Secure Device Detection for Fast Time-of-Flight Ranging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular mobile communication systems face inefficiencies in distance measurement processes due to the time-consuming series of discovery and authorization steps, which consume significant signaling resources.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the broadcast of encrypted identifiers and public keys between communication devices to facilitate direct detection and distance measurement without establishing a communication connection, utilizing time-of-flight calculations to determine relative distance based on time intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional discovery and authorization processes are used between communication devices, then communication reliability is improved, but time consumption and signaling resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having communication devices pre-configured with public key infrastructure (PKI) and identifier information before actual distance measurement is needed. The first communication device broadcasts its public key and identifier information in advance, allowing the second device to prepare decryption capabilities and response identifiers beforehand. This pre-preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming real-time authentication during distance measurement, directly reducing measurement time while maintaining communication reliability through pre-established security frameworks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential authentication and identification functions from the complex discovery and authorization processes. By separating these core functions into distinct broadcast and response mechanisms, the patent eliminates unnecessary intermediate steps. The first device broadcasts only the critical public key and identifier information, and the second device responds with its own identifier, extracting only the necessary authentication elements while discarding redundant discovery and authorization procedures, thereby significantly reducing time consumption.
2Reliability
If extensive discovery, authentication, and authorization processes are implemented, then communication security is improved, but signaling resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential security elements from the complete authentication protocol. Instead of implementing full discovery and authorization sequences, it extracts the core public key infrastructure (PKI) mechanism and identifier verification functions. The first device broadcasts merely its public key and identifier, and the second device responds with its identifier, extracting only the necessary security verification steps while eliminating redundant signaling exchanges, thus reducing signaling resource consumption while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication protocol into distinct functional components: a broadcast phase where the first device transmits its public key and identifier, and a response phase where the second device transmits its identifier. This segmentation separates authentication functions from discovery and authorization functions, allowing each component to be optimized independently. The segmented approach reduces signaling resources by eliminating unnecessary intermediate messages while preserving security through the structured public key verification process.
3Measurement precision
If traditional communication protocols are used for distance measurement, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but system pressure increases due to high signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential time-of-flight measurement function from the traditional communication protocol stack. By removing unnecessary discovery, authentication, and authorization signaling, the patent isolates the core distance measurement mechanism. The simplified protocol involves only the broadcast of public key information and identifier exchange, extracting the minimum necessary signaling required for accurate time-of-flight measurement while eliminating overhead that consumes system processing resources, thus improving productivity without compromising measurement accuracy.
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 reduces signaling interactions and shortens distance measurement time, improving efficiency by eliminating the need for extensive discovery and authorization processes.
Implementation Method 1
A measurement signal is transmitted from a measurement device to a device to be measured, and received and returned by the device to be measured
Implementation Method 2
A distance between communication devices can be measured based on the time of flight (ToF) of a signal
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device detection method includes: broadcasting first information by a first communication device, where the first information includes a first identifier (ID) associated with a second communication device and a public key of the first communication device; receiving second information; decrypting the second information by using a private key of the first communication device; and determining that the second communication device is detected in response to determining that the second information is successfully decrypted and a second ID included in the second information has a predetermined corresponding relation with the first ID.