A Distributed Ledger-Enabled Interworking Model for the Wireless Air\n Interface

Abstract

While direct allocation of spectrum and evolved medium access protocols\nprovide a base for ubiquitous wireless connectivity, the existing TCP/IP and\nOSI models were designed for wired networks and do not address open\ninterconnection of air interfaces. Without an interconnection model for the air\ninterface, existing network designs continue to tie wireless medium access to\nthat of the backhaul provider for ownership of access and identity trust,\nresulting in limitations on functionality and coverage. In this paper, we\npropose a novel solution to access ownership and identity trust by extending\nthe TCP network standard, under a new model we propose, named TCP-Air which\nintegrates distributed ledger technologies directly at the air interface.\nFurther, we present two use cases of the TCP-Air model, demonstrating\napplications not feasible under existing permissioned-access network designs.\n