Secure Localization Tone Pre-Modification in Wireless Data Packets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication protocols face security issues and compatibility challenges in determining device location due to the inclusion of localization tones as plain text, which makes them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and incompatible with encryption and whitening processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating localization tones at the beginning of a data packet payload, estimating their effect on encryption and whitening processes, and modifying them to maintain their known value during transmission, ensuring secure location determination while conforming to standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If localization tones are included as plain text in data transmissions, then location determination can be performed, but security is compromised due to susceptibility to man-in-the-middle attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by modifying the localization tone values before encryption and whitening processes are applied to the data packet. The transmitting device calculates expected values of the localization tones after these processing steps, then pre-modifies the original tones to compensate. This ensures that even though the tones are encrypted and whitened during transmission, the receiving device can still extract the correct localization information for accurate location determination while maintaining security.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If localization tones are included in encrypted data packets, then security is improved, but compatibility with standard localization processes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the localization tone values based on the encryption and whitening parameters used for the data packet. The transmitting device calculates how the localization tones will be transformed by these processing steps and modifies the original tones accordingly. This allows the tones to maintain their functional properties for location determination while being properly protected by encryption and whitening, achieving both security and compatibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If localization tones undergo encryption and whitening processes, then security is enhanced, but the known value of tones is altered making location determination impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by applying a compensating modification to the localization tones that counteracts the effects of encryption and whitening. Instead of letting the tones be transformed by these security processes (which would lose their known values), the system pre-calculates the expected transformation and applies an opposite modification beforehand. This ensures that after encryption and whitening, the tones retain their expected values, maintaining both security protection and location determination capability.
Data Source
AI summary
At least some aspects of the present disclosure provide for a method of data transmission, performed by a wireless device. In some examples, the method includes receiving a localization tone having a first value. The method further includes inserting the localization tone into a data packet at an application layer of a communication protocol stack, the localization tone preceding data of a payload of the data packet and having a last bit immediately preceding a first bit of the data of the payload. The method further includes generating a modified localization tone estimating an effect of processing on the localization tone, wherein the modified localization tone is generated and configured to have the first value after undergoing processing. The method further includes replacing the localization tone in the data packet with the modified localization tone. The method further includes transmitting the data packet.