WO2021020968A1

WO2021020968A1 - Jamming an encoded signal emitted by a transmitter

Info

Publication number: WO2021020968A1
Application number: PCT/NL2020/050490
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bert-Jan TER HEDDE; Thijs KROESE
Original assignee: 2Deal B.V.
Priority date: 2019-07-30
Filing date: 2020-07-29
Publication date: 2021-02-04
Also published as: NL2023589B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for recording and blocking an encoded signal emitted by a transmitter, particularly emitted by a remote control of a car, which device comprises: - a housing with a space for receiving the transmitter; - shielding means for shielding the space from electromagnetic signals within a first frequency band; - recording means for receiving and recording electromagnetic signals within a second frequency band, wherein the recording means comprise at least an antenna, arranged in the space of the housing, for receiving electromagnetic signals, and wherein the second frequency band lies within the first frequency band; - communication means for communicating with a server via a network, such as the Internet, and for sending the recorded electromagnetic signals to the server.

Description

JAMMING AN ENCODED SIGNAL EMITTED BY A TRANSMITTER

The invention relates to a device for recording and blocking an encoded signal emitted by a transmitter,

particularly emitted by a remote control of a car.

Consumers are ordering an increasing number of products online. All these products must be delivered to the customer. In 2017 420 million parcels were sent in the

Netherlands, an increase of 12% compared to 2016. Residents are not at home for about 10% of the deliveries, whereby every day 100,000 parcels have to be re-delivered, and delivery costs increase. This additionally results in additional logistical movements, this entailing additional emission of C02 since the route to the consumer must be travelled again for every order which could not be delivered. This also brings with it additional traffic congestion.

A number of initiatives already exist for reducing the number of undelivered parcels. You can for instance have your parcel delivered to a neighbour or pick-up point, there are security lock boxes for delivery which can be physically attached to a residence, or some delivery people will even offer to hide your parcel, for instance in the garden.

US 20160098871 describes a system wherein a car key is read so that a delivery service can open the car once at a later time in order to place a parcel or the like in the car. In this system the user has a module in which the car key is placed and which module intercepts the code transmitted by the car key. The intercepted code is then stored on a server so that, at a later time, a delivery service can fetch this code and can transmit it to the corresponding car and thus open for instance the boot of the car.

According to this publication, the rolling security code of a car key is stored online. As soon as a delivery person is in the vicinity of the car in question, optionally verified on the basis of GPS coordinates, the delivery person can then open the car with a universal remote control and with the rolling security code stored online.

It is further described that the rolling security code of the key is intercepted, stored and used. For this purpose the key is provided with an additional means of communication, such as Bluetooth, so that the last transmitted code can be read from the key and can be sent to a server with a smartphone. A new rolling security code, which can be used by the delivery person, is generated on the server on the basis of the last transmitted code.

A drawback of this method is that the car key must be modified, which would only be possible in practice for new cars, if manufacturers are even willing to lend their

cooperation at all.

A further drawback of generating a new rolling security code is that knowledge of the security encoding is necessary, which may differ between car makes and models.

Additionally, it is a problem that the frequency of the transmitted code can vary greatly and that a code is even transmitted at different frequencies at the same time.

The so-called jam intercept and replay attack technique is further known from US 20180089918. The reception of a signal from the key by the car is disrupted herein. The signal transmitted by the key, this comprising a first code, is intercepted and stored using a separate device. When the user of the car uses the remote control again, the reception of the signal by the car is once again disrupted and the transmitted signal with a second code is intercepted. The separate device then sends the signal with the first code to the car after all in order to open the car. The signal with the second code is then stored so that it can be used at a later time to open the car once again.

Such a technique does not depend on a transmitter built into the key for reading the last transmitted code, and this technique does not depend on knowledge of the security encoding in order to generate a new code.

The drawback of the so-called jam intercept and replay attack technique is however that an interference signal must be transmitted at a frequency which substantially

corresponds with the frequency at which the key transmits a code. Since this frequency can differ per make and model of car, knowledge of the specific key and possible encodings is still required, particularly of whether a signal is

transmitted at different frequencies at the same time.

It is now an object of the invention to reduce or even obviate the above stated drawbacks.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a device for recording and blocking an encoded signal emitted by a transmitter, particularly emitted by a remote control of a car, which device comprises:

- a housing with a space for receiving the transmitter;

- shielding means for shielding the space from electromagnetic signals within a first frequency band;

- recording means for receiving and recording electromagnetic signals within a second frequency band, wherein the recording means comprise at least an antenna, arranged in the space of the housing, for receiving

electromagnetic signals, and wherein the second frequency band lies within the first frequency band;

- communication means for communicating with a server via a network, such as the Internet, and for sending the recorded electromagnetic signals to the server. In the device according to the invention a car key is placed in the shielded space. The user then presses a button of the key, whereby the key emits an electromagnetic signal such as for instance a radio signal, whereby the car is usually opened or closed. Because the space is however

shielded from electromagnetic signals, the signals of the key are unable to leave the space and other signals are also unable to enter the space.

By now recording the electromagnetic signals at the moment that the key emits these signals it is possible to transmit the signals again at a different moment. A signal can also be recorded at a plurality of moments, for instance in order to record a separate signal for opening and closing the car .

According to the invention, recording takes place not on one specific frequency but on a frequency band, so that all electromagnetic signals within a determined range are recorded. With the device according to the invention it is hereby no longer necessary to have specific knowledge of the key of a make and model of car, because all signals within a frequency band are recorded.

The recorded signals are then stored on a server via communication means so that, at a later moment, these recorded signals can be fetched again and are transmitted again so that the car can still be opened and/or closed.

It is hereby possible for a consumer to make the code of a key to the car available to a delivery service, so that the delivery service can open and/or close the car once at a later moment and can leave a parcel therein. A consumer thus need no longer be physically present in order to take receipt of a parcel.

The consumer is thus free to go into town or keep working, while the parcel can be delivered in their own car and is then safely stored. This can bring down the number of failed deliveries, which saves costs and reduces the emission of C02 as well as traffic congestion.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention the shielding means comprise a metal layer arranged on the walls of the space in the housing.

By arranging a metal layer on the walls of the space a reliable and inexpensive shield for electromagnetic signals is obtained, which is effective for a very wide first

frequency band.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention the recording means comprise a decomposing device for decomposing the received

electromagnetic signals into an in-phase component and a quadrature component, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the in-phase and quadrature component into a digital signal in order to be able to record the received electromagnetic signals.

The electromagnetic signals transmitted by keys of cars are encoded in most if not all cases by means of

frequency modulation or phase modulation. These two types of modulation fall within the class of angle modulation.

A signal which was modulated by means of angle modulation can be decomposed into an in-phase component and a quadrature component. The original signal can hereby then be reproduced in simple manner at a later moment.

By decomposing the electromagnetic signal into an in-phase component and a quadrature component, and then digitizing these components by means of an analog-to-digital converter, the recorded electromagnetic signals can be sent to a server and stored there in simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention the second frequency band comprises at least the frequencies within the range of 314 MHz-870 MHz, preferably at least 432 MHz-434 MHz, preferably at least 314 MHz-316 MHz, preferably at least 863 MHz-870 MHz.

The keys to most car makes use a frequency in this range so that the device according to the invention can be used almost universally. More specifically, the second

frequency band comprises at least the frequencies within the range of 314 MHz-316 MHz and/or at least the frequencies within the range of 432 MHz-434 MHz and/or at least the frequencies within the range of 863 MHz-870 MHz. Car keys of cars produced in North America often make use of keys emitting a signal around 315 MHz. Cars manufactured in Europe, Japan and Asia often make use of a signal around 433 MHz. Also in circulation are remote controls, for instance for garage doors and the like, which make use of a signal around 868 MHz.

Depending on the intended market, it is thus optionally possible to opt for a narrower frequency band which

corresponds to the keys to be supported.

In another embodiment of the device according to the invention the housing has a closable access, such as a

pivoting cover, for obtaining access to the space, so that a transmitter can be placed in the space.

The user can open the pivoting cover, then place the key in the space and then close the cover again, so that all electromagnetic signals are intercepted by the shielding means .

The user can operate the desired button of the key through an access with a flexible closure provided in the housing .

In yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention the device has connecting means for setting up a connection, such as for instance a cabled, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, to a smartphone for the purpose of connecting the device to a network, particularly the Internet.

Since almost everyone in the Western world has a smartphone with Internet access at their disposal, a network connection can be established in simple manner by providing (wireless) connecting means in the device, with which

connection the recorded electromagnetic signals can be sent to a server.

The invention further relates to a device for reproducing electromagnetic signals recorded by a device according to the invention, which device comprises:

- communication means for communicating via a network, such as the Internet, with a server and for fetching recorded electromagnetic signals from the server;

- a transmitter for transmitting the electromagnetic signals fetched from the server via the communication means.

By storing the recorded signals on a server another person, who has been authorized to do so by the user, can gain access to these stored signals. This person can then retrieve the recorded signals from the server via the communication means and then transmit the signals, so that a car can be opened and/or closed and the person can for instance place a parcel in the car.

The fetched electromagnetic signals are preferably decomposed into an in-phase component and a quadrature

component, further comprising:

- a digital-to-analog converter for converting the in-phase component and the quadrature component into an analog signal; and

- a synthesizing device for synthesizing

electromagnetic signals from the analog in-phase component and the quadrature component .

These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device for recording and blocking an encoded signal emitted by a

transmitter .

Figure 2 shows more schematically a cross-sectional view of the device according to figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the operation of the device according to figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the operation of a device for reproducing electromagnetic signals recorded by a device according to figure 1.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. Device 1 has a housing 2 with a space 3 therein. The space 3 can be closed by a first cover 4 and a second cover 5.

First cover 4 has a flexible, preferably transparent layer 6. This layer 6 is metallized, as are the other walls of space 3, so that electromagnetic signals are unable to enter space 3. Electromagnetic signals from a wide, first frequency band are kept out of space 3 by the metallized layers. Finally shown in space 3 is a key 7 with remote control.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-section of the device 1 according to figure 1. The first cover 4 is closed here, so that space 3 is closed.

A user can press a button of key 7 via the flexible layer 6 using a finger V, so that electromagnetic signals S are generated. Arranged in space 3 is an antenna 8 which can receive the generated signals S. The electromagnetic signals S, which moreover lie within the first frequency band, fall within a narrower, second frequency band. The antenna will hereby only record the electromagnetic signals S generated by key 7, and possible external interference signals are blocked. In addition, the electromagnetic signals S are also unable to leave the space. Figure 3 shows schematically the further operation of device 1. After antenna 8 has received the electromagnetic signal S of key 7, the electromagnetic signal S is decomposed by a decomposing device 9 into an in-phase component I and a quadrature component Q, which are then each digitized by an analog-to-digital converter 10, 11.

These digital signals are then sent by communication means 12 via the Internet W to a server 13, where these digital signals are stored.

When the owner of a car to which key 7 provides access now wishes to give another person the option of opening his or her car, for instance in order to deliver a parcel, this other person will be authorized to fetch the stored digital signals from server 13. For this purpose a device 20 will retrieve the digital signals from server 13 via the

Internet W using communication means 21.

The digital signals are then converted again by digital-to-analog converters 22, 23 into an in-phase component I and a quadrature component Q, which are in turn combined by a synthesizing device 24 into an electromagnetic signal S, which in turn can be transmitted via an antenna 25 in order to thus open the car.

Claims

1. Device for recording and blocking an encoded signal emitted by a transmitter, particularly emitted by a remote control of a car, which device comprises:

- a housing with a space for receiving the transmitter;

- communication means for communicating with a server via a network, such as the Internet, and for sending the recorded electromagnetic signals to the server.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding means comprise a metal layer arranged on the walls of the space in the housing.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recording means comprise a decomposing device for decomposing the received electromagnetic signals into an in-phase

component and a quadrature component, and comprise an analog- to-digital converter for converting the in-phase and

quadrature component into a digital signal in order to be able to record the received electromagnetic signals.

4. Device according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the second frequency band comprises at least the frequencies within the range of 314 MHz-870 MHz,

preferably at least 432 MHz-434 MHz, preferably at least 314 MHz-316 MHz, preferably at least 863 MHz-870 MHz.

5. Device according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the housing has a closable access, such as a pivoting cover, for the purpose of obtaining access to the space, so that a transmitter can be placed in the space.

6. Device according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the device has connecting means for setting up a connection, such as for instance a cabled, Bluetooth or Wi Fi connection, to a smartphone for the purpose of connecting the device to a network, particularly the Internet.

7. Device for reproducing electromagnetic signals recorded by a device according to any one of the foregoing claims, which device comprises:

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the fetched electromagnetic signals are decomposed into an in-phase component and a quadrature component, further comprising:

- a synthesizing device for synthesizing