Trust management in mobile ad hoc networks

We investigate an approach to trust management in a mobile ad-hoc network by first clustering the network in an efficient manner based on the cost of analysis/processing concept, and then using the experience of some nodes to achieve trust information dissemination through the network. This is accomplished by first exchanging trust information between the nodes and the cluster-head when the cluster is initially formed, and later (on demand) when a client consults the cluster-head prior to proceeding with a transaction. We also examine a possible scenario for trust restoration if a node is found to be in low trust due to former malicious behavior.