Wireless LAN WUR Frame Reception with Partial TSF Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing WLAN systems face challenges in accurately and efficiently transmitting and receiving Wake-Up Radio (WUR) frames, leading to issues such as unnecessary STA awakening due to malicious attacks or channel congestion.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that synchronizes the Timing Synchronization Function (TSF) between an Access Point (AP) and a Station (STA) to protect WUR frames, enhancing reliability and preventing unnecessary awakenings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If WUR frames are transmitted without TSF synchronization protection, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to malicious attacks and channel congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing TSF synchronization before WUR frame transmission. The AP and STA establish synchronized TSF timers in advance through beacon frames and WUR frames containing TSF information. This pre-synchronization enables the STA to predict when valid WUR frames will arrive, filtering out malicious or congested frames before they can cause unnecessary awakenings.
2Reliability
If TSF synchronization protection is implemented, then reliability of WUR frame transmission is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the TSF timer serve multiple functions simultaneously. The TSF timer is used for both general WLAN timing/synchronization purposes and specifically for WUR frame validation. By embedding the TSF timer value in regular beacon frames and WUR frames, the same timing mechanism provides both operational timing and security validation without requiring separate dedicated structures.
3Reliability
If WUR frames are transmitted without protection, then energy consumption is reduced, but unnecessary awakenings occur due to attacks and congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the TSF timer as a validation criterion. The STA continuously monitors the TSF timer value in received WUR frames against its own synchronized TSF timer. Only frames with matching TSF values within an acceptable window trigger wake-up actions. This feedback mechanism ensures that only legitimate, timely frames cause awakenings, filtering out malicious or stale frames while maintaining low power consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for an STA for receiving a WUR frame in a WLAN, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: receiving a WUR frame including a first portion of a TSF timer and an MIC value; calculating an MIC verification value on the basis of the first portion of the TSF timer and the TSF timer stored in the STA; and determining whether to discard the received WUR frame depending on whether the MIC value included in the WUR frame matches the calculated MIC verification value, wherein the first portion of the TSF timer included in the WUR frame is the 8-bits following the least significant N-bit in the TSF timer, and the STA may obtain a continuous 48-bit partial TSF timer value through the first portion of the TSF timer and a second portion of the TSF timer stored in the STA, and may calculate the MIC verification value on the basis of the obtained 48-bit partial TSF timer value.