RIS Path Integrity Validation Using AoA/AoD Anomaly Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces in mm-Wave communication systems are vulnerable to physical security breaches, as eavesdroppers can introduce unauthorized reflectors to intercept and redirect signals, compromising communication paths.

Innovation Solution

Integrate path-sensitive delay detection hardware with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, utilizing metal-insulator-metal capacitors and AI/ML models to monitor signal delays and angles of arrival/departure, detecting anomalies that indicate compromised paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If reconfigurable intelligent surfaces are used to reflect and refract higher frequency signals to blocked areas, then wireless communication coverage is improved, but physical security is compromised due to eavesdropping attacks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless communication coverageVSAvoidphysical security

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by comparing expected versus actual angles of arrival and departure before signal transmission. This advance verification ensures that only legitimate signals are processed, preventing eavesdropping attacks while maintaining expanded coverage through the metasurface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors and compares actual signal paths against expected paths, providing real-time feedback to detect anomalies. When deviations are detected indicating potential eavesdropping, the system can alert authorities or adjust operations, maintaining security while preserving the coverage enhancement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If path integrity validation using angle of arrival and angle of departure is implemented, then security against eavesdropping is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional hardware and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against eavesdroppingVSAvoidhardware and processing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reconfigurable intelligent surface performs multiple functions: it reflects and refracts signals to provide coverage enhancement while simultaneously measuring angles of arrival and departure for security validation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated security hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical or hardware-based security measures with electromagnetic field-based angle measurement and digital signal processing. This substitution reduces physical hardware requirements while maintaining or enhancing security capabilities through software-based validation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Area of stationary object

If additional reflectors or metasurfaces are installed to provide coverage to blocked areas, then communication coverage is improved, but infrastructure costs increase many times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidinfrastructure costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reconfigurable intelligent surface provides both signal reflection/refraction for coverage enhancement and security validation through angle measurement, eliminating the need for separate security infrastructure. This multi-functionality reduces overall infrastructure costs compared to deploying multiple dedicated reflectors and security systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of installing multiple physical reflectors to achieve coverage, the system uses a single reconfigurable intelligent surface that can be electronically configured to reflect and refract signals virtually, reducing infrastructure costs while maintaining coverage and security capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250344066A1Enhancing reconfigurable intelligent surface security with angle of arrival and angle of departure based full path integrity validation

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

The technology described herein is directed towards monitoring path integrity of a wireless communications path between authorized entities, in which a reconfigurable intelligent surface is part of the signal path between a base station and a user equipment. In one example, an eavesdropping entity intercepts signals to and/or from a base station and user equipment via a reconfigurable intelligent surface, and redirects the intercepted signals to the intended receivers to continue communications. The change in the path from the redirected signals can be detected, e.g., via actual angle of arrival data that does not match expected angle of arrival data. The reconfigurable intelligent surface includes a delay detection network that detects impedance changes corresponding to differential phase changes among unit cells of the reconfigurable intelligent surface, which relates to the actual angle of arrival. In one implementation, generative adversarial network models are used in the monitoring of the signal path.