The generation of shared cryptographic keys through channel impulse response estimation at 60 GHz.

Methods to generate private keys based on wireless channel characteristics have been proposed as an alternative to standard key-management schemes. In this work, we discuss past work in the field and offer a generalized scheme for the generation of private keys using uncorrelated channels in multiple domains. Proposed cognitive enhancements measure channel characteristics, to dynamically change transmission and reception parameters as well as estimate private key randomness and expiration times. Finally, results are presented on the implementation of a system for the generation of private keys for cryptographic communications using channel impulse-response estimation at 60 GHz. The testbed is composed of commercial millimeter-wave VubIQ transceivers, laboratory equipment, and software implemented in MATLAB. Novel cognitive enhancements are demonstrated, using channel estimation to dynamically change system parameters and estimate cryptographic key strength. We show for a complex channel that secret key generation can be accomplished on the order of 100 kb/s.

[1]  Michel Fattouche,et al.  A comparison of two radio propagation channel impulse response determination techniques , 1993 .

[2]  T. Aono,et al.  Wireless secret key generation exploiting reactance-domain scalar response of multipath fading channels , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[3]  Derek Young,et al.  A Generalized Scheme for the Creation of Shared Secret Keys through Uncorrelated Reciprocal Channels in Multiple Domains , 2009, 2009 Proceedings of 18th International Conference on Computer Communications and Networks.

[4]  Ralph Howard,et al.  Data encryption standard , 1987 .

[5]  C. N. Mathur,et al.  Security Issues in Cognitive Radio Networks , 2007 .

[6]  Vincent K. N. Lau,et al.  The Mobile Radio Propagation Channel , 2007 .

[7]  T. Ohira.  Secret key generation exploiting antenna beam steering and wave propagation reciprocity , 2005, 2005 European Microwave Conference.

[8]  Kazukuni Kobara,et al.  Comparative Studies in Key Disagreement Correction Process on Wireless Key Agreement System , 2007, WISA.

[9]  R. Vaughan.  Switched parasitic elements for antenna diversity , 1999 .

[10]  Bülent Yener,et al.  Key distribution mechanisms for wireless sensor networks : a survey , 2005 .

[11]  G.S. Smith,et al.  A direct derivation of a single-antenna reciprocity relation for the time domain , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[12]  David Tse,et al.  Channel Identification: Secret Sharing Using Reciprocity in Ultrawideband Channels , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security.

[13]  Hideichi Sasaoka,et al.  A scheme of private key agreement based on the channel characteristics in OFDM land mobile radio , 2005 .

[14]  Aggelos Kiayias,et al.  Robust key generation from signal envelopes in wireless networks , 2007, CCS '07.

[15]  Adi Shamir,et al.  A method for obtaining digital signatures and public-key cryptosystems , 1978, CACM.

[16]  T. Ohira,et al.  Wireless secret key generation exploiting the reactance-domain scalar response of multipath fading channels : RSSI interleaving scheme , 2005, The European Conference on Wireless Technology, 2005..

[17]  R. J. Potton,et al.  Reciprocity in optics , 2004 .

[18]  Rao Yarlagadda,et al.  Unconventional cryptographic keying variable management , 1995, IEEE Trans. Commun..

[19]  John McEachen,et al.  Unconditionally secure communications over fading channels , 2001, 2001 MILCOM Proceedings Communications for Network-Centric Operations: Creating the Information Force (Cat. No.01CH37277).

[20]  Wayne E. Stark,et al.  Cryptographic Key Agreement for Mobile Radio , 1996, Digit. Signal Process..

[21]  Shu Lin,et al.  Error control coding : fundamentals and applications , 1983 .

[22]  H. Sasaoka,et al.  A Scheme of Secret Key Agreement Based on Received Signal Strength Variation by Antenna Switching in Land Mobile Radio , 2007, The 9th International Conference on Advanced Communication Technology.