Method for defense against primary user emulation attacks in cognitive radio networks using advanced encryption

1. A method for defense against primary user emulation attacks in cognitive radio networks comprising the steps of:

generating an advanced encryption standard (AES)-encrypted reference signal with a transmitter for transmitting to at least one receiver;

allowing a shared secret between the transmitter and the at least one receiver;

regenerating the reference signal at the at least one receiver and using the regenerated reference signal to achieve accurate identification of authorized primary users as well as malicious users;

analyzing an auto-correlation of the received reference signal by the at least one receiver;

detecting by the at least one receiver whether the primary user is present or not by comparing a cross-correlation between the received reference signal and a received signal to a predetermined threshold; and

concluding that the primary user is present if the cross-correlation is greater than the predetermined threshold and concluding that the primary user is not present if the cross-correlation is less than the predetermined threshold.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of generating comprises using an AES encrypted reference sequence as synchronization bytes of each digital television (DTV) data frame.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of detecting the presence of a malicious user based on the auto-correlation analysis whether the primary user is present or not.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of operating the authorized secondary users over white spaces of a digital TV (DTV) band.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of generating a pseudo-random (PN) sequence using a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR).

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of generating includes using a secure integration vector (IV) with the LFSR.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 including the step of encrypting the PN sequence with an AES process.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of using a maximum length sequence from the IV as an input to the AES process.

9. A method for defense against primary user emulation attacks in cognitive radio networks comprising the steps of:

providing a transmitter for transmitting to at least one receiver;

generating an advanced encryption standard (AES)-encrypted reference signal with the transmitter;

allowing a shared secret between the transmitter and the at least one receiver;

regenerating the reference signal at the at least one receiver and using the regenerated reference signal to achieve accurate identification of authorized primary users as well as malicious users;

analyzing an auto-correlation of the received reference signal by the at least one receiver;

detecting by the at least one receiver whether the primary user is present or not by comparing a cross-correlation between the received reference signal and a received signal to a predetermined threshold;

concluding that the primary user is present if the cross-correlation is greater than the predetermined threshold and concluding that the primary user is not present if the cross-correlation is less than the predetermined threshold; and

detecting the presence of a malicious user based on the auto-correlation analysis whether the primary user is present or not.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of generating comprises using an AES encrypted reference sequence as synchronization bytes of each DTV data frame.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of operating the authorized secondary users over white spaces of a digital TV (DTV) band.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of generating a pseudo-random (PN) sequence using a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR).

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of generating includes using a secure integration vector (IV) with the LFSR.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of encrypting the PN sequence with an AES process.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of using a maximum length sequence from the IV as an input to the AES process.

16. A method for defense against primary user emulation attacks in cognitive radio networks comprising the steps of:

providing a transmitter and at least one receiver;

generating an advanced encryption standard (AES)-encrypted reference signal by a primary user using an AES encrypted reference sequence as synchronization bytes of each DTV data frame with the transmitter and generating a pseudo-random (PN) sequence using a secure integration vector (IV) with a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR);

operating authorized secondary users over white spaces of a digital TV (DTV) band;

allowing a shared secret between the transmitter and the at least one receiver;

regenerating the reference signal at the at least one receiver with the shared secret;

analyzing an auto-correlation of the received reference signal by the at least one receiver;

detecting by the at least one receiver whether the primary user is present or not by comparing a cross-correlation between the received reference signal and a received signal to a predetermined threshold;

concluding that the primary user is present if the cross-correlation is greater than the predetermined threshold and concluding that the primary user is not present if the cross-correlation is less than the predetermined threshold; and

detecting the presence of a malicious user based on the auto-correlation analysis whether the primary user is present or not.