To solve the problem of the distribution uncertainty delay of key updating scheme in delay tolerant mobile sensor networks and guarantee the safety during key updating process, a distribution key updating model was proposed for DTMSN. In this model, a key was divided into multiple components, with each component carried by a separate node, and could be reconstructed by its owner node after the owner has a contact with these escrow nodes. The analysis of safety and performance for this model illuminated that this model can satisfy the various requirements on safety and resource cost by adapting the shadow number. The simulation results verified that this model can estimate the latency of key distribution process.
