HRKT: A Hierarchical Route Key Tree based Group Key Management for Wireless Sensor Networks

• Rong Jiang,
• Jun Luo,
• Xiaoping Wang,

Vol. 7, No. 8, August 29, 2013
10.3837/tiis.2013.08.017, Download Paper (Free):

• Wireless Sensor Networks
• Group Key Management
• route key tree
• Network Security

Abstract

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), energy efficiency is one of the most essential design considerations, since sensor nodes are resource constrained. Group communication can reduce WSNs communication overhead by sending a message to multiple nodes in one packet. In this paper, in order to simultaneously resolve the transmission security and scalability in WSNs group communications, we propose a hierarchical cluster-based secure and scalable group key management scheme, called HRKT, based on logic key tree and route key tree structure. The HRKT scheme divides the group key into cluster head key and cluster key. The cluster head generates a route key tree according to the route topology of the cluster. This hierarchical key structure facilitates local secure communications taking advantage of the fact that the nodes at a contiguous place usually communicate with each other more frequently. In HRKT scheme, the key updates are confined in a cluster, so the cost of the key updates is reduced efficiently, especially in the case of massive membership changes. The security analysis shows that the HRKT scheme meets the requirements of group communication. In addition, performance simulation results also demonstrate its efficiency in terms of low storage and flexibility when membership changes massively.

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