Dynamic Adaptation RFF Identification Method Leveraging Cognitive Representation Learning

The evolution of wireless communication technologies has brought significant conveniences but also raised security concerns. Radio frequency fingerprint (RFF) is a potential feature, which can uniquely identify a specific emitter. The integration of Deep Learning (DL) has further enhanced the reliability of RFF identification. However, DL methods often struggle in dynamic communication environments. In this paper, we propose a dynamic adaptive RFF identification method leveraging Cognitive Representation Learning (CRL). Our proposed method is capable of recognizing and storing cognitive knowledge from historical environments. Furthermore, it dynamically adapts to current situations through its cognitive module, offering enhanced adaptability in dynamic environments. Specifically, we analyze the causes of RFF and define the RFF identification problems at first. Secondly, our cognitive module evaluates current data by examining both data distribution and feature distribution distances. Concurrently, our representation learning strategy enhances feature reuse and focuses on feature space. Finally, we implement an unsupervised ensemble module, combining unsupervised clustering with model ensemble techniques to boost performance. Simulation results validate our method’s robust generalization in dynamic settings, with an improvement of 7.66% in controlled environments and 5.98% in more challenging scenarios on PA dataset. Furthermore, the high identification ratio and ablation study results underscore the efficacy and necessity of each module in our approach.