UE Positioning Under 5G Amplify-and-Forward Relay Jamming

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Solution Overview

Problem

5G wireless communication systems are vulnerable to amplify-and-forward (AF) relay jamming, which affects critical signals like 5G positioning reference signals (PRS) and sounding reference signals (SRS), particularly in environments where gNB base stations may not be trusted, necessitating a method to detect and suppress such jamming for secure UE location determination.

Innovation Solution

A low-complexity 5G UE-based algorithm using a cognitive radio with a machine-learning trained classifier and dynamic spectrum management to discriminate between valid signals and jamming, employing a multi-stage hierarchical signal classification and reinforcement learning to switch channels and remove AF relay jamming signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If 5G positioning reference signals and sounding reference signals are used for UE location determination, then positioning capability is improved, but vulnerability to amplify-and-forward relay jamming increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidjamming vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of AF relay jamming signals using machine learning classifiers before the jamming affects positioning measurements. The cognitive radio detects jamming patterns in advance and triggers mitigation strategies, preventing corrupted location data from being generated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful jamming signal into a detectable pattern by analyzing the 2D time delay and frequency shift structure. The jamming signal's structured characteristics, which would normally be harmful, are instead exploited as detection features to identify and remove the jamming, thereby protecting the positioning signal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If machine learning classification and dynamic spectrum management are implemented to detect and remove jamming, then jamming discrimination capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejamming detection accuracyVSAvoidcognitive radio complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cognitive radio system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a machine learning classifier for jamming detection, a signal processing unit for estimating jamming parameters, and a mitigation unit for removing jamming signals. This modular architecture reduces overall system complexity by allowing each component to be optimized independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by focusing the machine learning classification on specific features of the signal (2D time delay and frequency shift structure) rather than analyzing all possible signal characteristics. This selective approach achieves effective jamming detection with reduced computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If reactive jamming is used to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but detectability of jamming decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejammer energy consumptionVSAvoidjamming detectability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The cognitive radio implements feedback by continuously monitoring the radio environment and comparing detected signal patterns against learned jamming characteristics. When reactive jamming is detected, the system adjusts its detection parameters and triggers appropriate mitigation strategies, maintaining detectability despite the jammer's energy-efficient operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250260505A1Positioning determination at user equipment under amplify-and-forward relay jamming

Publication Date: 2025.08.14 THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE

AI summary

An amplify-and-forward (AF) relay jamming signal can pass through any civil and military wireless communication system. Hence, AF relay jamming is dangerous and should be detected and suppressed before demodulation/decoding/decryption in wireless communication systems. The 5G positioning reference signal (PRS) and 5G sounding reference signal (SRS) play critical roles especially for autonomous driving and link establishment between a user equipment (UE) and a near gNodeB. Both the PRS and SRS are publicly known and vulnerable to AF relay jamming. The goal of this invention is to present an effective and low-complexity 5G-and-beyond UE positioning algorithm installed at a UE instead of a gNodeB against an AF 2-dimensional time delay (TD) and frequency shift (FS) relay jamming. Preliminary results for the proposed algorithm using both a 5G PRS and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver scenario are presented under a 2D and 1D AF TD relay jamming environment to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.