Approaches to a solution of key management system for cryptography communications within railway applications

Abstract

Authors are dealing with the problem of the on-line key management system (KMS) solution, needed to ensure, using cryptographic tools, the authentication of communicated entities of stationary and mobile parts of ETCS (European Train Control System) level 2 (L2). Different approaches to this solution are described on the basis of a symmetric and an asymmetric cryptography. The main part of paper presents a proposal of KMS solution for ETCS L2 based on an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) oriented towards a solution of domain's parameters selection and the identification of particular entities in the train traffic. A practical generation of a pair of keys is carried out via a SW tool Cryptool. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.