Unified pseudonym distribution in VANETs

Abstract

VANETs continue to mature and their installation is becoming a reality. Many ideas have been exchanged on how best to balance privacy and security. The use of pseudonyms has been almost universally accepted as a critical part of this equation. Simulated results, using ns-3, demonstrate the need for more than a single road side unit (RSU) contact for pseudonym refill due to the limited number of certificates that can be issued in that transit. This paper provides a universal protocol using multiple RSUs and multiple service channels for the distribution of pseudonyms for refill, intra-regional, and inter-regional purposes.