Location dependent key management in sensor networks without using deployment knowledge

Abstract

A system for key management in sensor networks which takes the location of sensor nodes into consideration while deciding the keys to be deployed on each node. This system reduces the number of keys that have to be stored on each sensor node and also provides for the containment of node compromise. Thus compromise of a node in a location affects the communications only around that location. The location dependent key management system does not require any knowledge about the deployment of sensor nodes. The system starts off with the loading of a single key on each sensor node prior to deployment. Subsequent to deployment a plurality of beacons is transmitted a plurality of different transmission ranges from each anchor node, said beacons containing at least one nonce. Each sensor node receives beacons depending upon its location in the network. Thus, sensor nodes in different locations have different nonce sets, and each sensor node derives updated keys using a combination of the common key and its set of nonces. The system allows for additions of sensor nodes to the network at any point in time.