Restricted Links for Ultra-Secure IoT Communications in 5G and 6G
The communication links for IoT and other reduced-capability devices are easy targets for cyber attacks in 5G and 6G networks. However, most such end devices are basic, low-cost sensors and actuators with very minimal communication requirements. Therefore, a class of restricted links is disclosed, configured to carry commands from a manager node or “hub device” to its end devices, and data back to the hub device, using pre-configured formats. The restricted links provide the communications that the end device needs, and no more. Restricted links leave little or no attack surface for intrusion, and thus prevent the spread of an attack from a compromised end device upward into the hub device. With restricted links acting as firewalls, even the most basic end devices can protect the larger network without the cost and burden of 3GPP cybersecurity software. Many other aspects are disclosed.
1 . A wireless network comprising a base station and a plurality of user devices, wherein:
a) a particular user device of the plurality comprises a hub device of a sub-network, the sub-network comprising a plurality of end devices, each end device comprising a sensor or actuator, and the hub device comprising a gateway device between the end devices and the base station;
b) wherein the base station is configured to communicate wirelessly with the hub device and to avoid communicating with the end devices;
c) wherein hub device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the base station and with each end device;
d) wherein each end device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the hub device and to avoid communicating with any other entity;
e) wherein the hub device is further configured to transmit instructions to each end device, and to avoid transmitting any message other than an instruction to any end device, and to interpret every message from an end device as either a data message or a preconfigured message; and
f) wherein each end device is further configured to interpret every message from the hub device as an instruction, and to transmit data messages and preconfigured messages to the hub device, and to avoid transmitting any message other than data messages and preconfigured messages to the hub device.