A Traceable Self-Generated Pseudonym Scheme in VANETs

The generation of the pseudonym in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) usually requires the participation of a trusted center (TA), and it needs multiple interactions with the TA. To address these problems, we propose a novel traceable self-generated pseudonym based on the non-interactive zero-knowledge proof (NIZK) and consortium blockchain in VANETs. In our scheme, a self-generated pseudonyms method is introduced to eliminate excessive communication burden, and a consortium blockchain is composed of multiple roadside units (RSUs) to replace the TA. RSUs in the consortium blockchain verify the effectiveness of OBU’s self-generated pseudonyms through the consensus mechanism. Multiple trace authorities (TRAs) are designed to jointly tracking of the real identity of the OBU, which effectively prevents the abuse of supervision by the only supervisor.