Inverting sensor networks and actuating the environment for spatio-temporal access control

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks are typically deployed to measure the information field, rather than create an information field. However, by utilizing the radio on sensor nodes, it is possible to invert the role of sensor networks, and allow sensor nodes to actuate the environment. Such actuation can facilitate new forms of access control that are based on whether a user is located at the right place at the right time. In this paper, we explore the challenges of supporting spatio-temporal access control, where access to an object or service is based on the user's spatio-temporal context. Specifically, we focus on supporting spatio-temporal access control through the specification of access control policies, and show how complex spatio-temporal policies can be specified using automata. We outline a challenge-response mechanism for verifying user location in a centralized spatio-temporal access control mechanism. We utilize sensor networks in an inverted fashion to support spatio-temporal access control. Sensor nodes announce keys according to a time-varying schedule, and users may access restricted files/resources only if they are in the neighborhood of the correct sensor node and witness the appropriate cryptographic key.