E-STAR: Secure Routing Protocol for Heterogeneous Multihop Wireless Networks

Problem Definition

Problem Description: One of the major challenges in multihop wireless sensor networks is the security of routing protocols. Conventional routing protocols may be vulnerable to attacks such as black hole attacks, wormhole attacks, and Sybil attacks, leading to route instability and unreliable communication. Additionally, these networks often consist of heterogeneous devices with varying energy levels, leading to suboptimal routing decisions and energy depletion in certain nodes. To address these challenges, there is a need for a secure and reliable routing protocol for heterogeneous multihop wireless networks. This protocol should be able to establish stable routes, maximize routing efficiency, and ensure trustworthiness among nodes in the network.

The proposed E-STAR protocol aims to address these issues by combining trust-based and energy-aware routing techniques with a payment and trust system to improve route stability, packet delivery ratio, and overall network performance. By implementing the E-STAR protocol, the network can minimize the probability of route breaking, improve energy efficiency, and enhance security against various attacks. This will ultimately result in a more stable, reliable, and secure multihop wireless network, making it an efficient and advantageous solution for addressing routing challenges in heterogeneous environments.

Proposed Work

The project titled "Secure and Reliable Routing Protocols for Heterogeneous Multihop Wireless Networks" focuses on enhancing the security of multihop wireless sensor networks through the implementation of a novel protocol known as STAble and reliable Routes (E-STAR). This protocol combines trust-based and energy-aware routing methods with a payment and trust system to establish stable and reliable routes in heterogeneous multihop WSNs. By making routing decisions based on the trust value associated with nodes' public key certificates, E-STAR aims to minimize the risk of route breakages by routing traffic through highly trusted nodes with sufficient energy resources. The inclusion of a trust system is crucial for network performance, as loss of trust can directly impact system earnings. Payment receipts are used to evaluate trust values, ensuring that the system can secure payment and trust calculations without false accusations.

Through simulations, it has been demonstrated that E-STAR improves packet delivery ratios and route stability, making it more efficient and advantageous compared to traditional techniques. This project falls under the categories of NS2 Based Thesis Projects and Wireless Research Based Projects, with subcategories including Mobile Computing Thesis, Routing Protocols Based Projects, Wireless Security, and WSN Based Projects. The software used for this project includes NS2 for simulation purposes.

Application Area for Industry

The project "Secure and Reliable Routing Protocols for Heterogeneous Multihop Wireless Networks" can be applied in various industrial sectors that utilize multihop wireless sensor networks, such as smart cities, industrial automation, agriculture, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. These industries often face challenges related to the security and reliability of routing protocols, as well as energy efficiency and network stability in heterogeneous environments. By implementing the E-STAR protocol, these industries can benefit from improved route stability, enhanced energy efficiency, and increased security against various attacks. This will lead to more stable and reliable communication networks, ultimately improving operational efficiency and productivity in these sectors. The proposed solutions provided by the E-STAR protocol can be applied within different industrial domains to address specific challenges that industries face.

For example, in industrial automation, where reliable communication networks are crucial for efficient operations, E-STAR can ensure stable routes and secure communication, reducing the risk of disruptions and improving overall system performance. In the healthcare sector, where patient monitoring systems rely on wireless sensor networks, E-STAR can enhance security and reliability, ensuring accurate and timely data transmission. Overall, by implementing the E-STAR protocol, industries can experience increased network stability, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced security, leading to more reliable and efficient operations across various industrial sectors.

Application Area for Academics

The proposed project, focusing on the development of the E-STAR protocol for secure and reliable routing in heterogeneous multihop wireless sensor networks, holds great potential for research by MTech and PhD students. This innovative protocol addresses critical challenges faced in WSNs such as route instability, energy depletion, and vulnerability to attacks, offering a promising solution to enhance network security and efficiency. MTech and PhD students can utilize this project for their research by exploring novel methods in trust-based and energy-aware routing, conducting simulations to analyze network performance, and implementing data analysis techniques for comprehensive evaluation. The project can serve as a foundation for dissertation, thesis, or research papers in the fields of Mobile Computing, Routing Protocols, Wireless Security, and Wireless Sensor Networks, allowing students to delve into advanced research methodologies and contribute to the development of cutting-edge solutions for real-world problems. The code and literature of this project can be invaluable resources for students seeking to explore new avenues in network security and communication protocols, enabling them to undertake impactful research and make significant contributions to the field.

Moving forward, the project also presents opportunities for future scope in exploring further enhancements to the E-STAR protocol, conducting comparative studies with existing routing techniques, and expanding research applications to diverse network environments, offering a rich and dynamic landscape for continued exploration and innovation.

Keywords

Heterogeneous multihop wireless networks, secure routing protocol, E-STAR protocol, trust-based routing, energy-aware routing, payment and trust system, route stability, packet delivery ratio, network performance, route breaking, energy efficiency, security against attacks, multihop wireless sensor networks, black hole attacks, wormhole attacks, Sybil attacks, heterogeneous devices, routing decisions, energy depletion, trustworthiness, stable routes, routing efficiency, network security, trust system, public key certificates, trust values, payment receipts, false accusations, simulation, NS2, Mobile Computing Thesis, Routing Protocols, Wireless Security, WSN Based Projects.