Signal masking for secure backscattered communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024356635-A1
Application number	US-202318303124-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2023
Priority date	Apr 19, 2023
Publication date	Oct 24, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Examples are disclosed that relate to improving security of radio frequency (RF) backscattered communication. In one example, a RF device includes a primary RF signal receiver, a secondary signal receiver, a signal mixer, and a transmitter. The primary RF signal receiver is configured to receive a RF carrier signal sent from a base station. The secondary signal receiver is configured to receive a masking signal from the base station. The signal mixer is configured to generate a response signal based at least on the RF carrier signal and generate a mixed signal by mixing the response signal and the masking signal. The transmitter is configured to broadcast the mixed signal, via backscattering, as a masked backscattered signal.

First claim

1 . A radio frequency (RF) device, comprising:
a primary RF signal receiver configured to receive a RF carrier signal sent from a base station; a secondary signal receiver configured to receive a masking signal from the base station; a signal mixer configured to generate a response signal based at least on the RF carrier signal and generate a mixed signal by mixing the response signal and the masking signal; and a transmitter configured to broadcast the mixed signal, via backscattering, as a masked backscattered signal.

2 . The RF device of claim 1 , wherein the masking signal is an audio signal.

3 . The RF device of claim 1 , wherein the masking signal is an optical signal.

4 . The RF device of claim 1 , wherein the masking signal is a vibrational signal.

5 . The RF device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a signal, and wherein the signal mixer is configured to generate the response signal based at least on the sensed signal.

6 . The RF device of claim 5 , wherein the sensed signal is an audio signal.

7 . The RF device of claim 5 , wherein the sensed signal is a resistive or capacitive signal.

8 . The RF device of claim 1 , wherein the RF device and the base station are positioned on a shared substrate, and wherein the masking signal is transmitted through the shared substrate.

9 . The RF device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an energy harvester configured to harvest energy from the RF carrier signal, wherein the harvested energy is supplied to the transmitter to broadcast the masked backscattered signal.

10 . The RF device of claim 1 , wherein a shape of a noise profile of the masking signal is based at least on a frequency or temporal characteristic of the response signal.

11 . The RF device of claim 1 , wherein the masking signal is configured to obfuscate a part of interest of the response signal.

12 . The RF device of claim 1 , wherein the masking signal encodes an individualized identifier associated with the RF device.

13 . A method comprising:
receiving, via a primary RF signal receiver of an RF device, a RF carrier signal sent from a base station; receiving, via a secondary signal receiver of the RF device, a masking signal from the base station; generating, via a signal mixer of the RF device, a response signal based at least on the RF carrier signal; generating, via the signal mixer of the RF device, a mixed signal by mixing the response signal and the masking signal; and broadcasting the mixed signal via a transmitter of the RF device, via backscattering, as a masked backscattered signal.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
sensing, via a sensor, a signal, and wherein the response signal is generated based at least on the sensed signal.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
harvesting energy from the RF carrier signal via an energy harvester, and wherein the harvested energy is supplied to the transmitter to broadcast the masked backscattered signal.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the RF device and the base station are positioned on a shared substrate, and wherein the masking signal is transmitted through the shared substrate.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a shape of a noise profile of the masking signal is based at least on a frequency or temporal characteristic of the response signal.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the masking signal is configured to obfuscate a part of interest of the response signal.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the masking signal encodes an individualized identifier associated with the RF device.

20 . A battery-free RF device, comprising:
a primary RF signal receiver configured to receive a RF carrier signal sent from a base station positioned on a shared substrate with the battery-free RF device; an energy harvester configured to harvest energy from the RF carrier signal; a secondary signal receiver configured to receive a masking signal from the base station through the shared substrate; a signal mixer configured to generate a response signal based at least on the RF carrier signal and generate a mixed signal by mixing the response signal and the masking signal; and a transmitter configured to broadcast the mixed signal, via backscattering, as a masked backscattered signal using the energy harvested from the RF carrier signal.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Nattar Ranganathan Vaishnavi
• Priyantha Nissanka Arachchige Bodhi
• Nakahara Mike
• Iyer Vikram Subramaniam
• Desai Harsh Sandesh

Classifications

• H04B13/00

  Transmission systems characterised by the medium used for transmission, not provided for in groups H04B3/00 - H04B11/00 · CPC title

• H04B11/00

  Transmission systems employing ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves · CPC title

• H04B10/1149

  Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information · CPC title

• H04B1/18

  Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) · CPC title

• H04K3/827

  using characteristics of target signal or of transmission (as countermeasure against jamming H04K3/25), e.g. using direct sequence spread spectrum or fast frequency hopping (spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69) · CPC title