Wireless security

• US 20050094592A1
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gallitzin Allegheny LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Dominik J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Apparatus and method for securing a wireless communication medium are disclosed. The apparatus uses a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. The method includes determining a SIM card insertion and if so, accessing SIM data and transmitting the SIM data to a base station for comparison with a local copy of authorized user data file; granting mobile unit access to base station if the information matches and otherwise indicating an access failure.

Claims

1. A method for securing a wireless communication medium using a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, comprising:

determining a SIM card insertion and if so, accessing SIM data and transmitting the SIM data to a base station for comparison with a local copy of authorized user data file;

granting mobile unit access to base station if the information matches and otherwise indicating an access failure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medium conforms to an 802.11 specification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the medium conforms to a Bluetooth specification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is at approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) determining a desired level of service; and

(b) dynamically adjusting a number of time slots assigned to the medium during the transmission to remain within limits of said desired level of service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the dynamic adjusting comprises:

determining available time-slot resources;

detecting the medium that fails to meet said desired level of service;

allocating the medium to a configuration having a additional time slots, transmitting an additional channel assignment message including information on the allocated configuration with the additional time slots.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising instructing transceivers to communicate only in their newly allocated time-slots.

8. A method for data transmission over first and second media that overlaps in frequency, comprising:

securing accessing using a SIM card;

selecting one of the first and second media as a common medium; and

routing the data transmission through the common medium.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the medium conforms to an 802.11 specification.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the medium conforms to a Bluetooth specification.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the medium operates at approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

12. A method for data transmission over first and second media that overlaps in frequency, comprising:

securing access using a SIM card;

selecting one of the first and second media as a common medium;

instructing transceivers for the first and second media to communicate only through the common medium.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the media conforms to an 802.11 specification.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the media conforms to a Bluetooth specification.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second media operates at approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein a packet is initially transmitted at the highest rate supported by both media.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising retrying the packet at the next lower rate if the packet is not successfully acknowledged.