Physical Uplink Control Channel Security via Secured Indices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in securing physical layer communications, particularly in complex and dynamic environments where signal attenuation or blocking can undermine channel resource management, and existing security mechanisms can be vulnerable to eavesdropping attacks, leading to throughput degradation or out-of-service events.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of physical layer security (PLS) schemes using secret keys to secure physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmissions, which involve generating and utilizing secured indices and keys to prevent unauthorized decoding of uplink transmissions, including DMRS-based and DMRS-less PUCCH formats, by performing logical functions with information bits, DMRS sequences, and frequency hopping based on secret keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical layer security schemes are implemented using secret keys to secure PUCCH transmissions, then security against eavesdropping attacks is improved, but device complexity increases due to key management and secured index generation
Solution Approach 1:
The base station generates secured indices using secret keys before transmitting them to the UE. This preliminary action ensures that security parameters are prepared in advance, allowing the UE to directly use these pre-computed secured indices for PUCCH transmissions without performing complex key management operations, thus improving security while minimizing additional device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces secured indices as an intermediary element between the secret key and the PUCCH transmission. The secured index acts as a mediator that encapsulates the security functionality, allowing the UE to secure transmissions through simple index selection rather than complex cryptographic operations, thereby improving security with minimal impact on device complexity
2Reliability
If secured indices are generated and transmitted to UE, then communication security is improved, but information overhead increases due to additional signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The secured index serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies the specific OCC for PUCCH transmission, embeds security parameters derived from secret keys, and enables both legitimate communication and eavesdropping protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate security signaling, thereby improving security while minimizing information overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the security functionality with the existing OCC selection mechanism. Instead of adding separate security parameters, the secured index combines both the OCC identification and security parameters into a single index value that is transmitted through existing signaling channels, thus improving security without significantly increasing information overhead
3Device complexity
If existing security mechanisms are used without physical layer security, then device complexity is reduced, but vulnerability to eavesdropping attacks increases leading to throughput degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-securing the PUCCH transmissions through secured indices derived from secret keys before the actual data transmission occurs. This proactive security measure prevents eavesdropping attacks at the physical layer, countering the harmful effect of unauthorized decoding before it can impact throughput, thus protecting against eavesdropping with minimal additional device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for securing physical (PHY) layers in wireless communication. Certain aspects are directed to a method for wireless communication by a user equipment (UE). In some examples, the method includes obtaining a key and using the key during physical layer signal processing of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission having more than one symbol to provide security for the PUCCH transmission.