Secure Communication using Chaotic Systems and Markovian Jump Systems**0-7803-7952-7/03/$17.00 © 2003 IEEE

In this paper, a secure communication system using chaotic systems and Markovian Jump Systems (MJS) is proposed. MJS evolve by switching from one model to another according to a finite state Markov chain. In the proposed system the chaotic transmitter jumps from one chaotic map (model) to another while transmitting. This feature makes it difficult for someone to track the transmitter, i.e., to eavesdrop, without knowing the exact map parameters. It is assumed that the Markov chain transition matrix is known. The Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) estimator is used at the intended receiver to track the transmitter state. It is also shown that the proposed receiver framework can be used to eavesdrop an unknown chaotic transmitter with limited success. It is shown further that the IMM based receiver structure improves the chaotic parameter modulation receiver based on the extended Kalman filter.