A Secure Inter-Domain Handover Authentication Scheme for Wireless Network

Abstract

In wireless network environment, mobile user might perform the procedure of handover. According to the security requirements and convenience, taking mutual authentication and fast handover into account in the process of inter-domain handover is necessary. This paper proposes a secure inter-domain handover authentication scheme for wireless network that provides fast handover to retain the connectivity of network under the security requirement of identity authentication. It considers inter-domain handover to maintain the anonymity of user’s identity, replay attack resistance and the forward/backward secrecy of key generation. These are what other studies haven’t provided. Among these functionalities, we especially focus on the authentication latency shortened by fast handover. If the authentication latency takes too long, the network connectivity of the user may be affected. Moreover, it may cause disconnection. Our scheme reduces more handover authentication latency than other schemes do. The user may misunderstand that it is disconnected. It is more secure and efficient than other studies.