Wireless Time Synchronization Link Redundancy for Denial-of-Service Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems, particularly those relying on time-sensitive networking (TSN) for autonomous and industrial systems, are vulnerable to interference and denial of service attacks that disrupt time synchronization, leading to performance degradation and latency issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple instances of wireless time synchronization over different channels, randomizing transmission patterns, and channel hopping to detect and mitigate interference from rogue devices, thereby maintaining reliable time synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless time synchronization is implemented over a single channel, then communication simplicity is maintained, but the system becomes vulnerable to denial of service attacks and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the time synchronization communication into multiple instances over different channels. Each synchronization message is transmitted through separate wireless links, so if one channel is attacked or interfered with, other channels can still deliver synchronization data, thereby improving reliability without requiring complete system redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces channel diversity as an additional dimension for time synchronization. Instead of relying solely on a single communication path, the system utilizes multiple wireless channels simultaneously, adding spatial/frequency dimensionality to the synchronization process to mitigate the impact of attacks on any single channel
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple instances of time synchronization are implemented over different channels, then resistance to interference is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization system is segmented into multiple independent transmission instances across different wireless channels. Each instance operates autonomously, allowing the system to detect and mitigate interference by identifying which channels are affected and relying on unaffected channels for accurate time synchronization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the communication parameter by utilizing multiple wireless channels with different frequency or spatial characteristics. This parameter diversification allows the system to evade interference that may affect specific channels, as malicious or interfering signals are unlikely to simultaneously disrupt all channels
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If transmission patterns are randomized and channel hopping is used, then detection of rogue devices is improved, but time synchronization latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic channel hopping and randomized transmission patterns at controlled intervals. This periodic action allows the system to systematically probe different channels for rogue devices while maintaining predictable synchronization cycles, balancing detection capability with latency requirements by adjusting the hopping frequency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary channel probing and rogue device detection before critical time synchronization events. By conducting detection activities in advance and using pre-established channel sequences, the system minimizes the impact on actual synchronization latency while still maintaining security through randomized patterns
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods in which devices synchronize their clocks for purposes of data transmission are described. Particularly, the disclosed systems and methods provide detection and mitigation of interference by malicious (or non-malicious) wireless devices with communication of time synchronized data over wireless networks. Systems and methods are provided where times statistics related to multiple instances of wireless time synchronization are collected and collated. Devices in the system can discipline their internal clocks based on the collated time statistics.