An artificial Cell is one of the main components in the artificial Immune System of SANA. An artificial Cell is an intelligent object which moves through the network and performs tasks in order to secure the network against attackers. These tasks can be e.g. the evaluation of packets whether they intend to attack or not, the identification of infected nodes, or the collection of data in order to monitor the network. In the execution of these tasks, the artificial Cells work autonomously and do not need e.g. a central center. Furthermore, the central supply units like an artificial Lymph-Node or a CNTS play an important role in the security of the network but are not important for the prevention of one specific attack.
Although the artificial Cells work autonomously, it is desired and reasonable that the Cells cooperate and collaborate. Therefore, the cells have to communicate. There are two different types of communication:
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Intracellular Cell Communication:
Communication between the network node where the cell reside and the cell itself. Furthermore, this also describes the communication between two components in the cell whereas the information does not leave the cell. Additionally, this communication has no delay.
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Extracellular Cell Communication:
Communication between components of the artificial immune system using some type of substances. This communication can also deliver information from the cell to itself; however, then the information leaves the cell. Additionally, this communication has some delay which depends on the distance of the two components as well as the delivery-time of the substance.
Modelling of the Cell Surface
Each artificial Cell contains a cell surface with the cell receptors. These receptors have the following features:
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Identify the Type of the Cell
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Display or indicate the Status of the Cell
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Perform a Identification using the public-/private-keys
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Initialise a secure Communication using the public-/private-keys
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Ability that Substances can bind permanently to the cell; e.g. comparable with a Label
For the implementation of the Cell Surface with Receptors, it is referred to
here.
With these receptors, the cell surface is modelled.