WLAN Counter-Signal Generation for Privacy Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current counter-measures against WLAN-assisted spying are inadequate, allowing unskilled individuals to easily locate and track people within closed rooms using commercial smartphones, posing risks to privacy and security, especially in sensitive areas like corporate and government institutions.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication device that captures and processes WLAN signals to generate counter-signals, disrupting attackers by creating virtual devices with alternating stable and variable behavior, mimicking movement patterns, and using multiple antennas for high angular directivity and resolution, thereby increasing the standard deviation of Amplitude Channel State Information (A CSI) to confuse and mislead attackers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If WLAN signals are transmitted within a closed area, then communication devices can operate normally, but attackers can capture these signals to spy on and determine locations of devices and people within the room
Solution Approach 1:
The system preemptively transmits counter-signals in response to detected WLAN signals to prevent attackers from successfully capturing usable spying data. By calculating standard deviation of A CSI and generating counter-signals before the attacker can complete their measurement, the system neutralizes the threat in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful WLAN signals captured by attackers into beneficial counter-signals. By processing the same WLAN signals that attackers use for spying, the system generates counter-signals that disrupt the attack, turning the attack vector itself into the defense mechanism.
2Reliability
If counter-signals are transmitted to disrupt attackers, then privacy and security are enhanced, but the standard deviation of A CSI increases making signal analysis more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to maintain low A CSI standard deviation for clean signal analysis, the system intentionally increases it through counter-signals. The approach inverts the traditional goal by making the signal environment deliberately noisy and misleading, which prevents attackers from obtaining precise location and movement data.
3Measurement precision
If multiple antennas are used for high angular directivity, then signal transmission precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple antennas serve dual functions: they provide high angular directivity for precise signal transmission and simultaneously create a more complex signal environment that increases A CSI standard deviation. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both precise counter-signal transmission and enhanced privacy protection without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication device is described that comprises: a receiver configured to receive wireless local area signals located within a closed area; and a processor configured to: process the received wireless local area signals; calculate a standard deviation, STD, of Amplitude Channel State Information, A CSI, of the received wireless local area signals and, in response thereto, generate at least one transmit wireless local area signal based on the calculated A CSI STD values. A transmitter is coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the at least one transmit wireless local area signal within the closed area to disrupt an attacker located adjacent the closed area from determining a location or movement of at least one of: a moving person, the at least one further wireless communication device within the closed area.