Secure Communication Signal Modulation Against EDLC Attacks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pulse-based communication systems are susceptible to unwanted interception and manipulation, particularly in applications like vehicle access and secure payment systems, due to their vulnerability to early-detect-late-commit (EDLC) attacks, which can falsify distance calculations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating communication signals using waveforms where the leading edges of both waveforms are made indicative of each other, making it difficult for attackers to predict the waveforms from leading edge examination, thereby inhibiting EDLC attacks. This is achieved by modifying the leading edge of one waveform to have characteristics similar to the other, ensuring the signals are not easily predictable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pulse-based waveforms are used for communication and authentication, then distance calculation and device verification can be achieved, but the system becomes susceptible to EDLC attacks that can intercept and manipulate the signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by modifying the leading edge of waveforms before transmission to embed security characteristics. The leading edge is pre-distorted or encoded with authentication information, so that when the receiver gets the signal, it can verify authenticity by checking these pre-established characteristics. This prevents attackers from successfully intercepting and replaying signals because the leading edge modifications are predetermined and verifiable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes metaphorically by modifying the leading edge characteristics of waveforms to encode authentication information. Different leading edge shapes, slopes, or patterns serve as distinctive 'colors' or signatures that identify legitimate transmitters. The receiver can distinguish authentic signals from attacks by detecting these leading edge characteristics, similar to how color changes can identify different sources or states.
2Measurement precision
If the leading edge of waveforms is made indicative of the waveform identity to enable authentication, then device verification becomes possible, but attackers can examine leading edges to predict waveforms and conduct EDLC attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the waveform into distinct segments: the leading edge segment and the body segment. The leading edge contains authentication information and is modified to be non-predictive, while the body contains the actual data or ranging information. This segmentation allows the system to maintain waveform identification accuracy through the leading edge while preventing attackers from predicting the complete waveform structure, as the leading edge is deliberately designed to be independent and non-revealing of the full signal pattern.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If waveform modification is applied to prevent EDLC attacks, then security against interception is improved, but the complexity of signal generation and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by applying modifications only to the leading edge portion of the waveform rather than the entire signal. This localized approach concentrates the security-enhancing modifications in a specific region (the leading edge) while leaving the rest of the waveform relatively simple and unchanged. This reduces the overall complexity of signal generation and processing compared to modifying the entire waveform, as only a local segment requires complex manipulation and verification.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to circuits, apparatuses and methods for generating communication signals resistant to early-detect-late-commit attacks. An example embodiment, a plurality of data symbols is generated that includes first and second data symbols. A communication signal is generated that is decodable according to a mapping of the first and second data symbols to respective first and second waveforms. The first waveform has a leading edge that is indicative of the first waveform, and second waveform has a second leading edge that is indicative of the second waveform. In generating the communication signal, a first portion of the communication signal is modulated according to the first waveform for the first data symbol. A second portion of the communication signal is modulated, for the second data symbol, according to a modified second waveform having a leading edge that is indicative of the first wave form.