System and Method for Performing Secure Key Exchange

A system configured to perform secure key exchange between a plurality of nodes of a communication network, the plurality of nodes comprising at least a master node, a first slave node, and a second slave node, the system comprising:

• the master node;
• the first slave node;
• and
• the second slave node, wherein:
• the master node and the first slave node are both configured to compute a first pair-wise authentication key,
• the master node and the second slave node are both configured to compute a second pair-wise authentication key,
• the master node is configured to authenticate the first slave node based on the first pair-wise authentication key computed at first slave node, and the first pair-wise authentication key computed at the master node,
• the master node is configured to authenticate the second slave node based on the second pair-wise authentication key computed at the second slave node, and the second pair-wise authentication key computed at the master node,
• the master node is configure to generate a group authentication key common to the plurality of nodes,
• the master node is configured to generate a first encrypted group authentication key by encrypting the group authentication key with the first pair-wise authentication key and to generate a second encrypted group authentication key by encrypting the group authentication key with the second pair-wise authentication key, and
• the master node is configured to communicate the first encrypted group authentication key to the first slave node and to communicate the second encrypted group authentication key to the second slave node.