Selective Trigger Frame Protection for Wireless Network Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in ensuring robust protection of trigger frames for security and reliability while minimizing frame size, making networks vulnerable to attacks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a trigger frame with protected portions, including indicators in common or special user information fields, and incorporating features like pre-padding fields with packet numbers and message integrity codes to enhance security and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If robust protection is added to trigger frames, then security and reliability are improved, but frame size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrigger frame protectionVSAvoidtrigger frame size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger frame is divided into protected and unprotected portions. The protected portion includes only the essential fields (common information field and/or special user information field) that require security, while other fields remain unprotected. This segmentation allows security protection without unnecessarily increasing the entire frame size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the trigger frame have different protection qualities. The common information field and/or special user information field are protected with integrity protection mechanisms (such as FCS or MIC), while other fields may be left unprotected or use different protection levels, optimizing the balance between security and frame size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If protection mechanisms are implemented, then security is improved, but network efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidnetwork efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of protecting the entire trigger frame, only the essential portions (common information field and/or special user information field) are protected. This partial action approach provides sufficient security for the critical information while minimizing the overhead and processing requirements, thus maintaining network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The protection mechanism uses efficient parameters such as 32-bit or 64-bit FCS/MIC values rather than longer protection codes. This changes the protection parameter to provide adequate security while minimizing the impact on frame size and processing overhead, thereby maintaining network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250337550A1Protected Trigger Frames in a Wireless Network

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device that provides a trigger frame is described. This electronic device includes: an antenna node communicatively coupled to an antenna; and an interface circuit, communicatively coupled to the antenna node, that communicates with a second electronic device. During operation the interface circuit receives, associated with the second electronic device, the trigger frame that includes an indication that at least a portion of the trigger frame is protected, and the indication is included in a common information field or a special user information field. Moreover, the trigger frame is compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard.