ABSTRACT
Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) have emerged as a key technology for next-generation wireless networks, showing rapid progress and inspiring numerous applications. Trust relationships should exist among stakeholders for authentication, authorization, and accounting of end users. The decentralized authentication process, which is a significant requirement in WMNs, becomes more complex in high-density mesh cells, and adequate authenticators’ delegation should take place. The existence of robust authentication mechanisms is an important security requirement in WMNs to prevent unauthorized user access. Authentication of mobile nodes in WMNs can assure authorized clients participation. Wireless dual authentication protocol provides authentication for both mobile stations and access points and overcomes the shortcomings of other proposed mutual authentication protocols. The dynamic environment together with the multiple possible connectivities in WMNs raise the need for secure fast hand-off protocols. In commercially deployed WMNs, users do not belong to a common group and they do not necessarily trust each other or the different operators.
