A cluster based security model for mobile ad hoc networks

In ad hoc networks, cluster based routing schemes are used to reduce channel contention in networks with a large number of nodes. Moreover, for large networks, clustering is used to form routing backbones to reduce network diameter. Clustering divides a physical network into various overlapping or disjoint virtual subnetworks with fewer nodes in each cluster. Although clustering helps in routing by abstracting the whole network state from some nodes, but implementing a secured routing protocol among them while keeping intact the benefits of clustering is a tough task. In this paper, we propose a novel way of secured communication in cluster based ad hoc networks. Our method employs public key infrastructures as well as a distributed method to implement secured communication among the nodes. We compare the relative overhead required in implementing the security method with a fully distributed method.