Wireless Message Authentication via Radio Resource Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication mechanisms in wireless communication systems are inadequate in preventing replay attacks, particularly when sequence numbers and timestamps are used, as they require additional memory, increase message size, and may fail due to synchronization issues, and do not effectively protect messages in broadcast or stateless communication.
Innovation Solution
Binding a message to a specific radio resource for authentication purposes, using cryptographic methods to ensure the message is only deemed authentic when carried by that resource, thereby preventing transmission or reception on a different resource from rendering the message inauthentic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sequence numbers are used for authentication, then replay attacks are protected against, but message size increases and additional memory is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication function from the message content itself by using radio resource binding. Instead of adding sequence numbers or timestamps to the message, the authentication is achieved by binding the message to specific radio resources (time-frequency slots), thereby preventing replay attacks without increasing message size.
Solution Approach 2:
The radio resource binding mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides authentication, prevents replay attacks, and works for both unicast and broadcast communications. The same binding approach is universally applicable across different communication scenarios without requiring separate mechanisms.
2Reliability
If sequence numbers are used for authentication, then replay attacks are protected against, but device complexity increases due to state management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The radio resource binding mechanism is self-service in nature. The binding information is derived from the radio resource allocation itself, which is already managed by the system. No separate state management or bookkeeping is required - the authentication is automatically verified by checking if the message is transmitted on the bound radio resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The binding information is prepared in advance as part of the radio resource allocation. The authentication parameters are determined beforehand based on the scheduled radio resources, eliminating the need for runtime state management and complex synchronization protocols.
3Reliability
If timestamps are used for authentication, then replay attacks are protected against, but message size increases and synchronization requirements are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for timestamp information by extracting authentication from the radio resource binding itself. The time component is inherently captured through the radio resource allocation (which is time-specific), eliminating the need to explicitly include timestamps in the message.
4Reliability
If timestamps are used for authentication, then replay attacks are protected against, but synchronization infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The radio resource binding mechanism uses the existing radio resource allocation framework to provide authentication. The time and frequency resources are already managed and synchronized by the radio access network, so no additional synchronization infrastructure is needed - the system serves itself using existing resources.
5Reliability
If sequence numbers are used for authentication, then replay attacks are protected against, but adaptability to broadcast and stateless communication is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The radio resource binding mechanism is universally applicable to all communication scenarios including unicast, multicast, and broadcast. Since it relies on radio resource allocation rather than connection state, it works equally well for stateless communications and scenarios where the receiver is not预先 known.
Data Source
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AI summary
An authentication node (22) in a wireless communication system (10) authenticates a message received by a recipient radio node (16A) (e.g., a user equipment). The authentication node (22) in this regard determines a radio resource that carries the message received by the recipient radio node (16A). The authentication node (22) performs authentication of the message, by checking whether the message is bound to the determined radio resource. The authentication node (22) may, for example, compute an expected authentication or integrity code based on information identifying the determined radio resource and check whether the expected authentication or integrity code matches an authentication or integrity code associated with the message.