Protected Trigger Frame Layout for Secure 802.11 Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.11, face challenges in ensuring robust protection of trigger frames to enhance network security and reliability while minimizing frame size, making networks vulnerable to attacks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a trigger frame with protected portions indicated in common or special user information fields, including features like pre-padding fields with packet numbers and message integrity codes, to ensure secure and reliable communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robust protection is added to trigger frames to enhance network security, then network security and reliability are improved, but the size of trigger frames increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger frame is segmented into protected and unprotected portions. The protected portion includes only the essential fields (common information field and/or special user information field) that require security protection, while other fields remain unprotected. This segmentation allows security protection to be applied selectively to minimize the increase in frame size while still protecting the critical security-sensitive information.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the trigger frame are assigned different security qualities. The common information field and/or special user information field are designated as protected regions requiring security measures (such as MIC or FCS), while other fields are left unprotected. This local differentiation ensures that security protection is applied only where necessary, balancing security requirements with frame size efficiency.
2Reliability
If protection mechanisms are implemented in trigger frames, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection mechanism is segmented to operate only on specific fields (common information field and/or special user information field) rather than the entire trigger frame. This reduces the computational complexity of generating and verifying protection codes while maintaining network reliability for the protected portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent supports multiple protection parameter options including Message Integrity Code (MIC) with different lengths (64 or 96 bits) and Frame Check Sequence (FCS). Devices can negotiate and select appropriate protection parameters based on their capabilities and security requirements, allowing flexibility in balancing reliability and complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device that provides a trigger frame is described. This electronic device includes: an antenna node communicatively coupled to an antenna; and an interface circuit, communicatively coupled to the antenna node, that communicates with a second electronic device. During operation the interface circuit receives, associated with the second electronic device, the trigger frame that includes an indication that at least a portion of the trigger frame is protected, and the indication is included in a common information field or a special user information field. Moreover, the trigger frame is compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard.