Secure Replica Pseudo-Random Noise Signal Provision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for providing secure replica pseudo-random noise signals to receiver units are complex and costly, as they require extensive protection of the entire receiver and transmission paths against interference and tampering, which is resource-intensive and expensive.

Innovation Solution

A method where a replica pseudo-random noise code is modulated with a noise signal, making it difficult to extract, and only the supply unit needs special protection, reducing the area that requires security measures, allowing the secured signal to be stored and used efficiently for signal processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire receiver and transmission path are protected against interference and tampering, then security is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidprotection mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the security protection scope from the entire receiver system to only the provision unit. The replica pseudo-random noise code is generated and protected only in the provision unit, while the rest of the receiver can operate without extensive protection mechanisms. This segmentation reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining security for the critical function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the security-critical function (generation and provision of replica pseudo-random noise code) from the entire receiver system and isolates it to a specific provision unit. By taking out only the essential security function, the patent reduces the overall protection requirements for the receiver while maintaining security where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If cryptographic PRN codes are used with secure key management, then signal decoding security is improved, but the receiver requires extensive protection mechanisms that increase cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal decoding securityVSAvoidprotection mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the security implementation to focus only on the provision unit where the replica PRN code is generated and provided. The cryptographic key management and code generation are confined to this small unit, which can be protected with targeted measures rather than protecting the entire receiver, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining signal decoding security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the replica pseudo-random noise code is kept unsecured for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates as the code can be extracted and misused

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecode accessibilityVSAvoidcode security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a noise signal as an intermediary that masks the replica pseudo-random noise code during transmission and storage. The noise signal acts as a mediator between the secure code generation and the receiver's code correlation function, allowing the code to be accessible for its intended purpose while preventing unauthorized extraction and misuse.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If the replica pseudo-random noise code is modulated with noise signal, then security is improved by preventing extraction, but signal processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecode securityVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the noise signal component during correlation processing at the receiver. By taking out the interfering noise signal through the correlation operation with the authentic PRN code, the system maintains security during transmission and storage while recovering the clean signal for processing, thus managing signal processing complexity efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2961091B1Provision of a secure replica pseudo noise signal
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2961091B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2961091B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2961091B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an improved secure method and a secure delivery unit for providing a secure replica pseudo-random noise signal to a receiver unit, wherein a replica pseudo-random noise code is modulated with a noise signal by a receiver-side delivery unit. Artificially generated noise is superimposed on the replica pseudo-random noise code, so that the replica pseudo-random noise code cannot be read from the noisy signal, even on the receiver side, for example, within a receiver or on a transmission path between the delivery unit and the receiver.