A Multi-hop Multi-source Algebraic Watchdog

In our previous work "An Algebraic Watchdog for Wireless Network Coding", we proposed a new scheme in which nodes can detect malicious behaviors probabilistically, police their downstream neighbors locally using overheard messages; thus, provide a secure global "self-checking network". As the first building block of such a system, we focused on a two-hop network, and presented a graphical model to understand the inference process by which nodes police their downstream neighbors and to compute the probabilities of misdetection and false detection. In this paper, we extend the Algebraic Watchdog to a more general network setting, and propose a protocol in which we can establish "trust" in coded systems in a distributed manner. We develop a graphical model to detect the presence of an adversarial node downstream within a general two-hop network. The structure of the graphical model (a trellis) lends itself to well-known algorithms, such as Viterbi algorithm, that can compute the probabilities of misdetection and false detection. Using this as a building block, we generalize our scheme to multi-hop networks. We show analytically that as long as the min-cut is not dominated by the Byzantine adversaries, upstream nodes can monitor downstream neighbors and allow reliable communication with certain probability. Finally, we present preliminary simulation results that support our analysis.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, to appear in IEEE ITW Dublin 201

Algebraic Watchdog: Mitigating Misbehavior in Wireless Network Coding

We propose a secure scheme for wireless network coding, called the algebraic watchdog. By enabling nodes to detect malicious behaviors probabilistically and use overheard messages to police their downstream neighbors locally, the algebraic watchdog delivers a secure global self-checking network. Unlike traditional Byzantine detection protocols which are receiver-based, this protocol gives the senders an active role in checking the node downstream. The key idea is inspired by Marti et al.'s watchdog-pathrater, which attempts to detect and mitigate the effects of routing misbehavior. As an initial building block of a such system, we first focus on a two-hop network. We present a graphical model to understand the inference process nodes execute to police their downstream neighbors; as well as to compute, analyze, and approximate the probabilities of misdetection and false detection. In addition, we present an algebraic analysis of the performance using an hypothesis testing framework that provides exact formulae for probabilities of false detection and misdetection. We then extend the algebraic watchdog to a more general network setting, and propose a protocol in which we can establish trust in coded systems in a distributed manner. We develop a graphical model to detect the presence of an adversarial node downstream within a general multi-hop network. The structure of the graphical model (a trellis) lends itself to well-known algorithms, such as the Viterbi algorithm, which can compute the probabilities of misdetection and false detection. We show analytically that as long as the min-cut is not dominated by the Byzantine adversaries, upstream nodes can monitor downstream neighbors and allow reliable communication with certain probability. Finally, we present simulation results that support our analysis.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, Submitted to IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (JSAC) "Advances in Military Networking and Communications

Network error correction with unequal link capacities

This paper studies the capacity of single-source single-sink noiseless networks under adversarial or arbitrary errors on no more than z edges. Unlike prior papers, which assume equal capacities on all links, arbitrary link capacities are considered. Results include new upper bounds, network error correction coding strategies, and examples of network families where our bounds are tight. An example is provided of a network where the capacity is 50% greater than the best rate that can be achieved with linear coding. While coding at the source and sink suffices in networks with equal link capacities, in networks with unequal link capacities, it is shown that intermediate nodes may have to do coding, nonlinear error detection, or error correction in order to achieve the network error correction capacity

On detecting pollution attacks in inter-session network coding

Abstract—Dealing with pollution attacks in inter-session net-work coding is challenging due to the fact that sources, in addition to intermediate nodes, can be malicious. In this work, we precisely define corrupted packets in inter-session pollution based on the commitment of the source packets. We then propose three detection schemes: one hash-based and two MAC-based schemes: InterMacCPK and SpaceMacPM. InterMacCPK is the first multi-source homomorphic MAC scheme that supports multiple keys. Both MAC schemes can replace traditional MACs, e.g., HMAC, in networks that employ inter-session coding. All three schemes provide in-network detection, are collusion-resistant, and have very low online bandwidth and computation overhead. I

Prioritization, security and relay selection in network coded multiple access relay networks

Wireless communication is undoubtedly one of the most significant advancements by the mankind for improving quality of life. Information is transmitted from one point to another via electromagnetic waves. After Shannon\u27s landmark paper ``A Mathematical Theory of Communication\u27\u27 in 1948, significant advancements have occurred in providing reliable point to point wireless communication. With ever growing need for reliable high speed links, Cooperative communication and Network coding have emerged as viable technologies to bridge the gap. In today\u27s wireless network, different users have different demands for reliability based on their respective application. In this context, we propose flexible network coding scheme to adapt to user needs. We develop coding rules which achieve maximal diversity of the system, yet provide differentiated class of service to the users. The proposed scheme can be adjusted to accommodate the dynamic changes in quality of service(QoS) demand of users. Second we consider the issue of security in multiple access relay network. Security has always been a primary concern in wireless networks due to it broadcast nature of transmission. The intermediate relay nodes in a wireless network could be modified by adversary to transmit corrupted information. We propose a novel iterative packet recycling methodology which gives performance improvement over traditional approach of discarding received corrupted packets at the destination. Finally, we consider the problem of choosing relay for transmission. We propose a novel selection scheme which provides balanced relay utilization and reduces relay switching rate compared to the traditional selection algorithms. This cuts down energy wastage at the relay and improves the overall network lifetime

Network coding for robust wireless networks

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2012.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-167).Wireless networks and communications promise to allow improved access to services and information, ubiquitous connectivity, and mobility. However, current wireless networks are not well-equipped to meet the high bandwidth and strict delay requirements of future applications. Wireless networks suffer from frequent losses and low throughput. We aim to provide designs for robust wireless networks. This dissertation presents protocols and algorithms that significantly improve wireless network performance and effectively overcome interference, erasures, and attacks. The key idea behind this dissertation is in understanding that wireless networks are fundamentally different from wired networks, and recognizing that directly applying techniques from wired networks to wireless networks limits performance. The key ingredient underlying our algorithms and protocols is network coding. By recognizing the algebraic nature of information, network coding breaks the convention of routing networks, and allows mixing of information in the intermediate nodes and routers. This mixing has been shown to have numerous performance benefits, e.g. increase in throughput and robustness against losses and failures. We present three protocols and algorithms, each using network coding to harness a different characteristic of the wireless medium. We address the problem of interference, erasures, and attacks in wireless networks with the following network coded designs. -- Algebraic NC exploits strategic interference to provide a distributed, randomized code construction for multi-user wireless networks. Network coding framework simplifies the multi-user wireless network model, and allows us to describe the multi-user wireless networks in an algebraic framework. This algebraic framework provides a randomized, distributed code construction, which we show achieves capacity for multicast connections as well as a certain set of non-multicast connections. -- TCP/NC efficiently and reliably delivers data over unreliable lossy wireless networks. TCP, which was designed for reliable transmission over wired networks, often experiences severe performance degradation in wireless networks. TCP/NC combines network coding's erasure correction capabilities with TCP's congestion control mechanism and reliability. We show that TCP/NC achieves significantly higher throughput than TCP in lossy networks; therefore, TCP/NC is well suited for reliable communication in lossy wireless networks. -- Algebraic Watchdog takes advantage of the broadcast nature of wireless networks to provide a secure global self-checking network. Algebraic Watchdog allows nodes to detect malicious behaviors probabilistically, and police their neighbors locally using overheard messages. Unlike traditional detection protocols which are receiver-based, this protocol gives the senders an active role in checking the nodes downstream. We provide a trellis-based inference algorithm and protocol for detection, and analyze its performance. The main contribution of this dissertation is in providing algorithms and designs for robust wireless networks using network coding. We present how network coding can be applied to overcome the challenges of operating in wireless networks. We present both analytical and simulation results to support that network coded designs, if designed with care, can bring forth significant gains, not only in terms of throughput but also in terms of reliability, security, and robustness.by MinJi Kim.Ph.D

When watchdog meets coding

Abstract—We consider the problem of misbehavior detection in wireless networks. A commonly adopted approach is to exploit the broadcast nature of the wireless medium, where nodes monitor their downstream neighbors locally using overheard messages. We call such nodes the Watchdogs. We propose a lightweight misbehavior detection scheme which integrates the idea of watchdogs and error detection coding. We show that even if the watchdog can only observe a fraction of packets, by choosing the error detection code properly, an attacker can be detected with high probability while achieving throughput arbitrarily close to optimal. Such properties reduce the incentive for the attacker to attack. We then consider the problem of locating the misbehaving node and propose a simple protocol, which locates the misbehaving node with high probability. The protocol requires exactly two watchdogs per unreliable relay node. I