Robust location distinction using temporal link signatures

摘要

The ability of a receiver to determine when a transmitter has changed location is important for energy conservation in wireless sensor networks, for physical security of radio tagged objects, and for wireless network security in detection of replication attacks. In embodiments of the present invention, a measured temporal link signature is determined to uniquely identify the link between a transmitter and a receiver. The temporal link signature is an impulse response of a transmitted signal from the transmitter over a channel between the transmitter and a receiver over a channel. When the transmitter changes location, or if an attacker at a different location assumes the identity of the transmitter, the proposed link distinction methodology reliably detects the change in the physical channel. This detection can be performed at a single receiver or collaboratively by multiple receivers.

主权项

1. A method for location distinction, comprising:
determining a baseline temporal link signature of a channel between a transmitter located at a first location and a receiver at a second location, wherein said baseline temporal link signature is characteristic of a first impulse response of at least one transmitted signal over said channel, the transmitted signal comprising a plurality of multipath signal components, each multipath signal component including a time delay and an amplitude, wherein the baseline temporal link signature is based on the amplitude of each multipath signal component at each time delay; receiving a signal at said receiver based on a second transmitted signal from an unknown transmitter at an unknown location; determining a temporal link signature based on said second signal that is received, wherein said temporal link signature is characteristic of a second impulse response of said second transmitted signal over an unknown channel between said unknown transmitter and said receiver; and detecting a change between said first location and said second location by determining if said temporal link signature is different from said baseline temporal link signature, wherein said detecting a change comprises:
performing an authentication process with said transmitter; and detecting that said unknown transmitter is posing as said transmitter when said temporal link signature is different from said baseline temporal link signature and when said authentication process fails, wherein said second location of said receiver is static.