Security in Real-Time and Multimedia Oriented Communications Systems

The requirements of confi dentiality are more or less solved by the application of encryption algorithms. Our focus is the authentication of origin (proof of identity of origin) of transmission in high speed networks, for real time oriented applications and the distribution of information in broadcast and multicast environments. Multimedia and industrial applications are also part of the considered scenarios. The proof of origin is executed online ("on the fly") during the sending, rsp. receiving of data. Therefore, they can be processed, forwarded or output without essential delay.
The analysis of the impact of security mechanisms on the quality of the service of the transmission is important for us, for example on delay, throughput, jitter, error propagation and (self-) synchronization. We work intensively on modes of operations of cryptographic algorithms.

Industrial applications need the reliability and correctness of information, which is sent to manufacturing or control units, rsp. which are received from machines, control units, survey components, metering devices or sensors. Our national and international projects can be mentioned as an example of our activities in this area. These projects secure the data exchange of energy meters (electricity and gas). All commands for data collection and management are secured by digital signatures, which are generated by digital signature generating components (smart cards), which are approved for qualifi ed signatures by the digital signature law. An access control right management system guarantees that only authorized persons are allowed to execute commands assigned to them. Such solutions are necessary due to the liberalization of the energy market, which provide many different partners and roles in this environment executing certain commands and functions of the meters depending on their roles and rights.
The project SELMA should be referenced here (www.selma.eu). The solution developed for energy metering devices is easily applied also to other industrial applications, for example pumps, scales, taxameters, cashiers or gaming.