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Secure geolocalization of wireless sensor nodes in the presence of misbehaving anchor nodes

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Abstract

Geolocalization of nodes in a wireless sensor network is a process that allows location-unaware nodes to discover their spatial coordinates. This process requires the cooperation of all the nodes in the system. Ensuring the correctness of the process, especially in the presence of misbehaving nodes, is crucial for ensuring the integrity of the system. We analyze the problem of location-unaware nodes determining their location in the presence of misbehaving neighboring nodes that provide false data during the execution of the process. We divide and present potential misbehaving nodes in four different adversary models, based on their capacities. We provide algorithms that enable the location-unaware nodes to determine their coordinates in the presence of these adversaries. The algorithms always work for a given number of neighbors provided that the number of misbehaving nodes is below a certain threshold, which is determined for each adversary model.

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Notes

  1. We use the standard convention for binomial coefficients that \({s \choose t} = 0\) when s < t.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS), Spanish Ministry of Science (grants TSI2007-65406-C03-03 E-AEGIS and CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 CSD2007-00004 ARES), and Institut TELECOM (project LOCHNESS, Futurs et Ruptures CPCR7322). We would also like to thank Prof. Jean-Marc Robert for fruitful discussions on the topic of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LUSSI Department, Institut TELECOM, TELECOM Bretagne, 02 rue de la Châtaigneraie, CS 17607, 35576, Cesson Sévigné, France

    Joaquin Garcia-Alfaro

  2. School of Computer Science, Carleton University, 5302 Herzberg Building, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada

    Michel Barbeau & Evangelos Kranakis

Authors
  1. Joaquin Garcia-Alfaro
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  2. Michel Barbeau
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  3. Evangelos Kranakis
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Correspondence to Joaquin Garcia-Alfaro.

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Garcia-Alfaro, J., Barbeau, M. & Kranakis, E. Secure geolocalization of wireless sensor nodes in the presence of misbehaving anchor nodes. Ann. Telecommun. 66, 535–552 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-010-0221-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-010-0221-z

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