Distributed Beamforming in the Presence of Adversaries

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the problem of distributed coherent beamforming in wireless networks where multiple distributed transmitters adjust the phases of their signals to form a directional and targeted communication link to a client receiver. The quality-of-service (QoS) and security are key components of robust and secure wireless networks. Although the security can be improved by exploiting information about potential adversaries, such information may not be available in practical networks since the adversaries are often passive. Therefore, we introduce transmission strategies which not only send a confidential message by forming a beam towards the client but also broadcast interference with the aim of obfuscating adversaries without having any information about them. Since the interference may degrade the QoS of the client, the transmitters radiating the interference steer a null to the client to alleviate the interference. We develop two algorithms. The first assumes that a subset of the transmitters send the confidential message in the direction of the client via coherent beamforming. Then, the others transmit interference while creating a null towards the client. In the second, each node transmits both the confidential message and interference simultaneously. Two different client feedback scenarios are considered, two-bit and rich feedback. Both of the proposed algorithms can be performed in a fully distributed manner without any knowledge about potential adversaries. Numerical simulations in both microwave and low-very high frequency (low-VHF) bands validate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.