Satellite Signal Authentication via Remote Key Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite navigation systems face challenges in efficiently processing encrypted signals, particularly in secure environments, due to the need for distributing cryptographic keys to field receiver units, which is burdensome and requires secure management, and existing methods consume excessive bandwidth and battery power.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that process signal data with both unencrypted and encrypted portions, where the receiver processes samples to determine information about the signal source and time, and requests encrypted reference signal samples from a remote security module for authentication, reducing the need for local encryption keys and minimizing data transmission bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic keys are distributed to field receiver units for processing encrypted signals, then secure signal processing is enabled, but key management complexity and security overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cryptographic key management function from field receiver units and centralizes it in a remote server. The server stores cryptographic keys and generates authentication data, while field receivers only need to communicate authentication requests and receive verification data. This extraction eliminates the need for complex key management in distributed receivers while maintaining secure signal processing capability.
2Reliability
If wideband RF signal samples are broadcast for authentication, then encrypted signal authentication is enabled, but communication bandwidth consumption and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of broadcasting actual wideband RF signal samples, the system uses cryptographic copying - the server generates authentication data that mathematically represents the encrypted signal characteristics without containing the actual signal samples. This cryptographic copy enables authentication while consuming minimal bandwidth and power compared to transmitting or processing actual RF samples.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Open Service receivers are operated at user side for capturing signals, then signal capture capability is provided, but additional battery power is consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables field receivers to perform self-authentication using lightweight cryptographic operations on locally captured signal features, without requiring full Open Service receiver functionality. The receiver extracts minimal signal characteristics and sends them to the server for authentication, allowing signal capture capability while minimizing power consumption through selective, rather than complete, signal processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of processing signal data including an unencrypted portion and an encrypted portion, the method including: receiving, at a receiver, the signal data; processing a sample of the signal data to provide a processed signal sample including data relating to the encrypted portion of the signal data and data relating to the unencrypted portion of the signal data, comparing the unencrypted signal data with at least one reference signal to determine information including at least one of (i) the time at which the signal was sent from the source and (ii) the identity of the source; requesting, based on the determined information, and from a source remote to the receiver, a set of encrypted reference signal samples; comparing, on a processing device remote to the receiver, the set of encrypted reference signal samples with the received encrypted signal data to identify any matching signal samples.