Transmitter identification and validation system and method

• US 5,329,591 A
• Filed: 04/23/1993
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barry J. Magrill
• Original Assignee: Barry J. Magrill
• Inventors: Magrill, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cain, David C.
• Application Number:
  US08/052,378
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 380/23, 380/25, 375/1, 375/95.1, 340/372
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/79 Radio fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A transmitter identification and validation system and method are operable to receive a signal transmitted by a subject transmitter and produce first and second output signals corresponding to the received signal, evaluate the first and second output signals and extract and produce respectively therefrom an observed identification (ID) code corresponding to the subject transmitter of the received signal and an observed parameter value corresponding to a parameter of the received signal, store in memory sets of ID codes and parameter values corresponding to valid transmitters, compare the observed ID code and parameter value of the received signal from the subject transmitter with the stored sets of stored ID codes and parameter values, and, as a result of the comparison, determine whether the subject transmitter of the received signal matches one of the valid transmitters. The system and method are also operable to update the stored parameter value of the one of valid transmitters with the observed parameter value of the subject transmitter in response to determining that the subject transmitter matches the one valid transmitter.

Claims

1. A transmitter identification and validation system, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a signal transmitted by a subject transmitter and producing first and second output signals corresponding to the received signal;

(b) means for evaluating the first and second output signals and extracting and producing respectively therefrom an observed identification (ID) code corresponding to the subject transmitter of the received signal and at least one observed parameter value corresponding to at least one parameter of the received signal;

(c) means for storing sets of ID codes and parameter values corresponding to valid transmitters;

(d) means for comparing the observed ID code and observed parameter value of the received signal from the subject transmitter with said stored sets of ID codes and of parameter values and for generating, in response to the comparing, a pair of scores respectively proportional to the degree of match of the observed ID code with one of stored ID codes and to the degree of match of the observed parameter value with one of the stored parameter values; and

(e) means for evaluating the respective scores generated by said comparing means and for deciding, first, based on one of the scores whether or not the subject transmitter of the received signal is recognized as matching one of the valid transmitters and, second, based on the other of the scores the likelihood that the subject transmitter of the received signal is legitimate.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for updating said stored parameter value of said one of the valid transmitters with the observed parameter value of the subject transmitter in response to deciding that the subject transmitter is recognized and has a sufficient likelihood of legitimacy.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said receiving means includes:

an antenna for receiving the signal transmitted by the subject transmitter; and

a radio receiver for receiving the signal received by the antenna and producing the first and second output signals corresponding to the received signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said evaluating means includes a digital computer for receiving and evaluating the first output signal and the second output signal and assigning values thereto corresponding the observed ID code and the observed parameter of the received signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first output signal is a digital signal and the second output signal includes an analog signal.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said evaluating means includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting said analog signal produced by said receiver to digital signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the observed parameter of the received signal is selected from the following set of parameters:

rate of change of signal amplitude at a specific time;

ratio of signal amplitudes at two different times;

rate of change of signal frequency at a specific time;

instantaneous frequency at a specific time;

frequency modulation index; and

amplitude modulation percentage.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said storing means includes a content-addressable memory for storing said sets of stored ID codes and parameter values corresponding to valid transmitters and, in response to receiving said observed parameter value, for recalling a stored ID code corresponding thereto and, in response to receiving said observed ID code, for recalling a stored parameter value corresponding thereto.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said comparing means includes a pair of comparison devices, one of said comparison devices for receiving and comparing said observed ID code with said stored ID code and generating said score proportional to the degree of match between said compared codes, the other of said comparison device for receiving and comparing said observed parameter value with said stored parameter value and generating said score proportional to the degree of match between said parameter values.

10. A transmitter identification and validation system, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a signal transmitted by a subject transmitter and producing first and second output signals corresponding to the received signal;

(b) means for evaluating the first and second output signals and extracting and producing respectively therefrom an observed identification (ID) code corresponding to the subject transmitter of the received signal and a plurality of observed parameter values corresponding to a plurality of parameters of the received signal;

(c) means for storing sets of ID codes and parameter values corresponding to valid transmitters;

(d) means for comparing the observed ID code and the plurality of observed parameter values of the received signal from the subject transmitter with said stored sets of ID codes and of parameter value and for generating, in response to the comparing, a pair of scores respectively proportional to the degree of match of the observed ID code with one of the stored ID codes and to the degree of match of the observed parameter value with one of the stored parameter values; and

(e) means for evaluating the respective scores generated by said comparing means and for deciding, first, based on one of the scores whether or not the subject transmitter of the received signal is recognized as matching one of the valid transmitters and, second, based on the other of the scores the likelihood that the subject transmitter of the received signal is legitimate.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for updating said stored parameter value of said one of the valid transmitters with the observed parameter value of the subject transmitter in response to deciding that the subject transmitter is recognized and has a sufficient likelihood of legitimacy.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said receiving means includes:

an antenna for receiving the signal transmitted by the subject transmitter; and

a radio receiver for receiving the signal received by the antenna and producing the first and second output signals corresponding to the received signal.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said evaluating means includes a digital computer for receiving and evaluating the first output signal and the second output signal and assigning values thereto corresponding the observed ID code and the plurality of observed parameters of the received signal.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the first output signal is a digital signal and the second output signal includes an analog signal.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said evaluating means includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting said analog signal produced by said receiver to digital signal.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of observed parameters of the received signal are selected from the following set of parameters:

rate of change of signal amplitude at a specific time;

ratio of signal amplitudes at two different times;

rate of change of signal frequency at a specific time;

instantaneous frequency at a specific time;

frequency modulation index; and

amplitude modulation percentage.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein said storing means includes a content-addressable memory for storing said sets of stored ID codes and parameter values corresponding to valid transmitters and, in response to receiving said plurality of observed parameter values, for recalling a stored ID code corresponding thereto and, in response to receiving said observed ID code, for recalling a plurality of stored parameter values corresponding thereto.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said comparing means includes a pair of comparison devices, one of said comparison devices for receiving and comparing said observed ID code with said stored ID code and generating said score proportional to the degree of match between said compared codes, the other of said comparison devices for receiving and comparing said observed parameter value with said stored parameter value and generating said score proportional to the degree of match between said parameter values.

19. A transmitter identification and validation method, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a signal transmitted by a subject transmitter and producing first and second output signals corresponding to the received signal;

(b) evaluating the first and second output signals and extracting and producing respectively therefrom an observed identification (ID) code corresponding to the subject transmitter of the received signal and an observed parameter value corresponding to a parameter of the received signal;

(c) storing in a memory sets of ID codes and parameter values corresponding to valid transmitters;

(d) receiving the observed ID code and the observed parameter value and, in response thereto, recalling a stored ID code and a store parameter value corresponding thereto;

(e) comparing the observed ID code and the observed parameter value of the received signal from the subject transmitter respectively with the recalled ID code and the recalled parameter value;

(f) generating, in response to the comparing, a pair of scores respectively proportional to the degree of match of the observed ID code with one of store ID codes and to the degree of match of the observed parameter value with one of the stored parameter values; and

(g) evaluating the respective scores and deciding, first, based on one of the scores whether or not the subject transmitter of the received signal is recognized as matching one of the valid transmitters and, second, based on the other of the scores the likelihood that the subject transmitter of the received signal is legitimate.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of:

updating said stored parameter value of said one of the valid transmitters with the observed parameter value of the subject transmitter in response to deciding that the subject transmitter is recognized and has a sufficient likelihood of legitimacy.