Improved physical-layer security for OFDM using data-based subcarrier scrambling

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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Conference article in proceedings
Date
2021
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
6
Series
2021 IEEE Globecom Workshops, GC Wkshps 2021 - Proceedings
Abstract
This paper presents a novel physical-layer security approach to protect the information exchanged in a wireless communication system based on OFDM. In this method, QAM symbols that are fed into the IFFT block are split into two subsets. The first subset of symbols is placed on non-scrambled (indexing) subcarriers, whereas the remaining symbols are transmitted on scrambled (data) subcarriers. Based on the bits placed on the indexing subcarriers, a permutation matrix that defines the (data-based) scrambling sequence of the data subcarriers is determined using an algorithm that is known a priori between the transmitter and receiver. The mapping between indexing bits and scrambling sequences is designed to minimize error propagation when there are erroneous received indexing bits (i.e. Gray-mapped sequences). Closed form formulas that approximate the Bit Error Probability (BEP) of the baseline (non-scrambled) and proposed (scrambled) OFDM transmissions are determined for different link configurations. The impact of the proposed physical-layer security scheme on the BEP is minimal, while increasing notably the number of combinations that an eavesdropper must check in order to execute a brute-force search attack.
Description
Funding Information: This work received funding from the Spanish ministry of science and innovation under project IRENE PID2020-115323RB-C31 (AEI/FEDER,UE) and from the Deanship of Scientific Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 IEEE.
Keywords
OFDM, performance analysis, Physical-layer security, subcarrier scrambling, wireless communications
Other note
Citation
Banat , M M , Bas , J & Dowhuszko , A A 2021 , Improved physical-layer security for OFDM using data-based subcarrier scrambling . in 2021 IEEE Globecom Workshops, GC Wkshps 2021 - Proceedings . 2021 IEEE Globecom Workshops, GC Wkshps 2021 - Proceedings , IEEE , IEEE Globecom Workshops , Madrid , Spain , 07/12/2021 . https://doi.org/10.1109/GCWkshps52748.2021.9682170