Frequency encryption for communication signals

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver, a communication signal comprising one or more pulses representative of data;

determining, by the receiver, whether a data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses, wherein the data authentication pulse includes a data authentication pulse having a voltage that is at least one order of magnitude less than a voltage of the one or more pulses representative of the data; and

authenticating, by the receiver and based on the determination of whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses, the one or more pulses as a valid representation of the data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the receiver, whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses comprises:

applying a frequency filter to obtain a subset of a plurality of frequency components present in the one or more pulses; and

determining whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed within the subset of the plurality of frequency components.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the frequency filter comprises an infinite impulse response filter.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying the frequency filter comprises applying the frequency filter in accordance with a Goertzel algorithm or a chirp analysis.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

reconfiguring, responsive to a failed authentication of the one or more pulses as the valid representation of the data, the frequency filter to obtain a different subset of the plurality of frequency components;

receiving an additional communication signal including one or more additional pulses representative of additional data;

applying the reconfigured frequency filter to obtain the different subset of a plurality of frequency components present in the one or more additional pulses;

determining whether an additional data authentication pulse has been superimposed within the different subset of the frequency components, the additional data authentication pulse differing from the data authentication pulse in terms of one or more of frequency, amplitude, and dampening factor; and

authenticating, based on the determination of whether the additional data authentication pulse has been superimposed within the different subset of frequency components, the one or more additional pulses as a valid representation of the additional data.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses comprises determining, according to a pseudo random sequence, whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data authentication pulse is adaptable in terms of one or more of frequency, amplitude, and dampening factor and comprises one of a truncated sinusoid, an exponentially damped sinusoid, or a chirp signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising decoding, responsive to authenticating the one or more pulses as the valid representation of the data, the one or more pulses to obtain the data.

9. A receiver in a communication system, the receiver comprising:

a buffer configured to store a communication signal comprising one or more pulses representative of data; and

hardware configured to:

determine whether a data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses, wherein the data authentication pulse includes a data authentication pulse having a voltage that is at least one order of magnitude less than a voltage of the one or more pulses representative of the data; and

authenticate, based on the determination of whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses, the one or more pulses as a valid representation of the data.

10. The receiver of claim 9 , wherein the hardware is configured to:

apply a frequency filter to obtain a subset of a plurality of frequency components present in the one or more pulses; and

determine whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed within the subset of the plurality of frequency components.

11. The receiver of claim 10 , wherein the frequency filter comprises an infinite impulse response filter.

12. The receiver of claim 10 , wherein the hardware is configured to apply the frequency filter in accordance with a Goertzel algorithm or a chirp analysis.

13. The receiver of claim 10 , wherein the hardware is further configured to:

reconfigure, responsive to a failed authentication of the one or more pulses as the valid representation of the data, the frequency filter to obtain a different subset of the plurality of frequency components;

receive an additional communication signal including one or more additional pulses representative of additional data;

apply the reconfigured frequency filter to obtain the different subset of a plurality of frequency components present in the one or more additional pulses;

determine whether an additional data authentication pulse has been superimposed within the different subset of the frequency components, the additional data authentication pulse differing from the data authentication pulse in terms of one or more of frequency, amplitude, and dampening factor; and

authenticate, based on the determination of whether the additional data authentication pulse has been superimposed within the different subset of frequency components, the one or more additional pulses as a valid representation of the additional data.

14. The receiver of claim 9 , wherein the hardware is configured to determine, according to a pseudo random sequence, whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses.

15. The receiver of claim 9 , wherein the data authentication pulse is adaptable in terms of one or more of frequency, amplitude, and dampening factor and comprises one of a truncated sinusoid, an exponentially damped sinusoid, or a chirp signal.

16. The receiver of claim 9 , wherein the hardware is further configured to decode, responsive to authenticating the one or more pulses as the valid representation of the data, the one or more pulses to obtain the data.

17. The receiver of claim 9 , wherein an engine control system includes the receiver and a transmitter configured to generate the communication signal in which the data authentication pulse is superimposed over the one or more pulses.

18. A system comprising:

a hardware transmitter configured to:

obtain a communication carrier signal that includes one or more pulses representative of data;

superimpose, in accordance with a pseudo random sequence, a data authentication pulse on top of at least one of the one or more pulses to obtain an encrypted communication signal, wherein the data authentication pulse includes a data authentication pulse having a voltage that is at least one order of magnitude less than a voltage of the one or more pulses representative of the data; and

transmit the encrypted communication signal; and

a hardware receiver configured to:

receive the encrypted communication signal;

determine, according to the pseudo random sequence, whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over the at least one of the one or more pulses; and

authenticate, based on the determination of whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over the at least one of the one or more pulses, the one or more pulses as a valid representation of the data.