Toward integrated security and monitoring: perception-embedded modulation for DCIs

Area of Science:

• Optical communications
• Physical layer security
• Data center interconnects

Background:

• Data center interconnects (DCIs) require enhanced security and monitoring capabilities at the physical layer.
• Existing methods often lack integrated solutions for both data protection and device authentication.
• Physical layer characteristics offer potential for novel security and monitoring approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an integrated transmission scheme for DCIs enabling joint physical layer security and monitoring.
• To develop a method for embedding device identifiers and sensing channel anomalies.
• To ensure secure and reliable data transmission while enabling performance monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Perception-embedded modulation (PEM) to embed device identifiers.
• Channel anomaly sensing using constellation same-set ratio statistics.
• Chaotic noise injection for data and identifier protection.
• Delta-sigma modulation (DSM) for reliable masked signal transmission.

Main Results:

• Validation of the chaotic PEM-DSM encrypted signal at 64 GBaud over a 240 km optical fiber link.
• Demonstration of secure data transmission and accurate identification of unauthorized devices.
• Achieved optical performance monitoring with a resolution of 1 dB.

Conclusions:

• The proposed integrated scheme effectively enhances security and monitoring in DCIs at the physical layer.
• Chaotic PEM-DSM provides a robust solution for secure data transmission and device authentication.
• The scheme enables simultaneous optical performance monitoring, crucial for DCI management.