Cloaking of radio signals
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsDavid Steer, David Bevan, Simon Gale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention comprises a device that, based upon signals transmitted by devices within a wireless network, causes masking signals to be selectively transmitted. For example, the device may not cause masking signals to be transmitted if the signal does not include confidential data, for example it is an acknowledgement message. Additionally, the strength, coding rate and modulation format of the masking signals may be varied to provide increased data security.
Claims24
A method of masking a signal outside an intended coverage region of a wireless network, the signal being transmitted by a device within the wireless network, the method comprising the steps of,
- a) determining a property of the signal;
- b) determining, from the property, whether to transmit a masking signal;
- and
- c) upon determining to transmit a masking signal, transmitting a masking signal outside the intended coverage region.
Apparatus comprising:
- an input to receive a representation of a signal transmitted by a device within a wireless network;
- a controller to determine a property of the signal and, from the property, determine whether to transmit a masking signal;
- and
- an output to cause a masking signal to be transmitted, wherein the masking signal is transmitted outside the intended coverage region of the wireless network.
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program configured to cause a controller to perform the steps of:
- a) determining a property of a signal transmitted by a device within a wireless network;
- b) determining, from the property, whether to transmit a masking signal;
- and
- c) upon determining to transmit a masking signal, transmitting a masking signal outside the intended coverage region of the wireless network.
A calibration sensor comprising,
- a) an input in communication with an antenna, the antenna being configured to receive a signal transmitted by a device in a wireless network and a masking signal;
- and
- b) a controller to detect the relative strengths of the signal and the masking signal such that the strength of the masking signal is increased if the strength of the masking signal is less than the strength of the signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.