Effect of security architecture on cross-layer signaling in network centric systems

Cross-layer signaling has shown promising results in helping to increase the performance of tactical MANET networks. However, most cross-layer signaling studies do not consider how security architecture can affect cross-layer signaling techniques. In this paper, we present how the partition of a tactical network into a cipher text side and a plain text side can result in a partition of cross-layer signaling. We also present a technique that relies on explicit congestion notification (ECN) to bridge the gap created by this partition. We will support this discussion with some simulation results.