Abstract: A system includes a transmitter, a receiver and a control module. The transmitter transmits a RF signal from one of a vehicle and a portable access device to the other one of the vehicle and the portable access device. The receiver receives a response signal from one of the vehicle and the portable access device in response to the RF signal. The control module: converts the response signal to in-phase and quadrature-phase signals; based on the RF, in-phase signal and quadrature-phase signals; detects a range extension type relay attack performed by an attacking device to obtain at least one of access to or operational control of the vehicle; where the RF signal is relayed via the attacking device from the vehicle to the portable access device or the response signal is relayed via the attacking device from the portable access device to the vehicle; and performs a countermeasure.

Abstract: A multi-axis polarized RF antenna assembly includes a circular polarized antenna, a circular isolator, and a linear polarized antenna. The circular polarized antenna includes a conductive ring-shaped body having an inner hole. The circular isolator is connected to the conductive ring-shaped body. The linear polarized antenna is connected to the circular polarized antenna and the circular isolator and extending outward from the circular isolator. The linear polarized antenna includes a sleeve and a conductive element extending through the sleeve. The linear polarize antenna extends orthogonal to a radius of the circular polarized antenna.

Abstract: A system for accessing or providing operational control of a vehicle includes a network device and a control module. The network device includes: an antenna module including antennas with different polarized axes; a transmitter transmitting a series of tones via the antenna module from the vehicle to a second network device and change the frequencies of the tones during the transmission of the series of tones, where, at any moment in time, at least one of the antennas is not cross-polarized with an antenna of the second network device; and a receiver receiving the series of tones from the second network device. The control module: determines differences in phases of the series of tones versus differences in frequencies of the series of tones; and based on the differences in the phases and the differences in the frequencies, determines a distance between the first network device and the second network device.

Abstract: A system for detecting a range extension type relay attack includes a transmitter, a receiver and a module. The transmitter transmits a RF signal from one of a vehicle and a portable access device to the other one of the vehicle and the portable access device. The receiver receives a response signal in response to the RF signal. The module: generates a parameter associated with the transmission of the RF signal and the reception of the response signal; based on the parameter, detects the range extension type relay attack performed by an attacking device, where at least one of (i) the RF signal is relayed via the attacking device from the vehicle to the portable access device, or (ii) the response signal is relayed via the attacking device from the portable access device to the vehicle; and perform a countermeasure in response to detecting the range extension type relay attack.

Abstract: A system for accessing or providing operational control of a vehicle includes initiator and sniffer devices. The initiator device includes: polarized antennas; a transmitter transmitting a first tone signal via the polarized antennas from the vehicle to a responder/portable access device; and receiver receiving a second tone signal from the responder device in response to the first tone signal. The sniffer device includes: second polarized antennas; and a second receiver receiving, via the second polarized antennas, the first tone signal from the transmitter and the second tone signal from the responder device. The sniffer device determines states of the first and second tone signals including respective phase delays. The initiator or sniffer device estimates a first distance from the vehicle to the responder device or a second distance from the responder device to the sniffer device based on the states including respective phase delays.

Abstract: A communication system with a master device configured to determine location information in real-time with respect to a portable device. The master device may direct one or more monitor devices to monitor communications that occur over a primary communication link. The monitor devices may sense characteristic information about the signal from the portable device, and communicate this characteristic information to the master device via an auxiliary communication link. The communication system may determine location of the portable device, authenticate the portable device, determine whether the portable device is authorized to allow or initiate an action, and command or enable an action with respect to equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and include a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium. The instructions include generating first message authentication code (MAC) bytes based on a shared secret key. The instructions include generating first nonce bytes and an authenticated packet based on the first MAC bytes, the first nonce bytes, and a message byte. The instructions include generating a de-whitened tone byte based on the shared secret key. The instructions include generating a message packet that includes the authenticated packet and the de-whitened tone byte. Generating the message packet includes pseudo-randomly identifying a first location of the authenticated packet and inserting the de-whitened tone byte at the first location.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed and include receiving, at a plurality of azimuth angles, a signal via a first communication channel and a second signal via a second communication channel. The method includes determining a plurality of first and second communication channel phase angle differences of the antenna system that each correspond to one of the plurality of azimuth angles. The method includes generating a first reference curve and a second reference curve based on the plurality of first and second communication channel phase angle differences, respectively. The method includes determining a first set and a second set of phase difference limits, and for each set, the method includes: identifying a minimum and maximum capping region; determining a minimum phase difference limit based on a central location of the minimum capping region; and determining a maximum phase difference limit based on a central location of the maximum capping region.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed and include receiving a wireless signal. The method includes generating a first and second set of digital data that are representative of the wireless signal. The method includes obtaining a first and second sample that is representative of a cosine and sine component, respectively, of a pre-known portion of the first set. The method includes obtaining a third and fourth sample that is representative of a cosine and sine component, respectively, of a pre-known portion of the second set. The method includes determining a first phase angle value based on an amplitude of the first and second samples and a second phase angle based on an amplitude of the third and fourth samples. The method includes determining an angle of arrival based on a difference between the first and second phase angle values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a processor that receives information corresponding to a first signal strength of a communication link between a remote device and a communication gateway of a vehicle. The information corresponding to the first signal strength is associated with a first antenna of a sensor and the first antenna includes a first peak main lobe magnitude oriented in a first direction. The processor also receives information corresponding to a second signal strength of the communication link. The information corresponding to the second signal strength is associated with a second antenna. The second antenna includes a second peak main lobe magnitude oriented in a second direction. The processor executes a first boundary line determination that includes determining whether the remote device is located on a first side of a boundary line based on the first signal strength and the second signal strength.

Abstract: A system is disclosed and includes a plurality of antennas. Each antenna includes a plurality of conductive elements and is circularly polarized. The plurality of conductive elements is configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals. A first end of each of the plurality of conductive elements is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, which includes a plurality of coupler circuits and a switching circuit. The plurality of coupler circuits is configured to combine the RF signals and output a signal to the switching circuit based on the combined RF signals. The switching circuit is configured to selectively output one of the signals based on at least one control port of the switching circuit being selectively activated by a control signal. The system also includes a microcontroller configured to determine, based on at least one of the signals, an angle of arrival associated with the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems are disclosed and include a body having a plurality of slots. Each of the plurality of slots includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is located on a first surface of the body. The second portion is located on a second surface of the body and forms a helical shape. The third portion is located on a third surface of the body. The first surface and the second surface are non-parallel. The third surface and the second surface are non-parallel. The apparatus includes a plurality of antenna elements that are disposed in a respective one of the plurality of slots. The plurality of antenna elements is configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals. The apparatus includes a ground plane that is coupled to a first end of each of the plurality of antenna elements.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed and include receiving a signal via a first communication channel at a plurality of azimuth angles. The method includes determining a plurality of first communication channel phase angle differences between a pair of antennas. The method includes receiving a second signal via a second communication channel and at the plurality of azimuth angles. The method includes determining a plurality of second communication channel phase angle differences between the pair of antennas that each correspond to one of the plurality of azimuth angles. The method includes generating a first reference curve based on the plurality of first communication channel phase angle differences. The method includes generating a second reference curve based on the plurality of second communication channel phase angle differences. The method also includes generating a calibration curve that is based on an interpolation of the first reference curve and the second reference curve.

Abstract: A system and a method to wirelessly synchronize, monitor, or communicate, or a combination thereof, amongst sensors (e.g., sensors, hubs, sensor controllers, etc.) in a Bluetooth Low Energy-based microlocation system. The system or method, or both, may use the BLE hardware (e.g., transmitters, receivers, antennas, etc.) to interleave a communications protocol within the connection interval gaps of the BLE protocol used to communicate with devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that include a control module of a vehicle. The control module instructs at least one of a beacon and a plurality of sensors to broadcast a ping signal in response to a user device being within a threshold distance of the vehicle. The plurality of sensors communicate signal information to the control module, and the signal information indicates an amount of reflection of the ping signal measured by the plurality of sensors. A sensor calibration module (i) determines a presence of a reflective element based on the signal information, and (ii) in response to determining the presence of the reflective element and the user device being connected to a communication gateway of the control module, adjusts a measurement of a first sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the signal information.

Abstract: A method and system of creating microlocation zones by defining virtual boundaries using a system of one or more transmitters and receivers with one or more spatially-correlated antennas.

Abstract: A system and method for a distributed security model that may be used to achieve one or more of the following: authenticate system components; securely transport messages between system components; establish a secure communications channel over a constrained link; authenticate message content; authorize actions; and distribute authorizations and configuration data amongst users' system components in a device-as-a-key system.

Abstract: A system and a method to wirelessly synchronize, monitor, or communicate, or a combination thereof, amongst sensors (e.g., sensors, hubs, sensor controllers, etc.) in a Bluetooth Low Energy-based microlocation system. The system or method, or both, may use the BLE hardware (e.g., transmitters, receivers, antennas, etc.) to interleave a communications protocol within the connection interval gaps of the BLE protocol used to communicate with devices.

Abstract: A method and system of creating microlocation zones by defining virtual boundaries using a system of one or more transmitters and receivers with one or more spatially-correlated antennas.

Abstract: A system and method for a distributed security model that may be used to achieve one or more of the following: authenticate system components; securely transport messages between system components; establish a secure communications channel over a constrained link; authenticate message content; authorize actions; and distribute authorizations and configuration data amongst users' system components in a device-as-a-key system.