Optimal and Secure Routing Protocol based on Key Management for IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) demands reliable communication between resource-constrained devices. Selecting appropriate routing protocols is crucial for achieving this goal, but traditional methods struggle with the unique challenges of IoT networks, including security, mobility, energy limitations, and scarce resources. This paper proposes a novel routing protocol that addresses these challenges by focusing on two key parameters: energy and Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR). Our protocol excludes devices with low remaining energy from the chosen path, while prioritizing links with strong SINR. This strategy ensures the discovery of stable and energy-efficient paths for extended network lifetime. Furthermore, we introduce an enhanced security layer. During route discovery, intermediate devices exchange secret keys using Weil Pairing and Smart-Chen-Kudla schemes, guaranteeing both confidentiality and mutual authentication while minimizing computational overhead. Extensive simulations on Network Simulator 2 (NS-2) demonstrate significant improvements in throughput and end-to-end delay compared to existing solutions.