Lightweight encryption solution for train communication network

The wide application of wireless communication technology has brought about an increase in network security risks for train communication networks. To mitigate these risks, data encryption has emerged as an important means, albeit with additional demand on CPU computing resources. However, train communication network hosts predominantly rely on embedded devices with limited computing resources. This paper proposes a lightweight encryption solution for train communication networks. This solution employs a key negotiation process based on traditional communication encryption scheme, aiming to achieve lightweight encryption in train communication networks and compliance with the authenticity, integrity, and confidentiality requirements of communication data, while greatly reducing hardware demands and computational burdens associated with key management. Experimental verification using the proposed solution yielded a key negotiation time consumption of about 31.9% and reduced the CPU load on devices to about 35.8% when compared to the traditional SM2+SM3+SM4 communication encryption method.