Can a cell phone transmit SMS-CB (Short Messaging Service-Cell Broadcast) ?
If not, Can I get a device that can transmit SMS-CB messages ?
Else, Is there a good simulator that can simulate SMS-CB transmission and receiving mobile phones ?
Thank You
NOTE: Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB) is designed for simultaneous delivery of messages to multiple users in a specified area. For example, information such as Location, Tower name, Ads or Emergency messages can be transmitted.
Technically, the SMS-CB messages originate at a device called "Cell Broadcast Centre (CBC)", which is part of the network operators equipment. It sends the SMS-CB through the Base Station Controller (BSC). This cannot be done over the air, it is something which happens inside the mobile operators network. It would probably be too much to explain all GSM/3G/UMTS network components here, you might want to read up on mobile network architecture.
So the simple answer is no, a handset (mobile phone) cannot directly send SMS-CB messages.
Now the question is, how to tell the CBC to send an SMS-CB to some network cells. There exist some standardized interfaces for that, which are used for emergency alerting, e.g. the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) in the US. If these interfaces are designed sensibly, they cannot be abused by just about anyone using a mobile handset. But I would not be surprised if there were security gaps in some operator's networks which would allow unauthorized parties to send SMS-CB, e.g. via insecure Internet/SS7 gateways. But that is wild speculation. Normally, it should not be possible to send unauthorized SMS-CB from outside of the operator's network.
Related
The issue is that I developing application (esp32 based device with NimBle Stack) that send indication message to paired phones ... but I've noticed that indicate messages also available for not paired devices !!
In my case I consider it as security violation
Is there a way to send indicate messages only for paired devices or it will be send to all device that connected over Gatt protocol ?
And if yes then will it be encrypted that nobody could eavesdrop the message ?
How do I implement notification in BLE?
I have a smartphone, and every hour it will send notification to all nearby BLE devices (smartwatch, RFduino, etc) for time synchronization purpose.
Other devices are server now (since it provides data), and smartphone is the client that collect the data.
Could I piggyback into the advertisement packages? For example, the smartphone always broadcast an advertisement packet to annoucement its presence (that's how other devices can find it). Can I modify that packet to be a time sync?
In order to send notifications or advertisements, your smartphone has to act as a server, which also means that in order to be able to receive notifications or scan for advertisements, your peripheral devices must act as clients.
This can be a bit tricky, because if two devices act as client and server, they may not simultaneously fulfil the other role. You need to switch roles whenever needed, which is an open field for all kinds of problems.
Also, I am not convinced that it is really the optimal choice to let the smartphone regularly notify all devices in the vicinity. Each of the devices that wants to receive the notification has to be connected with the device in order to receive the notification, and this connection has to be already active when the notification is sent in order to really get the correct time. So all these devices need to connect in advance to the expected notification time, and hold up the connection until the notification has come.
It might be better to just advertise the current time, but remember that you can't connect to the smartphone as a server while it is advertising, because the link layer may not be in scanning and advertising mode at the same time, and you may also not be connected when advertising for a similar reason.
If you want to do it that way, you can include the time information in the advertising data. See the Supplement to the Bluetooth Core Specification v6, Part A for further information on the structure of the advertising data. You could put it in the manufacturer specific data.
However, another option would be to write the time directly to the device using a write request. You can define your own service and characteristics. You can include a "time synch necessary" information in the advertisement data of the servers, and when the smartphone evaluates the advertisement, it can connect to the corresponding device and send the time directly.
The advantage of this procedure is that time is only updated if you really need it on the device, and that you do not have to switch client/server roles, because the device in server role may advertise as normal, and the smartphone can always stay in client role.
I read a lot about WiFi sensors being used to track smart phones in Retail environment. The location triangulation is done on basis that a smart phone has its WiFi turned ON, be it in connected or unconnected state.
Case 1 : WiFi turned ON but unconnected
Why should a smart phone which has its WiFi turned ON need to transmit the packets, unless the user 'scans' for nearby WiFi networks?
Case 2 : WiFi turned ON and connected
Why should a smart phone transmit any packets, unless the user is browsing the net?
In both the above cases, there is a high chance that most of the time the WiFi device does not send any packet, which means none of the WiFi sensors detect it. If that is true, then the whole idea behind WiFi sensor based triangulation in Retail goes for toss, clearly with so many companies working on this, I must be wrong. Please answer with more than a yes or no, as to which packets are generally sent in both the above scenarios.
If wifi is turned on it will periodically search for new networks. This happens even if you are already connected to one, as it allows the device to connect to a 'better' network, if available.
Scanning/network discovery can be done in two ways. First is passive when a device listens to surrounding access point's (AP) beacon frames. These are basically advertisements for their network. The second method is called active. This is the most likely explanation of how the technology you mentioned works. Active scanning is when the device sends out a probe frame asking for available APs. These are generally ones that you have associated with previously, e.g. Your home network. These probes can be listened to from nearby 802.11 (wifi) devices, therefore tracking you.
Active and passive scanning
801.11 frames
As mentioned in #AndrewLeeming answer, one of the causes for data transmission data is scanning.
It's not necessary but normally it will be performed to find a network to connect to (or a better network in case of already connected). Active scanning can be turned off for power saving reasons. Passive scanning doesn't involve transmissions, so it's irrelevant to this question.
However, the most important reason for WiFi devices to transmit packets while connected is to let the AP know that the client is still available. Otherwise the AP will drop the link after a certain period of time without activity. Additionally, the clients might be in power save mode and instruct the AP not to transmit data to them. From time to time the client will inquire the AP to see if there are any pending packets for it.
I want to find a solution to broadcast voice over WiFi for the people in a march. Since Android and IPhone is the most popular devices among the people in the march, it would be great if i can find a solution for audio broadcast over wifi with limited budget.
I know that people in occupy movement use different app on their cell, but it is not suitable in a march in my city. As the authority in my country may temporarily shutdown the data over mobile network to disable the app.
If i can develop an app to gather the broadcast message (SSID) from a powerful wifi AP with a long-length directional antenna, I should able to deliver message among the people in the march. Is it a possible solution?
Also, is it possible to modify the AP to allow any device to join the AP without further acknowledgment and broadcast message to all devices in that network?
Any idea or opinion is welcome.
Many Thanks.
This will be difficult, especially with a large number of users. Since you only need to send audio in one direction, that will at least be a bit easier.
First, you're going to want to put that AP in the middle of the crowd with an omnidirectional antenna. Perhaps, in a backpack or something. Each phone on that network needs to "hear" when other phones are transmitting, or it will be a mess. Even though your application is one-way, 802.11 isn't.
Now, when you write your application, use UDP packets sent to the broadcast address. No need for TCP packets, as they will clog up your network anyway.
Use a simple voice codec, such as AMR. The codecs available vary from platform to platform. See this document for a list on Android: http://developer.android.com/guide/appendix/media-formats.html
Honestly, the easiest solution would be to go buy a small FM transmitter, since many phones have receivers in them anyway.
I have read this somewhere:
Most mobile operators encrypt all mobile communication data, including SMS messages In GSM, messages are encrypted using A5/1 but even when encrypted, the data held by SMS is readable for the operator. Mobile phone operators have the ability to filter and modify short messages during delivery. Also, it is possible that the operator might not filter messages on purpose but might use equipment that cannot handle encrypted messages.
I want to know..is it true..?
Can someone explain how this filtering is done..? and is there any solution to avoid such loss of messages on the network..?
A5/1 is being used on the radio link between mobile and base station controller (BSC, the network entity entity that manages the radio resources). The radio link transports a couple of higher level protocols, among them MAP which is used to transport SMS.
The BSC is relaying SMS over MAP into the core network. The protocol stack between BSC and core network is not encrypted as well as the communication inside the core network. This was deemed as not needed at time GSM was designed, the links are supposed to be mobile operators very own property and territory and therefore assumed being secure.
The core network typically delivers SMS to an SMSC (short message service center) which is reponsible for routing messages to receipients.
A network operator can read SMS in clear text in various places, e.g.
With a protocol analyzer, tapping links between network nodes
On the SMSC, in message queues (databases...) or even log files
On an MSC when tracing MAP messages
Message filtering and modification may happen on the SMSC, depending on the network operator needs.