Strong Secrecy in Wireless Network Coding Systems with M-QAM Modulators

TL;DR

This paper explores physical layer network coding with M-QAM modulators, introducing a triple binning scheme to achieve strong secrecy without sacrificing throughput in wireless networks.

Contribution

It presents a novel triple binning approach for secure wireless PNC using standard M-QAM modulators, extending previous methods to arbitrary M-QAM schemes.

Findings

Potential to increase throughput with strong secrecy

Successful implementation with BPSK and 8-PAM modulators

Generalization to arbitrary M-QAM modulators

Abstract

We investigate the possibility of developing physical layer network coding (PNC) schemes with embedded strong secrecy based on standard QAM modulators. The proposed scheme employs a triple binning approach at the QAM front-end of the wireless PNC encoders. A constructive example of a strong secrecy encoder is presented when a BPSK and an 8-PAM modulator are employed at the wireless transmitters and generalized to arbitrary M-QAM modulators, assuming channel inversion is attainable at the first cycle of the transmission. Our preliminary investigations demonstrate the potential of using such techniques to increase the throughput while in parallel not compromise the confidentiality of the exchanged data.