A VHetNet-Enabled Asynchronous Federated Learning-Based Anomaly Detection Framework for Ubiquitous IoT

Anomaly detection for the Internet of Things (IoT) is a major intelligent service required by many fields, including intrusion detection, device-activity analysis, and security supervision. However, the heterogeneous distribution of data and resource-constrained end nodes present challenges for existing anomaly detection models. Due to the advantages of flexible deployment and multi-dimensional resources, high altitude platform stations (HAPSs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are important components of vertical heterogeneous networks (VHetNets), have significant potential for sensing, computing, storage, and communication applications in ubiquitous IoT systems. In this paper, we propose a novel VHetNet-enabled asynchronous federated learning (AFL) framework to enable decentralized UAVs to collaboratively train a global anomaly detection model. In the VHetNet-enabled AFL framework, a HAPS operates as a central aerial server, and the local models trained in UAVs are uploaded to the HAPS for global aggregation due to its wide coverage and strong storage and computation capabilities. We introduce a UAV selection strategy into the AFL framework to prevent UAVs with low local model quality and large energy consumption from affecting the learning efficiency and detection accuracy of the global model. To ensure the security of transmissions between UAVs and the HAPS, we add designed noise to local model parameters in UAVs to achieve differential privacy. Moreover, we propose a compound-action actor-critic (CA2C)-based joint device association, UAV selection, and UAV trajectory planning algorithm to further enhance the overall federated execution efficiency and detection model accuracy. Extensive experimental evaluation on a real-world dataset demonstrates that the proposed algorithm can achieve high detection accuracy with short federated execution time and low energy consumption.

VHetNets for AI and AI for VHetNets: An Anomaly Detection Case Study for Ubiquitous IoT

Vertical heterogenous networks (VHetNets) and artificial intelligence (AI) play critical roles in 6G and beyond networks. This article presents an AI-native VHetNets architecture to enable the synergy of VHetNets and AI, thereby supporting varieties of AI services while facilitating automatic and intelligent network management. Anomaly detection in Internet of Things (IoT) is a major AI service required by many fields, including intrusion detection, state monitoring, device-activity analysis, security supervision and so on. Conventional anomaly detection technologies mainly consider the anomaly detection as a standalone service that is independent of any other network management functionalities, which cannot be used directly in ubiquitous IoT due to the resource constrained end nodes and decentralized data distribution. In this article, we develop an AI-native VHetNets-enabled framework to provide the anomaly detection service for ubiquitous IoT, whose implementation is assisted by intelligent network management functionalities. We first discuss the possibilities of VHetNets used for distributed AI model training to provide anomaly detection service for ubiquitous IoT, i.e., VHetNets for AI. After that, we study the application of AI approaches in helping provide automatic and intelligent network management functionalities for VHetNets, i.e., AI for VHetNets, whose aim is to facilitate the efficient implementation of anomaly detection service. Finally, a case study is presented to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed AI-native VHetNets-enabled anomaly detection framework.

Off-Network Communications For Future Railway Mobile Communication Systems: Challenges and Opportunities

GSM-R is predicted to be obsoleted by 2030, and a suitable successor is needed. Defined by the International Union of Railways (UIC), the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) contains many future use cases with strict requirements. These use cases should ensure regular communication not only in network coverage but also uncovered scenarios. There is still a lack of standards on off-network communication in FRMCS, so this article focuses on off-network communication and intends to provide reference and direction for standardization. We first provide a comprehensive summary and analysis of off-network use cases in FRMCS. Then we give an overview of existing technologies (GSM-R, TETRA, DMR, LTE-V2X, and NR-V2X) that may support off-network communication. In addition, we simulate and evaluate the performance of existing technologies. Simulation results show that it is possible to satisfy the off-network communication requirements in FRMCS with enhancements based on LTE-V2X or NR-V2X. Finally, we give some future research directions to provide insights for industry and academia.