Abstract: Electronic transmission of the medical images is one of the primary requirements in a typical Electronic-Healthcare (E-Healthcare) system. However this transmission could be liable to hackers who may modify the whole medical image or only a part of it during transit. To guarantee the integrity of a medical image, digital watermarking is being used. This paper presents two different watermarking algorithms for medical images in transform domain. In first technique, a digital watermark and Electronic Patients Record (EPR) have been embedded in both regions; Region of Interest (ROI) and Region of Non-Interest (RONI). In second technique, Region of Interest (ROI) is kept untouched for tele-diagnosis purpose and Region of Non-Interest (RONI) is used to hide the digital watermark and EPR. In either algorithm 8ź×ź8 block based Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) has been used. In each 8ź×ź8 block two DCT coefficients are selected and their magnitudes are compared for embedding the watermark/EPR. The selected coefficients are modified by using a threshold for embedding bit a `0' or bit `1' of the watermark/EPR. The proposed techniques have been found robust not only to singular attacks but also to hybrid attacks. Comparison results viz-a - viz payload and robustness show that the proposed techniques perform better than some existing state of art techniques. As such the proposed algorithms could be useful for e-healthcare systems.

Abstract: Information hiding is an active area of research where secret information is embedded in innocent-looking carriers such as images and videos for hiding its existence while maintaining their visual quality. Researchers have presented various image steganographic techniques since the last decade, focusing on payload and image quality. However, there is a trade-off between these two metrics and keeping a better balance between them is still a challenging issue. In addition, the existing methods fail to achieve better security due to direct embedding of secret data inside images without encryption consideration, making data extraction relatively easy for adversaries. Therefore, in this work, we propose a secure image steganographic framework based on stego key-directed adaptive least significant bit (SKA-LSB) substitution method and multi-level cryptography. In the proposed scheme, stego key is encrypted using a two-level encryption algorithm (TLEA); secret data is encrypted using a multi-level encryption algorithm (MLEA), and the encrypted information is then embedded in the host image using an adaptive LSB substitution method, depending on secret key, red channel, MLEA, and sensitive contents. The quantitative and qualitative experimental results indicate that the proposed framework maintains a better balance between image quality and security, achieving a reasonable payload with relatively less computational complexity, which confirms its effectiveness compared to other state-of-the-art techniques.

Abstract: Cross-Technology Communication is a promising solution proposed recently to the coexistence problem of heterogeneous wireless technologies in the ISM bands. The existing works use only the coarse-grained packet-level information for cross-technology modulation, suffering from a low throughput (e.g., 10bps). Our approach, called BlueBee, proposes a new direction by emulating legitimate ZigBee frames using a Bluetooth radio. Uniquely, BlueBee achieves dual-standard compliance and transparency by selecting only the payload of Bluetooth frames, requiring neither hardware nor firmware changes at the Bluetooth senders and ZigBee receivers. Our implementation on both USRP and commodity devices shows that BlueBee can achieve a more than 99% accuracy and a throughput 10,000x faster than the state-of-the-art CTC reported so far.

Abstract: Image steganography is the art of hiding secret message in grayscale or color images. Easy detection of secret message for any state-of-art image steganography can break the stego system. To prevent the breakdown of the stego system data is embedded in the selected area of an image which reduces the probability of detection. Most of the existing adaptive image steganography techniques achieve low embedding capacity. In this paper a high capacity Predictive Edge Adaptive image steganography technique is proposed where selective area of cover image is predicted using Modified Median Edge Detector (MMED) predictor to embed the binary payload (data). The cover image used to embed the payload is a grayscale image. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme achieves better embedding capacity with minimum level of distortion and higher level of security. The proposed scheme is compared with the existing image steganography schemes. Results show that the proposed scheme achieves better embedding rate with lower level of distortion.

Abstract: This paper presents a new approach based on multi-dimensional evaluation and benchmarking for data hiding techniques, i.e., watermarking and steganography. The novelty claim is the use of evaluation matrix (EM) for performance evaluation of data hiding techniques; however, one major problem with performance evaluation of data hiding techniques is to find reasonable thresholds for performance metrics and the trade-off among them in different data hiding applications. Two experiments are conducted. The first experiment included LSB techniques (eight approaches) based on different payload results and the noise gate approach; a total of nine approaches were used. Five audio samples with different audio styles are tested using each of the nine approaches and considering three evaluation criteria, namely, complexity, payload, and quality, to generate watermarked samples. The second experiment involves the use of various decision-making techniques simple additive weighting (SAW), multiplicative exponential weighting (MEW), hierarchical adaptive weighting (HAW), technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), weighted sum model (WSM) and weighted product method (WPM) to benchmark the results of the first experiment. Mean, standard deviation (STD), and paired sample t-test are then performed to compare the correlations among different techniques on the basis of ranking results. The findings are as follows: (1) A statistically significant difference is observed among the ranking results of each multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, (2) TOPSIS-Euclidean is the best technique to solve the benchmarking problem among digital watermarking techniques. (3) Among the decision-making techniques, WSM has the lowest rank in terms of solving the benchmarking problem. (4) Under different circumstances, the noise gate watermarking approach performs better than LSB algorithms.

Abstract: A high capacity and reversible data hiding technique capable of tamper detection and localisation of medical images has been proposed in this paper. Image interpolation has been used to scale up the original image to obtain the cover image. The cover image is divided into n×n non-overlapping blocks. In every block pixels are classified into two types: Seed pixels and non-seed pixels. The Electronic Patient Record (EPR) is embedded only in non-seed pixels while as no embedding is carried out in seed pixels to facilitate reversibility. A fragile watermark coupled with Block Checksum has been embedded in addition to EPR for detecting any tamper to the patient data during its transit from transmitter to receiver. Embedding has been carried out using Intermediate Significant Bit Substitution (ISBS) to prevent the scheme from LSB removal/replacement attack. The scheme has been evaluated for perceptual imperceptibility and content authentication by subjecting it to various image processing and geometric attacks. Experimental results reveal that the proposed system is capable of providing high quality watermarked images for fairly high payload while maintaining reversibility. Further it has been observed that the proposed technique is able to detect tamper for all the image processing and geometric attacks carried out on it. A comparison of the observed results with that of some state-of-art schemes show that our scheme performs better and as such is an ideal candidate for content authentication of EPR in a typical e-healthcare system.

Abstract: Steganography facilitates to conceal the confidential information within mediums like image, video, audio, DNA, etc. In this paper, the DNA steganography is developed by using improved DNA insertion algorithm for improving the security to the information. In this paper the modification of the DNA insertion algorithm is used because of its low cracking probability. The confidential information like secret messages and document images are hidden inside the DNA sequence and the performance is measured by calculating the cracking probability, BPN, payload and capacity.

Abstract: In recent years there has been significant interest in reversible data hiding, and also in particular, reversible data hiding in encrypted images (RDH-EI). This means that additional data can be embedded into a previously encrypted image with no knowledge of the original image content. According to the held keys, legal receivers can get the embedded data or an image very similar to the original one, or, both the embedded data and an image exactly as the original one. In this paper, we propose and evaluate a RDH-EI framework. Firstly, we propose a multi-level encryption (MLE) scheme using both Josephus traversal based multi-granular encryption and a stream cipher. To reduce the quantity of side information required to embed into images together with additional data, we also present a block histogram modification (BHM) approach with self-hidden peak pixels to perform reversible data embedding and a location map marking scheme to perform histogram contraction and recovery. The experimental results demonstrate that, in comparison with other similar methods, the proposed framework achieves improvements in terms of the embedding payload, the decrypted image quality and the accuracy of image restoration.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention disclose a fault detection method and apparatus. The method comprises: an optical transport network (OTN) apparatus acquires a first OTN frame comprising two or more payload fields, wherein each of the two or more payload fields comprises a payload check information and payload data; detecting according to the payload check information a fault, wherein the payload check information is used to check the payload data in the payload field where the payload check information is located. The embodiment of the invention divides the OTN frame into the two or more payload fields, and carries the corresponding payload information to each of the payload fields, thereby increasing efficiency of fault detection.

Abstract: Industrial Control Systems (ICS) commonly rely on unencrypted and unauthenticated communication between devices such as Programmable Logic Controllers, Human-Machine-Interfaces, sensors, and actuators. In this work, we discuss solutions to extend such environments with established cryptographic authentication schemes. In particular, we consider schemes that are legacy compliant in the sense that authentication data is embedded as additional payload for domain specific protocols, for example the industrial EtherNet/IP protocol. To that end, we propose a selective protocol (that signs every critical packet sent) and a protocol that aggregates groups of packets based on real-time requirements and the available throughput, for various realistic hardware configurations. We evaluate our analysis by implementing an authenticated channel in a realistic Water Treatment testbed.

Abstract: For underactuated overhead cranes with payload hoisting/lowering, a partially saturated adaptive controller subject to unknown or uncertain system parameters is presented in this paper. To decrease the convergence time in the case of the overhead crane parameters already experienced by the system, the learning component is added to the proposed partially saturated adaptive controller. By introducing hyperbolic tangent functions into the control methods, the proposed controllers can guarantee soft trolley start even in the case of high initial velocities of trolley and cable. The convergence and stability performance of the closed-loop system is proven by Lyapunov techniques and LaSalle’s invariance theorem. Simulation results are listed to verify the adaptive performance with reduced actuating forces and strong robustness with respect to different external disturbances of the proposed controllers.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device to classify encrypted data traffic. The method identifies characteristics of the encrypted data traffic that have been modeled where network anomalies have been injected into the encrypted data traffic to provide additional traffic characteristics that enable categorization. The method receives the encrypted data traffic, applies an encrypted traffic categorization model to the received encrypted data traffic to determine a first categorization identification, injects an anomaly into the encrypted data traffic where the first categorization identification is not within a precision threshold, applies the encrypted traffic categorization model to monitored encrypted traffic after injection of the anomaly to determine a second categorization identification, and applies the second categorization identification where the second categorization identification is within the precision threshold.

Abstract: LoRa provides new communication solution for wireless underground sensor network. A LoRa propagation testing node is presented in this paper. The configuration of the testing node is discussed in detail. Tests about in-soil LoRa propagation were carried out. The LoRa propagation characteristics related to volumetric water content, burial depth and payload are experimentally evaluated with the testing node. And some suggestions are proposed for LoRa-based WUSN which is applied in soil.

Abstract: Summary Recently, network traffic has become more complex and diverse because of the emergence of new applications and services Therefore, the importance of application-level traffic classification is increasing rapidly, and it has become a very popular research area Although a lot of methods for traffic classification have been introduced in literature, they have some limitations to achieve an acceptable level of performance in real-time application-level traffic classification In this paper, we propose a novel application-level traffic classification method using payload size sequence signature The proposed method generates unique payload size sequence signatures for each application using packet order, direction, and payload size of the first N packets in a flow and uses them to identify application traffic The evaluation shows that this method can classify application traffic easily and quickly with high accuracy and completeness rates, over 9993% and 9345%, respectively Furthermore, the method can classify each application traffic into its respective individual application The evaluation shows that the method can classify all applications traffic, known and unknown (new) applications into their respective applications, and it can classify applications traffic that use the same application protocol or are encrypted into each other

Abstract: The ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) includes a ground monitor designed to protect against a code carrier divergence (CCD) fault originating from the satellite payload. The current single-frequency GBAS solutions known as GBAS approach service types (GAST) C and D which support Category I and Category II/III precision approaches, respectively, both utilize this monitor, but it has been noted that the test metric is subject to non-Gaussian tails as a result of nominal ionospheric errors. It has been observed that the ionospheric delay seen at low elevations can trigger alarms which are not distinguishable from the payload fault and thus impact the continuity and availability of GAST-D. The future GAST-F concept is designed to meet Category II/III precision approach using multi-frequency measurements which allows the CCD monitor proposed to be free of ionospheric influence. In order to address the full threat space, the combination of three ionospheric-free statistics is needed to form the test metric. This test metric is characterized through a combination of empirical multi-frequency data analysis and theoretical derivations leading to an approximately diagonal covariance matrix consisting of standard deviations 0.0017, 0.0050 and 0.0046 m/s, compared to 0.00399 m/s for the current single-frequency GAST-D design. Results from extensive simulations assessing the monitor's integrity performance are then provided which show superior performance to the existing design. The proposed GAST-F monitor detects a divergence less than half the size of the GAST-D one, with the same probability of missed detection. Under the GAST-F concept, the aircraft may be operating in ionospheric-free smoothing mode which leads to inflation of the divergence impacts for much of the threat space and degrades the performance of all potential CCD monitors. It is shown that a longer delay is required for the incorporation of a smoothed ranging measurement into the solution. The worst-case fault mode requires a delay of 132 s over the current value 50 s.

Abstract: This paper presents a novel concept for offering payload resources flexibility in High Throughput Satellite (HTS) systems. The concepts makes joint use of two advanced techniques, namely beam hopping and precoding. The combination of these two techniques allows the system to really optimize the performance of beam hopping in terms of capability to follow the temporal and spatial variation of user traffic requests within the coverage. The performance of such an approach is demonstrated through computer simulations of an exemplary system. A similar approach can also be used by combing precoding with frequency flexible techniques. Additional combination of on-board power pooling techniques helps to further improve the system performance.

Abstract: Feature-based learning plays a crucial role at building and sustaining the security. Determination of a software based on its extracted features whether a benign or malign process, and particularly classification into a correct malware family improves the security of the operating system and protects critical user’s information. In this paper, we present a novel hybrid feature-based classification system for Android malware samples. Static features such as permissions requested by mobile applications, hidden payload, and dynamic features such as API calls, installed services, network connections are extracted for classification. We apply machine learning and evaluate the level in classification accuracy of different classifiers by extracting Android malware features using a fairly large set of 3339 samples belonging to 20 malware families. The evaluation study has been scalable with 5 guest machines and took 8 days of processing. The testing accuracy is reached at 92%.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for random-access channel (RACH) communication. For example, certain aspects provide a method for wireless communication. The method generally includes transmitting a plurality of reference signals using one or more beams, and receiving at least one of a RACH preamble and or a RACH payload corresponding to one or more of the reference signals transmitted via at least one of the one or more beams.

Abstract: This paper presents an output-based command shaping (OCS) technique for an effective payload sway control of a 3D crane with hoisting. A crane is a challenging and time-varying system, as the cable length changes during the operation. The OCS technique is designed based on output signals of an actual system and reference model, does not require the natural frequency and damping ratio of the system, and thus can be utilized to minimize the hoisting effects on the payload sway. The shaper was designed by using the derived non-linear model of a 3D crane. To test the effectiveness of the controller, simulations using a non-linear 3D crane model and experiments on a lab-scale 3D crane were performed and compared with a zero vibration derivative (ZVD) shaper and a ZVD shaper designed using an average travel length (ATL) technique. In both the simulations and the experiments, the OCS technique was shown to be superior in reducing the payload sway with reductions of more than 56% and 33% in both of the transient ...