SYSTEM FOR, AND METHOD OF, AUTHENTICATING A SUPPLICANT, AND DISTRIBUTING GROUP KEYS TO GROUP MEMBERS, IN A MULTI-HOP WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK WITH ENHANCED SECURITY

摘要

An authenticator receives an authentication request from a supplicant requesting access to a wireless multi-hop network, and forwards the authentication request to one or more relays operative for relaying the authentication request to an authentication server. The server generates an authenticator key known to the authenticator, generates a supplicant key known to the supplicant, encrypts the supplicant key with the authenticator key, and transmits an authentication success message with the encrypted supplicant key to the authenticator to enable the supplicant to be added to the network without any relay having knowledge of the supplicant key. Encrypted group access keys are also distributed to authenticated members of a network group.