A lossless quantization approach for physical-layer key generation in vehicular ad hoc networks based on received signal strength

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) provide various benefits and play a crucial role in improving efficiency and ensuring human safety across different applications. However, these advantages also give rise to security challenges and privacy concerns, necessitating a thorough examination of security attacks. Current key generation schemes, particularly those based on the Physical-Layer Model (PLM), face limitations such as low key generation rates and inadequate randomness. This paper introduces an innovative key generation method that utilizes adaptive physical-layer techniques and lossless quantization. The method involves an eight-level quantization process, which enables precise granularity and adaptive selection of quantization thresholds to tailor the computation of Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements to individual needs. The adaptive approach ensures the retention of information within RSS measurements, resulting in reduced bit disagreement rates and enhanced randomness of the generated keys. Simulated evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, showing superior performance in terms of bit generation, entropy, and secrecy rates, while also minimizing the occurrence of unnecessary measurements. This advancement holds significant promise for strengthening the security framework within VANETs.