arXiv subjects

Hesham El Gamal

Publications and source records attributed to Hesham El Gamal.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Opportunistic Secrecy with a Strict Delay Constraint

We investigate the delay limited secrecy capacity of the flat fading channel under two different assumptions on the available transmitter channel state information (CSI). The first scenario assumes perfect prior knowledge of both the main and eavesdropper channel gains. Here, upper and lower bounds on the delay limited secrecy capacity are derived, and shown to be tight in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime. In the second scenario, only the main channel CSI is assumed to be available at the transmitter where, remarkably, we establish the achievability of a non-zero delay-limited secure rate, for a wide class of channel distributions, with a high probability. In the two cases, our achievability arguments are based on a novel two-stage key-sharing approach that overcomes the secrecy outage phenomenon observed in earlier works.

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arXiv2009

On the Secrecy Rate Region for the Interference Channel

This paper studies interference channels with security constraints. The existence of an external eavesdropper in a two-user interference channel is assumed, where the network users would like to secure their messages from the external eavesdropper. The cooperative binning and channel prefixing scheme is proposed for this system model which allows users to cooperatively add randomness to the channel in order to degrade the observations of the external eavesdropper. This scheme allows users to add randomness to the channel in two ways: 1) Users cooperate in their design of the binning codebooks, and 2) Users cooperatively exploit the channel prefixing technique. As an example, the channel prefixing technique is exploited in the Gaussian case to transmit a superposition signal consisting of binning codewords and independently generated noise samples. Gains obtained form the cooperative binning and channel prefixing scheme compared to the single user scenario reveals the positive effect of interference in increasing the network security. Remarkably, interference can be exploited to cooperatively add randomness into the network in order to enhance the security.

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arXiv2009

On the Delay Limited Secrecy Capacity of Fading Channels

In this paper, the delay limited secrecy capacity of the flat fading channel is investigated under two different assumptions on the available transmitter channel state information (CSI). The first scenario assumes perfect prior knowledge of both the main and eavesdropper channel gains. Here, upper and lower bounds on the secure delay limited capacity are derived and shown to be tight in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime (for a wide class of channel distributions). In the second scenario, only the main channel CSI is assumed to be available at the transmitter. Remarkably, under this assumption, we establish the achievability of non-zero secure rate (for a wide class of channel distributions) under a strict delay constraint. In the two cases, our achievability arguments are based on a novel two-stage approach that overcomes the secrecy outage phenomenon observed in earlier works.

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arXiv2009

The MIMO Wireless Switch: Relaying Can Increase the Multiplexing Gain

This paper considers an interference network composed of K half-duplex single-antenna pairs of users who wish to establish bi-directional communication with the aid of a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) half-duplex relay node. This channel is referred to as the "MIMO Wireless Switch" since, for the sake of simplicity, our model assumes no direct link between the two end nodes of each pair implying that all communication must go through the relay node (i.e., the MIMO switch). Assuming a delay-limited scenario, the fundamental limits in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime is analyzed using the diversity multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) framework. Our results sheds light on the structure of optimal transmission schemes and the gain offered by the relay node in two distinct cases, namely reciprocal and non-reciprocal channels (between the relay and end-users). In particular, the existence of a relay node, equipped with a sufficient number of antennas, is shown to increase the multiplexing gain; as compared with the traditional fully connected K-pair interference channel. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first known example where adding a relay node results in enlarging the pre-log factor of the sum rate. Moreover, for the case of reciprocal channels, it is shown that, when the relay has a number of antennas at least equal to the sum of antennas of all the users, static time allocation of decode and forward (DF) type schemes is optimal. On the other hand, in the non-reciprocal scenario, we establish the optimality of dynamic decode and forward in certain relevant scenarios.

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arXiv2008

On Power Control and Frequency Reuse in the Two User Cognitive Channel

This paper considers the generalized cognitive radio channel where the secondary user is allowed to reuse the frequency during both the idle and active periods of the primary user, as long as the primary rate remains the same. In this setting, the optimal power allocation policy with single-input single-output (SISO) primary and secondary channels is explored. Interestingly, the offered gain resulting from the frequency reuse during the active periods of the spectrum is shown to disappear in both the low and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regimes. We then argue that this drawback in the high SNR region can be avoided by equipping both the primary and secondary transmitters with multiple antennas. Finally, the scenario consisting of SISO primary and multi-input multi-output (MIMO) secondary channels is investigated. Here, a simple Zero-Forcing approach is shown to significantly outperform the celebrated Decoding-Forwarding-Dirty Paper Coding strategy (especially in the high SNR regime).

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arXiv2008

Blind Cognitive MAC Protocols

We consider the design of cognitive Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols enabling an unlicensed (secondary) transmitter-receiver pair to communicate over the idle periods of a set of licensed channels, i.e., the primary network. The objective is to maximize data throughput while maintaining the synchronization between secondary users and avoiding interference with licensed (primary) users. No statistical information about the primary traffic is assumed to be available a-priori to the secondary user. We investigate two distinct sensing scenarios. In the first, the secondary transmitter is capable of sensing all the primary channels, whereas it senses one channel only in the second scenario. In both cases, we propose MAC protocols that efficiently learn the statistics of the primary traffic online. Our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed blind protocols asymptotically achieve the throughput obtained when prior knowledge of primary traffic statistics is available.

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arXiv2008

ARQ-Based Secret Key Sharing

This paper develops a novel framework for sharing secret keys using existing Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) protocols. Our approach exploits the multi-path nature of the wireless environment to hide the key from passive eavesdroppers. The proposed framework does not assume the availability of any prior channel state information (CSI) and exploits only the one bit ACK/NACK feedback from the legitimate receiver. Compared with earlier approaches, the main innovation lies in the distribution of key bits among multiple ARQ frames. Interestingly, this idea allows for achieving a positive secrecy rate even when the eavesdropper experiences more favorable channel conditions, on average, than the legitimate receiver. In the sequel, we characterize the information theoretic limits of the proposed schemes, develop low complexity explicit implementations, and conclude with numerical results that validate our theoretical claims.

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arXiv2008

Interference Alignment for Secrecy

This paper studies the frequency/time selective $K$-user Gaussian interference channel with secrecy constraints. Two distinct models, namely the interference channel with confidential messages and the one with an external eavesdropper, are analyzed. The key difference between the two models is the lack of channel state information (CSI) about the external eavesdropper. Using interference alignment along with secrecy pre-coding, it is shown that each user can achieve non-zero secure Degrees of Freedom (DoF) for both cases. More precisely, the proposed coding scheme achieves $\frac{K-2}{2K-2}$ secure DoF {\em with probability one} per user in the confidential messages model. For the external eavesdropper scenario, on the other hand, it is shown that each user can achieve $\frac{K-2}{2K}$ secure DoF {\em in the ergodic setting}. Remarkably, these results establish the {\em positive impact} of interference on the secrecy capacity region of wireless networks.

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arXiv2008

On the Secure Degrees of Freedom in the K-User Gaussian Interference Channel

This paper studies the K-user Gaussian interference channel with secrecy constraints. Two distinct network models, namely the interference channel with confidential messages and the one with an external eavesdropper, are analyzed. Using interference alignment along with secrecy pre-coding at each transmitter, it is shown that each user in the network can achieve non-zero secure Degrees of Freedoms (DoFs) in both scenarios. In particular, the proposed coding scheme achieves (K-2)/(2K-2) secure DoFs for each user in the interference channel with confidential messages model, and (K-2)/2K secure DoFs in the case of an external eavesdropper. The fundamental difference between the two scenarios stems from the lack of channel state information (CSI) about the external eavesdropper. Remarkably, the results establish the positive impact of interference on the secrecy capacity of wireless networks.

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arXiv2008

Authentication over Noisy Channels

In this work, message authentication over noisy channels is studied. The model developed in this paper is the authentication theory counterpart of Wyner's wiretap channel model. Two types of opponent attacks, namely impersonation attacks and substitution attacks, are investigated for both single message and multiple message authentication scenarios. For each scenario, information theoretic lower and upper bounds on the opponent's success probability are derived. Remarkably, in both scenarios, lower and upper bounds are shown to match, and hence the fundamental limit of message authentication over noisy channels is fully characterized. The opponent's success probability is further shown to be smaller than that derived in the classic authentication model in which the channel is assumed to be noiseless. These results rely on a proposed novel authentication scheme in which key information is used to provide simultaneous protection again both types of attacks.

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arXiv2008

Optimal Medium Access Protocols for Cognitive Radio Networks

This paper focuses on the design of medium access control protocols for cognitive radio networks. The scenario in which a single cognitive user wishes to opportunistically exploit the availability of empty frequency bands within parts of the radio spectrum having multiple bands is first considered. In this scenario, the availability probability of each channel is unknown a priori to the cognitive user. Hence efficient medium access strategies must strike a balance between exploring (learning) the availability probability of the channels and exploiting the knowledge of the availability probability identified thus far. For this scenario, an optimal medium access strategy is derived and its underlying recursive structure is illustrated via examples. To avoid the prohibitive computational complexity of this optimal strategy, a low complexity asymptotically optimal strategy is developed. Next, the multi-cognitive user scenario is considered and low complexity medium access protocols, which strike an optimal balance between exploration and exploitation in such competitive environments, are developed.

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arXiv2008

Optimal Medium Access Control in Cognitive Radios: A Sequential Design Approach

The design of medium access control protocols for a cognitive user wishing to opportunistically exploit frequency bands within parts of the radio spectrum having multiple bands is considered. In the scenario under consideration, the availability probability of each channel is unknown a priori to the cognitive user. Hence efficient medium access strategies must strike a balance between exploring the availability of channels and exploiting the opportunities identified thus far. Using a sequential design approach, an optimal medium access strategy is derived. To avoid the prohibitive computational complexity of this optimal strategy, a low complexity asymptotically optimal strategy is also developed. The proposed strategy does not require any prior statistical knowledge about the traffic pattern on the different channels.

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arXiv2007

Fingerprinting with Minimum Distance Decoding

This work adopts an information theoretic framework for the design of collusion-resistant coding/decoding schemes for digital fingerprinting. More specifically, the minimum distance decision rule is used to identify 1 out of t pirates. Achievable rates, under this detection rule, are characterized in two distinct scenarios. First, we consider the averaging attack where a random coding argument is used to show that the rate 1/2 is achievable with t=2 pirates. Our study is then extended to the general case of arbitrary $t$ highlighting the underlying complexity-performance tradeoff. Overall, these results establish the significant performance gains offered by minimum distance decoding as compared to other approaches based on orthogonal codes and correlation detectors. In the second scenario, we characterize the achievable rates, with minimum distance decoding, under any collusion attack that satisfies the marking assumption. For t=2 pirates, we show that the rate $1-H(0.25)\approx 0.188$ is achievable using an ensemble of random linear codes. For $t\geq 3$, the existence of a non-resolvable collusion attack, with minimum distance decoding, for any non-zero rate is established. Inspired by our theoretical analysis, we then construct coding/decoding schemes for fingerprinting based on the celebrated Belief-Propagation framework. Using an explicit repeat-accumulate code, we obtain a vanishingly small probability of misidentification at rate 1/3 under averaging attack with t=2. For collusion attacks which satisfy the marking assumption, we use a more sophisticated accumulate repeat accumulate code to obtain a vanishingly small misidentification probability at rate 1/9 with t=2. These results represent a marked improvement over the best available designs in the literature.

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arXiv2007

Cognitive Medium Access: Exploration, Exploitation and Competition

This paper establishes the equivalence between cognitive medium access and the competitive multi-armed bandit problem. First, the scenario in which a single cognitive user wishes to opportunistically exploit the availability of empty frequency bands in the spectrum with multiple bands is considered. In this scenario, the availability probability of each channel is unknown to the cognitive user a priori. Hence efficient medium access strategies must strike a balance between exploring the availability of other free channels and exploiting the opportunities identified thus far. By adopting a Bayesian approach for this classical bandit problem, the optimal medium access strategy is derived and its underlying recursive structure is illustrated via examples. To avoid the prohibitive computational complexity of the optimal strategy, a low complexity asymptotically optimal strategy is developed. The proposed strategy does not require any prior statistical knowledge about the traffic pattern on the different channels. Next, the multi-cognitive user scenario is considered and low complexity medium access protocols, which strike the optimal balance between exploration and exploitation in such competitive environments, are developed. Finally, this formalism is extended to the case in which each cognitive user is capable of sensing and using multiple channels simultaneously.

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arXiv2007

Secrecy Capacity of the Wiretap Channel with Noisy Feedback

In this work, the role of noisy feedback in enhancing the secrecy capacity of the wiretap channel is investigated. A model is considered in which the feed-forward and feedback signals share the same noisy channel. More specifically, a discrete memoryless modulo-additive channel with a full-duplex destination node is considered first, and it is shown that a judicious use of feedback increases the perfect secrecy capacity to the capacity of the source-destination channel in the absence of the wiretapper. In the achievability scheme, the feedback signal corresponds to a private key, known only to the destination. Then a half-duplex system is considered, for which a novel feedback technique that always achieves a positive perfect secrecy rate (even when the source-wiretapper channel is less noisy than the source-destination channel) is proposed. These results hinge on the modulo-additive property of the channel, which is exploited by the destination to perform encryption over the channel without revealing its key to the source.

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arXiv2007

The Wiretap Channel with Feedback: Encryption over the Channel

In this work, the critical role of noisy feedback in enhancing the secrecy capacity of the wiretap channel is established. Unlike previous works, where a noiseless public discussion channel is used for feedback, the feed-forward and feedback signals share the same noisy channel in the present model. Quite interestingly, this noisy feedback model is shown to be more advantageous in the current setting. More specifically, the discrete memoryless modulo-additive channel with a full-duplex destination node is considered first, and it is shown that the judicious use of feedback increases the perfect secrecy capacity to the capacity of the source-destination channel in the absence of the wiretapper. In the achievability scheme, the feedback signal corresponds to a private key, known only to the destination. In the half-duplex scheme, a novel feedback technique that always achieves a positive perfect secrecy rate (even when the source-wiretapper channel is less noisy than the source-destination channel) is proposed. These results hinge on the modulo-additive property of the channel, which is exploited by the destination to perform encryption over the channel without revealing its key to the source. Finally, this scheme is extended to the continuous real valued modulo-$Λ$ channel where it is shown that the perfect secrecy capacity with feedback is also equal to the capacity in the absence of the wiretapper.

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arXiv2006

The Relay-Eavesdropper Channel: Cooperation for Secrecy

This paper establishes the utility of user cooperation in facilitating secure wireless communications. In particular, the four-terminal relay-eavesdropper channel is introduced and an outer-bound on the optimal rate-equivocation region is derived. Several cooperation strategies are then devised and the corresponding achievable rate-equivocation region are characterized. Of particular interest is the novel Noise-Forwarding (NF) strategy, where the relay node sends codewords independent of the source message to confuse the eavesdropper. This strategy is used to illustrate the deaf helper phenomenon, where the relay is able to facilitate secure communications while being totally ignorant of the transmitted messages. Furthermore, NF is shown to increase the secrecy capacity in the reversely degraded scenario, where the relay node fails to offer performance gains in the classical setting. The gain offered by the proposed cooperation strategies is then proved theoretically and validated numerically in the additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel.

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arXiv2006

On the Error Exponents of ARQ Channels with Deadlines

We consider communication over Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) memoryless channels with deadlines. In particular, an upper bound L is imposed on the maximum number of ARQ transmission rounds. In this setup, it is shown that incremental redundancy ARQ outperforms Forney's memoryless decoding in terms of the achievable error exponents.

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