Active Sensor Signal Authentication via Embedded Watermarks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional security systems fail to detect and prevent electromagnetic attacks that disrupt active sensor systems by interfering with physical signals, leading to potential fatal consequences in control systems relying on sensor data.
Innovation Solution
A method and monitoring device that add distinguishing features to signals emitted by active sensor systems, allowing the system to authenticate and verify the integrity of intercepted signals by analyzing for the presence of these features, thereby differentiating between genuine and tampered reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional security systems are used to protect active sensor systems, then basic security is provided, but electromagnetic attacks that disrupt physical signals cannot be detected or prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system embeds distinguishing features (watermarks) into the transmitted signal before the signal is sent out. This preliminary action ensures that any reflection or echo of the signal will contain these unique identifiers, allowing the system to later verify the authenticity of received signals and detect spoofing attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism that analyzes the physical signal itself for the presence of embedded distinguishing features. This intermediary layer sits between the sensor system and the control system, filtering out malicious signals that lack proper authentication markers while allowing legitimate signals to pass through.
2Measurement precision
If active sensor systems transmit signals for remote sensing, then real-time and high-resolution data is achieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to signal spoofing by malicious entities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the concept of color changes by embedding distinguishing features (watermarks) that act as unique identifiers within the signal spectrum. These watermarks are imperceptible in the main signal but serve as authentication markers, similar to how color changes can indicate different states or identities. The receiving system detects these watermarks to verify signal authenticity.
3Productivity
If the system processes all intercepted signals, then complete data coverage is maintained, but spoofed or tampered reflections are processed as legitimate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and analyzes the distinguishing features (watermarks) from the intercepted signals to verify authenticity. By separating the authentication verification from the main signal processing workflow, the system can quickly identify and reject spoofed signals without compromising the overall processing throughput of legitimate signals.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for processing signals of active sensor systems that comprises processing an emitted signal to include at least one distinguishing feature, the emitted signal is emitted by an active sensor system adapted to intercept a reflection of the emitted signal and to analyze the reflection for determining at least one parameter of at least one object located in a space, analyzing an intercepted portion to verify the at least one distinguishing feature in the intercepted portion, and processing of the intercepted portion as the reflection of the emitted signal when the at least one distinguishing feature is verified.