NSF MRI Research - University of North Texas

Development of a Flexible Platform for Experimental Research in Secure IP Multimedia Communication Services

Abstract

This project, developing a flexible, low-cost and high performance platform for research and training in the secure multimedia communications, aims at developing the following tools: Spam Traffic Generator, DDoS Traffic Generator, Header and Topology Anonymizer, PSTN-SIGTRAN-SIP Interface Simulator, and QoS-Security Meter. Significant risks face Voice over IP (VoIP), such as Identity management, Voice Spam, DDoS, 911 Service Availability. These tools, including features such as flexible configuration, simple APIs, and a provision for a large number of traffic models, contribute to test and enhance the security of VOIP protocols and implementations. A user's guide for easy deployment/usage of the tools accompanies the work.

Awarded $300,000 by NSF

img Dr Dantu of the University of North Texas is awarded by the NSF for developement of a flexible platform for experimental research in secure IP multimedia communication services .  This includes the purchase of a Video Development Platform seen here.   The grant , awared by Rita V. Rodriguez , expires in August 31, 2009.  

Example research and development projects include IP-PSTN convergence vulnerability analysis, preventing voice spamming, identity managment, Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed DoS (DDoS), quality of service (QoS) and security mechanisms,  and Denial 911 emergency service.
01 September 2006

Summary

UNT logo Next generation Internet needs to support multimedia services like Voice over IP (VoIP) and IPTV. The real-world networks for the multimedia consist of residences, small, medium, and large enterprises (with several branch offices) and service providers. Internet Protocol (IP) is now the infrastructure of choice for telephony over cable, wires, and wireless. It is estimated VoIP (Voice over IP) is going to reach a critical mass within the next 5 years. The scope of the research experiments includes service impacts due to attacks, identity management, spamming, denial of service (DoS) attacks, secured 911 emergency management and high availability. Experimental research requires special-purpose instrumentation and tools. Existing commercial products are very expensive (e.g., softswitches are of several hundred thousands of dollars), and are not conducive for adding special instrumentation. We believe that the lack of suitable instrumentation and tools can hamper the research and training opportunities for the next generation critical infrastructure. This proposal describes development of a flexible, low-cost and high performance platform for research and training in the secure multimedia communications. Towards this goal, we propose development of the following tools: i) Spam traffic generator ii) DDoS traffic generator iii) Header and topology anonymizer iv) PSTN-SIGTRAN-SIP Interface Simulator, and v) QoS-Security meter. These tools include features such as flexible configuration, simple APIs, and a provision for a large number of traffic models. For flexibility, easy deployment, low-cost and an open source, we plan to use COTS components (e.g., Linux, SIP router, reSIProcate, openSS7 and Intel IXP 2800 Network Processor Kit). Finally we plan to publish a user’s guide for easy deployment/usage of these tools. We already have more than six academic institutions and federal agencies interested in specification and verification of this development. Based on our discussions with the recent workshop participants, we believe another 25 organizations will be interested in the lab trials. Moreover, this platform will create a unique opportunity for grad and undergrad students for experimenting with a real-life telecommunication platform and network.

31 July 2007