WO2014095651A1 - Method of decoying of a system for interception and jamming by inserting dummy synchronization patterns into the signal emitted and emitter implementing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of decoying of a system for interception and/or jamming, consisting in generating, in a signal to be emitted, a dummy sequence (SYNC_F), said method comprising the following steps: - defining said dummy sequence (SYNC_F) and its temporal and/or frequential position within the signal to be emitted, the values of the symbols of said dummy sequence and their temporal and/or frequential positions being different from those of the symbols of a synchronization sequence (SYNC) that the said signal comprises, - estimating the value and the position of the dummy bits (B_F) to be inserted within the data sequence (D_u, T) to be emitted at the input of the emission chain so as to obtain, in the sequence produced at the output of the emission chain, the predetermined value and predetermined temporal position of the symbols of said dummy sequence (SYNC_F), - inserting, within said data sequence (D_u, T), the dummy bits (B_F) at the positions obtained.

Description

 METHOD OF SINKING AN INTERCEPTION SYSTEM AND

 INTERRUPTION INTERFERENCE BY INSERTING SYNCHRONIZATION PATTERNS FACILITATED IN THE SIGNAL EMITTED ETEMETTER USING THE METHOD

The technical field of the invention is that of the fight against the jamming of telecommunications systems and the intrusion into such systems. The invention aims to provide a solution for preventing the interception and / or jamming of a signal emitted by a transmitting equipment, such as a telephone or a portable terminal.

 The invention relates to a method of decoying an interception and jamming system by inserting dummy synchronization patterns into the signal transmitted by the transmitting equipment. The dummy patterns inserted are intended to disrupt the signal analysis of the transmitter by the interception and jamming system and to disperse both the computing power of its interception function and the power of the interference signal. The dummy synchronization pattern (s) are introduced into the transmitted signal by generating a bit sequence adapted directly in the binary data sequence to be transmitted.

 The invention does not require any modification of the transmitter equipment because it intervenes at the input of the transmission channel.

The communication systems use, during the generation of the signal to be transmitted, particular sequences, inserted in the signal, which are used to synchronize the transmitter and receiver equipment with each other. These synchronization sequences are fixed once and for all by the communication protocol or the system implementation standard and are inserted in the signal to be transmitted with the modulated information sequences.

In the field of interference, one objective is to neutralize a communication system by emitting, at the same radio frequency, a high power signal and thus cause a loss of synchronization at the same time. within the communication system. An interception and jamming system has interception and analysis functions by which it can detect a synchronization sequence within a signal emitted by a transmitter, then scramble this sequence precisely in a coherent manner with respect to a receiver, so that the synchronization between the transmitter and a compatible receiver of the transmitter is no longer possible.

 A problem to be solved relates to the development of a decoy solution implemented in a transmission transmitter to prevent or making more complex and / or less effective scrambling synchronization sequences within the transmitted signal. An associated subproblem is to design a solution that is weakly complex, from the point of view of its implementation, and that requires little or no modification of the transmitting and / or receiving equipment of the communication system. In particular, the solution must make it possible to maintain compatibility with the telecommunications standard implemented and to preserve the synchronization between transmitters and receivers despite the presence of jammers.

Various methods are known to protect a communication of external disturbances due to electromagnetic interference or intentional jamming. There may be mentioned in particular direct sequence spread spectrum (Spread Spectrum), frequency hopping spreading (English Frequency Hopping) or time hopping spreading techniques (English Time Hopping).

 In addition, there are also known spatial anti-interference methods by antenna processing which apply to receivers and, where appropriate, to transmitters with antenna networks.

All these methods are implemented at the level of the lower layers, in particular of the physical layer, of a modem and thus require modifying the waveform or integrating additional processing on the transmitted or received signal. So these methods require a design specific impact not only embedded software in transmitting and receiving stations but also hardware components such as the radio channel or antennas. The aim of the invention is to solve the aforementioned problems and to eliminate the limitations of the solutions of the prior art by proposing a method of decoying interception and scrambling systems consisting in carrying out a specific coding of the useful data to be transmitted so as to generate indirectly in the signal emitted in fine, one or more dummy synchronization patterns in the form of stationary patterns. The implementation of the method according to the invention at the level of the useful data to be transmitted and not at the output of the transmission chain makes it possible not to alter the properties of the transmitter with respect to the respect of the telecommunications standard used. .

The invention thus relates to a method of decoying against an interception and / or jamming system, consisting in generating, in a signal to be transmitted, at least one dummy sequence so as to decoy the said system while preserving the synchronization with a receiver of said transmitted signal, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

 Defining said dummy sequence and its temporal and / or frequency position within the signal to be transmitted, the values of the symbols of said dummy sequence and their temporal and / or frequency positions being different from those of the symbols of a synchronization sequence that comprises said signal,

- estimate the value and the position of the dummy bits to be inserted in the data sequence to be transmitted at the input of the transmission channel or of a sub-part of the transmission chain so as to obtain, in the sequence produced at the output of the chain of emission, the value and the predefined temporal position of the symbols of said dummy sequence,

 - Insert, within said data sequence, the dummy bits at the obtained positions.

 At the cost of a slight loss of useful flow, the implementation of the decoying method according to the invention applied to a communication system gives it resistance to a selective interception and jamming system which will then hang on. and selectively scrambling the dummy synchronization sequences instead of hooking and selectively scrambling the synchronization patterns actually used by a compatible receiver of said communication system.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, when the transfer function F of the transmission chain is invertible, the value and the position of the dummy bits are estimated by determining the inverse transfer function F ^"1 of said transfer function F and applying said inverse transfer function F ^"1 to said dummy sequence.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the inverse transfer function F ^"1 of said transmission chain is determined by carrying out the composition, in reverse order, of the inverse transfer functions of the different blocks composing said chain.

According to one particular aspect of the invention, the transmission chain comprises at least one output correction code k / n for which the inversion of its transfer function is performed by solving the system of equations following m0, p _l ^m 0, p ₂ ^m 0, p, ^{■■■ m} 0, p _d

where [cp- | . . . Cpd] are the mk-1, _Pl ^m kl, p ₂ ^m k1, p ₃ - ^{■ m} kl, p _d

symbols whose value is fixed in the coded sequence, [i ₀ , - - - i _k -i] is the sequence to be produced at the input of said code, and m _iiP j are the coefficients of the matrix generating said code, pi, p ₂ , ... pd being the set of positions of symbols whose value is fixed in the coded sequence, with d an integer at most equal to the number n of symbols of the coded sequence.

 According to a particular aspect of the invention, said correction code is a linear block code or a convolutional code or a turbo-code or a low density code LDPC

 According to a particular aspect of the invention, the transmission system further comprises a stirrer and / or an interleaver and / or a framing module and / or a signal binary coder and / or a modulator.

 According to a particular aspect of the invention, when the transfer function F of the transmission chain is non-surjective, the value and the position of the dummy bits are estimated by searching the input sequence T 'of the transmission channel which minimizes a distance criterion between the sequence F (T ') (t) obtained at the output of the transmission chain when said sequence T' is actually produced at its input, and said dummy sequence.

 According to one particular aspect of the invention, said distance criterion is taken equal to the integral, over a given duration, of the standard squared of the difference between the sequence F (T ') (t) obtained at the output of the chain of transmission and said dummy sequence.

 According to a particular aspect of the invention, the search for the input sequence T 'of the transmission chain which minimizes said distance criterion is carried out on a subset of the set of possible bit sequences at the input of the channel of emission.

 According to a particular aspect of the invention, said data sequence is produced by an application, for example an audio, image or video coder.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, when the transfer function F of the transmission chain is non-surjective, the dummy bits are inserted in the sequence produced at the input of a sub-part of the transmission channel whose transfer function is surjective and whose output is common at the output of the transmission chain. According to a particular aspect of the invention, said transmission channel comprises an encryption device and said sub-part of the transmission channel excludes this device.

 According to a particular aspect of the invention, said dummy sequence is positioned in a non-vulnerable time and / or frequency zone of the signal to be transmitted.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, said non-vulnerable zone is a part of the signal protected by a correction code or is a stuffing zone containing no useful information.

 According to a particular aspect of the invention, when the signal comprising said dummy sequence is received by said receiver the dummy bits are removed from the data sequence.

 The subject of the invention is also a device for transmitting a signal comprising a transmission channel for transforming a data sequence to be transmitted into a signal to be transmitted and means adapted to implement the method according to the invention.

 The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions for executing the method according to the invention, when the program is executed by a processor.

 The subject of the invention is also a recording medium readable by a processor on which is recorded a program comprising instructions for executing the method according to the invention, when the program is executed by a processor.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the description which follows in relation to the appended drawings which represent:

FIG. 1, a diagram illustrating the problem of scrambling synchronization sequences in a signal transmitted by a transmitter and sent to a receiver, FIG. 2, a diagram illustrating the solution proposed by the invention for solving the aforementioned problem,

 FIGS. 3a, 3b, two diagrams illustrating the generation, according to the invention, of dummy synchronization patterns,

 FIG. 4, a block diagram of the various functions successively implemented by a transmitter of a communication system for transmitting a signal containing data to be transmitted,

 FIG. 5, a diagram of the shift registers of a convolutional code of output ½,

 FIG. 6, a representation, for the example of convolutional code associated with FIG. 5, of the matrix generating such a code,

FIG. 7, an illustration of the necessary and sufficient condition for imposing, at the output of the convolutional code defined in FIGS. 5 and 6, the values of a sequence of consecutive bits,

 FIG. 8, an illustration of the parity relations of a punch code.

In the rest of the description, the expression "useful data", "useful bits", "useful information" or "useful symbols" is used to designate the binary data to be transmitted between the application executed by a transmitter and the application. correspondingly executed by a receiver as opposed to the binary data present in the transmitted frames but which are not intended for the application executed by the receiver but are used for signaling, synchronization or any other function necessary for the proper functioning of the transmission system. communication.

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a diagram, the problem of the jamming of synchronization sequences in a signal sent by a transmitter and sent to a receiver. At the top of the figure is shown a wireless communication system in the form of an emitter EM which communicates with a receiver REC by radio wave. The transformation of the binary data to be transmitted into a radio signal S can be specified by a standard or a telecommunications standard. This specification defines, in particular, the insertion, within the signal to be transmitted, of synchronization sequences SYNC. Such sequences consist of symbols known from the system equipment and positioned periodically or in a time pattern also known from both the EM transmitter and the REC receiver that implement the same telecommunications standard. By performing a correlation of the known synchronization sequence with the received signal, the receiver REC can synchronize temporally with the transmitter by detecting for example the beginning or the end of a frame, indicated by the presence of said sequence, within of the transmitted signal.

 In the field of passive listening, there are devices called INT interceptors which are able to intercept the signal emitted by an EM transmitter, to synchronize with synchronization SYNC sequences and to demodulate and / or analyze if necessary symbols intercepted to decode the information or reproduce the corresponding signal.

In the interference field, there are also BR jammers, coupled to INT interceptors, which aim to neutralize the EM communications system, REC by transmitting at the same radio frequency a high power signal, compatible, strongly correlated or similar with the signals expected by the target receiver, resulting in the loss of system synchronization. The BRJNT interception and jamming systems thus have both interception functions by which they can detect, identify and regenerate synchronization sequences within a transmitted signal, and scrambling functions based on broadcast transmissions. Signals strongly correlated or identical with the signal expected by the target receiver. By concentrating the scrambling power only on a SYNC synchronization sequence, and, the where appropriate, by reproducing the SYNC sequence or a close sequence, as illustrated at the bottom of Figure 1, the interference efficiency is enhanced because it concentrates its jamming power on the time portions of the transmitted signal which are the most vulnerable, namely the synchronization sequences, and thus penetrates deeply into the reception chain of the REC receiver.

 The example of the synchronization sequences is not limiting and can be extended to any sequence of known symbols fixed a priori by the telecommunications standard or the radio access technology and which, when they are scrambled, cause a malfunction of the system. In particular, such sequences also include the equalization sequences and frame synchronization patterns within the signal. These sequences, as the case may be, precede or are multiplexed with the information to be transmitted. They most often have a limited combinatorial position and value which increases their vulnerability to interception and jamming.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in a diagram similar to that of FIG. 1, the principle underlying the invention making it possible to decoy an interception system INT and / or a scrambler BR in order to preserve synchronization within the control system. EM communication, REC.

According to the invention, one or more SYNCF dummy synchronization patterns are introduced within the signal emitted by the emitter EM. These dummy sequences have stationary characteristics that are easily detectable by an interceptor. They are inserted periodically or in a predetermined temporal pattern within the signal to be transmitted. For example, they may be inserted with a period identical to that of the actual synchronization patterns SYNC present in the signal but with a time offset and / or a frequency offset so that the dummy synchronization sequences do not replace, in whole or in part , the actual synchronization sequences that must be preserved to ensure the proper functioning of the communication system. The SYNC _F dummy sequence (s) may advantageously be positioned on the least vulnerable or best protected parts of the signal, for example on parts protected by a robust correction code or on frequencies or blanking time intervals of useful data. and not exploited for taking synchronization or access to the network, or on frequencies or time intervals empty of useful data and dedicated for this purpose.

 The symbol values and positions of the SYNCF dummy synchronization sequences are defined by values and / or positions different from those used by the legitimate receiver for the purposes specific to establishing the radiocommunication with the transmitter, in order to avoid any confusion with the sequences used by the legitimate receiver. The expression legitimate receiver here designates a REC compatible receiver of the communication system and able to communicate with an EM transmitter of said system.

The values and periodicity characteristics of the SYNCF dummy synchronization sequences are preferably chosen from patterns similar to those used in the telecommunications field and easy to identify for an interceptor. It may for example be patterns close to those commonly intended for frequency synchronization consisting of series of identical symbols "0000 ..." or "1 1 1 1 ...". It may also be patterns close to those commonly intended for time synchronization consisting of series of alternating symbols "010101 ...". It may also be sequences of symbols similar to those used in certain known civil standards operating the same frequency ranges as the transmitter. In any case, the values and positions of the symbols of the dummy synchronization sequences must, however, be different from those used by the communication system to ensure synchronization between a transmitter and a receiver. The insertion of such dummy synchronization sequences does not disturb the synchronization between the transmitter EM and receiver REC equipment because the dummy sequences chosen are sufficiently decorrelated from the actual synchronization sequences used within the communication system. The values and positions, in the time-frequency domain, of the symbols of the dummy sequences are chosen such that they are different from the values and positions of the actual synchronization sequences. Thus, the dummy sequences can be processed by a receiver of the communication system either as random data comparable to transmitted data, or as decoys whose values and positions are known a priori and which are therefore easily identifiable to be eliminated during the synchronization process.

The purpose of inserting dummy synchronization sequences into the signal is to decoy an interception and interference system INT, BR. The ability of the scrambler to identify and analyze the signal is impaired by the existence of such dummy sequences that the scrambler tends to detect and identify as actual synchronization sequences. The computational capacity of the interception function of the interferer is solicited on non-significant sequences of the signal, the scrambling signal will tend to be transmitted on the time zones of the signal corresponding to the dummy sequences while the actual synchronization sequences are preserved. Oriented identification techniques that the interception function could implement are disrupted by the appearance of dummy signals, and even more so if they are produced in large quantities and are variable from one communication to another or managed with long-term fluctuation mechanisms.

The performance of an interception and jamming system is further diminished by the fact that a large number of Fake synchronization are present in the transmitted signal. Indeed, the scrambler analysis system is obliged to disperse its computational efforts, up to the possible saturation of its computing capabilities, on artificial patterns other than the actual synchronization pattern since it has no means to recognize it a priori. Even if the jammer analysis system works with a database of signals to be identified (according to an oriented analysis and identification approach), the implementation of the invention will tend to charge artificially said database, to disperse the efforts of analysis and oriented research and to penalize the identification, especially if the artificial artificially created motives are made intentionally fluctuating according to the time.

 The invention thus makes it possible to lure an intelligent jammer but also to prevent the synchronization of the signal emitted by any receiving or intercepting equipment which does not have the knowledge of the real synchronization pattern.

Inserting a dummy synchronization pattern into a modulated symbol frame at the output of the transmission chain leads to modifying the transmission channel itself and therefore the transmitter itself, which is not always technically possible on the one hand, or desirable from the point of view of the complexity of implementation.

 The aim of the invention is to allow the introduction of false synchronization patterns by intervening at the input of the transmission chain, that is to say directly on the binary data to be transmitted, without modification of the transmission chain, and by through software means.

Figures 3a, 3b illustrate the method of generating dummy sequences according to the invention.

FIG. 3a schematically illustrates the transformation undergone by a binary data sequence useful to be transmitted in order to obtain a sequence of modulated S _T symbols, ready to be transmitted in the form of a radio signal. The transformation executed corresponds to the transfer function F of the transmission chain of the transmitter. The sequence of modulated symbols S _T consists on the one hand of useful symbols Su resulting from the transformation of the useful binary data Du and on the other hand of at least one synchronization sequence SYNC or an equivalent sequence composed of known symbols of all the equipment of the communication system.

FIG. 3b illustrates the implementation of the method according to the invention. In a first step, the location and constitution of the SYNCF dummy synchronization sequence are chosen in an empty frame T _F , of the same size as a real frame of modulated symbols S _T and on a given frequency channel f. The selected time position and / or frequency channel are different from the time position and / or the frequency channel of a real synchronization sequence. The size and exact nature of the dummy sequence can be variable.

In a second step, it is estimated the value and the position of the dummy bits B _F to be inserted within the data sequence to be transmitted, at the input of the transmission chain, so as to obtain, at the output of the chain of emission, the value and the predefined temporal position of the symbols of said fake sequence SYNC _F. This operation can be performed by calculating the inverse transfer function F ^"1 of the transfer function F implemented by the transmission chain and then by applying the inverse transfer function F ^{" 1} to the dummy frame T _F to obtain a frame modulated D _F comprising the dummy bits B _F.

The dummy bits B _F are then inserted into the actual data sequence to be transmitted from the input of the transmission chain by punching, shifting or multiplexing the useful bits corresponding to the actual data sequence. The sequence of modulated symbols obtained at the output of the transmission chain comprises both the useful symbols Su, the real synchronization pattern SYNC and the dummy synchronization pattern SYNC _F. The dummy bits can thus be introduced directly into the data sequence to be transmitted without modifying or intruding into the transmission chain of the transmitting equipment. If the data to be transmitted comes from an application, for example an audio or video source coder, it is possible to intercept the application binary data before entering the transmission chain which is implemented at the level of the physical layer. a modem. This interception can be done at an intermediate layer, for example at the network layer.

 Upon reception of the signal by the receiver REC, the dummy bits are deleted from the demodulated and decoded data sequence.

FIG. 4 represents a block diagram of the various functions successively implemented by a transmitter of a communication system for transmitting a signal containing data to be transmitted. The main functions traditionally implemented are represented, it being understood that the diagram of FIG. 4 is given for illustrative and nonlimiting purposes. In particular, some functions may be omitted and the order of some functions may be changed. The transfer function F of the transmission chain is equal to the composition of the transfer functions of each functional block independent of the string, it being understood that the blocks are connected in series. The inverse transfer function F ^"1 is, when it exists, equal to the composition, in reverse order, of the inverse transfer functions of each block, that is, if fi, f ₂ , ... fN are the transfer functions of each functional block of the chain, then the global transfer function F is equal to F = of ₂ o ... o ÎN and the inverse transfer function F ^"1 is equal to F ^{" 1} = f _N ^{" 1} of _N -i ^"1 o _... o fi ^{" 1} -

To estimate the global inverse transfer function F ^"1 , it is therefore necessary to determine the inverse transfer function of each unit block.

The direct transfer function F of the transmission system can be known when the invention is implemented by the system designer communication system or when said system complies with a known standard. It can also be estimated by testing the sending equipment, for example by injecting test signals at its input and by analyzing the signals obtained at the output.

 The transformations applied in the transmission channel on the bitstream are generally reversible, that is to say that it is possible from the bitstream output to find the input bitstream. This is the operation performed by the receiver.

However, some functions implemented by the transmission chain of a communications system may not always be surjective. In other words, it may happen that a TBC encoded bitstream, which one would like to force the values, at the output of a module of the transmission chain does not correspond to any series of TBU useful bits at the input of said module. For example, the channel coding or framing operations transform a useful bitstream of length Lu into a coded bit stream of length Le. Because of the framing operations necessary to ensure receiver synchronization and error correction coding necessary to compensate for the effect of the propagation channel, in practice LoLu is still practiced. This means that among the 2 ^Lc sequences of the encoded bits, only 2 ^{L "sequences} may be obtained by encoding. Coding is therefore never surjective.

In such a case, it is not possible to determine the inverse transfer function F ^"1 of the overall transmission chain, but only the inverse F ^{" 1} of the transmission chain on the restricted image F ( {TBU}) of the {TBU} set of useful bitstreams at the input of the transmission channel.

It is therefore sought to determine to what extent it is possible to force the value of some of the bits of the coded signal. In particular, it is sought to determine the number of bits whose value can be imposed and to what extent it is possible to choose not only the value but also the position of these bits. In the case of a channel coder, we try to impose the value of a series of consecutive coded bits so as to obtain coded patterns which resemble synchronization patterns.

 The practical implementation consists in successively analyzing the different transformations of the bit stream, starting with the transformation occurring last in the transmission chain. For each transformation, the inputs to be applied are determined to output the desired coded bitstream.

In this view, the elementary transformations of the bit stream and their invertibility are analyzed case by case in the following description.

The transmission chain 400 shown in FIG. 4 comprises an application 401 capable of generating or transforming a sequence of binary data to be transmitted. The data to be transmitted can be text, audio, video or any other information. The application 401 may also include a source coding function, for example an audio, image or video coder able to suppress or reduce the redundancy of information or to reduce the noise affecting the sequence. The application 401 outputs a useful bit sequence T to be transmitted. The invention is advantageously implemented at the output of the application 401 by modifying the useful bit sequence T to insert dummy bits therein so as to obtain at the output of the transmission chain a sequence of modulated symbols F (T) (t). ) to be transmitted comprising at least one dummy synchronization pattern.

The transmission channel 400 may also include a correction coding module 402.

The objective of a corrective coding function is to transform the binary sequence of useful data received at the output of the application 401 into a protected bit sequence so that the impact of the errors due to the transmission channel is as small as possible. . To make the sequence binary useful data more robust to the imperfections of the transmission channel, the corrector coding function adds redundancy to this bit sequence.

 The determination of the inverse transfer function of a correction coding module is equivalent to finding the bit sequence to be produced at the input of the correction coder in order to obtain an encoded sequence in which the value and the position of a predetermined number of bits are imposed.

 There are different types of correcting codes including linear block codes, convolutional codes or turbo codes and LDPC low density codes.

 Subsequently, the determination of the inverse transfer function of a correction encoder is described for different types of correcting codes, linear block codes, convolutional codes, as well as turbo codes and LDPC codes.

Linear codes in blocks

A k / n efficiency linear block corrector code transforms a binary sequence comprising k symbols into a protected bit sequence comprising n symbols with n strictly greater than k. Such a code thus introduces nk redundancy symbols. The symbols may be bits or consist of several concatenated bits. The block coding operation is a one-to-one transformation of a word of the message i = (i ₀ , ..., i _k -i) into a code word c = (c ₀ , ..., c _n -i) defined by the following system of linear equations (where "+" denotes the addition modulo 2 "." denotes multiplication modulo 2) and _g are valued coefficients in the body of Welsh GF (2 ), arranged in a matrix of size nxk: c "= Σg _e " -i _e > for O <i <n-1

e = 0 Of the 2 ⁿ existing binary sequences including n bits, only 2 ^k can be generated. The correcting coding operation therefore limits the possibility of generating any desired bit sequence.

The block coding consists in producing the product of an input information vector of k bits by a binary matrix, of full rank, of size k ^* n, called generator matrix, to obtain an encoded vector of n bits. Often the code is said systematically on the left, respectively on the right, when the first k, respectively the last k, bits of the encoded vector of n bits correspond to the k bits of the input information vector. The encoding operation can be illustrated by the following relation, where io, - - - i _k -i are the bits of the input sequence, c ₀ , ... c _n -i are the bits of the coded sequence and are the coefficients of the generator matrix of the code.

m0.0 ^m 0, l ^m 0.2 ^l 0, nl

[c ₀ ... ...

mk-l, 0 ^m k, l ^m kl, 2 ¾-l, nl

Systematic block code case

In the case where the code is systematic on the left, the coded sequence is written [ ₀ · · · i _k _ _l c _k ^■■■ c _n _ ₁ ]. The inverse transform of the coding operation is to analyze the received word to determine if it is a possible code word. If it is not a possible code word, it must be replaced by the codeword at a minimum distance from the received code word. Then, as the code is systematic, the information is obtained by removing the last nk bits of the word. In other words, it is possible to impose, by the choice of the input sequence, the output value of the first k bits of the codeword. The values of the remaining nk bits are then deduced from the values chosen for the k bits that were forced. It is exactly the same for a systematic block code on the right.

Block coding cases from cyclic codes Bulk codes commonly used are cyclic block codes or are derived from cyclic block codes by punching or shortening.

In the case of a cyclic block code, if [c ₀ ... c _n _y} is a code word, any circular permutation of the word [c _{; C; +1} ... c _n _y c ₀ ... c _M ] is also a code word.

By writing in polynomial form the words of code c (x) = c ₀ + c ₁ + c ₂ x ² + ... + _c "_ ₁ "^"1 , all the code words appear as multiples of the same polynomial g ( _x ) = g ₀ + g _l - _x + g ₂ - _x ² + ... + g _n _ _k - _x " ^{~ k} , of degree nk, called generator polynomial of the code.

A word of information [i ₀ ... i _k _] can also be written in polynomial form i ( _x ) = i ₀ + i _l -x + i ₂ - _x ² + ... + i _k _ _l -x ^{k ~ l} . It is always possible to write the encoding operation in systematic form on the right. This coding operation consists in calculating the division of i ( _x ) - _x " ^{~ k} by _g ( _x ) The rest of the division is v (x) (of degree less than or equal to nk-1) and the quotient of the division is k ( _x ).

So we have i ( _x ) - _x ^{n ~ k} = k ( _x ) - _g ( _x ) + v ( _x ), and c ( _x ) = i ( _x ) - _x ^{n ~ k} + v ( _x ) = k ( _x ) - _g ( _x ).

 Since v (x) is of degree less than or equal to n-k-1, the values of the coefficients of c (x) for degrees greater than or equal to n-k are the coefficients of i (x) shifted by n-k.

 It is therefore always possible to write the cyclic block codes in systematic form on the right, and thus to impose the value of the k last bits that are equal to the information bits. Since the code is cyclic, any circular permutation of a code word is also a code word, it means that it is also possible, always for the cyclic codes, to impose the value of any group of k consecutive bits of code. 'a code word.

Moreover, the dependence between the values of the input bits of the encoder and the bits at the output of the encoder is linear. The values of the bits that must be forced into the encoder input depend linearly on the values of the other bits at the input of the encoder and the values of the forced bits at the output of the encoder.

General case of bulk codes

In the more general case where the code is not systematic nor derived from cyclic codes, a sufficient condition to be able to impose the value of a group of d bits at the output of the encoder, with d less than or equal to k, is that set of positions pi, p ₂ , ... pd, bits in the coded sequence must be such that the sub-matrix of the matrix generating the code:

mk-l, _Pl ^m kl, p ₂

is of full rank, that is to say of rank equal to d.

Indeed, when this condition is fulfilled, it is possible to determine the sequence [¾ ... ^ .J at the input of the encoder which makes it possible to fix the values of d bits or symbols in the coded sequence by solving the following system equations:

bits or symbols whose value is fixed in the coded sequence, the indices Pi, P2, - - -Pd, denoting the positions of the bits or symbols in the sequence of n bits or symbols.

Thus, for all the usual block codes, which are systematic, or cyclic, or built from cyclic codes, that is to say for most of the usual codes, it is possible to impose, by the choice of the inputs of the encoder, any group of k consecutive bits out of the n bits of the encoded vector. Moreover, in the case of two successive code words, imposing the last k bits of ¹ codeword and the first k bits of the ^2nd code word, it is possible to impose the value of a group of 2k successive bits on a binary sequence comprising at least two codewords. In the most general case, the sub-matrix of the generator matrix of the block code corresponding to the positions of the bits or symbols to be fixed is of full rank. However, in some cases, some submatrices of the generating matrix may not be of full rank. Such a case is illustrated in a nonlimiting example of a Hamming code (7.4) whose generator matrix M (7.4) is given by

The generating polynomial of this code is _g (x) = i + x + _x ³ . For this code it is possible to impose the last 4 bits (m ₀ to m ₃ ) of the code word because the coding is systematic right. To get the following code word:

[c ₀ c _l c ₂ m ₀ m _l m ₂ m ₃ ], it is sufficient to code the information vector i (x) = [m ₀ m _l m ₂ m ₃ ].

 The encoding operation is represented by the following relation:

c _wdrote M = * ^' (*) · x ^{n ~ k} + v (x) = g (x), where k _systeite ( _x ) is the vector to be encoded and c _sysrite (x) is the obtained code word.

It is also possible to impose, for example, the first 4 bits of the code word to the values of the information vector [m ₀ m ₁ m ₂ m ₃ ]. For that we have to find the information vector which, once coded, gives the following code word:

S ^(X) = 0 ™ ™ + 1 ^{'+ X} ™ ^2' ^ 3 + ™ ^ + ^{C ^} + ^ s ^{^} + ^C ^ ^■

To calculate this information vector k _{sys left} (x), we use the property that the code is invariant by circular permutation. We go from coding systematically on the right to systematic coding on the left by 4 circular permutations to the right. So the codeword

[c ₀ c _x c ₂ m ₀ m ₁ m ₂ m ₃ ] becomes the codeword

[m ₀ nm ₂ m ₃ c ₀ c ₂ ] by performing these 4 circular permutations. The code word [m ₀ m ₁ m ₂ m ₃ c ₀ c i is obtained by coding the information vector i '(x) = [m ₃ c ₀ c ₂ ] (because the code is systematic on the right).

On the other hand, one can notice that if one considers the second, the fourth, the fifth and the sixth column of the generating matrix of the code M (7,4), one obtains the following sub-matrix which is not of full rank , the coefficients of its last line being equal to 0:

 In fact, the rank of a matrix corresponds to the number of independent columns of the matrix or equivalently to the number of independent rows of the matrix.

 It is therefore not possible to force the values of these 4 bits (the second, fourth, fifth and sixth) of the coded word: if the value of 3 of these bits is forced, the value of the fourth bit is deduced. values imposed on the three forced bits.

We can not, for any code (n, k) of yield kln, force the value of any group of A: bits. On the other hand, for the codes used most frequently, it is possible to force the value of any group of consecutive k bits when the sub-matrix of the matrix generating the code associated with the positions of the bits to be set is of full rank. The dependencies between the values of the input bits of the encoder and the values of the bits at the output of the encoder are specified below.

 If it is desired to impose the value of a limited number I, less than k, of bits at the output of the encoder, it suffices to impose the value of I bits at the input of the encoder.

On the other hand, the value of these bits depends not only on the value of the pattern generated at the output of the encoder but also on the values of the other bits at the input of the encoder (which are a priori random because they are related to the useful information).

 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 1 0 0

Using the example of the coding matrix (7,4) =

 1 1 1 0 0 1 0

1 0 1 0 0 0 1 If we want to force the value of the first 2 coded bits, c ₀ and ci, we can choose an information vector i {x) = [f ₀ /! i ₀ ij, where i and ₀ are left free information bits and f ₀ and bits set to obtain the desired pattern. The values to be chosen for f ₀ and to obtain the desired values of c ₀ and Ci are given by the relations:

This illustrates that the values of the bits forced into the input of the encoder (f ₀ and fi) depend linearly on the values of the bits of the pattern at the output of the encoder (c ₀ and ci) and the values of the other bits at the input of the encoder. Convolutional codes

Convolutional codes are the second major family of error-correcting codes. While linear block codes are used to split the message into blocks of k symbols, the convolutional codes apply a sliding window of symbols to the message and produce a continuous sequence of encoded symbols.

In general, the symbols are binary (ie at value 0 or 1 in the Welsh GF body (2), "+" means the addition modulo 2 and "." multiplication modulo 2). Most often the convolutional codes have for parameter / = 1 and the code yield is thus of the form Mn. Let ¾ be an information symbol, the parity symbols b _j associated with the symbol a \ are defined by the following convolution relation, where g _e j are the coefficients of rfk polynomials of degree m with coefficients and values in the Welsh body GF (2) (the code is entirely defined by the set of coefficients g _e , j, i, e = 0, m, j = 0 ... / -1, i = 0 ... n-1):

= Σ Σ S _e . ^Î V i = 0-1, V ^/? .

The n symbols at the output of the encoder linearly depend on the last / ^* (m + 1) symbols at the input of the encoder.

From a 1 / n yield code, so-called "derivative" codes, corresponding to / o1, can be constructed by punching (usually / = n-1 after punching).

More generally, when the code efficiency is equal to k / n, the convolutional coding is a periodic k-bit period coding on the input binary signal. For each new group of k bits, n coded bits are calculated. The n coded bits are bit combinations relating to the (m + 1) last groups of A: bits, m is the constraint length of the code.

The step of the method according to the invention, which consists in inverting the transfer function of a convolutional code, that is to say, determining the sequence of bits to be produced at the input to obtain an output of a signal, is illustrated in a nonlimiting example. encoded sequence in which the value and the position of a predetermined number of bits are set.

Non-limiting example of a ½ yield convolutional code We consider a conventional convolutional binary code, the registers of which are represented in FIG. 5, of output 1/2 and of length m + 1 = 7 defined by two polynomials of degrees 6 defined in octal notation by (171, 133). These two polynomials are Gi (X) = 1 + X + X ² + X ³ + X ⁶ and G ₂ (X) = 1 + X ² + X ³ + X ⁵ + X ⁶ and correspond to the recurrence relations b ₂ n = a _n + a _n -i + a _n -2 + a _n -3 + a _n -6 and b _{2n +} i = a _n + a _n -2 + a _n -3 + a _n -5 + a _n -6 in the Galois field GF2 ("+" denotes the modulo 2 addition). The polynomials Gi and G ₂ are applied to the input bits to respectively form the even index output bits and the odd index output bits then interleaved in pairs b _2n b _{2n +} i to form a bit stream of size equal to a multiple of 2. It is illustrated below the possibility of choosing the input bit stream so as to generate desired patterns after coding.

For this code, at each period, for a bit produced at the input of the encoder, two bits are generated at the output. Depending on the state of the encoder registers, the two bits (b _2n , b _{2n +} i) at the output are to be chosen from either (0,0) or (1, 1), or (0,1) or (1, 0 ). Indeed, the last bit that enters the encoder is used for the calculation of each of the two outputs of the encoder: by changing this bit, the values of the two outputs are changed. This means that, for a state of the given register, the two possible output bits are to be chosen from two complementary groups. It is therefore always possible to choose the input bit so as to force the value of one of the two output bits. It is therefore easy with this code to force every other bit at the output of the encoder.

 In practice, for the most efficient codes used in a modem, the outgoing bit groups, for a state of the encoder, are chosen so as to be at maximum distance from each other. For these codes, the last bit that enters the encoder is used for the calculation of each of the two outputs of the encoder. It is therefore possible, for all the usual 1/2 output codes, to force the value of one bit out of two at the output of the encoder.

It is now demonstrated that it is also possible to choose a series of bits at the input of the encoder so as to obtain at the coder output an encoded sequence comprising a series of consecutive bits of fixed value. We consider again the previous example of the coder r = kln = M2, (171, 133) of length m + 1 = 7. For this encoder, the impulse response, that is to say the response of the coder to an input bit sequence comprising a bit of value 1 preceded and followed by bits all having the value 0, is given by the sequence 1 1 101 1 1 10001 1 1, of length 14 = 2m + 2.

The encoding operation can be written in the matrix form, represented in FIG. 6, where the lines of the generator matrix of the code correspond to the impulse response of the encoder, shifted by 2 bits from one line to the other (because n = 2), or more generally shifted by n bits from one line to another when the code is of 1 / n efficiency.

A formalism identical to that used for the linear block codes is then obtained, that is to say that the coded sequence is obtained by carrying out the matrix product of the information sequence with the generating matrix defined above.

 The same rule previously enacted concerning the codes in linear blocks can thus be applied to the convolutional codes, that is to say that it is possible to impose the value and the position of a set of bits at the output of the encoder if and only if the submatrix M corresponding to the columns of the output bits is of full rank, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

It can thus be seen that for this convolutional code, it is possible to force the value of 14 consecutive bits at the output of the encoder, from the inputs. This result can also be interpreted from the point of view of parity relations between coded bits. These deterministic relationships characterize in a one-to-one way the dependencies verified by the coded bit groups. In other words, the values of the coded bits corresponding to a parity relation are interdependent. The values of the coded bits that do not correspond to a parity relation can be set independently of one another. The code previously considered has parity relations of length 14 and spaced by 2 bits. It is therefore possible to choose 14 bits consecutive codes that do not correspond to an entire parity relationship, which means that their values can be set independently.

More generally it is possible to impose the value and the position of a set of bits at the output of the encoder if and only if the sub-matrix m, m, m, m,

is of full rank, with mk- _Pl ™ _k - _P2 ^m ki, _Pi - ™ _k - _Pd

coefficients of the generator matrix and pi, p ₂ , ... pd, the set of positions of the bits whose value is fixed in the coded sequence. Finally, in the case of a yield code ½, the maximum number of successive bits whose value can be set is equal to the length of the impulse response of the code, ie 2m + 2 where m is the constraint length of the code. Non-limiting example of a convolutional code punched from a convolutional code of output ½

For punched codes, which have lower redundancy, it is possible to force a larger number of consecutive bits out of the encoder. For example, the code defined by the preceding polynomials (171, 133) may be punched to obtain a 3/4 yield code. The parity relationships of this code have a length 26 (1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1) This example is illustrated in FIG. 8 on which are represented the indices 800 of the bits at the output of the coder, a portion P ₂ s of 28 consecutive bits having no relation of complete parity and 3 relations of parities R1, R2, R2 related to the said code, of length equal to 26 bits. Parity relationships are checked for all 26-bit sequences starting on an index shifted by 4 bits for each new sequence. By direct analogy with the above, it is therefore possible to choose the values taken by a group of 4 (6 + 1) = 28 bits. General case of usual convolutional codes

For the more general case of a convolutional code of yield (n-1) / n, and of constraint length m, the parity relations are generally of length n - m + 2 (in the case of the preceding example, we had m = 6 and n = 4 after punching, the parity relations were 26). In this case, and by analogy with the above, it is possible to choose the input bits of the encoder so as to force the value of n (m + 1) consecutive bits at the output of the encoder. It can thus be seen that with convolutional codes, it is possible, as for block codes, to force the value of certain coded bits, possibly consecutive and sometimes in large numbers. The condition for this operation to be possible is that the matrix formed by the columns of the coding matrix corresponding to the forced bits is of full rank.

 In particular, it is possible to force the value of consecutive bit sequences of significant length, particularly when the code efficiency is close to 1 and when the memory m of the code is important.

 As for block codes, the dependence between the encoder input bit values and the encoder output bits is linear. The values of the bits that must be forced into the encoder input linearly depend on the values of the other encoder input bits and the forced bit values at the encoder output.

Turbo-Codes Product

The invention also applies to turbo-type correcting codes. product codes.

Turbo-codes are correcting codes that combine at least two simple codes by interleaving the entries so that each of the simple codes sees a different set of information on the one hand, and the information specific to each bit, block or message is spread over these neighbors on the other hand. As a result, even if part of the bits, blocks or messages is corrupted during transmission, the corresponding information still exists more or less on bits, blocks or neighboring messages. The decoding procedure is iterative and collaborative between each simple code. It involves a notion of trust on each bit, block or message decoded and differs the final decision on their values ("soft decision" or "soft decision" in English). Each of the decoders transmits to the others the information resulting from its own decoding (called extrinsic information) which is multiplexed with the input information of the other coders. The bit, block or message thus transmitted is decoded a second time by the other simple coders, and the corresponding information is re-transmitted to the other coders (hence the name "turbo" which is related to the decoding procedure and not to the code itself).

 Simple employable codes are multiple.

 It is possible to use convolutional codes. Recursive and systematic convolutional codes are in practice particularly suitable. The codes can be placed in series or in parallel. The clever management of the interleaving and the iterative detection / correction of data by each simple code makes it possible to increase the detector and corrector power of the overall process while limiting the number of iterations and the complexity.

Another turbo coding structure corresponds to product codes. In the simplest version corresponding to product codes to two k ^■ k

dimensions, the product yield code - - is built from nn ₂ two elementary codes C _l and C ₂ of output - and -. The elementary codes used are very simple block codes (typically parity codes, Hamming codes or extended Hamming codes). The n _x - n ₂ successive bits appear as a sequence of n ₂ codewords. Considering the binary train decimated by a factor / ¾, we obtain words of the code C ₂ .

 The turbo codes produced, built from several block codes, are like block codes when it comes to determining whether it is possible to generate the desired pattern. Indeed, the encoding operation can be broken down into coding and interleaving operations.

 We will illustrate the decomposition of a product code into several coding and interleaving operations from a simple and non-limiting example. We consider a product code constructed from two k k codes

C _x and C ₂ yield- and-. The encoding operation of a block of k _x - k ₂ bit can be decomposed as follows:

Coding with the code C _x of the bit stream: the coding transforms k ₂ groups of k _{ bits into k ₂ groups of n bits.

- A simple line / column interleaving: the bits are written line by line in a matrix of size k ₂ rows and n columns. The bits are then read column by column.

Coding with the C ₂ code of the bitstream: the coding transforms n _x groups of k ₂ bits into n _x groups of n ₂ bits.

- Simple row / column interleaving: bits are written line by line in a matrix of size n rows and n ₂ columns. The bits are then read column by column. In practice, if we consider a limited portion of consecutive bits of a block of n - n ₂ coded bits (a portion of length n.k 'substantially smaller than n ^ kz), the constraints of the code C ₂ do not affect not this portion because there is no parity relationship related to the code C ₂ that is contained entirely in this portion of bits. Consequently, if we consider a portion of consecutive bits smaller than n - k ₂ , everything happens as if there were only the code C _x when it comes to determining the reasons that it is possible to force. Like block codes, it is therefore possible, in particular, to generate consecutive bit patterns of size 2 - k.

LDPC Codes ÎLow Densitv Paritv Check)

LDPC codes are specific block codes that are constructed in such a way that the parity bits are computed using a low weight parity relationship. This is in practice systematic (but not cyclic) block codes and the analysis made on block codes applies by analogy to the description made previously.

 LDPC codes are usually very large. As has been established for block codes, the LPDC codes thus make it possible, in particular, to generate selected patterns with consecutive series of bits of great length.

In summary, for any correction code for which the coding operation can be performed by multiplying the information sequence by a generator matrix to obtain the coded sequence, it is possible to set the value and the position of a set of bits. of the coded sequence by imposing a particular input binary sequence. This possibility exists, however, only if the sub-matrix, of the generating matrix, is defined m, m, m, m,

 Ό, ί¾

by is of rank full, with mk-l, _Pl ^m kl, p ₂ ^m k-m kl.

coefficients of the generator matrix and pi, p ₂ , ... pd, the set of positions of the bits whose value is fixed in the coded sequence. A matrix of full rank is a matrix of which all the columns are independent. If this is the case it suffices to solve the system of equations where [cp-i ... cpd] are the

The bits or symbols whose value is fixed in the coded sequence are the unknowns of the system to be inputted to the encoder. The transmission channel 400 may also include a scrambling module 403, also called brewing.

 The brewing, or scrambling, is used to make the binary sequence to emit as random as possible, in order to improve the symbol synchronization but also to contribute to the protection of the contents of the brewed messages. Its purpose is to remove long sequences of bits equal to 0 or 1 that prevent a correct recovery of the symbol rate. There are several types of brewers including synchronous brewers requiring a prior time reference or self-synchronizing brewers.

 This transformation is invertible, the scrambling operation consists in transforming a group of L bits into another group of L bits and the operation of inverting the transformation of the bitstream is an operation performed by a receiver. Thus, the reverse transfer function of a brewer or scrambler is easily deductible from its direct transfer function.

In the case of a synchronous scrambler, the dependence between the value i of a bit at the input of the scrambler and the value c of the bit at the output of the scrambler is affine. Depending on the position of the bit considered, the dependency is either c = i or c = i + 1.

Case of a synchronous scrambler

In the case of a synchronous scrambler, a pseudo-random sequence is added modulo 2 to the binary signal to be scrambled. The binary series {..., e _k , e _{k +} i, ...} representing the scrambling sequence is periodic, with a long period L. The most common sequences used for scrambling are sequences of maximum length, constructed from a shift register. These sequences are generated by a shift register looped according to a primitive polynomial E (X) = 1 + ci .X +. . . + CP.X ^p of degree P. We obtain a sequence of period L = 2 ^P -1. However, the sequences used for scrambling can be truncated. The k-th output e _k of the shift register satisfies the recurrence relation e _k = ci. e _k- i + ... + c _P. e _kP , with ci _,. . . , c _P of the constant coefficients in the Galois GF2 field independent of the input data and the scrambled data, "+" always denoting the modulo 2 addition in GF2. For an input binary series denoted {..., b _k , b _{k +} i, ...}, the transformation F operated by a synchronous scrambler can be written F ({..., b _k , b _{k +} i, ...}) = {..., b ' _k , b' _{k +} i, ...} with b ' _k = b _k + e _k . The transformation F is perfectly invertible. Indeed, this transformation F is equal to its inverse F ^"1 = F since b _k = b ' _k + e _k and knowing that e _k + e _k = 0 in the Galois field GF2. a new modulo 2 addition of the value of the bits scrambled by the outputs of the same shift register as on the transmission to produce a descrambled sequence of identical length In order to be able to force the bitstream out of a synchronous scrambler, it is sufficient to be correctly synchronized with the scrambling operation, that is, the positions of the indices k or the beginning of the period must coincide before applying the transformation F ^"1 = F to the scrambled bits. Case of a self-synchronizing scrambler

In the case of a self-synchronizing scrambler, the states of the register are filled with a finite number of scrambled data. The output of the register is added modulo 2 to the input data bit to form the new scrambled bit.

The transformation F, performed by a self-synchronizing scrambler is defined by a shift register of primitive polynomial E (X) = 1 + d _. X + .. + CP _. X ^p of degree P of period L = 2 ^P -1 and is written for an input binary series denoted {..., b _k , b _{k + 1} , ...} in the form: F ({.. ., b _k , b _{k + 1} , ...}) = {..., b ' _k , b' _{k +} i, ...} with b ' _k = b _k + ci. b ' _k- i + ... + c _P. b' _kP ("+" always denotes modulo 2 addition in GF2). This makes it possible to perform descrambling on reception in a simple manner and without having to synchronize beforehand. In reception, the scrambled bits b ' _k- i,..., B' _k - _P are injected in the same register as on transmission in order to reconstitute the output b _k = b ' _k + ci. b ' _k- i + ■■■ + c _P. b ' _kP .

The difficulty in forcing the output bits here arises from the fact that the expression of the register states as a function of the input data b _k (non-scrambled data) involves an unlimited number of said input data. In other words, all the inputs b _k since the startup of the scrambler are involved in the value of the states of the register.

 In order to force the value of the scrambled data, it is essential to have synchronous access to the scrambled data in order to adapt the input data dynamically. This condition is necessary for the application of the invention if the transmission chain comprises a self-synchronizing scrambler.

The transmission channel 400 may also include an interleaving module 404. Interleaving is widely used on transmission channels where the occurrences of errors are grouped into packets. Its function is to distribute these errors as uniformly as possible. In reception, the errors are, after deinterleaving, placed in such a way that they impact different codewords. These errors can then be considered as decorrelated, and the correcting power of the decoders makes it possible to minimize their impact. Interleaving also appears as a means of introducing time diversity into the transmission chain and thereby helps to protect it from fading, interference and potential interference. Many interleavers are constituted by a table, the input bits are then arranged by rows in the table, and the output bits are produced by reading in a column of the table.

The transformation performed by an interleaver is also an invertible operation. Its inverse transfer function is deductible from its direct transfer function. Indeed, it is a transformation that transforms a block of L bits into another block of L bits, simply by swapping the order of the bits. In order to obtain a desired block of bits after interleaving B '= b' _k , ... b ' _{k + L} -i, it suffices to be synchronized on the block and to apply on this bit stream B' the permutation inverse, which corresponds to the de-interleaving operation performed conventionally by a receiver. We then obtain a block of bits B = b _k , ... b _{k + L} -i, which once interleaved, is strictly equal to bit stream B.

The transmission chain 400 may also include a framing module 405. The framing 405 allows the receiver to synchronize on the bit stream transformations such as interleaving or decoding operations, and then retrieve data. structured as a multiplexing of multiple streams or data in the form of words or bytes. For this, once the structured data in the form of frames corresponding to periodic scheduling reasons, the synchronization of the receiver on the frames is carried out using patterns synchronous periodic frames. Each frame is thus preceded, and / or followed, and / or contains a specific synchronization word used to synchronize the receiver on the received frames. Several frames can also be grouped to form a multi-frame or a hyper-frame. The synchronization patterns used for the framing are repeated in the transmitted sequence and can be detected and scrambled as previously explained.

The framing limits the ability to force the desired modulated signal since some bits take values imposed at regular intervals, and it is necessary to keep these bits for proper operation of the receiver in connection with the transmitter. This transformation is therefore not surjective for data blocks whose output size exceeds that of a block of useful data per frame.

However, the framing occupies only a very limited (and temporally well-defined) part of the total bit rate (example: start frame pattern using only a few symbols, etc.) and does not prevent generating the desired coded signal within a frame.

 This point is not a particular pitfall for the implementation of the invention.

The transmission channel 400 may also include a binary signal coding module 406.

 Binary signal coding is used to adapt the signal to the transmission channel. It transforms the digital message into a baseband electrical signal or a low frequency signal. There are two major classes of signal binary codes, NRZ (Non-Reset) transcoding codes and alphabetic codes.

The transformation carried out by a signal binary coder is an invertible operation. Its inverse transfer function is therefore deductible from its direct transfer function. Finally, the transmission channel 400 includes a modulator 407 that transforms the binary sequence into a sequence of modulated symbols. Symbols are taken from a complex set called constellation. A symbol can group several bits. For example, digital phase or PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulations or digital amplitude modulation or QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) modulations may be mentioned.

 The transformation operated by a modulator is an invertible operation. Its inverse transfer function is therefore deductible from its direct transfer function.

From the foregoing, the transformations applied in the transmission channel on the bit stream are reversible, that is to say that it is possible from the output bit stream to recover the input bitstream. In practice, redundancy is even added so as to be able to recover the original binary signal in the presence of errors on the coded bitstream.

However, still according to the above, certain functions implemented by the transmission chain of a communications system may not always be surjective or invertible. It may happen that a TBC encoded bitstream that we would like to force at the module output does not correspond to any "useful" TBU bits at the module input. This is particularly the case for a block or convolutional coding correction function that does not comply with the criteria previously mentioned or any other non-bijective coding operation. In such a case, it is not possible to determine the inverse transfer function F ^"1 of the overall transmission chain To circumvent this difficulty, two embodiments of the invention are envisaged. A first variant consists in finding among the set F ({TBU}) modulated sequences that can be obtained at the output of the transmission chain from the set {TBU} of the possible input bit sequences of transmission chain, the bit sequence T 'which minimizes the distance between the modulated output transformation F (T') of the sequence T 'and the desired modulated sequence D which contains at least one factitious synchronization pattern SYNC _F positioned at the desired location. The distance considered may, for example, be a least squares distance calculated by integrating the difference between a possible sequence F (T), T belonging to the set {TBU}, and the desired sequence D over a fixed time interval. . A possible criterion can be calculated using the following relation:

 Vr e {? ¾ [/}; C {T, D) = \\ F {T) - - D {tf dt

We then search for the input sequence T 'e {TBU} of the transmission chain which minimizes the criterion C: T' = Argmin [C (, D)].

 {You} TBU

However, the practical implementation of this variant must take into account two main constraints.

 On the one hand, for reasons of complexity, it is not practically possible to obtain the F {TBU} image of the modulated signals at the output of the transmission channel corresponding to all of the useful bitstreams. possible (in other words, corresponding to the entirety of the {TBU} set), but only a small subset of this image.

On the other hand, it is possible to simplify the implementation of the invention based on the time supports mainly related to interleaving, coding and framing operations. Indeed, it is not useful in practice for the implementation of the invention to consider binary streams T useful in the set {TBU} whose modulated signals F (T) output (after coding and interlace including ) would be scattered on too long intervals of time, or on too many outgoing frames, or whose distribution of the positions of the symbols would be too lacunary.

In practice, therefore, this variant of the invention can be implemented by restricting the set {TBU} to a subset {TBU '} which comprises only useful bit sequences T whose lengths and positions after passing through the transmission chain (and in particular after passing through the coding and interleaving modules) correspond to dummy SYNC'F patterns, where appropriate suboptimal with respect to the deception of an interception and jamming system, but compatible with the implementation standard of the telecommunication system in terms of positions, recurrence and frame periodicity, and therefore easy to generate and insert in the frames of useful data. The time / frequency structure and / or the choice of the positions, lengths and recurrences of the fake signals SYNC ' _F approaching in the sense of the criteria mentioned above the desired SYNCF dummy signals are set based on the frame periodicities of the transmission and moving as far as possible (in the time / frequency domain) the dummy patterns of the data truly useful for the synchronization and demodulation of the receiver. For example, in a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) transmission employing signals transmitted in the form of packets or bursts in English with or without frequency evasion, the dummy patterns will be placed at positions different from those of the real patterns, in end of packet rather than at the beginning of the packet, on fictitious beacon frequencies rather than on those actually used. In a multiplexing transmission of several user flows by orthogonal codes, orthogonal codes will be used as factual patterns to all the codes actually used by the users. The restricted set {TBLT} is then pre-determined by inverting, for the SYNC ' _{F units} , analytically or by simulation, the modules of the transmission chain and in particular the interleaving modules and the coding modules.

This makes it possible, in particular, to simplify the implementation of the invention by concentrating the search for the T-bit sequences in the inverse image (in particular by the coding and interleaving transformations) of a restricted set of SYNC'F dummy patterns in FIG. output, approaching correctly the desired dummy sequence SYNCF within the meaning of the aforementioned criterion, and corresponding at most to the duration of a frame at the output of the transmission chain (and / or the duration of a useful information frame in input of said transmission channel). The binary sequences T thus obtained are periodically parsed by useful information frame to generate at the same time dummy patterns, also periodic and of period indexed to that of the frame of the output signal. The calculation of the bit positions of the bit sequence T 'for an output dummy pattern can then be performed once and for all, the computation of the bit dependency of the bit sequence T' to the neighboring information bits can also be realized. once for all.

In practice, in order to generate said binary sequences T, it is therefore necessary to force the value of certain useful bits (located at the input of the channel coding) to precise positions. The applied transformation consists in first determining a partitioning of the frame of the useful data by inverting the coding interleaving modules: this determines precise positions, on which, instead of transmitting useful data, the bits of useful information by forced useful bits for generating dummy sequences after interleaving and coding. By cons, these positions being determined, the values of these dummy useful bits can change depending on the value of the neighboring useful information bits (variables and random): the value of each of these forced bits depends on not only values of the desired coded dummy bits but also values of some neighboring useful bits (according to the scrambling and coding scheme). These dependencies are linear or affine, this means that the value of each forced useful bit is expressed as the sum of dummy bits at the coding output and neighboring useful information bits (ie linear dependence on the useful information bits plus possibly an inversion of the coded forced bits).

 Finally, in this simplified variant of implementation of the invention,

the positions taken by these forced useful bits are determined starting from the position and the values of the dummy sequences SYNC ' _F and by going up the transformations of the bit stream one by one,

 the linear dependence relations between the values that these forced useful bits take and the neighboring useful information bits (variables and random) are also determined by going up the transformations of the bit stream one by one.

If all the stages of the transmission chain are concerned, the key steps concern the inversion of the interlace and corrector coding operations.

Remaining at the scale of a signal frame at the output of the transmission chain, the positions and dependency relationships of the dummy useful bits in the useful information stream are fixed. These positions and dependency relationships can be computed once and for all and then applied for computation and positioning of the forced bits on each successive frame. On reception, we recover frame by frame the demodulated and decoded data. The dummy bits that were used to generate the sequences dummies after coding are of prior known position of the receiver which removes them directly from the demodulated / decoded information bitstream.

A second embodiment of the invention consists in applying the invention to a subset located downstream of the transmission chain consisting of blocks in series whose transfer functions are all invertible. In practice, the portion of maximum length of the transmission chain for which the inversion of the bit stream can be satisfactorily realized is identified. For this we go back from the modulator output signal to the sequence of useful data to be transmitted. The bitstream intended to produce modulated signals D (t), containing a dummy synchronization sequence, is injected only at the input of this subset, ie at the output of the first noninvertible function of the transmission chain in the inverse order of the transmission functions (from the modulator - end of the string - to the correction coder - start of the string). This second variant of the invention is for example applied if the transmission chain comprises an encryption device or cryptography whose function has by nature a non-determinable inverse.

The method according to the invention can be declined with dummy sequences (SYNCF) having significant combinatorics and periodicities or slow variations, so as to maintain over time the combinatorial analysis and to penalize the capacity of identification and storage of the "interception" function of the lure interception and scrambling system.

The method according to the invention can be implemented from software elements. Such software can be executed by the sending equipment so as to modify the useful binary sequence to be transmitted, which is for example produced by an application. It can also be executed by a computer connected to said transmitter for the purpose of setting it.

 The method according to the invention may be available as a computer program product on a computer readable medium. The support can be electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or be an infrared type of diffusion medium. Such supports are, for example, Random Access Memory RAMs (ROMs), magnetic or optical tapes, disks or disks (Compact Disk - Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk - Read / Write (CD-R / W) and DVD).

The invention finds application for any communication system that it is desired to make more robust to interception and jamming, in particular, the invention applies to the retrofit of old generation communication systems thus becoming vulnerable to interceptors and modern jammers.

Claims

Method of decoying against an interception and / or jamming system, consisting in generating, in a signal to be transmitted, at least one dummy sequence (SYNC _F ) so as to decoy said system while preserving synchronization with a receiver of said signal issued, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

 Defining said dummy sequence (SYNCF) and its temporal and / or frequency position within the signal to be transmitted, the values of the symbols of said dummy sequence and their temporal and / or frequency positions being different from those of the symbols of a sequence of synchronization (SYNC) that includes said signal,

- Estimate the value and the position of the dummy bits (B _F ) to be inserted within the data sequence (Du, T) to be transmitted at the input of the transmission chain or a sub-part of the chain of transmission so as to obtain, in the sequence produced at the output of the transmission chain, the value and the predefined temporal position of the symbols of said dummy sequence (SYNC _F ),

- Insert, within said data sequence (Du, T), the dummy bits (B _F ) at the positions obtained.

A decoying method according to claim 1, wherein, when the transfer function F of the transmission chain is invertible, the value and the position of the dummy bits (B _F ) are estimated by determining the inverse transfer function F ^"1 of said transfer function F and applying said inverse transfer function F ^"1 to said dummy sequence (SYNC _F ).

A decoying method according to claim 2 wherein the inverse transfer function F ^"1 of said transmission chain is determined by performing the composition, in reverse order, inverse transfer functions of the various blocks comprising said chain.

4. decoy method according to claim 3 wherein the transmission chain comprises at least one corrector code (402) of yield k / n for which the inversion of its transfer function is performed by solving the following system of equations m0, _Pl ^m 0, p ₂ ^m 0, p ₃ - ^m 0, p _d

mk-1, _Pl ^m k1, p ₂ ^m k1, p, ^{■■■ m} k1, p _d

the symbols whose value is fixed in the coded sequence [i ₀ , - - -ik-i] is the sequence to be produced at the input of said code, and m _iiP j are the coefficients of the matrix generating said code, pi, p ₂ , ... pd being the set of symbol positions whose value is fixed in the coded sequence, with d an integer equal to at most the number n of symbols of the coded sequence.

A decoying method according to claim 4 wherein said correcting code is a linear block code or a convolutional code or a turbo-code or low density code LDPC 6. A decoying method according to one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the transmission chain further comprises a brewer (403) and / or an interleaver (404) and / or a framing module (405) and / or a binary signal encoder (406) and / or a modulator (407). The decoying method according to claim 1, wherein, when the transfer function F of the transmission chain is non-surjective, the value and the position of the dummy bits are estimated by searching the input sequence T 'of the string of emission which minimizes a criterion of distance between the sequence F (T ') (t) obtained at the output of chain when said sequence T 'is actually produced at its input, and said dummy sequence (SYNC _F ).

8. decoying method according to claim 7 wherein, said distance criterion is taken equal to the integral, over a given duration, of the standard squared of the difference between the sequence F (T ') (t) obtained in transmission string output and said dummy sequence (SYNCF).

9. decoying method according to one of claims 7 or 8 wherein the search of the input sequence T 'of the transmission chain which minimizes said distance criterion is performed on a subset of the set possible bit sequences at the input of the transmission chain. 10. decoying method according to one of the preceding claims wherein said data sequence (Du, T) is produced by an application (401), for example an audio coder, image or video.

1 1. A decoying method according to claim 1 wherein, when the transfer function F of the transmission string is non-surjective, the dummy bits (B _F ) are inserted into the sequence produced at the input of a sub-part of the string transmission whose transfer function is surjective and whose output is common at the output of the transmission channel.

12. decoying method according to claim 1 1 wherein said transmission chain comprises an encryption device and said sub-part of the transmission chain excludes this device. 13. A decoying method according to one of the preceding claims wherein said dummy sequence (SYNC _F ) is positioned in a time zone and / or non-vulnerable frequency of the signal to be transmitted.

The decoying method according to claim 13 wherein said non-vulnerable area is a part of the signal protected by a correction code or is a stuffing area containing no useful information. 15. decoying method according to one of the preceding claims wherein when the signal comprising said dummy sequence (SYNCF) is received by said receiver dummy bits (B _F ) are removed from the data sequence (Du, T). 16. A device for transmitting a signal comprising a transmission chain for transforming a data sequence (Du, T) to be transmitted into a signal to be transmitted and a means adapted to implement the method according to one of the claims. 1 to 15. 17. A computer program comprising instructions for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, when the program is executed by a processor.

A processor-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program including instructions for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, when the program is executed by a processor.