Sajal K. Das

Group key distribution via local collaboration in wireless sensor networks

In this paper we propose a group key management scheme for sensor networks that targets at fast response to changes in security conditions. Motivated by the fact that a compromised sensor is most likely to be first detected by its fellow neighboring nodes, we introduce the concept of local collaboration during the process of group key distribution. In the proposed scheme, a sensor node is not able to obtain the secret key solely based on the broadcast message and its pre-deployed secret share. Rather, it has to seek for collaboration from its fellow sensor nodes. Only by jointly exploiting the secret shares disclosed by the broadcast message, its own pre-distributed secret, as well as secrets revealed by other nodes, can a node reconstruct the group key. By empowering the sensor nodes themselves to be able to exclude a compromised node, the scheme promises fast reaction to the ever changing network condition. Furthermore, we provide a set of enhancements to the basic scheme including self-evolving design for significant reduction in communication and memory overhead.