An Identity-based and Threshold Key Management Scheme for Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

This paper studies key management, a fundamental problem in securing mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). We present the key management scheme as a combination of identity-based and threshold cryptography for ad hoc networks. It is a certificateless solution which eliminates the need for public key distribution and certificates in conventional public key management schemes. With the lower cost of computation and communication, our scheme is efficient, secure and especially suitable for mobile ad hoc networks characterized by distributed computing, dynamic topology and multi-hop communications.