NR Terminal RF Shutdown for Permanent IoT Disablement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3GPP NR protocols lack a method to permanently disable ambient-power-enabled IoT devices, which are battery-less and rely on energy harvesting, to prevent unauthorized access to stored data and maintain RF resource integrity.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device in the NR system is equipped with RF reception and transmission circuitry, non-transitory computer-readable media, and a processor to execute commands for transitioning to a permanently disabled state upon receiving a Disable Permanently command, ensuring both circuits are disabled, thus preventing any data access or transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ambient-power-enabled IoT devices are deployed for limited time use, then device cost and deployability are improved, but security risk increases due to potential unauthorized access to stored data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a permanent disablement mechanism that allows low-cost IoT devices to be securely rendered inoperable after their useful life. The command to permanently disable the terminal device enables disposal of compromised or end-of-life devices without costly recovery processes, accepting the device as a single-use component that can be securely neutralized rather than recovered or refurbished.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the RF reception and transmission circuitry functionality by permanently disabling it through a network-commanded state transition. This separation allows the device to retain its physical form and non-RF components while removing the harmful capability to communicate or transmit data, effectively taking out the security risk vector without requiring physical destruction of the entire device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If RF circuitry remains enabled in disabled state, then device can be reactivated, but security vulnerability increases allowing potential data access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by implementing an irreversible transition to a permanently disabled state where both RF reception and transmission circuitry are disabled. Instead of allowing reactivation through enabling RF functions, the system permanently removes this capability through a unidirectional state transition commanded by the network, ensuring that once disabled, the device cannot be reactivated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively disabling both RF reception and transmission circuitry before any potential unauthorized access can occur. The permanent disablement command preemptively neutralizes the device's communication capabilities, preventing future security incidents rather than responding to them after they occur.
3Reliability
If permanent disablement command is implemented, then security is improved by preventing unauthorized access, but device complexity increases due to additional state management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal permanent disablement mechanism that works across all terminal devices in the network through a standardized command protocol. This multi-functional approach allows the same disablement command to securely neutralize different device types (IoT sensors, actuators, communication modules) regardless of their specific implementations, reducing the need for device-specific security mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device autonomously transitions to the permanently disabled state upon receiving the disablement command from the network, without requiring external physical intervention or complex verification procedures. The device self-manages its security state by internally disabling its RF circuitry based on the network's authorization, simplifying the overall security infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device of a New Radio (NR) system and a corresponding method performed by the terminal device are provided. The method includes receiving, by RF reception circuitry of the terminal device, from a transmitting device while the terminal device resides in an enabled state or a disabled state, a command to permanently disable the terminal device; and transitioning, in response to receiving the command to permanently disable the terminal device, to reside in a permanently disabled state. When the terminal device resides in the enabled state, the RF reception circuitry of the terminal device and RF transmission circuitry of the terminal device are enabled. When the terminal device resides in the disabled state, the RF reception circuitry is enabled and the RF transmission circuitry is disabled. When the terminal device resides in the permanently disabled state, the RF reception circuitry and the RF transmission circuitry are disabled.