distances, and compares them with reported location data without requiring external intervention or complex manual verification processes, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving precise measurement through self-verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4046408B1Electronic apparatus and method of controlling thereof
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4046408B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4046408B1 patent drawingFigure 3a
  • EP4046408B1 patent drawingFigure 3b~4b

AI summary

An electronic apparatus includes a communicator, a memory, and a processor configured to receive a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal from a first external device and a second external device, respectively, through the communicator, obtain information on a first distance between the electronic apparatus and the first external device, and information on a second distance between the electronic apparatus and the second external device, based on the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal, respectively, receive information on a third distance between the first external device and the second external device from at least one of the first external device and the second external device through the communicator, and identify whether the first external device spoofs an actual location of the first external device relative to the electronic apparatus, based on the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance.