Security Enhanced Key Predistribution Scheme Using Transversal Designs and Reed Muller Codes for Wireless Sensor Networks

Resource constraints of the nodes make security protocols difficult to implement. Thus key management is an important area of research in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). Key predistribution (kpd) which involves preloading keys in sensor nodes, has been considered as the best solution for key management when sensor nodes are battery powered and have to work unattended. This paper proposes a method to fix some loophole in an existing key predistribution scheme thereby enhancing the security of messages exchanged within a WSN. Here we use a model based on Reed Muller Codes to establish connectivity keys between sensor nodes. The model is then utilized to securely establish communication keys and exchange messages in a WSN designed on basis of two schemes using transversal designs for key predistribution. The combination of the key predistribution scheme and the connectivity model gives rise to highly resilient communication model with same connectivity between nodes as the chosen key predistribution scheme.