Misbehavior detection in clustered ad-hoc networks with central control

Although individual node cooperation is necessary for the correct execution of network protocols in mobile ad-hoc networks, it is not always guaranteed. Therefore, misbehavior detection and reputation mechanisms need to be implemented in order to reinforce node cooperation. In this paper, we address the issue of detecting non-cooperative behavior during packet forwarding in clustered mobile ad-hoc networks, which operate under the coordination and supervision of a central entity. The proposed solution uses end-to-end authenticated acknowledgments for every transmitted packet. Low computational overhead is achieved by employing an adapted version of the TESLA symmetric key broadcast authentication protocol.