GNSS Navigation Data Manipulation Detection via Reference Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

GNSS signal manipulation techniques, such as spoofing, pose a threat to the reliability of satellite-based positioning technologies by falsifying navigation data, compromising the accuracy of position estimation and threatening business models that rely on trustworthy positioning.

Innovation Solution

A method implemented in a mobile device that uses GNSS reference data from a known reference position to determine if received GNSS navigation data are potentially manipulated by comparing the position estimate derived from the reference data with the known reference position, employing a predetermined algorithm to assess deviations and identify potential manipulation based on distance thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If GNSS navigation data are used for position estimation without verification, then position estimation can be performed quickly and simply, but the reliability of positioning is compromised due to potential signal manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of positioningVSAvoidcomplexity of verification system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-obtaining reference GNSS navigation data from a reference receiver at a known position before verifying the authenticity of received navigation data. The mobile device compares its received navigation data against this pre-established reference data to detect potential spoofing or manipulation, thereby ensuring positioning reliability without requiring complex real-time verification systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses reference GNSS navigation data obtained from a reference receiver at a known position as an intermediary to verify the authenticity of received navigation data. This intermediary reference data acts as a trusted benchmark that the mobile device can compare against its received data to detect manipulation, simplifying the verification process while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If reference data from a known position is used to verify navigation data authenticity, then manipulation detection accuracy is improved, but the system requires additional infrastructure and data processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation detection accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of verification system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary acquisition of reference GNSS navigation data from a reference receiver at a known position before the verification process. This pre-obtained reference data serves as a trusted baseline for comparison, enabling accurate detection of navigation data manipulation while keeping the verification system relatively simple by avoiding complex real-time analysis infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a copy of authentic GNSS navigation data obtained from a reference receiver at a known position as a template for verification. By comparing the received navigation data against this reference copy, the system achieves high manipulation detection accuracy without requiring complex verification infrastructure, as the reference copy serves as a straightforward comparison standard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If navigation data are updated at regular intervals to maintain accuracy, then position estimation reliability is improved, but the vulnerability to spoofing attacks increases due to more frequent data reception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition estimation reliabilityVSAvoidvulnerability to spoofing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing received GNSS navigation data against reference data from a known position and using this comparison to detect spoofing attempts. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain regular navigation data updates for accurate position estimation while simultaneously identifying manipulated data through the comparison feedback, thereby reducing vulnerability to spoofing attacks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The reference navigation data from a known position serves as an intermediary that mediates between the need for frequent navigation data updates and the risk of spoofing vulnerability. By using this intermediary reference data for comparison, the system can safely update position estimates regularly while filtering out spoofed signals through the intermediary verification process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3805800B1Identifying potentially manipulated GNSS navigation data at least partially based on GNSS reference data
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 HERE GLOBAL BV
  • EP3805800B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3805800B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3805800B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

It is inter-alia disclosed a method performed by a mobile device (2), said method comprising: - receiving (501) GNSS reference data representing one or more GNSS signals (105-108) observed by a reference receiver (4) at a reference position; - receiving (502) GNSS navigation data; - determining (503), at least partially based on said GNSS reference data and said GNSS navigation data, a position estimate of said reference position; - determining (504), at least partially based on said reference position and said position estimate of said reference position, whether or not said GNSS navigation data are potentially manipulated.