Secure Optical Wireless Links Through Distance-Controlled Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical wireless communication systems face challenges in securing data transmission in outdoor scenarios due to the potential for unauthorized capture and recovery of optical signals beyond intended ranges.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an optical data signal accompanied by a masking signal with a substantially identical wavelength component, controlling the overlap of coverage areas to maintain a signal-to-noise ratio below a threshold, making data recovery impossible beyond a certain distance using masking transmitters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If optical data signal is transmitted over free space in outdoor scenarios, then communication coverage is extended, but security is compromised as signals can be captured beyond intended ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical masking signal as an intermediary element that is transmitted together with the data signal. This masking signal serves as a protective layer that prevents unauthorized receivers from capturing and recovering the data signal beyond the intended range, while allowing legitimate receivers within the coverage area to access the data normally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical signal parameters by combining the data signal with a masking signal that has substantially identical wavelength components. This parameter change creates a composite signal where the data can only be recovered when the signal-to-noise ratio remains above a threshold, which occurs only within a certain distance from the transmitter.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If masking signal with identical wavelength components is used to secure transmission, then security is improved, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates making data recovery difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring that within the intended coverage area (local region), the masking signal does not significantly degrade the signal-to-noise ratio, allowing data recovery. Beyond this local region, the masking signal's effect becomes dominant, preventing unauthorized recovery. This creates spatially varying signal quality that maintains reliability where needed while providing security where not needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical wireless communication device (200) comprising: a data transmitter (201) configured to transmit an optical data signal; a masking transmitter (202) configured to transmit an optical masking signal; wherein the optical masking signal comprising a wavelength component substantially identical to a wavelength component of the optical data signal; the device (200) configured to set a certain distance (d) by controlling at least one of the data transmitter (201) and the masking transmitter (202), such that a coverage area (210) of the optical data signal is overlapped with a coverage area (220) of the optical masking signal to a certain extent at the certain distance ( ) keeping a signal to noise ratio of the optical data signal below a threshold and complicating a recovery of the optical data signal by another device located at and beyond that certain distance (d).