Authentication schemes using combinatorial key distribution
Shivangi Guptashivangi.gupta@quantumeducation.inQuantum University Research CenterQuantum UniversityRoorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India0009-0005-4285-8974View full profile → , *Pramod ReddyCorresponding authorpramodreddy.pr@proton.meCentre for Multidisciplinary ResearchAnurag UniversityHyderabad, Telangana, 500088, IndiaView full profile → , Uma Bhardwajvc@niu.edu.inDepartment of Biotechnology and MicrobiologyNoida International UniversityGreater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 203201, IndiaView full profile → , Makineedi Raja Baburajababu.makineedi@adityauniversity.inDepartment of Information TechnologyAditya UniversitySurampalem, Kakinada District, Andhra Pradesh, 533437, IndiaView full profile → , Rayudu Sowmyasoumyarayudu@gmail.comDepartment of Computer ScienceAditya Degree & PG Colleges (Autonomous)Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, 533003, IndiaView full profile → , Bajarang Prasad Mishrabpmishra.ece@geu.ac.inDepartment of Electronics & Communication EngineeringGraphic Era (Deemed to be University)Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, IndiaView full profile →
* Corresponding author · click or hover a name for details
- Received:
- 01 Apr 2026
- Published Online:
- 31 Oct 2026
- Article type:
- Research Article
- Language:
- EN
- Article no.:
- JDMSC-3055
- Pages:
- 4333–4345
Abstract
As the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless sensor networks (WSNs increase, the issue of security and efficient authentication of these networks is one of the burning questions. The classical authentication systems are either more prone to the use of centralized systems or computationally-intensive cryptographic systems which is not suitable in large scale and resource-constrained systems. The current key distribution schemes also have the problems of poor scalability, probabilistic connectivity along with sensitive to attacks such as node capture and man in the middle attacks. In this paper, a novel authentication framework is suggested as a framework that is based on combinatorial key distribution to provide deterministic, scalable and lightweight security. The aim is to come up with some practical authentication mechanism that can partially guarantee the credible exchanges of keys and reduce the cost of computation and storage. The algorithm employs combinatorial designs like Balanced Incomplete Block Designs (BIBDs) to compute structured key pools, and deterministic key rings to nodes. A key based authentication protocol that uses a shared key and a nonce based verification that uses mutual authentication is developed using a lightweight protocol and a secure session key is generated. The performance of the scheme measured on the basis of measures like the authentication success rate, cost of computation and storage overhead and connectivity demonstrate that the proposed scheme has an authentication success rate of more than 95 percent and low (1218 ms) computation time and sensible (812 KB) storage overhead.
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References
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