PRS Symbol Portion Transmission for 5G Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in securely transmitting positioning reference signals (PRS) due to potential attacks that exploit the structure of PRS symbols, particularly in the context of 5G New Radio (NR) systems.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a method where a first network node transmits a subset of portions of a PRS symbol during a corresponding subset of portions of an OFDM symbol, while refraining from transmitting another subset of portions of the PRS symbol during a corresponding subset of portions of the same OFDM symbol, utilizing a shared secret key to secure the PRS transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If PRS symbols are transmitted using conventional methods, then positioning accuracy can be achieved, but security against attacks is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The PRS symbol is segmented into multiple portions across different subcarriers, with selective transmission enabled or disabled based on a shared secret key. This segmentation allows the system to maintain positioning functionality while introducing security mechanisms to prevent unauthorized replication or manipulation of PRS symbols.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission state of PRS portions is dynamically changed based on the shared secret key. When security is needed, certain portions are refrained from being transmitted; when positioning is needed, the full symbol is transmitted. This parameter change in transmission behavior provides both positioning accuracy and security protection.
2Reliability
If all portions of PRS symbol are transmitted, then positioning functionality is maintained, but attackers can more easily predict or replicate the signals
Solution Approach 1:
The shared secret key is pre-shared between the transmitting and receiving entities before PRS transmission. This preliminary action enables the receiving entity to anticipate which portions will be transmitted and which will be refrained, allowing it to correctly process the signal while preventing attackers from predicting the transmission pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared secret key acts as an intermediary that controls the transmission behavior. It mediates between the need for reliable positioning functionality and the need to prevent attack prediction, by determining which portions of the PRS symbol are transmitted based on the key's value.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If selective transmission of PRS portions is implemented, then security is improved, but transmission efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The selective transmission follows a periodic pattern determined by the shared secret key and the comb size. This periodic action allows the system to efficiently determine which portions to transmit without complex real-time decisions, maintaining transmission efficiency while providing security through the selective omission of certain portions.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a first network node transmits, to a second network node, a first subset of a plurality of portions of a first positioning reference signal (PRS) symbol of a PRS resource during a corresponding first subset of a plurality of portions of a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, wherein a number of the plurality of portions of the PRS symbol and a number of the plurality of portions of the OFDM symbol are equal to a comb size of the PRS resource, and refrains from transmitting, to the second network node, a second subset of the plurality of portions of the PRS symbol during a corresponding second subset of the plurality of portions of the first OFDM symbol.