Method for providing network access to a mobile terminal and corresponding network
First Claim
1. A method of providing network access for a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of;
- (a) receiving one or more terminal-unique identifiers from the mobile terminal (10) at an authentication server (50), (b) generating a temporary network address for the mobile terminal (10) (c) storing the unique identifier and temporary network address; and
(d) when access to a network (40) is requested by a mobile terminal (10) through a proxy server (70), retrieving the stored unique identifier corresponding to the temporary network address of the mobile terminal making the request;
(f) searching a database for access rights associated with the retrieved terminal identifier;
(g) allowing the request to be forwarded if the access rights for the retrieved terminal identifier are compatible with the access request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invnetion provides secure access to applications such as intranet access and corporate e-mail systems from mobile terminals such as cellular telephones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) using Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) by using an identifier that is unique to the mobile terminal (either the handset itself or the Subscriber Information Module (SIM) card that is used in the handset). This is passed to the authentication systems used by the service provider after the conventional verification of username and password details. If the identifier matches the record held in the authentication database then the service provider returns a number of user-specific options, such as corporate e-mail, intranet access, inventory or ordering systems.
90 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of providing network access for a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of;
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(a) receiving one or more terminal-unique identifiers from the mobile terminal (10) at an authentication server (50), (b) generating a temporary network address for the mobile terminal (10) (c) storing the unique identifier and temporary network address; and
(d) when access to a network (40) is requested by a mobile terminal (10) through a proxy server (70), retrieving the stored unique identifier corresponding to the temporary network address of the mobile terminal making the request;
(f) searching a database for access rights associated with the retrieved terminal identifier;
(g) allowing the request to be forwarded if the access rights for the retrieved terminal identifier are compatible with the access request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A communications network comprising an authentication server (50) having address allocation means (59) for receiving data from a mobile terminal (10), said data comprising terminal-unique identifiers and allocating a temporary network address to the mobile terminal (10)
storage means (51, 71) for storing the network address and the terminal-unique identifier for subsequent retrieval, a dynamic proxy server (70), the dynamic proxy server having identification means (73), correlation means (74), and validation means (75) the identification means (73) being arranged to identify the network address from which a data request originates, the correlation means (74) being arranged to search the database (51,71) of network addresses and, if the search indicates a match, retrieve the terminal-unique identifier corresponding to the network address from the database (51, 71), and the validation means (75) being arranged for searching a database for access rights associated with the retrieved terminal identifier, and forwarding the data request to the requested destination if the access rights for the retrieved terminal identifier are compatible with the access request.
Specification