Secure Wakeup Protocol for IoT Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems are vulnerable to power draining attacks where adversaries can cause unnecessary wake-ups, leading to battery drain, and there is a need to secure the information about which devices are being awakened.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for secure wake-up in communication systems, where a predetermined wakeup code is transmitted and periodically updated using a protocol established between nodes, ensuring that only matching codes trigger wake-ups, and this protocol is secured using encryption or physically unclonable functions to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-shared wakeup code is used that is unique to each device, then security against power draining attacks is improved, but the length of wakeup codes must be high which causes power consumption to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wakeup code changes dynamically over time through periodic updates exchanged between transmitter and receiver. Instead of using a static pre-shared code, the system employs time-varying codes that are updated at regular intervals, allowing security to be maintained without requiring excessively long fixed codes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of the wakeup code itself, transforming it from a static value to a dynamically updating value. The code evolves over time through periodic exchanges between nodes, allowing the same code to serve multiple security purposes without requiring increased length.
2Reliability
If wakeup codes are periodically updated, then security is improved and power draining attacks are prevented, but the complexity of the wakeup system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wakeup code updates occur periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously or on-demand. This periodic update mechanism simplifies the system architecture compared to continuous synchronization, as both transmitter and receiver can independently generate codes based on time stamps or update counters without requiring constant communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The same communication channel used for normal data transmission is also utilized for exchanging wakeup code updates. This multi-functionality approach avoids requiring a separate dedicated channel for code synchronization, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security.
3Reliability
If a secure pre-shared medium is used for wakeup codes, then power draining attacks are prevented, but the number of devices must be limited due to the huge number of required codes
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of using static unique codes to dynamic time-varying codes. This allows the same code space to be reused across multiple devices and time periods, dramatically increasing the number of supported devices without requiring a separate unique code for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the wakeup code dynamic and time-dependent rather than static and device-specific, the system can support a much larger number of devices. The temporal dimension adds security without requiring an exponential increase in the number of unique codes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and system of secure wakeup in a communication system. The method comprises: transmitting a predetermined wakeup code by a wakeup transmitter of a first node to a wakeup receiver of a second node using a first communication link; establishing a protocol for future wakeup codes periodically between the first node and the second node using a second communication link; wherein the wakeup code is updated based on at least one of: the protocol for future wakeup codes, a first function of time defined by protocol for future wakeup codes, a second function of number of wakeups defined by protocol for future wakeup codes; comparing the wakeup code received by the second node with the wakeup code sent by the first node; and if the wakeup code received by the second node matches a template wakeup code derived from a protocol for future wakeup codes, then the receiver wakes up; otherwise the receiver does not wakeup.