Key management for heterogeneous ad hoc wireless networks

PKI has been recognized as one of the most successful and important tools for providing security for dynamic networks. However, providing such infrastructure in ad hoc wireless networks is a challenging task due to the infrastructure-less nature of ad hoc networks. In this paper, we present these challenges in detail, identify the requirements for such solutions in ad hoc networks, and propose a practical solution to provide certification services in ad hoc networks. We employ threshold cryptography to distribute the CA functionality over specially selected nodes based on security and physical characteristics of the nodes. The selected mobile nodes that collectively provide PKI functionality are called MOCA(MObile Certificate Authority)s. Using these MOCAs, we present an efficient yet effective communication protocol for mobile nodes to correspond with MOCAs and get certification services. Results from our simulations verify the effectiveness of our approach, as well as the cost in terms of control overhead and delay. we also provide some insights into configuring such security services.