Wireless network handoff key
First Claim
1. A method for handoff in a wireless communication network, comprising:
- generating a handoff encryption key;
handing off a wireless terminal from a first access point to a second access point; and
communicating data packets encrypted with the handoff encryption key, between the second access point and the wireless terminal for immediate secured data transmission before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for handoff in a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, a common handoff encryption key is generated by an authentication server and transmitted to a first access point and a second access point. The first access point transmits the handoff encryption key to a wireless terminal. The wireless terminal encrypts output data with the handoff encryption key. When the wireless terminal is associated with the second access point, the second access point decrypts data from the wireless terminal with the handoff encryption key. In a second embodiment, a handoff WEP key generation secret parameter is provided to a first and a second access point. Both access points generate a handoff WEP key as a function of the handoff WEP key generation secret parameter and an address of a wireless terminal. The first access point transmits the handoff WEP key to the wireless terminal. The second access point communicates data packets encrypted with the handoff WEP key with the wireless terminal.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A method for handoff in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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generating a handoff encryption key;
handing off a wireless terminal from a first access point to a second access point; and
communicating data packets encrypted with the handoff encryption key, between the second access point and the wireless terminal for immediate secured data transmission before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A wireless communication network comprising:
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an authentication server operable to generate and transmit a handoff encryption key;
a first access point, receiving the handoff encryption key; and
a second access point, receiving the handoff encryption key from the authentication server and decrypting encrypted data from a wireless terminal before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A wireless communication network comprising:
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an authentication server operable to generate and transmit handoff encryption key generation information;
a first access point, generating a first handoff encryption key as a first function of the handoff encryption key generation information; and
a second access point, generating a second handoff encryption key as a second function of the handoff encryption key generation information and decrypting encrypted data from a wireless terminal before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A wireless communication network comprising:
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an authentication server operable to generate and transmit a handoff encryption key generation secret parameter;
a handoff encryption key generator, generating a handoff encryption key as a function of the handoff encryption key generation secret parameter and an open parameter;
a first access point, transmitting the handoff encryption key; and
a second access point, deriving the handoff encryption key and decrypting encrypted data from a wireless terminal before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A wireless communication network comprising:
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a first authentication server operable to generate and transmit a first handoff encryption key;
a second authentication server operable to generate and transmit a second handoff encryption key;
a first access point, receiving the first handoff encryption key; and
a second access point, receiving both the first handoff encryption key and the second handoff encryption key, and decrypting encrypted data from a wireless terminal before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A wireless access point comprising a memory which stores:
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instructions to receive a handoff encryption key generation secret parameter from an authentication server;
instructions to receive a first packet from a wireless terminal, wherein the first packet includes an address of the wireless terminal;
instructions to generate a handoff encryption key as a function of the handoff encryption key generation secret parameter and the address of the wireless terminal; and
instructions to transmit the handoff encryption key to a wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. A wireless access point comprising a memory which stores:
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instructions to receive a handoff encryption key from an authentication server;
instructions to transmit the handoff encryption key to a first wireless terminal;
instructions to receive data encrypted with the handoff encryption key from a second wireless terminal;
instructions to decrypt the data with the handoff encryption key before authentication of the second wireless terminal is completed; and
instructions to transmit the decrypted data.
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56. A wireless access point comprising a memory which stores:
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instructions to receive a handoff encryption key generation information from an authentication server;
instructions to receive data from a wireless terminal;
instructions to generate a handoff encryption key based on the handoff encryption key generation information and the data;
instructions to decrypt the data with the handoff encryption key before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed; and
instructions to transmit the decrypted data.
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57. A handoff encryption key generator in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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an input to receive a handoff encryption key generation secret parameter;
an input to receive an open parameter; and
a generator for generating a handoff encryption key as a function of the handoff encryption key generation secret parameter and the open parameter. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A wireless terminal in a wireless communication network, comprising a memory which stores:
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instructions to receive a handoff encryption key from a first access point;
instructions to encrypt output data with the handoff encryption key; and
instructions to send the encrypted data to a second access point before authentication of the wireless terminal is completed.
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Specification