Energy-Aware Lightweight PLKG in IMDs: A Deep Dive into the Effects of Channel Fading Models

Neji Mensi, Hassan El Alami, Danda B. Rawat

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs) necessitate secure and energy-efficient communication systems to safeguard patient data and maintain device functionality. In this paper, our primary focus is on examining the impact of varying channel models on the success of Physical Layer Key Generation (PLKG) for Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs), whilst also introducing an energy-aware approach. We utilize the unique properties of double $\kappa-\mu$ Shadowed fading channels, a generalized model allowing us to cover a range of special cases, including Nakagami-m, Rician, and Rayleigh fading. We apply a moving average filter to improve the stability of received signal strength (RSS) measurements and employ an adaptive threshold for quantization. To reconcile the generated keys, we adapt the Cascade protocol, ensuring its lightweight operations. Energy awareness is a paramount feature in our PLKG system, achieved by limiting reconciliation attempts to prevent rapid battery depletion. Through rigorous simulations, we present a comprehensive analysis of the performance of our energy-aware PLKG system under various fading conditions