Attribute-based Group Key Management for Wireless Sensor Networks A Cross-layer Design Approach for Group Key Management

摘要

In this study, we investigated a group key management scheme that is especially suitable for large-scale wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Practical large-scale WSNs typically contain multiple groups of nodes, and the managing server needs to keep a number of group keys secure against possible attacks. We have developed a flexible and versatile formalization of an attribute-based group structure. The proposed formalization can model practical groups in real applications and enables secure and efficient management of multiple group keys. One of the key advantages of this approach is that a certain cross-layer design mechanism can be implemented in the group key revocation protocol. We show through computer simulation that adding some controlled redundancy in the upper-layer protocol helps reduce the lower-layer traffic in a realistic setting. The results demonstrate that using attribute-based groups is more suitable and practical for WSNs than the conventional group key management mechanisms.