Scheme for MAC address privacy in infrastructure-based multi-hop wireless networks

• US 20060120317A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ruckus IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zheng, Heyun
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols

Abstract

A system and method for enhancing media access control (MAC) address privacy in a multi-hop wireless network, comprising providing at least one node which generates a temporary MAC address for itself for use in the network by at least one other node, and which ensures that the temporary MAC address is unique among other nodes in the network prior to using the temporary MAC address.

Claims

1. A system for enhancing media access control (MAC) address privacy in a multi-hop wireless network, comprising at least one node which generates a temporary MAC address for itself for use in the network by at least one other node, and which ensures that the temporary MAC address is unique among other nodes in the network prior to using the temporary MAC address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-hop wireless network is a multi-hop ad-hoc wireless network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one node generates a temporary MAC address by combining a fixed MAC address with a random number in a hash function.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one node generates a temporary MAC address when the at least one node is powered on.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one node generates a temporary MAC address after a fixed time frame.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one node ensures that the temporary MAC address is unique in the network by initiating a duplicate address check within the network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one node performs a duplicate address check by examining the “

hello”

messages of neighboring nodes.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one node performs a duplicate address check by instructing a neighboring node that is associated with a first intelligent access point (IAP) to search on behalf of the at least one node for duplicate MAC addresses in the network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the neighboring node sends a duplicate MAC address detection (DMAD) packet to the first IAP.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first IAD searches for duplicates of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node in a table of associated mobile devices which is maintained at the first IAP.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first IAP also searches for duplicates of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node in a list of DMAD packets previously sent to the first IAP, which is maintained at the first IAP.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein if the first IAP finds a duplicate of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node, then the first IAP informs the neighboring node, and the neighboring node informs the at least one node, that the temporary MAC address is already in use.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein if the first IAP finds no duplicate of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node, then the first IAP forwards the DMAD packet to other IAP devices over the wired network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the other IAP devices search for duplicates of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node in tables of associated mobile node, which are maintained at the other IAP devices.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein if the other IAP devices find a duplicate of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node, then the other IAP devices inform the first IAP that the temporary MAC address is already in use.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first IAP informs the neighboring node, and the neighboring node informs the at least one node, that the temporary MAC address is already in use.

17. A method for enhancing media access control (MAC) address privacy in a multi-hop wireless network comprising:

controlling a node to generate a temporary MAC address for itself for use in the network by at least one other node; and

controlling the at least one node to ensure that the temporary MAC address is unique among nodes in the network prior to using the temporary MAC address.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the multi-hop wireless network is a multi-hop ad-hoc wireless network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one node is controlled to generate a temporary MAC address by combining a fixed MAC address with a random number in a hash function.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one node is controlled to generate a temporary MAC address when the at least one node is powered on.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one node is controlled to generate a temporary MAC address after a fixed time frame.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one node is controlled to ensure that the temporary MAC address is unique in the network by initiating a duplicate address check within the network.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one node is controlled to perform a duplicate address check by examining the “

hello”

messages of neighboring nodes.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one node is controlled to perform a duplicate address check by instructing a neighboring node that is associated with a first intelligent access point (IAP) to search on behalf of the at least one node for duplicate MAC addresses in the network.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising instructing the neighboring node to send a duplicate MAC address detection (DMAD) packet to the first IAP.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising instructing the first IAD to search for duplicates of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node in a table of associated mobile devices which is maintained at the first IAP.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising instructing the first IAP to also search for duplicates of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node in a list of DMAD packets previously sent to the first IAP, which is maintained at the first IAP.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising instructing the first IAP to inform the neighboring node, and the neighboring node is instructed to inform the at least one node that the temporary MAC address is already in use, if the first IAP finds a duplicate of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising instructing the first IAP to forward the DMAD packet to other IP devices over the wired network, if the first IAP finds no duplicate of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising instructing the other IAP devices to search for duplicates of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node in tables of associated mobile node, which are maintained at the other IAP devices.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising instructing the other IAP devices to inform the first IAP that the temporary MAC address is already in use, if the other IAP devices find a duplicate of the temporary MAC address generated by the at least one node.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising instructing the first IAP to inform the neighboring node, and the neighboring node is instructed to inform the at least one node, that the temporary MAC address is already in use.

33. A node that provides enhanced media access control (MAC) address privacy in a multi-hop wireless network, wherein the node generates a temporary MAC address for use in the network, and ensures that the temporary MAC address is unique among nodes in the network prior to using the temporary MAC address.

34. The node of claim 33, wherein the multi-hop wireless network in which the node is used is a multi-hop ad-hoc wireless network.

35. The node of claim 33, wherein the node generates a temporary MAC address by combining a fixed MAC address with a random number in a hash function.

36. The node of claim 33, wherein the node generates a temporary MAC address when the at least one node is powered on.

37. The node of claim 33, wherein the node generates a temporary MAC address after a fixed time frame.

38. The node of claim 33, wherein the node ensures that the temporary MAC address is unique in the network by initiating a duplicate address check within the network.

39. The node of claim 38, wherein the node performs a duplicate address check by examining the “

hello”

messages of neighboring nodes.

40. The node of claim 38, wherein the node performs a duplicate address check by instructing a neighboring node that is associated with a first intelligent access point (IAP) to search on behalf of the node for duplicate MAC addresses in the network.