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Vuk Marojevic

Publications and source records attributed to Vuk Marojevic.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

SliceFed: Federated Constrained Multi-Agent DRL for Dynamic Spectrum Slicing in 6G

Dynamic spectrum slicing is a critical enabler for 6G Radio Access Networks (RANs), allowing the coexistence of heterogeneous services. However, optimizing resource allocation in dense, interference-limited deployments remains challenging due to non-stationary channel dynamics, strict Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements, and the need for data privacy. In this paper, we propose SliceFed, a novel Federated Constrained Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning (F-MADRL) framework. SliceFed formulates the slicing problem as a Constrained Markov Decision Process (CMDP) where autonomous gNB agents maximize spectral efficiency while explicitly satisfying inter-cell interference budgets and hard ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) latency deadlines. We employ a Lagrangian primal-dual approach integrated with Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) to enforce constraints, while Federated Averaging enables collaborative learning without exchanging raw local data. Extensive simulations in a dense multi-cell environment demonstrate that SliceFed converges to a stable, safety-aware policy. Unlike heuristic and unconstrained baselines, SliceFed achieves nearly 100% satisfaction of 1~ms URLLC latency deadlines and exhibits superior robustness to traffic load variations, verifying its potential for reliable and scalable 6G spectrum management.

cs.NI

AI-Driven Fuzzing for Vulnerability Assessment of 5G Traffic Steering Algorithms

Traffic Steering (TS) dynamically allocates user traffic across cells to enhance Quality of Experience (QoE), load balance, and spectrum efficiency in 5G networks. However, TS algorithms remain vulnerable to adversarial conditions such as interference spikes, handover storms, and localized outages. To address this, an AI-driven fuzz testing framework based on the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) is proposed to systematically expose hidden vulnerabilities. Using NVIDIA Sionna, five TS algorithms are evaluated across six scenarios. Results show that AI-driven fuzzing detects 34.2% more total vulnerabilities and 5.8% more critical failures than traditional testing, achieving superior diversity and edge-case discovery. The observed variance in critical failure detection underscores the stochastic nature of rare vulnerabilities. These findings demonstrate that AI-driven fuzzing offers an effective and scalable validation approach for improving TS algorithm robustness and ensuring resilient 6G-ready networks.

eess.SP

FairShare: Auditable Geographic Fairness for Multi-Operator LEO Spectrum Sharing

Dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) among multi-operator low Earth orbit (LEO) mega-constellations is essential for coexistence, yet prevailing policies focus almost exclusively on interference mitigation, leaving geographic equity largely unaddressed. This work investigates whether conventional DSS approaches inadvertently exacerbate the rural digital divide. Incorporating Keplerian orbital dynamics, inter-beam co-channel interference, and three real-world constellation geometries (Starlink, OneWeb, Kuiper), we conduct large-scale, 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial network (NTN) simulations across 20 orbital snapshots spanning 10~minutes of satellite motion. The results uncover a stark and persistent structural bias: SNR-priority scheduling induces a $1.84\times$ mean urban--rural access disparity, with temporal fluctuations reaching $3.9\times$ during favorable interference conditions. Counter-intuitively, increasing system bandwidth amplifies rather than alleviates this gap. To remedy this, we propose FairShare, a lightweight, quota-based framework that enforces geographic fairness. FairShare not only reverses the bias, achieving an affirmative disparity ratio of $\Delta_{\text{geo}} = 0.68\times$ with zero variance across all orbital snapshots and interference conditions, but also reduces scheduler runtime by 3.3\%. This demonstrates that algorithmic fairness can be achieved without trading off efficiency or complexity, and that it remains invariant to physical-layer dynamics. Our work provides regulators with both a diagnostic metric for auditing fairness and a practical, enforceable mechanism for equitable spectrum governance in next-generation satellite networks.

cs.NI

Next Generation Intelligent Low-Altitude Economy Deployments: The O-RAN Perspective

Despite the growing interest in low-altitude economy (LAE) applications, including UAV-based logistics and emergency response, fundamental challenges remain in orchestrating such missions over complex, signal-constrained environments. These include the absence of real-time, resilient, and context-aware orchestration of aerial nodes with limited integration of artificial intelligence (AI) specialized for LAE missions. This paper introduces an open radio access network (O-RAN)-enabled LAE framework that leverages seamless coordination between the disaggregated RAN architecture, open interfaces, and RAN intelligent controllers (RICs) to facilitate closed-loop, AI-optimized, and mission-critical LAE operations. We evaluate the feasibility and performance of the proposed architecture via a semantic-aware rApp that acts as a terrain interpreter, offering semantic guidance to a reinforcement learning-enabled xApp, which performs real-time trajectory planning for LAE swarm nodes. We survey the capabilities of UAV testbeds that can be leveraged for LAE research, and present critical research challenges and standardization needs.

eess.SY

Secure mmWave Beamforming with Proactive-ISAC Defense Against Beam-Stealing Attacks

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication systems face increasing susceptibility to advanced beam-stealing attacks, posing a significant physical layer security threat. This paper introduces a novel framework employing an advanced Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agent for proactive and adaptive defense against these sophisticated attacks. A key innovation is leveraging Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) capabilities for active, intelligent threat assessment. The DRL agent, built on a Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm, dynamically controls ISAC probing actions to investigate suspicious activities. We introduce an intensive curriculum learning strategy that guarantees the agent experiences successful detection during training to overcome the complex exploration challenges inherent to such a security-critical task. Consequently, the agent learns a robust and adaptive policy that intelligently balances security and communication performance. Numerical results demonstrate that our framework achieves a mean attacker detection rate of 92.8% while maintaining an average user SINR of over 13 dB.

eess.SP

Federated Neuroevolution O-RAN: Enhancing the Robustness of Deep Reinforcement Learning xApps

The open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture introduces RAN intelligent controllers (RICs) to facilitate the management and optimization of the disaggregated RAN. Reinforcement learning (RL) and its advanced form, deep RL (DRL), are increasingly employed for designing intelligent controllers, or xApps, to be deployed in the near-real time (near-RT) RIC. These models often encounter local optima, which raise concerns about their reliability for RAN intelligent control. We therefore introduce Federated O-RAN enabled Neuroevolution (NE)-enhanced DRL (F-ONRL) that deploys an NE-based optimizer xApp in parallel to the RAN controller xApps. This NE-DRL xApp framework enables effective exploration and exploitation in the near-RT RIC without disrupting RAN operations. We implement the NE xApp along with a DRL xApp and deploy them on Open AI Cellular (OAIC) platform and present numerical results that demonstrate the improved robustness of xApps while effectively balancing the additional computational load.

cs.AI

RAN Tester UE: An Automated Declarative UE Centric Security Testing Platform

Cellular networks require strict security procedures and measures across various network components, from core to radio access network (RAN) and end-user devices. As networks become increasingly complex and interconnected, as in O-RAN deployments, they are exposed to a numerous security threats. Therefore, ensuring robust security is critical for O-RAN to protect network integrity and safeguard user data. This requires rigorous testing methodologies to mitigate threats. This paper introduces an automated, adaptive, and scalable user equipment (UE) based RAN security testing framework designed to address the shortcomings of existing RAN testing solutions. Experimental results on a 5G software radio testbed built with commercial off-the-shelf hardware and open source software validate the efficiency and reproducibility of sample security test procedures developed on the RAN Tester UE framework.

cs.CR

Enhancing Secrecy Energy Efficiency in RIS-Aided Aerial Mobile Edge Computing Networks: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach

This paper studies the problem of securing task offloading transmissions from ground users against ground eavesdropping threats. Our study introduces a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-aided unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-mobile edge computing (MEC) scheme to enhance the secure task offloading while minimizing the energy consumption of the UAV subject to task completion constraints. Leveraging a data-driven approach, we propose a comprehensive optimization strategy that jointly optimizes the aerial MEC (AMEC)'s trajectory, task offloading partitioning, UE transmission scheduling, and RIS phase shifts. Our objective centers on optimizing the secrecy energy efficiency (SEE) of UE task offloading transmissions while preserving the AMEC's energy resources and meeting the task completion time requirements. Numerical results show that the proposed solution can effectively safeguard legitimate task offloading transmissions while preserving AMEC energy.

cs.CR

Integrated LLM-Based Intrusion Detection with Secure Slicing xApp for Securing O-RAN-Enabled Wireless Network Deployments

The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture is reshaping telecommunications by promoting openness, flexibility, and intelligent closed-loop optimization. By decoupling hardware and software and enabling multi-vendor deployments, O-RAN reduces costs, enhances performance, and allows rapid adaptation to new technologies. A key innovation is intelligent network slicing, which partitions networks into isolated slices tailored for specific use cases or quality of service requirements. The RAN Intelligent Controller further optimizes resource allocation, ensuring efficient utilization and improved service quality for user equipment (UEs). However, the modular and dynamic nature of O-RAN expands the threat surface, necessitating advanced security measures to maintain network integrity, confidentiality, and availability. Intrusion detection systems have become essential for identifying and mitigating attacks. This research explores using large language models (LLMs) to generate security recommendations based on the temporal traffic patterns of connected UEs. The paper introduces an LLM-driven intrusion detection framework and demonstrates its efficacy through experimental deployments, comparing non fine-tuned and fine-tuned models for task-specific accuracy.

cs.CR

Prototyping O-RAN Enabled UAV Experimentation for the AERPAW Testbed

The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture is reshaping the telecommunications landscape by enhancing network flexibility, openness, and intelligence. This paper establishes the requirements, evaluates the design tradeoffs, and introduces a scalable architecture and prototype of an open-source O-RAN experimentation platform within the Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced Wireless (AERPAW), an at scale testbed that integrates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with advanced wireless network technologies, offering experimentation in both outdoor testbed and emulation via a custom digital twin (DT). Through a series of aerial experiments, we evaluate FlexRIC, an open-source RAN Intelligent Controller, within the AERPAW hardware-software platform for network data monitoring, providing valuable insights into the proposed integration and revealing opportunities for leveraging O-RAN to create custom service based optimizations for cellular connected UAVs. We discuss the challenges and potential use cases of this integration and demonstrate the use of a generative artificial intelligence model for generating realistic data based on collected real-world data to support AERPAW's DT.

cs.NI

Enhanced Real-Time Threat Detection in 5G Networks: A Self-Attention RNN Autoencoder Approach for Spectral Intrusion Analysis

In the rapidly evolving landscape of 5G technology, safeguarding Radio Frequency (RF) environments against sophisticated intrusions is paramount, especially in dynamic spectrum access and management. This paper presents an enhanced experimental model that integrates a self-attention mechanism with a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)-based autoencoder for the detection of anomalous spectral activities in 5G networks at the waveform level. Our approach, grounded in time-series analysis, processes in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) samples to identify irregularities that could indicate potential jamming attacks. The model's architecture, augmented with a self-attention layer, extends the capabilities of RNN autoencoders, enabling a more nuanced understanding of temporal dependencies and contextual relationships within the RF spectrum. Utilizing a simulated 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) test-bed constructed with srsRAN 5G and Software Defined Radios (SDRs), we generated a comprehensive stream of data that reflects real-world RF spectrum conditions and attack scenarios. The model is trained to reconstruct standard signal behavior, establishing a normative baseline against which deviations, indicative of security threats, are identified. The proposed architecture is designed to balance between detection precision and computational efficiency, so the LSTM network, enriched with self-attention, continues to optimize for minimal execution latency and power consumption. Conducted on a real-world SDR-based testbed, our results demonstrate the model's improved performance and accuracy in threat detection. Keywords: self-attention, real-time intrusion detection, RNN autoencoder, Transformer architecture, LSTM, time series anomaly detection, 5G Security, spectrum access security.

cs.CR

Soft Tester UE: A Novel Approach for Open RAN Security Testing

With the rise of 5G and open radio access networks (O-RAN), there is a growing demand for customizable experimental platforms dedicated to security testing, as existing testbeds do not prioritize this area. Traditional, hardware-dependent testing methods pose challenges for smaller companies and research institutions. The growing wireless threat landscape highlights the critical need for proactive security testing, as 5G and O-RAN deployments are appealing targets for cybercriminals. To address these challenges, this article introduces the Soft Tester UE (soft T-UE), a software-defined test equipment designed to evaluate the security of 5G and O-RAN deployments via the Uu air interface between the user equipment (UE) and the network. The outcome is to deliver a free, open-source, and expandable test instrument to address the need for both standardized and customizable automated security testing. By extending beyond traditional security metrics, the soft T-UE promotes the development of new security measures and enhances the capability to anticipate and mitigate potential security breaches. The tool's automated testing capabilities are demonstrated through a scenario where the Radio Access Network (RAN) under test is evaluated when it receives fuzzed data when initiating a connection with an UE.

cs.CR

Advancing Experimental Platforms for UAV Communications: Insights from AERPAW'S Digital Twin

The rapid evolution of 5G and beyond has advanced space-air-terrestrial networks, with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offering enhanced coverage, flexible configurations, and cost efficiency. However, deploying UAV-based systems presents challenges including varying propagation conditions and hardware limitations. While simulators and theoretical models have been developed, real-world experimentation is critically important to validate the research. Digital twins, virtual replicas of physical systems, enable emulation that bridge theory and practice. This paper presents our experimental results from AERPAW's digital twin, showcasing its ability to simulate UAV communication scenarios and providing insights into system performance and reliability.

eess.SY

LSTM-Based Proactive Congestion Management for Internet of Vehicle Networks

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks support a variety of safety, entertainment, and commercial applications. This is realized by applying the principles of the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) to facilitate connectivity among vehicles and between vehicles and roadside units (RSUs). Network congestion management is essential for IoVs and it represents a significant concern due to its impact on improving the efficiency of transportation systems and providing reliable communication among vehicles for the timely delivery of safety-critical packets. This paper introduces a framework for proactive congestion management for IoV networks. We generate congestion scenarios and a data set to predict the congestion using LSTM. We present the framework and the packet congestion dataset. Simulation results using SUMO with NS3 demonstrate the effectiveness of the framework for forecasting IoV network congestion and clustering/prioritizing packets employing recurrent neural networks.

cs.NI

ZTRAN: Prototyping Zero Trust Security xApps for Open Radio Access Network Deployments

The open radio access network (O-RAN) offers new degrees of freedom for building and operating advanced cellular networks. Emphasizing on RAN disaggregation, open interfaces, multi-vendor support, and RAN intelligent controllers (RICs), O-RAN facilitates adaptation to new applications and technology trends. Yet, this architecture introduces new security challenges. This paper proposes leveraging zero trust principles for O-RAN security. We introduce zero trust RAN (ZTRAN), which embeds service authentication, intrusion detection, and secure slicing subsystems that are encapsulated as xApps. We implement ZTRAN on the open artificial intelligence cellular (OAIC) research platform and demonstrate its feasibility and effectiveness in terms of legitimate user throughput and latency figures. Our experimental analysis illustrates how ZTRAN's intrusion detection and secure slicing microservices operate effectively and in concert as part of O-RAN Alliance's containerized near-real time RIC. Research directions include exploring machine learning and additional threat intelligence feeds for improving the performance and extending the scope of ZTRAN.

cs.CR

5G Advanced: Wireless Channel Virtualization and Resource Mapping for Real Time Spectrum Sharing

The coexistence between active wireless communications and passive RF spectrum use becomes an increasingly important requirement for coordinated spectrum access supporting critical services. The ongoing research and technological progress are focused on effective spectrum utilization including large-scale MIMO and energy efficient and low-power communications, innovative spectrum use and management, and resilient spectrum sharing, just to name a few. This paper introduces a new tool for real time spectrum sharing among emerging cellular networks and passive RF sensing systems used for remote sensing and radio astronomy, among others. Specifically we propose leveraging wireless channel virtualization and propose a virtual-to-physical resource mapping framework, mapping types, and control signaling that extends the current 5G New Radio (NR) specifications. Our technology introduces minimal changes to the protocol and is meant to be transparent to the end user application. We validate the proposed technology by extending a 3GPP compliant 5G NR downlink simulator and identify further research directions where work is needed on designing effective ways to explicitly signal the need for spectrum or spectrum use predictions.

eess.SP

UAV Trajectory and Multi-User Beamforming Optimization for Clustered Users Against Passive Eavesdropping Attacks With Unknown CSI

This paper tackles the fundamental passive eavesdropping problem in modern wireless communications in which the location and the channel state information (CSI) of the attackers are unknown. In this regard, we propose deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that serves as a mobile aerial relay (AR) to help ground base station (GBS) support a subset of vulnerable users. More precisely, our solution (1) clusters the single-antenna users in two groups to be either served by the GBS directly or via the AR, (2) employs optimal multi-user beamforming to the directly served users, and (3) optimizes the AR's 3D position, its multi-user beamforming matrix and transmit powers by combining closed-form solutions with machine learning techniques. Specifically, we design a plain beamforming and power optimization combined with a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm for an AR to optimize its trajectory for the security maximization of the served users. Numerical results show that the multi-user multiple input, single output (MU-MISO) system split between a GBS and an AR with optimized transmission parameters without knowledge of the eavesdropping channels achieves high secrecy capacities that scale well with increasing the number of users.

cs.IT

End-to-End O-RAN Security Architecture, Threat Surface, Coverage, and the Case of the Open Fronthaul

O-RAN establishes an advanced radio access network (RAN) architecture that supports inter-operable, multi-vendor, and artificial intelligence (AI) controlled wireless access networks. The unique components, interfaces, and technologies of O-RAN differentiate it from the 3GPP RAN. Because O-RAN supports 3GPP protocols, currently 4G and 5G, while offering additional network interfaces and controllers, it has a larger attack surface. The O-RAN security requirements, vulnerabilities, threats, and countermeasures must be carefully assessed for it to become a platform for 5G Advanced and future 6G wireless. This article presents the ongoing standardization activities of the O-RAN Alliance for modeling the potential threats to the network and to the open fronthaul interface, in particular. We identify end-to-end security threats and discuss those on the open fronthaul in more detail. We then provide recommendations for countermeasures to tackle the identified security risks and encourage industry to establish standards and best practices for safe and secure implementations of the open fronthaul interface.

cs.CR