The COREnext project continues to make significant strides in developing advanced architecture for trustworthy and efficient digital infrastructures. The focus of Work Package 3 (WP3) is to ensure that the project’s architectural design not only meets the current technological needs but also anticipates future challenges. This post highlights the latest developments and achievements within WP3.
Objectives of WP3
WP3 is dedicated to translating the requirements outlined in Work Package 2 (WP2) into tangible architectural strategies. The first phase involved breaking down these requirements into architecture concerns, with a focus on defining disaggregation dimensions, data flows, and attacker models. The architectural design spans three key tiers: terminal, base station, and edge cloud, each with specific security and data flow requirements. The data flows between these tiers must be carefully managed to ensure efficiency and security, from the internal cores within systems-on-chip to services across radio links.
In the next phase, WP3 focused on identifying the necessary component innovations to advance both processing capabilities and system trustworthiness. This involved pinpointing the key technology building blocks that are essential for progressing the overall architecture. The team worked closely with WP4 and WP5 to translate these architectural needs into specific component advancements.
Balancing trustworthiness and efficiency is a core challenge in the architecture, and WP3 has been continuously analyzing the trade-offs. This work ensures that components developed in WP4 and WP5 meet the validation targets set by WP6.
Key Architectural Elements
The COREnext architecture comprises multiple tiers—terminal, base station, and edge cloud—each playing a critical role in managing data and ensuring secure communication. Data flows occur within system-on-chip cores, between servers on physical sites, and across radio links connecting these systems. Managing these flows effectively is essential for maintaining both efficiency and security.
Technology Building Blocks and Innovations
Significant progress has been made in identifying key technology building blocks that support the advancement of the COREnext architecture. Joint Communication and Sensing was identified as an essential capability, where communication antennas can be used for radar sensing. However, this approach raises privacy concerns that need to be addressed. In terms of performance, heterogeneous accelerators were identified to enhance both performance and energy efficiency.
Another critical innovation involves virtualization and disaggregation, which helps increase resource utilization by allowing more flexible allocation of computational power. For security, component isolation and access control were identified as key elements, implemented through capability-based systems that uphold the principle of least authority (POLA). In addition, WP3 developed systems for trusted execution and attestation, providing cryptographic proof of software operations on remote machines, which ensures secure execution across the network.
Challenges and Solutions in Integration
WP3 faced several challenges related to integrating a diverse set of components, often from third-party vendors. The project aims to balance trustworthiness and efficiency while incorporating both trusted and untrusted elements. To address these challenges, WP3 introduced the M³ hardware/software co-design platform, which helps reduce the system’s attack surface. Additionally, a Trusted Communication Unit was developed to ensure secure isolation and communication between components.
Impact and Contributions
The advancements within WP3 have led to multiple impactful outcomes. So far, six publications have emerged from the work, contributing valuable knowledge to the community. The M³ platform is now available as open-source hardware and software, fostering further innovation and collaboration in the field.
WP3’s contributions have also extended into standardization and regulation. Enhancements to 3GPP RAN have been proposed, particularly for supporting low-end devices. Regulatory opportunities related to Joint Communication and Sensing were also identified, creating pathways for further integration of these technologies.
In addition to these technical advancements, WP3 plays a pivotal role in achieving the project’s sustainability goals. By aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9, the architecture promotes trustworthy infrastructure, essential for resilient industrial and societal digitization. WP3 also contributes to SDG 11 by integrating energy-efficient accelerators that support sustainable smart cities.
Product and Business Opportunities
WP3’s innovations offer significant benefits for European companies by focusing on trustworthiness and efficiency in their designs. The architecture is compatible with existing software stacks, which ensures seamless integration with traditional hardware components. Furthermore, by connecting the edge cloud with terminal systems, WP3 opens up new avenues for product development and business opportunities.
With the M³ platform available as open-source hardware and software, the project promotes open innovation, creating opportunities for other organizations to build upon its advancements. As COREnext progresses, the contributions of WP3 will continue to be central to its success, ensuring that both trustworthiness and efficiency remain at the forefront of its architecture.
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