Radio Transceiver Relay Attack Detection via Direction Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Access-restricted environments, such as vehicle passenger compartments, face challenges in protecting against unauthorized access through relay attacks, with existing security concepts based on ultrawide band (UWB) technology being costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize multiple radio transceivers and an electronic key to determine direction and angle information of radio signals, allowing the system to differentiate between a legitimate electronic key and a relay device, thereby preventing unauthorized access by satisfying specific angle conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UWB transmission technology is used for security concepts, then security protection against relay attacks is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the security verification process into multiple independent measurements: the first radio transceiver determines first direction information, the second radio transceiver determines second direction information, and the control unit verifies angle consistency. This segmentation allows achieving UWB-level security using cheaper, more manufacturable radio transceivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the UWB transmission technology (electromagnetic field-based system) with a direction-information-based verification system using standard radio transceivers. By substituting the physical measurement approach from electromagnetic time-of-flight to radio signal direction analysis, the system achieves comparable security at lower cost.
2Reliability
If UWB transmission technology is used for security concepts, then security protection against relay attacks is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system substitutes the high-power UWB electromagnetic transmission with lower-power radio signal exchanges. The verification is achieved through direction information determination and angle calculation rather than high-precision time-of-flight measurements, significantly reducing the energy requirements for each authentication cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs periodic authentication cycles where radio transceivers exchange signals and determine direction information only when needed. This periodic verification approach, rather than continuous high-power transmission, reduces average power consumption while maintaining security protection.
3Reliability
If direction information determination is performed using multiple radio transceivers, then relay attack detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radio transceivers perform multiple functions: they establish wireless communication for authentication, determine direction information for security verification, and enable angle calculation for relay attack detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated hardware components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives direction information from multiple radio transceivers, performs the angle calculation, and makes the authentication decision. This centralized coordination simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a single point of verification logic rather than requiring complex distributed decision-making.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively detects and prevents relay attacks, reducing the need for expensive UWB hardware and offering lower power consumption and extended battery life for electronic keys, while ensuring secure access to restricted environments.
Implementation Method 1
determining, by a first radio transceiver of an access-restricted environment, of first direction information of a first radio signal transmitted between the first radio transceiver and a wireless device
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining, by a first radio transceiver of an access-restricted environment, of first direction information of a first radio signal transmitted between the first radio transceiver and a wireless device. The method further includes determining, by a second radio transceiver of the access-restricted environment, of second direction information of a second radio signal transmitted between the second radio transceiver and the wireless device. The method further includes receiving, by the access-restricted environment, of angle information determined by an electronic key associated with the access-restricted environment. The method further includes determining, based on the first direction information, the second direction information and the angle information, whether the wireless device is a relay device or the electronic key. The method can be based, for example, on a Bluetooth technology.