Work

Cross-Layer Management Framework for Enhancing XR-Based System Security in Zero-Trust Wireless Communications

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Extended reality (XR) and 6G networks are set to transform mobile immersive experiences, with privacy and security being paramount in XR communications. Achieving secure and reliable XR experiences while meeting high-resolution and low-latency requirements is challenging for wireless networks. A novel security-aware cross-layer communication management framework is proposed, employing zero-trust spatiotemporal physical layer level manipulations for moving-target defense. Driven by deep reinforcement learning and real-time monitoring, the proposed framework adaptively reprograms the network configuration to maximize the user’s quality of experience (QoE), reduce the overall latency, and minimize the attacker’s intercept probability. The framework was evaluated in a simulated scenario featuring an indirect multi-hop communication setup. The results show that the proposed framework effectively and efficiently secures XR user communications while maintaining QoE, outperforming conventional Q-learning algorithms.

Source: IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications

DOI: 10.1109/jsac.2025.3560004

Authors: Esraa M. Ghourab, Mohamed Azab, Denis Gračanin, Mahmoud Al-Qutayri, Sami Muhaidat

Institutions: Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech

Language: English

Topic: Wireless Communication Security Techniques

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,645