SPS Spoofing Detection via Confidence-Based Location Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of user equipment (UE) when satellite positioning system (SPS) signals are unreliable, such as during adverse weather conditions or in areas with poor signal reception, and are susceptible to spoofing attacks that can lead to incorrect location calculations, compromising safety applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for detecting anomalous SPS signals and transmitting accurate location estimates using non-SPS based information, where UE determines a confidence level for SPS derived location estimates based on non-SPS data, local time, and cached location information, and transmits location information including the source and confidence level, switching to non-SPS derived estimates if the confidence is low.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If SPS signals are used for location determination, then location accuracy is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to spoofing attacks and poor signal reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism that compares SPS-derived location estimates with non-SPS based estimates (such as cellular tower triangulation, Wi-Fi positioning, or inertial sensors). This intermediary comparison layer acts as a mediator to detect spoofing attacks by identifying discrepancies between different positioning methods, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving the high accuracy benefit of SPS signals when they are legitimate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of SPS signal authenticity before fully trusting the location estimate. By预先 comparing multiple independent location estimates and establishing confidence levels beforehand, the system can detect potential spoofing attempts before they compromise the location determination, thus preventing unreliable SPS data from being used while maintaining accurate positioning when available.
2Reliability
If multiple location estimation methods are used to detect spoofing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial verification by not requiring all positioning methods to be equally complex or resource-intensive. Instead, it uses a confidence level threshold approach where only sufficient verification is performed - comparing SPS estimates with simpler non-SPS methods when needed, rather than continuously deploying all available positioning technologies at full complexity. This partial action maintains reliability through selective verification while avoiding the overhead of constantly operating all positioning subsystems at maximum capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are discussed herein for detecting anomalous signals such as spoofed satellite positioning system (SPS) signals and for the transmission of accurate location estimates between user equipments (UEs) when the SPS signals are not reliable. A UE determines an SPS derived location estimate and determines an associated confidence level. The confidence level is determined based on time or location derived from the SPS signals, e.g., relative to local time or non-SPS information, such as stored previous location estimates, non-SPS sensor information, and location information from other UEs. The UE transmits location information to other UEs that includes a selected location estimate, confidence level, and the source of the location estimate, e.g., where the SPS derived location estimate is selected if the confidence level is high and the non-SPS derived location estimate is selected if the confidence level is low.