UWB receiver and method of operation

An ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver, comprising:

• a correlation unit configured to perform a correlation function by correlating an input signal received by the UWB receiver with a predefined sequence and to generate a correlation output based on correlating said input signal with the predefined sequence;
• a first path detection unit configured to receive the correlation output and to detect a first path by evaluating the correlator output during a correlation window, said correlation window being a predefined period of time;
• and
• an attack mitigation unit configured to mitigate one or more attacks on the correlation function by detecting a maximum amplitude of the input signal provided to the correlation unit and by deriving a threshold for detecting the first path from said maximum amplitude of the input signal.

An ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver, comprising:

• a correlation unit configured to perform a correlation function by correlating an input signal received by the UWB receiver with a predefined sequence and to generate a correlation output based on correlating said input signal with the predefined sequence;
• a first path detection unit configured to receive the correlation output and to detect a first path by evaluating the correlator output during a correlation window, said correlation window being a predefined period of time;
• and
• an attack mitigation unit configured to mitigate one or more attacks on the correlation function, wherein the attack mitigation unit comprises a limiter operatively coupled to the correlation unit, and wherein the attack mitigation unit is configured to mitigate said attacks by causing the limiter to clip high peak values of the input signal.

A method of operating an ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver, the UWB receiver comprising an attack mitigation unit, a correlation unit and a first path detection unit, the method comprising:

• mitigating, by the attack mitigation unit, one or more attacks on a correlation function performed by the correlation unit;
• performing, by the correlation unit, the correlation function by correlating an input signal received by the UWB receiver with a predefined sequence;
• generating, by said correlation unit, a correlation output based on correlating said input signal with the predefined sequence;
• receiving, by the first path detection unit, the correlation output;
• and
• detecting, by the first path detection unit, a first path by evaluating the correlator output during a correlation window, said correlation window being a predefined period of time,
• wherein mitigating, by the attack mitigation unit, said one or more attacks on the correlation function comprises at least one of:
• adding extensions to the predefined sequence before a start of the predefined sequence and after an end of the predefined sequence, wherein the predefined sequence comprises a scrambled timestamp sequence (STS) and the extensions comprise a random sequence of bits;
• detecting a maximum amplitude of the input signal provided to the correlation unit and by deriving a threshold for detecting the first path from said maximum amplitude of the input signal;
• or
• causing a limiter operatively coupled to the correlation unit to clip high peak values of the input signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing machine instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

• cause an attack mitigation unit to mitigate one or more attacks on a correlation function performed by a correlation unit, wherein the attack mitigation unit and the correlation unit are included in an ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver;
• cause the correlation unit to perform the correlation function by correlating an input signal received by the UWB receiver with a predefined sequence;
• cause the correlation unit to generate a correlation output based on correlating said input signal with the predefined sequence;
• cause a first path detection unit to receive the correlation output, wherein the first path detection unit is included in the UWB receiver;
• and
• cause the first path detection unit to detect a first path by evaluating the correlator output during a correlation window, said correlation window being a predefined period of time,
• wherein causing said attack mitigation unit to mitigate said one or more attacks on the correlation function comprises at least one of:
• causing said attack mitigation unit to add extensions to the predefined sequence before a start of the predefined sequence and after an end of the predefined sequence, wherein the predefined sequence comprises a scrambled timestamp sequence (STS) and the extensions comprise a random sequence of bits;
• causing said attack mitigation unit to detect a maximum amplitude of the input signal provided to the correlation unit and to derive a threshold for detecting the first path from said maximum amplitude of the input signal;
• or
• causing a limiter of said attack mitigation unit that is operatively coupled to the correlation unit to clip high peak values of the input signal.