Method for aggregating data in a network

Abstract

A method for aggregating data in a network, particularly in a wireless sensor network, wherein the network (1) includes a plurality of sensor nodes (Ni) to measure data and at least one sink node (S) at which the data measured by the sensor nodes (Ni) are aggregated, and wherein each sensor node (Ni) encrypts its measured data with a key k and forwards the result towards the sink node (S), is characterized in that, in the context of a key distribution within the network (1), a master key K is chosen, and that the master key K is autonomously split up by the network (1) into individual keys ki to be used by the sensor nodes (Ni) for encrypting measured data, with the sum of all individual keys ki being equal to the master key K.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.