Security Authentication and Key Management Within an Infrastructure-Based Wireless Multi-Hop Network

摘要

A system and method of security authentication and key management scheme in a multi-hop wireless network is provided herein with a hop-by-hop security model. The scheme adapts the 802.11r key hierarchy into the meshed AP network. In this approach, a top key holder (R0KH) derives and holds the top Pairwise Master Key (PMK—0) for each supplicant wireless device after the authentication process. All authenticator AP take the level one key holder (R1KH) role and receive the next level Pairwise Master Key (PMK—1) from R0KH. The link level data protection key is derived from PMK—1 via the 802.11i 4-way handshaking.