Exploring Encrypted Multi-Hop Mesh Networks

1. Define Project Requirements and Objectives

Goal Setting

• Determine the specific goals of our mesh network (e.g., range, data rate, encryption strength).
• Goal: Off grid survival database and text comms protocol.
• Goal: Private AI
• Vector db
• YAML conversation history (easier to encrypt?)
• Personalized graph node with agent capabilities.

Use Case Analysis

• Identify the key use cases, like disaster recovery, remote sensor networks, or secure communications.
• Use Case: Emergency Comms
• Use Case: Survival specific training and knowledgebase access (Foxfire books, Anarchist Cookbook, Coding docs, embedded programming, gray-hat capable, etc..)
• Use Case: Incorporating remote sensors is straight forward enough, I don't see why the base station shouldn't monitor environmental data within range.

Hardware Selection

• Choose the microcontrollers and radios (LoRa, ESP32, etc..) that will meet our range and data rate needs.
• ESP32 S3 based. Will try micropython for consistency in code but python may not have all capabilities I need for embedded.
• API based access (FastAPI, Ollama connector run local.)

Regulatory Compliance

• Understand the legal requirements, such as frequency regulations, power limits, and encryption export controls.
• Public frequency 915mHz eligible without license.
• Remember to constrain frequency

2. Research and Select Protocols

Mesh Routing Protocols

Study existing mesh protocols like:

• OLSR (Optimized Link State Routing)
• B.A.T.M.A.N. (Better Approach To Mobile Adhoc Networking)
• Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV)
  • TODO:

Cryptographic Protocols

Choose appropriate cryptographic methods for encryption and key exchange, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), RSA, Diffie-Hellman, or Elliptic Curve Cryptography.

• AES more than likely for public comms, maybe something like RSA for advanced encryption for conversations?

Data Integrity and Authentication

Incorporate methods like HMAC (Hash-Based Message Authentication Code) or digital signatures to ensure data integrity.

• Hash based.

3. Design the Network Architecture

Node Roles and Topology

• Define the roles of nodes (e.g., gateway, relay, end-device) and design the network topology (e.g., star, tree, mesh).
• Mesh

Multi-Hop Routing

Develop or adapt an algorithm for routing packets across multiple hops, considering path optimization, fault tolerance, and latency.

• Ad-hoc on-demand distance vector is likely best suited. Should basically lazy load the network on request and send routing requests.

• AODV is a reactive routing protocol designed for ad-hoc mobile networks. It establishes routes only when needed, reducing overhead.

• Key Concepts:

  1. Route Discovery: Uses broadcast RREQ (Route Request) packets to find a route.
  2. Route Maintenance: Uses RREP (Route Reply) packets to confirm and maintain routes.
  3. Sequence Numbers: Ensure the freshness of routes and prevent loops.
  4. Applications: Commonly used in wireless sensor networks and MANETs (Mobile Ad-hoc Networks)

• Better Approach To Mobile Ad-hoc Networking (B.A.T.M.A.N.)

• Overview: B.A.T.M.A.N. is a decentralized, proactive routing protocol that focuses on discovering the best path based on link quality rather than shortest distance.

• Key Concepts:

  • Originator Messages: Nodes periodically broadcast originator messages to inform others of their existence.
  • Link Quality Measurement: Nodes calculate the best next hop based on the quality of received messages.
  • Distributed Route Management: No single node has complete route information, reducing the risk of failure.

• Applications: Commonly used in community mesh networks like Freifunk

• ZigBee Routing Protocol

  • Overview: ZigBee is a specification for low-power wireless networks, often used in IoT applications. It includes both mesh and tree routing options.
  • Key Concepts:
    • Tree Routing: Uses a hierarchical structure to route messages, useful in predictable topologies.
    • Mesh Routing: Provides dynamic routing to handle changes in the network.
    • Low Power: Focuses on energy efficiency, making it ideal for battery-operated devices.
  • Applications: Widely used in smart home devices and industrial automation.

Encryption Scheme

• Should we use end-to-end encryption, hop-by-hop encryption, or a combination, and design the key management system? (centralized, decentralized, or distributed key management)

Addressing and Identity Management

• Create a unique addressing scheme and identity management protocol to ensure secure and reliable communication between nodes.
• Treat like crypto wallet addresses

4. Develop and Test Core Communication Functions

• Basic Radio Communication: Implement and test basic communication between nodes using the chosen hardware and libraries.
• Packet Structure: Design the data packet structure, including headers, payloads, and security fields.
• Encryption Integration: Implement encryption and decryption in the communication stack, ensuring seamless integration with the routing protocol.
• Error Handling and Retransmission: Develop mechanisms for error detection, handling, and packet retransmission.

5. Implement Multi-Hop Routing

• Routing Algorithm: Code the routing algorithm, allowing for dynamic route discovery and maintenance.
• Node Discovery and Handshaking: Implement node discovery mechanisms, allowing nodes to find and authenticate each other before communication.
• Path Selection and Optimization: Integrate path selection algorithms that optimize for factors like distance, signal strength, and node availability.

6. Test and Validate the Network

• Simulated Environment: Test the network in a simulated environment.
  • TODO: look into NS-3 or custom simulators.
• Field Testing: Deploy the network in a real-world environment and evaluate performance, range, reliability, and security.
• Stress Testing: Push the network to its limits to test scalability, encryption overhead, and node failure handling.

7. Optimize Performance and Security

• Performance Tuning: Optimize the network for speed, power consumption, and latency by refining the routing algorithm, encryption techniques, and packet structure.
• Security Enhancements: Conduct a thorough security audit to identify potential vulnerabilities and improve encryption, key management, and authentication mechanisms.
  • Marauder, DISCO run.
• Resilience and Redundancy: Implement features that enhance network resilience, such as redundancy, fault tolerance, and self-healing capabilities.

8. Documentation and Iteration

• Documentation: Document the network architecture, protocols, algorithms, and configuration settings to ensure reproducibility and scalability.
• Open Source Contributions: Consider open-source to gain feedback and collaborate on improvements.
  • This will depend on funding strategy.
• Iterative Development: Continue refining the network based on testing results, user feedback, and emerging technologies.

9. Deployment and Maintenance

• Deployment Planning: Develop a deployment plan for rolling out the mesh network, including node installation, configuration, and ongoing maintenance.
  • UI/UX
  • Bluetooth integration
• Monitoring and Management: Implement tools and protocols for monitoring network health, performance, and security in real-time.

10. Future Enhancements

• Feature Expansion: Explore adding features like QoS (Quality of Service), advanced traffic management, or integration with IoT devices and environment sensors.
• Scalability: Investigate ways to scale the network to support larger areas, more nodes, or higher data rates.
  • Node placement, adoption plan.
• Interoperability: Consider integrating with other networks or communication standards to increase the network's flexibility and reach.
  • Meshtastic and LoRaWAN to possibly piggy back signals for access.