MAC Aggregation in DTLS 1.3 for Wireless Channels

This technical report investigates the integration of Message Authentication Code (MAC) aggregation into the Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) 1.3 protocol, specifically for deployment in lossy wireless channels. The objective is to enhance bandwidth efficiency and reduce energy consumption in resource-constrained environments, such as those found in the Internet of Things (IoT). The report outlines the design of a MAC aggregation extension for DTLS 1.3 and details the evaluation of its performance on embedded hardware. Results indicate that MAC aggregation can increase goodput by up to 50% and decrease energy expenditure by up to 17% when transmitting short messages. The study also addresses challenges related to delayed authentication and the selection of aggregation parameters, ensuring that the integration does not compromise backward compatibility. The findings contribute to the understanding of MAC aggregation's applicability in real-world scenarios, providing insights into its potential benefits for future communication protocols.