Reference Signal Security in 5G Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, face challenges in securing reference signals from being intercepted and used illegitimately, which can lead to inaccurate positioning and security breaches.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves transmitting reference signals with decoding information that is provided concurrently or after the signal, making it difficult for attackers to decode and transmit illegitimate signals, and using asymmetric security schemes with commitment sequences to verify the authenticity of received reference signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reference signals are transmitted without decoding information, then positioning accuracy can be maintained, but security is compromised allowing illegitimate signal usage
Solution Approach 1:
Decoding information is transmitted in advance or concurrently with the reference signal, enabling the receiving device to prepare for verification before the signal is fully received. This preliminary provision of verification data prevents later security breaches while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A commitment sequence acts as an intermediary between the transmitter and receiver, providing a verification mechanism that authenticates the reference signal without interfering with the positioning measurement process. This intermediary element ensures security while preserving positioning functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If decoding information is transmitted before the reference signal, then security is improved, but transmission timing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoding information and reference signal are merged into a single transmission opportunity, where the decoding information is placed in earlier symbols within the same transmission frame. This combining approach maintains security while avoiding the complexity of separate transmission scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission follows a periodic structure where decoding information is consistently placed in specific symbol positions relative to the reference signal. This regular periodic pattern simplifies scheduling complexity while maintaining the security benefit of early decoding information transmission.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional symmetric security schemes are used, then implementation is simple, but vulnerability to attacks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security scheme transitions from symmetric to asymmetric cryptography, where the transmitter holds private key material and the verifier uses public key material. This asymmetry provides enhanced security against attacks while maintaining implementation feasibility through standardized cryptographic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The commitment sequence is generated in advance using the transmitter's private key, creating a preemptive security measure that prevents attacks before they can occur. This preliminary anti-action embeds authentication capability into the signal structure itself, making attacks ineffective.
Data Source
AI summary
A reference signal transmission method includes: determining, at a network entity, a signal configuration of a transmission signal that comprises at least one decoding portion and at least one reference signal portion, where the signal configuration comprises a transmission schedule of the at least one decoding portion and the at least one reference signal portion, where each of the at least one decoding portion comprises decoding information to decode a corresponding one of the at least one reference signal portion, where each of the at least one decoding portion is scheduled in one or more first symbols and the corresponding one of the at least one reference signal portion is scheduled in one or more second symbols, and where none of the one or more first symbols is before any of the one or more second symbols; and transmitting, from the network entity, the transmission signal.