Addressing Physical-Layer Challenges via CLAWS: Cross-Layer Approaches to Wireless Secure Communications

这项研究的目的是研究在无线通信系统和其他使用物理层属性的复杂网络中实现安全的新方法。无线安全通信的跨层方法(JAWS)努力旨在解决新通信模式中的安全问题，在这些模式中，仅通过现有的加密和网络安全技术很难提供安全。爪子方法试图联合优化整体系统性能和安全性。该方案应适用于无线传感器网络、无线自组织网络以及下一代无线和混合通信系统。该研究的智力价值基于：(I)开发了一种新的安全通信设计方法，该方法联合考虑了与信号传输和处理、安全要求和其他系统性能要求相关的物理规律；(Ii)将该方法应用于协作无线通信以跟踪受损或敌意的中继，这是一种尚未被广泛研究的具有挑战性的内部攻击形式；以及(Iii)将该方法应用到传感器网络中，以共同优化安全通信链路的建立和感知覆盖性能。本研究的影响来自桥接理论和实践，来自与安全无线通信相关的一些有益领域。该项目包括对当地行业的拓展，并利用马里兰大学的本科生荣誉计划，将研究和教育相结合，以培训未来的劳动力。传感器网络安全跨学科调查实验试验台积极吸引本科生，特别是女性和少数民族学生参与前沿研究。

The objective of this research is to investigate new approaches to achieving security in wireless communications systems and other complex networks using physical layer properties. The Cross-Layer Approaches to Wireless Secure Communications (CLAWS) effort aims to address security in new communication paradigms where security is difficult to provide only through existing cryptographic and network security techniques. The CLAWS approach attempts to jointly optimize overall system performance and security. The scheme should be applicable to wireless sensor networks, wireless ad-hoc networks, and future-generation wireless and hybrid communication systems.The intellectual merit of the research is based on: (i) development of a new secure communication design methodology that jointly considers physical laws related to signal transmission and processing, security requirements, and other system performance requirements; (ii) application of the methodology to cooperative wireless communications to trace compromised or adversarial relays, which is a challenging form of insider attack that is not yet widely studied; and (iii) application of the methodology to sensor networks to jointly optimize the establishment of secure communication links and the sensing coverage performance.Broader impacts of the research result from bridging theory and practice from a number of beneficial areas related to secure wireless communications. The project includes outreach to local industry and leverages undergraduate honor programs at the University of Maryland to integrate research and education to train the future workforce. An experimental test bed for interdisciplinary investigation of sensor network security actively involves undergraduate students, especially women and minority students, in cutting-edge research.