Wireless network with a cipher key change procedure

• US 20050282521A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Christoph Hermann, Josef Wasel
• Inventors: Hermann, Christoph, Wasel, Josef
• Granted Patent: US 7,120,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0891 Revocation or update of secret information, e.g. encryption key update or rekeying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0471 Key exchange

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless network comprising a radio network controller and a plurality of assigned terminals which are provided for coding certain data to be transmitted over traffic and control channels and which are provided for changing the respective key necessary for the coding at certain instants. The radio network controller sends a message about a change of the key coded with an old cipher key to a terminal. The terminal responds with a message coded with a new cipher key as an acknowledgement for the new cipher key.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A wireless network, comprising:

a radio network controller; and

a terminal,

wherein said radio network controller is operable to transmit a first message to said terminal, the first message being indicative of an initiation of a cipher key change, and

wherein said terminal is operable to transmit a second message to said radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the first message by said terminal, the second message being coded with a new cipher key as an acknowledgement of the cipher key change by said terminal.

32. The wireless network of claim 31, wherein the first message includes the new cipher key.

33. The wireless network of claim 31, wherein said radio network controller is operable to transmit a third message to said terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by said radio network controller, the third message being indicative of a deciphering by said radio network controller of the second message with the new cipher key.

34. The wireless network of claim 33, wherein the third message is coded with the new cipher key as an indication that said radio network controller deciphered the second message with the new cipher key.

35. The wireless network of claim 31, wherein said radio network controller includes means for verifying a use of the new cipher key by said terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by said radio network controller.

36. The wireless network of claim 31, wherein said radio network controller and said terminal include means for synchronizing a conversion from an old cipher key to the new cipher key.

37. The wireless network of claim 31, wherein said radio network controller is operable to transmit a third message to said terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by said radio network controller, the third message being indicative of a failure by said radio network controller to decipher the second message with the new cipher key.

38. The wireless network of claim 37, wherein the third message is coded with an old cipher key as an indication that said radio network controller failed to decipher the second message with the new cipher key.

39. A radio network controller, comprising:

means for transmitting a first message to a terminal, the first message being indicative of an initiation of a cipher key change; and

means for receiving a second message from the terminal subsequent to a reception of the first message by the terminal, the second message being coded with a new cipher key as an acknowledgement of the cipher key change by the terminal.

40. The radio network controller of claim 39, wherein the first message includes the new cipher key.

41. The radio network controller of claim 39, wherein said radio network controller further includes means for transmitting a third message to the terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by said radio network controller, the third message being indicative of a deciphering by said radio network controller of the second message with the new cipher key.

42. The radio network controller of claim 41, wherein the third message is coded with the new cipher key as an indication that said radio network controller deciphered the second message with the new cipher key.

43. The radio network controller of claim 39, wherein said radio network controller further includes means for verifying a use of the new cipher key by said terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by said radio network controller.

44. The radio network controller of claim 39, wherein said radio network controller includes means for synchronizing a conversion from an old cipher key to the new cipher key.

45. The radio network controller of claim 39, wherein said radio network controller further includes means for transmitting a third message to the terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by said radio network controller, the third message being indicative of a failure by said radio network controller to decipher the second message with the new cipher key.

46. The radio controller network of claim 45, wherein the third message is coded with an old cipher key as an indication that said radio network controller failed to decipher the second message with the new cipher key.

47. A terminal, comprising:

means for receiving a first message from a radio network controller, the first message being indicative of an initiation of a cipher key change; and

means for transmitting a second message to the radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the first message by the terminal, the second message being coded with a new cipher key as an acknowledgement of the cipher key change by the terminal.

48. The terminal of claim 47, wherein said terminal further includes means for receiving a third message from the radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the second message by the radio network controller, the third message being indicative of a deciphering by the radio network controller of the second message with the new cipher key.

49. The terminal of claim 47, wherein said terminal includes means for synchronizing a conversion from an old cipher key to the new cipher key.

50. The terminal of claim 47, wherein said terminal further includes means for receiving a third message from the radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the second message by the radio network controller, the third message being indicative of a failure by the radio network controller to decipher the second message with the new cipher key.

51. A method of operating a wireless network including a radio network controller and a terminal, the method comprising:

the radio network controller transmitting a first message to the terminal, the first message being indicative of an initiation of a cipher key change involving an old cipher key and a new cipher key; and

the terminal transmitting a second message to the radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the first message by the terminal from the radio network controller, the second message being coded with one of the old cipher key or the new cipher key as an acknowledgement of the cipher key change by the terminal.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

the radio network controller transmitting a third message to the terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by the radio network controller from the terminal, the third message being coded with one of the old cipher key or the new cipher key as an indication of one of a successful termination or an unsuccessful termination of the cipher key change.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

the radio network controller and the terminal validating the new cipher key.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

the radio network controller and the terminal synchronizing a conversion of the old cipher key to the new cipher key.

55. A radio network controller, comprising:

means for transmitting a first message to a terminal, the first message being indicative of an initiation of a cipher key change involving an old cipher key and a new cipher key; and

means for receiving a second message from the terminal subsequent to a reception of the first message by the terminal from the radio network controller, the second message being coded with one of the old cipher key or the new cipher key as an acknowledgement of the cipher key change by the terminal.

56. The radio network controller of claim 55, further comprising:

means for transmitting a third message to the terminal subsequent to a reception of the second message by the radio network controller from the terminal, the third message being coded with one of the old cipher key or the new cipher key as an indication of one of a successful termination or an unsuccessful termination of the cipher key change.

57. The radio network controller of claim 55, further comprising:

means for validating the new cipher key.

58. The radio network controller of claim 55, further comprising:

means for synchronizing a conversion of the old cipher key to the new cipher key.

59. A terminal, comprising:

means for receiving a first message from a radio network controller, the first message being indicative of an initiation of a cipher key change involving an old cipher key and a new cipher key; and

means for transmitting a second message to the radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the first message by the terminal from the radio network controller, the second message being coded with one of the old cipher key or the new cipher key as an acknowledgement of the cipher key change by the terminal.

60. The terminal of claim 59, further comprising:

means for receiving a third message from the radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the second message by the radio network controller from the terminal, the third message being coded with one of the old cipher key or the new cipher key as an indication of one of a successful termination or an unsuccessful termination of the cipher key change.

61. The terminal of claim 59, further comprising:

means for validating the new cipher key.

62. The terminal of claim 59, further comprising:

means for synchronizing a conversion of the old cipher key to the new cipher key.