IEEE Access (Jan 2023)

Secured Reliable Communication Through Authentication and Optimal Relay Selection in Blockchain Enabled Cellular IoT Networks

  • Samia Allaoua Chelloug,
  • Reem Alkanhel,
  • Ahmed Aziz,
  • Mohammed Saleh Ali Muthanna,
  • Ammar Muthanna

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3329083
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11
pp. 122368 – 122386

Abstract

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The security and reliability of cellular-based wireless IoT networks are often hindered by eavesdropping attacks. Existing approaches have limitations such as ineffective relay selection, untrusted relay nodes, and improper UAV positioning. This article discusses secure and reliable communication in blockchain-enabled cellular-based IoT networks. In this article, we propose a novel approach that ensures the initial level of security to the UAV relays by enrolling the UAV relay nodes to the edge-assisted base stations for initial security and enhances the optimal UAV relay selection using dual-phase optimal relay selection mechanisms. This article performs authentication of UAV relay nodes to enhance security against active eavesdroppers and mitigates the effects of passive eavesdroppers by jointly optimizing power and position based on their actions. This enables eavesdropping to resist secure communication. The proposed approach beats the state-of-the-art algorithm in terms of decreased deployment time and gradually rising efficiency with increasing UEs. The deployment time for the previously presented algorithm is fast expanding, while the proposed integrated deployment algorithm is progressively increasing. The proposed eavesdropping resisted integration technique harvests an overlay complexity tendency due to its hybrid solution, enhancing system stability and minimizing system complexity. We further integrate the blockchain with UAVs in the system and perform authentication and appropriate relay selection in the networks. We will also demonstrate secure and reliable communication in healthcare, transportation, and industry. This paper emphasizes the significance of safe and dependable IoT connectivity and how blockchain technology and appropriate relay selection techniques might be helpful. The results show that the recommended algorithm is superior in terms of both reliability and complexity. When iteration count is minimal, the proposed method and the completely distributed have a comparable but lowest complexity as they outperform one another in different scenarios. Our proposed approach provides a possible solution to existing issues and contributes to the progress of secure and reliable communication in cellular-based wireless IoT networks.

Keywords