PHY Layer Security Based on Protected Zone and Artificial Noise

Nabil Romero-Zurita, Desmond C. McLernon, Mounir Ghogho, Ananthram Swami

Abstract: We address physical layer security in multiple- input-multiple-output (MISO) communications in the presence of an unknown passive eavesdropper. Beamforming and artificial noise broadcasting are chosen to increase communications security. We first study the effect of a close eavesdropper on security and then we define a “Protected Zone” in the transmitter's vicinity. We present an optimisation strategy that intelligently sets the transmission power and the size of the protected zone to probabilistically achieve secrecy at a specified target secrecy rate. The results show that this strategy can achieve a high probability of secrecy by efficiently prioritising the use of the available resources.