Critical Communication Systems Research Articles

Algorithms of Cross-Domain Redundancy Management for Resilient of Dual-Priority Critical Communication Systems

The paper presents models for managing cross-domain redundancy to enhance the reliability of two priority communication channels within critical infrastructure systems. Employing Markov chain models, the paper analyzes the impact of two distinct redundancy management strategies: a unified reserve pool and a separate pool approach with cross-domain resource sharing. The study introduces reliability improvement factors to quantify system performance, exploring their dependency on the number of additional redundant elements, their inherent reliability, and the chosen strategy for managing cross-domain redundancy. An air traffic control system serves as a case study of the application of the proposed management algorithms. Results indicate that the integration of resources from different priority domains significantly improves communication reliability. The findings may be useful for the design and operation of secure communication networks.

Understanding TETRA Radio RF Jamming and Interference: A Comprehensive Overview

This publication provides a detailed examination of the issues surrounding TETRA Radio RF jamming and interference, essential factors impacting critical communication systems. By investigating the root causes, effects, and potential remedies for RF interference, this paper aims to equip stakeholders with a thorough understanding needed to develop effective strategies to mitigate these disruptions in TETRA networks, thereby enhancing their security and resilience.

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF EFFICIENCY INDICATORS OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES IN THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

The efficiency indicators of the functioning critical information infrastructures in the communication system are analyzed based on the architectural concept of future networks. The object of the study is hardware and software complexes critical information infrastructures for special purposes. Critical information infrastructure represents information and telecommunication communication systems, the maintenance, reliability and security which are necessary for the safe operation special-purpose enterprises. In order to avoid the occurrence of various security and reliability incidents, the studied critical infrastructures communication systems require constant analysis and updating operating rules. The subject of the research is a method for calculating quality indicators of the functioning of critical information infrastructures in communication systems. In this work, using the example of a communication system based on modern technologies, the sequence of actions for analyzing threats to the security of a critical information infrastructure facility is considered. The purpose of the study is to develop a new approach for creating methods for calculating indicators of efficiency, reliability and information security systems. Based on the analysis of the work, a method for calculating efficiency indicators critical information infrastructures of communication systems is proposed and important analytical expressions for further research are obtained. As a result of the study, the main conclusions of the study were obtained, which can be implemented and used in critical infrastructures of communication systems to calculate the quality of functioning public computer and telecommunication systems.

The 5G revolution transforming connectivity and powering innovations

This article delves into the transformative world of 5G technology, elucidating its foundational principles, technological advancements, and the global momentum behind its deployment. With an emphasis on the revolutionary capabilities of 5G, from unprecedented speeds and ultra-low latency to enhanced network efficiency, the article explores the myriad ways in which this next-generation technology is reshaping telecommunications and catalyzing innovations across diverse sectors such as autonomous transportation, smart cities, healthcare, and industrial automation. Highlighting case studies from pioneering regions like South Korea and China, the article showcases the real-world implementations and tangible benefits of 5G, underscoring its role in driving technological advancements and improving user experiences. Furthermore, insights from research projects like 5G-MoNArch and 5G-PICTURE provide a deeper understanding of 5G’s potential to revolutionize multimedia and entertainment, along with critical communication systems. The article also addresses the challenges and considerations inherent in the widespread adoption of 5G, including infrastructure upgrades, coverage expansion, security concerns, and the need for adaptive regulatory frameworks. Through an examination of these challenges, it emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts among industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the international community to navigate the complexities of 5G deployment successfully. Concluding with a forward-looking perspective, the article posits 5G as a pivotal driver of future innovations, highlighting its potential to not only enhance connectivity but also to fundamentally alter the economic, industrial, and societal landscapes.

A comparative impact chain analysis of 1999 Kocaeli and 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes

Resilience in the face of crises is crucial for minimizing the impact of disasters and enabling rapid recovery. This study delves into the interlinked consequences of two seismic events that significantly impacted Türkiye in 1999 and 2023. Using an impact chain analysis, the aim is to provide a thorough understanding of the extensive effects on structures, infrastructure, and socio-economic dynamics. The research also examines the evolution of disaster management practices from the 1999 Kocaeli Earthquake to the more recent seismic events in 2023, highlighting advancements in risk management and resilience. Structurally, both seismic events revealed vulnerabilities in building design, emphasizing seismic shortcomings that led to widespread damage. Earthquakes exert a profound impact on critical infrastructure, affecting transportation, communication, and energy systems, with cascading effects that extend to the broader socio-economic landscape. The effectiveness of the methodology, particularly, the Impact Chain analysis, is emphasized as it reveals complex causal relationships. Visual representations support effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders, offering a holistic perspective on systemic risks. In conclusion, this study contributes to understanding disaster resilience and provides a foundation for subsequent research, policy formulation, and pragmatic strategies for disaster preparedness and response.

Post-stress changes in the gut microbiome composition in rats with different levels of nervous system excitability.

The gut-brain axis is a critical communication system influencing the interactions between the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and the central nervous system (CNS). The gut microbiota plays a significant role in this axis, affecting the development and function of the nervous system. Stress-induced psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety, have been linked to the gut microbiota, but underlying mechanisms and genetic susceptibility remain unclear. In this study, we examined stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome composition in two rat strains with different levels of nervous system excitability: high threshold (HT strain) and low threshold (LT strain). Rats were exposed to long-term emotional and painful stress using the Hecht protocol, and fecal samples were collected at multiple time points before and after stress exposure. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we assessed the qualitative and quantitative changes in the gut microbiota. Our results revealed distinct microbial diversity between the two rat strains, with the HT strain displaying higher diversity compared to the LT strain. Notably, under prolonged stress, the HT strain showed an increase in relative abundance of microorganisms from the genera Faecalibacterium and Prevotella in fecal samples. Additionally, both strains exhibited a decrease in Lactobacillus abundance following stress exposure. Our findings provide valuable insights into the impact of hereditary nervous system excitability on the gut microbiome composition under stress conditions. Understanding the gut-brain interactions in response to stress may open new avenues for comprehending stress-related psychopathologies and developing potential therapeutic interventions targeted at the gut microbiota. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying these changes and their implications for stress-induced disorders. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the gut-brain axis and its significance in stress-related neurobiology.

AI-based quantum-safe cybersecurity automation and orchestration for edge intelligence in future networks

The AIQUSEC (AI-based quantum secure cyber security automation and orchestration in the edge intelligence of future networks) brings measurable advances to the cyber security of access and edge networks and their services, as well as Operational Service Technologies (OT). The research aims for significant cybersecurity scalability, efficiency, and effectiveness of operations through improved and enhanced device and sensor securities, security assurance, quantum security, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based automation solutions. The new application scenarios of near future, the multiple stakeholders within each scenario, and the higher data volumes raise the need for novel cybersecurity solutions. Recently, OT cybersecurity threat landscape has become wider, due to the increase digitalization of services, the increase in virtualization and slicing of networks, as well as the increase in advanced cyber-attacks. Because of recent advances in computing power, AI in cybersecurity analyzing and validations is now becoming a reality. A significant part of currently used encryption technologies which secures communications and infrastructures might become instantly penetrable when quantum computing becomes available. Enabling quantum-safety migration development is a clear goal to the project. The research develops a state-of-the-art information security verification and validation environment that supports the integration of cyber security systems as a reference model, focusing on architectural choices and network connection from different vertical use cases. With the help of the platform and the reference model, common cybersecurity capabilities and requirements can be built, tested, and validated, as well as their fulfillment. In addition to the environment mentioned above, the results of the research are demonstrated and utilized in critical communication systems, water utilities, industrial environments, in physical access solutions and remote work. The developed platform can also be used for auditing devices, systems, and software’s in the future. The research integrates new quantum-safe artificial intelligence-based, hardware-hardened, and scalable cybersecurity solutions that have been validated in a standardized way. In this research, we also deal with the requirements of the EU sustainable growth program - issues related to the green transition.

Detection of Malicious Attacks in Autonomous Cyber-Physical Inverter-Based Microgrids

The distributed generation capabilities of microgrids (MGs) arise as essential assets in enhancing grid resilience. The integration of distributed energy sources, controllable loads, and prosumers necessitates the deployment of potent control and communication synergies. While those synergies transform MGs into cyber-physical systems through information technologies able to sense, control, and actuate local resources and loads, they inadvertently expose MGs to cyber-attack threats. Increasing the security of critical communication and control systems against “black swan” events, i.e., high-impact low-probability cyber-physical incidents, is a major priority for MG operations. Such incidents, if left unabated, can intensify and elicit system dynamics instability, eventually causing outages and system failures. In this article, we develop an integrated approach for multiagent MG systems able to perform the detection of malicious cyber-physical attacks based on subspace methods. We employ the small-signal model of an autonomous/islanded MG and consider different attack models targeting the MG’s secondary frequency control. The attack detector is constructed via identifying the stable kernel representation of the autonomous cyber-physical MG in the attack-free case. We illustrate the impact of the attack models as well as the feasibility of the developed detection method in simulation models of the Canadian urban benchmark distribution system.

Blended Learning Model in Improving 4C Abilities of Information System Students

Blended learning in this study combined face-to-face online learning and independent learning such as interactive media and zoom meeting application. This study aims to obtain the comparison of implementation blended learning in improving 4C abilities (critical thinking, creative, communication, and collaboration) system information students in English debate activity before and after the treatment. Furthermore, preliminary data from the subjects of this study before blended learning treatment showed an average value of < 55, and this value was categorized as “less”. Therefore, this research is a type of quantitative research using pre-experimental research method. The data were calculated by using SPSS. Research results indicated an increase in the students’ 4C abilities after implementing the blended learning model. The average increase of creativity was 43.79%, with an estimated increase is 39.89%. Critical thinking was 45.08%, with an estimate of 47.78%. Collaboration had 38.26%, with an estimate of 43.03%. At the same time, communication reached 38.32% with an estimation of 43.40%. Based on these results, the highest 4C increase was in critical thinking abilities compared to other abilities.

Cyber Resilience Meta-Modelling: The Railway Communication Case Study

Recent times have demonstrated how much the modern critical infrastructures (e.g., energy, essential services, people and goods transportation) depend from the global communication networks. However, in the current Cyber-Physical World convergence, sophisticated attacks to the cyber layer can provoke severe damages to both physical structures and the operations of infrastructure affecting not only its functionality and safety, but also triggering cascade effects in other systems because of the tight interdependence of the systems that characterises the modern society. Hence, critical infrastructure must integrate the current cyber-security approach based on risk avoidance with a broader perspective provided by the emerging cyber-resilience paradigm. Cyber resilience is aimed as a way absorb the consequences of these attacks and to recover the functionality quickly and safely through adaptation. Several high-level frameworks and conceptualisations have been proposed but a formal definition capable of translating cyber resilience into an operational tool for decision makers considering all aspects of such a multifaceted concept is still missing. To this end, the present paper aims at providing an operational formalisation for cyber resilience starting from the Cyber Resilience Ontology presented in a previous work using model-driven principles. A domain model is defined to cope with the different aspects and “resilience-assurance” processes that it can be valid in various application domains. In this respect, an application case based on critical transportation communications systems, namely the railway communication system, is provided to prove the feasibility of the proposed approach and to identify future improvements.

Evaluating Odisha's COVID-19 response: from quiet confidence to a slippery road.

Odisha is among handful of states that is at the forefront of India’s fight against a rapidly growing COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the national lockdown was imposed by the Union government on March 24, Odisha was only state to have imposed partial lockdown in select districts. It was also first state that took proactive steps to ramp up its health care system particularly having a COVID-19 hospital with intensive care units (ICUs) on public–private partnership mode. Importantly, Odisha was among few states to have created a COVID-19 hospital at each district in record time. In addition, the state took many proactive measures including setting up a taskforce to oversee the COVID-19 response, put up a critical information and communication system with daily press briefings among others to stay on the top of pandemic management. But come May when the migrants rush unfolded, the state experienced steady surge in infections as the pandemic started spreading to relatively dense rural hinterlands. The migrant endowed districts like Ganjam became the epicentres of new spread and the state is struggling to rein on the growing pandemic. What led to the state losing its initial gains? How did the state manage it so ably in the initial period and what led to the surge? What are the unique features of Odisha’s pandemic response? Is there an Odisha Model as claimed by several observers? (Patnaik et al. in The Wire, 2020) This paper endeavours to chronicle Odisha’s response to COVID-19 in relations to policies and programmes initiatives and actors and dynamics shaping these responses? Key aim is to identify strengths and experience of the eastern state which has a long and credible record of fighting natural disasters.

Satellite radio channels simulation methodology

The main contribution of this paper is to develop the modeling of satellite radio channels. The approach based on the results of propagation of radio channels with different antenna elevation angles. Also, is to obtain the mathematical model of a multipath radio cannel in several frequency bands. Creation a novel mathematical model of multipath radio channels will contribute the global simulator of satellite radio channel. With a software reset of a control signals, this package will allow the researcher to simulate the propagation of a radio signal for different environmental and geographical conditions of critical communication systems.

Drugs with new lease of life as quorum sensing inhibitors: for combating MDR Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains is a major health problem worldwide. There is an urgent need for novel strategies to combat bacterial infections caused by MDR strains like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Quorum sensing (QS) is a critical communication system in bacterial community controlling survival and virulence. The awareness of the importance of QS in bacterial infections has stimulated research to identify QS inhibitors (QSIs) to defeat microbes. In this study, four FDA-approved drugs (besides azithromycin as positive QSI) were tested for potential QS inhibition against clinical A. baumannii isolates and P. aeruginosa (PAO1) standard strain. The inhibitory effect of these drugs on virulence factors of both microbes has been investigated. The studied virulence factors include biofilm formation, twitching and swarming motilities, proteolytic enzyme production, and resistance to oxidative stress. The four tested drugs (erythromycin, levamisole, chloroquine, and propranolol) inhibited QS in Chromobacterium violaceum by 84, 72, 55.1, and 37.3%, respectively. They also significantly inhibited virulence factors in both PAO1 and A. baumannii at sub-inhibitory concentrations. These findings were confirmed by qRT-PCR and mice mortality test, where tested drugs highly repressed the expression of abaI gene and showed significantly improved mice survival rates. In addition, molecular docking studies against AbaI and AbaR proteins of QS system in A. baumannii revealed the potential inhibition of QS by tested drugs. Beside their known activities, the tested drugs could be given new life as QSIs to combat A. baumannii nosocomial infections (alone or in combination with antimicrobials).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s10096-020-03882-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mission critical ICT

In this paper, three technologies intended to be implemented in Private Mobile Radio systems are analyzed and compared: TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio), LTE (Long Term Evolution) and DMR (Digital Mobile Radio). Characteristics of these networks are collected and compared in one SWOT table. Based on this analysis, appropriate recommendations are made, which should be taken into account when choosing a specific solution for specific uses in Critical Communications systems.

Scalability and Performance Analysis of SIP based Multimedia Services over Mission Critical Communication Systems

Various studies have suggested enhancing the performance of large-scale systems, such as mission critical communication systems (MCCSs). However, few have modelled and evaluated the performance of such systems in a way that targets overall system performance in real time. Moreover, it is not enough to define the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a system without using them for system performance measurement and performance evaluation. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) both have a set of KPIs, such as the registration process delay, that can be used to measure and thus optimize overall system performance. This article articulates different options for system simulation and evaluation. The registration process affects performance and reflects the overall system performance. The article shows how the registration process is delayed and how the overall system scalability are negatively impacted by system overload.

Assessing information sources to elucidate diagnostic process errors in radiologic imaging - a human factors framework.

To assess information sources that may elucidate errors related to radiologic diagnostic imaging, quantify the incidence of potential safety events from each source, and quantify the number of steps involved from diagnostic imaging chain and socio-technical factors. This retrospective, Institutional Review Board-approved study was conducted at the ambulatory healthcare facilities associated with a large academic hospital. Five information sources were evaluated: an electronic safety reporting system (ESRS), alert notification for critical result (ANCR) system, picture archive and communication system (PACS)-based quality assurance (QA) tool, imaging peer-review system, and an imaging computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and scheduling system. Data from these sources (January-December 2015 for ESRS, ANCR, QA tool, and the peer-review system; January-October 2016 for the imaging ordering system) were collected to quantify the incidence of potential safety events. Reviewers classified events by the step(s) in the diagnostic process they could elucidate, and their socio-technical factors contributors per the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework. Potential safety events ranged from 0.5% to 62.1% of events collected from each source. Each of the information sources contributed to elucidating diagnostic process errors in various steps of the diagnostic imaging chain and contributing socio-technical factors, primarily Person, Tasks, and Tools and Technology. Various information sources can differentially inform understanding diagnostic process errors related to radiologic diagnostic imaging. Information sources elucidate errors in various steps within the diagnostic imaging workflow and can provide insight into socio-technical factors that impact patient safety in the diagnostic process.

Future evolution of public safety communications in the 5G Era

Public Safety (PS) or Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) communications technologies are undergoing significant transformation towards broadband. The Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) as one of the earliest critical communication systems has evolved from narrowband data in its first release to the current wideband data Tetra Enhanced Data Service (TEDS). TEDS gives higher data rates with up to several hundred kbit/s and very well fits into the existing PMR frequency landscape. The APCO25 suite of standards in North America had a similar evolution. While still providing essential PMR services like voice, group calls and messaging, the evolution of Public Safety communication must include data-rich broadband services to support a wide range of applications to enhance the operational capability of PMR users. Examples of services and applications include remote healthcare, video-streaming and health monitoring of the first responders. In comparison to mobile applications in the consumer market, PMR applications have severe requirements in terms of signal quality, security, reliability, and coverage. In addition, the usage patterns can be significantly different from the consumer market, as public safety officers must often face unexpected situations (e.g. emergency crisis) and still be able to rely on full traffic capacity and high Quality of Service (QoS) from the networks. The design of future PMR communications must take into consideration these requirements and needs. Significant advances have been achieved in the last years and are still under development focusing on the use of advanced signal processing techniques using flexible mul-ticarrier waveforms in PMR bands to satisfy emerging new data service needs in cohabitation with existing networks in the same frequency bands, to facilitate a smooth migration towards broadband systems and to increase spectrum efficiency. One example is Spectrum sharing, which is expected to bring substantial benefits for a better use of the radio spectrum, helping to mitigate the severe spectrum scarcity problem (mainly in the EU PS band). However, there are several issues that put a question mark on the deployment of PMR systems and their integration with fifth generation (5G) communication technologies and vision. First of all, the integration of PS system in LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) is still not optimized for voice calls (and especially not for the group calls), meaning that it will have to coexist for some time with the PMR conventional networks (e.g. TETRA) for basic voice services. Moreover, LTE-A is still not designed as a mission critical system. High availability and security features are not inherent in all the aspects – so some add-ons to the LTE-A standard or implementation scenarios have to be made, especially in the case of future interoperability and usage of commercial 5G networks for PS scenarios. In addition, standards for direct communications, like LTE Device to Device (D2D) or ad-hoc networks, must be still validated on the basis of the requirements of security and reliability. With proper implementation of these concepts, PMR users may rely on future 5G systems in the same manner they rely on the current narrowband PMR systems. Meanwhile, the design and integration of parallel or complementary usage of traditional PMR systems for voice communication and next generation PMR users in 5G systems for mission critical broadband data transfer still remain as open challenges. In particular, the research and standardization for internetworking of heterogeneous networks for PMR is still not completed. This special issue aims to investigate all aspects relevant to the development of the PMR communications systems and networks and their future evolvement in the fifth generation (5G) communication environment. We received over this special issue ten submissions altogether; out of which, eight were accepted through a rigorous peer review process. Note that in the following sections, the terms PMR and PS are used with the same meaning. In this context, the work presented in the paper Analysis of strategies for progressive 5G emergency network deployment by Vilhar et al. provides an analysis on network deployment strategies. It is evident that the temporary communication systems for emergency situations have traditionally been provided by a single communication technology. They are typically based on the 2G technologies for mobile radio that cannot meet the data rate requirements of contemporary applications. Emergency systems based on the 3GPP LTE technology are presently under investigation, and there is an increasing interest in including new 5G concepts. 5G may enable the employment of multiple heterogeneous communication systems such as fast deployable areal platforms, ad-hoc portable terrestrial stations and satellite communications, all of which integrated with the preserved part of the existing wireless infrastructure. Such an integrated approach is studied and evaluated in this work, based on the simultaneous use of the remaining terrestrial systems and additional LAPs (Low Amplitude Platforms). Simulations of the system were performed using the GRASS-RaPlaT tool, augmented

Modelling and simulation of distributed time critical communication and control systems in vehicles or vehicle networks

Abstract: This paper is dedicated to the methodical analysis of distributed communication and control systems, such like systems inside modern vehicles or systems of networked vehicles. For runtime and time-behavior analyses, the basic models of a communication access and a cycle crossing between program components are discussed. For these sub-problems, exemplary simulation results are shown and validated. Regarding both problems together, a mathematic approach is introduced, which describes the structure of a subsuming process, relevant for time analysis in distributed systems. The simulation of this complete process allows the derivation of realistic statements on the tolerable limits in time critical control systems.

Measuring the high performance of five-stage ring VCO with reverse body bias technique in 45 nm CMOS technology

In the CMOS, nanoscale technology power dissipation is becoming important metric. In presented work low leakage voltage controlled, ring systems oscillator circuit is proposed for critical communication systems with high oscillation frequency. An ideal approach has been investigated with substrate biasing technique for reduction of power consumption. We have shown simulation using cadence spectre 45 nm standard CMOS technology at room temperature (27°C) with supply voltage (Vdd=0.7 V). The simulation results provide efficient low power VCO in term of leakage power min (2.23 pW) and active power (9.03 nW) and max oscillation frequency (20.2 GHz) with joint PMOS and NMOS reverse substrate bias in comparison to PMOS and NMOS reverse substrate bias technique.

Out-of-band and adjacent-channel interference reduction by analog nonlinear filters

In a perfect world, we would have ‘brick wall’ filters, no-distortion amplifiers and mixers, and well-coordinated spectrum operations. The real world, however, is prone to various types of unintentional and intentional interference of technogenic (man-made) origin that can disrupt critical communication systems. In this paper, we introduce a methodology for mitigating technogenic interference in communication channels by analog nonlinear filters, with an emphasis on the mitigation of out-of-band and adjacent-channel interference. Interference induced in a communications receiver by external transmitters can be viewed as wide-band non-Gaussian noise affecting a narrower-band signal of interest. This noise may contain a strong component within the receiver passband, which may dominate over the thermal noise. While the total wide-band interference seen by the receiver may or may not be impulsive, we demonstrate that the interfering component due to power emitted by the transmitter into the receiver channel is likely to appear impulsive under a wide range of conditions. We give an example of mechanisms of impulsive interference in digital communication systems resulting from the nonsmooth nature of any physically realizable modulation scheme for transmission of a digital (discontinuous) message. We show that impulsive interference can be effectively mitigated by nonlinear differential limiters (NDLs). An NDL can be configured to behave linearly when the input signal does not contain outliers. When outliers are encountered, the nonlinear response of the NDL limits the magnitude of the respective outliers in the output signal. The signal quality is improved in excess of that achievable by the respective linear filter, increasing the capacity of a communications channel. The behavior of an NDL, and its degree of nonlinearity, is controlled by a single parameter in a manner that enables significantly better overall suppression of the noise-containing impulsive components compared to the respective linear filter. Adaptive configurations of NDLs are similarly controlled by a single parameter and are suitable for improving quality of nonstationary signals under time-varying noise conditions. NDLs are designed to be fully compatible with existing linear devices and systems and to be used as an enhancement, or as a low-cost alternative, to the state-of-art interference mitigation methods.