Secure Service Discovery based on Trust Management for ad-hoc Networks

Celeste Campo (University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain)

Florina Almenárez (University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain)

Daniel Díaz (University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain)

Carlos García-Rubio (University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain)

Andrés Marín López (University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain)

Abstract: In ad-hoc networks, mobile devices communicate via wireless links without the aid of any fixed networking infrastructure. These devices must be able to discover services dynamically and share them safely, taking into account ad-hoc net-works requirements such as limited processing and communication power, decentralised management, and dynamic network topology, among others. Legacy solutions fail in addressing these requirements.

In this paper, we propose a service discovery protocol with security features, the Secure Pervasive Discovery Protocol. SPDP is a fully distributed protocol in which services offered by devices can be discovered by others, without a central server. It is based on an anarchy trust model, which provides location of trusted services, as well as protection of confidential information, secure communications, or access control.

Keywords: ad-hoc networks, security, service discovery protocol, trust

Categories: C.2.2, C.4