Wireless sensor network key distribution
First Claim
1. A system for distributing keying material to nodes in a wireless sensor network (WSN), including:
- a key management box (KMB) that stores keying material for at least one sensor node in the WSN; and
a security module, in the KMB, that encrypts keying material for transmission to the at least one sensor node;
wherein the KMB transmits the encrypted keying material to the at least one sensor node and receives an acknowledgment of receipt of the keying material from the sensor node;
wherein upon activation of the KMB, a status of the at least one sensor node is indicated to be expired in a look-up table stored in the KMB; and
wherein upon receipt of the acknowledgment at the KMB, the lookup table is updated so that the status of the at least one sensor node is indicated to be current.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
When installing and maintaining a wireless sensor network in a medical or factory environment, distribution of keying material to sensor nodes (18) is performed by a key material box (KMB) (12), such as a smartcard or the like. The KMB (12) has a random seed stored to it during manufacture, and upon activation performs an authentication protocol with a sensor node (18) to be updated or installed. The KMB (12) receives node identification information, which is used in conjunction with the random seed to generate keying material for the node (18). The KMB (12) then encrypts the keying material for transmission to the node (18), and transmits over a wired or wireless communication link in a secure manner. The node (18) sends an acknowledgement message back the KMB (12), which then updates the nodes status in look-up tables stored in the KMB (12).
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for distributing keying material to nodes in a wireless sensor network (WSN), including:
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a key management box (KMB) that stores keying material for at least one sensor node in the WSN; and a security module, in the KMB, that encrypts keying material for transmission to the at least one sensor node; wherein the KMB transmits the encrypted keying material to the at least one sensor node and receives an acknowledgment of receipt of the keying material from the sensor node; wherein upon activation of the KMB, a status of the at least one sensor node is indicated to be expired in a look-up table stored in the KMB; and wherein upon receipt of the acknowledgment at the KMB, the lookup table is updated so that the status of the at least one sensor node is indicated to be current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification