Transport agnostic authentication of wireless devices

• US 20040203599A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McNamara, Donald J., Miller, Quentin S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data

Abstract

A wireless device and a receiving computing system communicate over a carrier network. The wireless device submits a request for service to the receiving computing system, which then returns an authentication key. The authentication key is routed using the telephone number stated in the request for service as being associated with the wireless device. However, the authentication key is dispatched over a different data transport mechanism. For example, the request may be submitted using an IP data transport mechanism, while the authentication key is returned using an SMS data transport mechanism. The wireless device then evidences, through appropriate communication, that the wireless device both submitted the request and received the response. Accordingly, the telephone number is verified as being associated with the telephone number.

Claims

1. In a receiving computing system that is configured to communicate with a wireless device over a carrier network, a method for authenticating the wireless device comprising the following:

an act of receiving a request for service from the wireless device over a first data transport mechanism available over the carrier network;

an act of reading a telephone number from the request for service; and

an act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network, the second data transport mechanism using the telephone number to address the wireless device.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response with a security key.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the following:

an act of receiving a communication from the wireless device that evidences that the wireless device both sent the request and received the response.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises an act of dispatching the response with a security key, the act of receiving a communication from the wireless device comprises receiving data that is at least derived from the security key.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the act of receiving a request for service from the wireless device over a first data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving the request for service using Internet Protocol (IP).

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Short-text Messaging Service (SMS).

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data USSD).

8. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

9. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Short-text Messaging Service (SMS).

10. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).

11. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the page using Short-text Messaging Service (SMS).

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of dispatching a response to the request to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the response using Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

15. A computer program product for use in a receiving computing system that is configured to communicate with a wireless device over a carrier network, the computer program product for implementing a method for authenticating the wireless device, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for detecting receipt of a request for service from the wireless device over a first data transport mechanism available over the carrier network;

computer-executable instructions for reading a telephone number from the request for service; and

computer-executable instructions for causing a response to the request to be dispatched to the wireless device over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network, the second data transport mechanism using the telephone number to address the wireless device.

16. A computer program product in accordance with claim 15, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical storage media.

17. In a wireless device that is configured to communicate with a receiving computing system over a carrier network, a method for the wireless device supporting its own authentication to the receiving computing system comprising the following:

an act of dispatching a request for service to the receiving computing system over a first data transport mechanism available over the carrier network, the request for service including a telephone number of the wireless device;

an act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network, the second data transport mechanism using the telephone number to address the wireless device; and

an act of dispatching a communication to the receiving computing system that evidences that the wireless device both sent the request and received the response.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving a response that has a security key.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the act of dispatching a communication to the receiving computing system that evidences that the wireless device both sent the request and received the response comprises an act of dispatching a communication that includes data that is at least derived from the security key.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the act of dispatching a request for service to the receiving computing system over a first data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of dispatching the request for service using Internet Protocol (IP).

21. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving the response using Short-text Messaging Service (SMS).

22. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving the response using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).

23. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving the response using Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

24. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving the response using Short-text Messaging Service (SMS).

25. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving the response using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).

26. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the act of receiving a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network comprises the following:

an act of receiving the response using Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

27. A computer program product for use in a wireless device that is configured to communicate with a receiving computing system over a carrier network, the computer program product for implementing a method for the wireless device supporting its own authentication to the receiving computing system, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for causing a request for service to be dispatched to the receiving computing system over a first data transport mechanism available over the carrier network, the request for service including a telephone number of the wireless device;

computer-executable instructions for detecting receipt of a response to the request over a second data transport mechanism available over the carrier network, the second data transport mechanism using the telephone number to address the wireless device; and

computer-executable instructions for causing a communication to be dispatched to the receiving computing system, the communication evidencing that the wireless device both sent the request and received the response.

28. A computer program product in accordance with claim 27, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical storage media.