Range Determining Module UWB Attack Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for determining range estimates in UWB systems are susceptible to attacks that can result in false measurements, compromising the accuracy of distance calculations between devices.

Innovation Solution

A range-determining-module that identifies and verifies multiple known-sequence-sections within received data packets, using their associated reception-time-stamps to cross-check for integrity and provide a verified range estimate, thereby reducing the likelihood of successful attacks by comparing the timing stamps across different sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional single-time-stamp methods are used for range estimation, then the system is simple and fast, but the measurement accuracy is compromised due to susceptibility to attacks and false measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange estimation accuracyVSAvoidverification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data packet into multiple known-sequence-sections, each containing a known data sequence at different positions. By segmenting the packet this way, the system can independently measure time stamps for each section and compare them to detect attacks or false measurements, thereby improving range estimation accuracy without requiring complete packet retransmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a verification mechanism that uses the time stamps from multiple known-sequence-sections to feedback-check the integrity of the received packet. The system compares the observed time stamp differences against expected values and can reject fraudulent measurements, providing a feedback loop that enhances measurement precision while maintaining acceptable system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If multiple known-sequence-sections are processed for verification, then attack resistance improves by orders of magnitude, but the processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattack resistanceVSAvoidverification processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds multiple known data sequences at predetermined positions within the data packet structure before transmission. This preliminary placement of known sequences allows the receiver to perform rapid time stamp extraction and comparison without requiring complex analysis during verification, thus achieving high attack resistance with minimal processing time overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a partial verification approach where only the time stamp information from the known-sequence-sections is extracted and verified, rather than processing the entire packet content. This selective verification of critical timing information provides sufficient attack resistance while significantly reducing the computational time and resources required compared to full packet verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3386218B1Range determining module
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 NXP BV
  • EP3386218B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3386218B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3386218B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The disclosure relates to range-determining-module for a transceiver, configured to: receive a signal comprising a received-data-packet, identify a plurality of known-sequence-sections of the received-data-packet, each known-sequence-section containing a known-data-sequence that is known to the range-determining-module; determine a reception-time-stamp associated with each of the plurality of known-sequence-sections; verify the received-data-packet using the reception-time-stamps associated with different respective known-sequence-sections of the received-data-packet; and provide a verified range estimate in accordance with one or more of the time stamps of the verified received-data-packet.