Dr. Shintaro Mori’s official website

Shintaro Mori received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from Kagawa University in 2007, 2009, and 2014, respectively. Since April 2014, he has been with the Department of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuoka University, Japan, where he is currently an assistant professor. His research interests include cross-layer design, information-centric wireless sensor networks, and their application for smart cities. He is an IARIA Fellow and a member of IEEE, ACM, IEICE, ISSJ, and RISP.

Apr. 2019–Mar. 2024
JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 19K20261

A study on secure caching scheme for information-centric wireless sensor networks

This study investigates a blockchain-based secure data caching scheme for information-centric wireless sensor networks, known as post-Internet technology. The proposed scheme is applicable to resource-limited node devices thanks to a novel voting-based verification method. The effectiveness of the scheme was demonstrated based on both computer simulations and hardware-based experiments.
Keywords: Information-centric networking; wireless sensor networks; blockchain

Agenda

I. Introduction

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are widely used in our daily lives. The massive amount of sensing data should be managed both efficiently and securely. In this situation, it is no longer a problem where the data is obtained from but rather what data is to be obtained. Information-centric networking (ICN) technology has been investigated as a next-generation Internet architecture. Needless to say, ICN should be introduced into WSNs to achieve a comprehensive network framework, which yields information-centric wireless sensor networks (ICWSNs). ICWSN can provide location-independent data collection and distribution mechanisms, i.e., it has a significant advantage in mobile environments. Motivated by the aforementioned background, we focus on a secure caching scheme using blockchain (BC) as the first step in the ICWSN-framework development.

In this study, the main goal is to develop a framework that enables secure caching-data management in ICWSNs. Here, it is not sufficient to simply introduce ICN into the WSNs; we should propose a scheme that is reasonable for WSNs. Recall that WSNs are an autonomous distributed environment; BC is in the same environment as WSN, as well as ICN. The study’s contribution is to resolve the issues that arise when adopting a distributed ledger based on BC for caching data management. In particular, we design the protocol stacks, conduct the compute simulations, and evaluate the scheme using the hardware-based testbed devices.

II. Proposed Secure Caching Scheme

BC and ICN packet format
Fig. 1 BC and ICN packet format

Processing procedures for internal transition flows and external messages
Fig. 2 Processing procedures for internal transition flows and external messages

Demonstration during verification operation in the testbeds
Fig. 3 Demonstration during verification operation in the testbeds

Overview of voting-based consensus scheme
Fig. 4 Overview of voting-based consensus scheme

Off-path caching schemes can increase the number of cached nodes, but they cause secured data to be scattered unnecessarily. In light of its friendliness to the ICWSN, which was designed as an autonomous distributed network, we attempted to introduce a distributed ledger based on BC. Since BC enables mutual verification without any centralized coordination, it can be constructed to be autonomous, decentralized, and scalable. The BC’s consensus algorithm can work without any trust among nodes. Here, we describe a protocol design and evaluate the scheme’s feasibility by demonstrating the experiment using prototype testbed devices, which we will introduce BC into WSNs to work with ICN in this study.

II.A. Implementation of prototype testbed devices

Figure 1 shows the structure of BC and the ICN packet format. The proposed scheme considers sensing data as a named data object (NDO), and several NDOs are encapsulated in a block. The block consists of not only a payload but also a hash value related to the previous block. To verify the submitted block, which is a candidate block to append the BC, the nodes should conduct a mining-based verification process. In the proposed scheme, the nodes are categorized into a coordinator and miners, and Fig. 2 shows their internal transition flow and message between them. On the basis of this fundamental blueprint, we implemented a prototype BC system using the C++ language[1].

The prototype BC system was transferred to the testbed device, i.e., we implemented a coordinator and three miner node devices using Raspberry Pi 3. Figure 3 shows the screenshot of demonstrating the testbed devices. As a result, we can show the feasibility of the proposed scheme based on the BC-based sensing data caching scheme. However, there are four technical issues through the experiment as follows:

  1. Necessity of L2 (MAC layer) protocol: As a wireless communication protocol, the ICN layer (corresponding to L3 and L4 protocols) will require to be stackable to conventional wireless sensor networks (IEEE 802.15.4) and Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) networks.
  2. Lightweight and optimized block verification process: A mining-based block-verification scheme is not suitable for WSNs in which the nodes are resource-limited, such as computational power, battery capacity, and memory storage.
  3. Incentives for contributed nodes in mining-based verifications: As for incentives for nodes that contribute to making consensus, the proposed scheme should consider the scheme for resource-limited wireless node devices.
  4. Data-distribution scheme: Although this study focuses on data collection, it is necessary to investigate a method to distribute the collected data efficiently.

Among the issues identified in the studies mentioned above, especially in 2., the mining-based block-verification methodology is not appropriate for resource-limited devices in WSN environments. Therefore, a new block verification method must be developed to adapt to WSNs, which is a critical study component.[2][3]

II.B. Lightweight consensus method for ICWSNs

For the caching method, which is essential for introducing ICN to WSN, this study aims to develop a new secure framework based on blockchain. We focus on how to deal with the caching data and how to provide incentives to the nodes that contributed to the consensus-making. Given the blueprint and fundamental evaluation of a new WSN-compliant block verification method, the detailed protocol design and feasibility were investigated.

The proposed scheme does not require exhaustive computational calculations, and it can be used without introducing an incentive mechanism for node devices [4][5]. Figure 4 shows the overview of the proposed scheme. Therefore, the proposed scheme enables block verification without any extra overhead and can omit any incentive mechanism. In FY2021, we primarily conducted evaluations based on computer simulations, focusing on evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed scheme.

II.C. Application services to deploy the proposed ICWSN as a case study

 We developed a testbed and performed a laboratory-based feasibility and fundamental evaluation for assuming practical environments. In addition, we investigated the requirements for applying the proposed scheme to practical applications, making a case study of its implementation in a smart city. As the COVID-19 pandemic became more relaxed, we collected real data (raw data) for analysis. These data would be used as sample data for fundamental analysis before the hardware experiments planned for FY2021 and beyond.

III. Network Technologies for ICWSNs

IV. Wireless Communications Technologies for ICWSNs

V. Green ICWSNs

VI. Conclusions

Acknowledgement

A part of this work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP19K20261.

References

  1. 森慎太郎, “コンテンツ指向型無線センサネットワークにおけるセキュアキャッシング手法に対するテストベッドの試作と基礎評価,” 電子情報通信学会 センサネットワークとモバイルインテリジェンス(SeMI)研究会 技術報告, vol. 119, no. 110, pp. 203–206, 大阪, July 2019.
  2. Shintaro Mori, “(Invited) Secure and effective caching scheme using blockchain for information-centric wireless sensor networks,” Proc. Asia Pacific Society for Computing and Information Technology 2019 Annual Meeting (APSCIT 2019), Sapporo, Japan, July 2019.
  3. 森慎太郎, “(依頼講演) コンテンツ指向型センサネットワークにおける高効率・セキュアキャッシング手法の研究,” 電子情報通信学会 センサネットワークとモバイルインテリジェンス(SeMI)研究会, vol. 119, no. 266, pp. 51–53, 東京, Nov. 2019.
  4. Shintaro Mori, “Caching data protection scheme for information-centric wireless sensor networks,” Proc. IARIA the 19th International Conference on Networks (ICN 2020), pp. 50–54, Lisbon, Portugal, Feb. 2020. (ThinkMind, Digital library)
  5. Shintaro Mori, “A fundamental analysis of caching data protection scheme using light-weight blockchain and hashchain for information-centric WSNs,” Proc. 2nd Conference on Blockchain Research & Applications for Innovative Networks and Services (BRAINS 2020), pp. 200–201, Paris, France, Sept. 2020, doi: 10.1109/BRAINS49436.2020.9223279. (Xplore, Digital library)
  6. Shintaro Mori, “A fundamental analysis of an erase code-enabled data caching scheme for future UAV-IC-WSNs,” Proc. IARIA the 20th International Conference on Networks (ICN 2021), pp. 8–12, Porto, Portugal, Apr. 2021. (ThinkMind, Digital library)
  7. IARIA the 20 th International Conference on Networks (ICN 2021), Panel, “P1: Communications beyond the Thinking (spatial, terrestrial, speed, 5G/6G, streaming, high data processing, protocols, etc.),” Porto, Portugal, Apr. 2021.
  8. 森慎太郎, “情報指向無線センサネットワークにおいてブロックチェーンを用いてセキュアキャッシングを実現するための一検討,” 電子情報通信学会 センサネットワークとモバイルインテリジェンス(SeMI)研究会 技術報告, vol. 121, no. 105, pp. 35–38, Online, July 2021.
  9. Shintaro Mori, “Prototype development of river velocimetry using visual particle image velocimetry for smart cities and disaster area networks,” Proc. 20th International Symposium on Communications and Information Technologies (ISCIT 2021), pp. 169–171, Tottori, Japan, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.1109/ISCIT52804.2021.9590602. (Xplore, Digital library)
  10. Shintaro Mori, “Data collection scheme using erasure code and cooperative communication for deployment of smart cities in information-centric wireless sensor networks,” International Journal on Advances in Networks and Services, vol. 14, no. 3&4, pp. 54–64, Dec. 2021. (Digital library)
  11. Shintaro Mori, “Secure caching scheme using nlockchain for unmanned aerial vehicle-assisted information-centric wireless sensor networks,” Journal on Signal Processing, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 21–31, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.2299/jsp.26.21. (Best paper award) (J-Stage, Digital library)
  12. 森慎太郎, “(チュートリアル) 情報指向無線センサネットワークに関する一研究,” 電子情報通信学会 総合大会 2022, Online, Mar. 2022.
  13. 森慎太郎, “情報指向無線センサネットワークのテストベッド試作と基礎評価,” 電子情報通信学会 センサネットワークとモバイルインテリジェンス(SeMI)研究会 技術報告, vol. 122, no. 108, pp. 70–73, 金沢, July 2022.
  14. Shintaro Mori, “(Keynote) Information-centric wireless sensor network: A study and a survey,” Proc. IARIA Annual Congress on Frontiers in Science, Technology, Services, and Applications (Congress 2022), Nice, France, July 2022. (Slide decks)
  15. Shintaro Mori, “A cooperative and coded communication scheme using network coding and constructive interference for information-centric wireless sensor networks,” International Journal on Advances in Networks and Services, vol. 15, no. 3&4, pp. 54–61, Dec. 2022. (ThinkMind, Digital library)
  16. Shintaro Mori, “A study on zero-touch-design information-centric wireless sensor networks,” Proc. IARIA the 22th International Coference on Networks (ICN 2023), pp. 7–9, Venice, Italy, Apr. 2023. (Best paper award) (Thinkmind, Digital library)