We always take it for granted that communications systems are relatively secure. Also that the most serious consequence of a security breach can be an unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data or financial loss. However, these vulnerabilities take on a critical nature with the increasingly common evolution and deployment of autonomous systems that rely on AI systems and cloud communication to make decisions. It can, even compromise the physical safety of people.
In the next decade, mobile networks, are expected to be able to reach high speeds and data volumes. Not only that, it is also moving towards increasing the number of simultaneous connections and the exchange of critical data. For this reason, it is essential to develop new communications systems that enable the detection and classification of interference and threats to increase the security of communications.
STAR Systems
In traditional communications systems, in order to send and receive data at the same time, the signals must be separated in time or frequency. This means that either you alternate between receiving and sending (first you receive some, then send some, and so on), or you use different frequencies to send and receive. But this presents a double challenge. On the one hand, separating in time reduces the speed of transmission and reception, since each action is only performed half the time. And, on the other hand, separating in frequency uses more resources. This limits the amount of information that can be transmitted.
To overcome these limitations and meet the requirements of future mobile networks, an advanced technology called STAR (Simultaneous Transmission And Reception) has been developed. This technology allows signals to be sent and received at the same time and on the same frequency. It is especially useful for next-generation wireless communications, where the aim is to maximize data transmission speed and frequency efficiency.
However, STAR systems also present a challenge: self-interference. This occurs when a transmitting device receives its own signal along with signals from other devices. This interference can be much stronger than the signals that are intended to be received, as the own signal is transmitted with much more power. This implies that, for proper reception of the signals of interest, we need to remove/cancel our own transmission from the received signal.
Electronic STAR
At 6GDIFFERENTE we are developing an electronic STAR system that allows just that: to cancel both the signal we are transmitting and all the non-linear components that are generated when transmitting it. This allows us to achieve two important objectives. On the one hand, we can receive lower intensity signals since we do not have higher power signals to mask them (thus increasing the maximum reception distance). On the other hand, it allows us to monitor the channel through which we are transmitting in order to detect signals, even unauthorized ones, that may be emitting on those frequencies. Since these interferences change depending on the channel we are transmitting on and the obstacles around us, our system uses filters that are able to adapt in real time to the movements around the antenna.
Photonic STAR
In addition to the development of the electronic STAR system, at 6GDIFERENTE we are working on a photonic STAR solution. Photonic technologies, which use light instead of electrons, offer a faster, more efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional electronics. These technologies allow faster transmission of information, generate less heat (less need for cooling) and open up the possibility of creating much smaller devices than with electronic technologies. For this reason, the creation of a photonic STAR system allows us to cancel the signal that we are transmitting in an analogous way to the electronic STAR, but with numerous benefits, such as working in higher frequency ranges than conventional electronics, increasing the capacity to transmit data and reducing the environmental impact with lower energy consumption. These benefits of the use of photonic technologies are fundamental for the development of future 6G networks.
Use Case: Characterization of radiant environments for Private Networks configuration
6GDIFFERENTE investigates the incorporation of this type of disruptive and emerging technologies in environments where connectivity and security of communications, as well as the safety of people can be compromised. For example, in unmanned cars where the command and control of the car is done through communication links. In the project, we explore how to detect, monitor and alert of possible interferences, whether intentional or unintentional, that may degrade or even interfere with the control of the car or its sensors, with the risk that this entails. To this end, in addition to STAR technology (both electronic and photonic), quantum sensors are incorporated to monitor all types of signals and AI algorithms to process all the information.
This use case lays the foundations for the future of private networks, where operators can count on the necessary information from the environment. In this way, they will be able to establish action protocols in cases where communications are compromised due to interference.
