A hybrid group key management scheme for UAV – MBN network environment increasing efficiency of key distribution in joining operation

Abstract

The advent of wireless Ad-Hoc networks has seen an associated emergence of group applications. In order to secure group applications and prevent unauthorized users from accessing communication data that cannot be protected by wireless Ad-Hoc networks and IP multicast alone, group communication content needs to be encrypted by a shared group key. Key management is necessary to ensure the safety of this group key and to protect the group communication. However, problems arise when group key management schemes are applied to the wireless environment relates to three issues: performance, security and network compatibility. In this paper, the focus is made on UAV-MBN, a military network with a proposal to group key management architecture for the UAV-MBN. In order to tackle two particular wireless group key management problems, operational efficiency and multiple-membership changes, a hybrid group key management approach - which operates within each theatre of UAV-MBN is included. By performing micro-key management, this approach can reduce the operational costs associated with key management and improve the operational efficiency of wireless group key management. A membership-oriented group key management scheme is concentrated to tackle the performance problem of multiple-membership changes. This approach, compared to traditional application-oriented group key management approaches, offers more effective management of multiple-membership changes.