Methods,systems, and computer program products for determining a trust indication associated with access to a communication network

• US 20060230278A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US11/093,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1433 Vulnerability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining a trust indication associated with an access network providing access to a communication network are disclosed. A trust-related characteristic of an access network providing access to a target communication network is determined. A trust indication for the access network is determined based on the determined trust-related characteristic. The determined trust indication is associated with the access network and is made available to clients detecting the access network. The trust indication is originated by a trust authority that is separate from the client and from the access network.

Claims

1. A method for determining a trust indication associated with an access network providing access to a communication network, the method comprising:

at a trust authority;

(a) determining a trust-related characteristic of an access network providing access to a target communication network;

(b) determining a trust indication for the access network based on the determined trust-related characteristic;

(c) associating the determined trust indication with the access network; and

(d) making the determined trust indication available to clients detecting the access network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes determining a security protocol used for providing access to the target communication network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes determining a characteristic of a device used for providing access to the target communication network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes determining a security application used for providing access to the target communication network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes determining an encryption technique used for providing access to the target communication network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes determining an access control technique used for providing access to the target communication network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes determining an encryption/decryption key management technique associated with the access network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes determining a technique used to ensure message integrity of messages transmitted via the access network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes establishing a contractual relationship with a provider of the access network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes auditing a provider of the access network.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust-related characteristic of the access network includes monitoring problems reported by users of the access network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a trust indication includes assigning one of a plurality of trust levels to the access network based on the compiled trust-related characteristics.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the determined trust indication with the access network includes maintaining a database of access networks and corresponding trust indications.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein making the determined trust indication available to clients detecting the access network includes providing the trust indication to an access gateway associated with the access network.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein making the determined trust indication available to clients detecting the access network includes forwarding the trust indication to a client detecting the access network.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein making the determined trust indication available to clients detecting the access network includes providing a digital certificate signed by the trust authority, wherein the digital certificate includes identifying information for the access network.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein making the determined trust indication available to clients detecting the access network includes providing a link to the trust authority to a client detecting the access network, wherein the link corresponds to information identifying a trust indication associated with the access network.

18. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

at a trust authority;

(a) determining a trust-related characteristic of an access network providing access to a target communication network;

(b) determining a trust indication of the access network based on the determined trust-related characteristic;

(c) associating the determined trust indication with the access network; and

(d) making the determined trust indication available to clients detecting the access network.

19. A trust authority for determining a trust indication associated with access to a communication network, the trust authority comprising:

(a) means for determining a trust-related characteristic of an access network providing access to a target communication network;

(b) means for determining a trust indication associated with the access network based on the determined trust-related characteristic; and

(c) means for making the trust indication associated with the access network available to a client.

20. A trust authority for determining a trust indication associated with access to a communication network, the trust authority comprising:

(a) a trust manager for determining a trust-related characteristic of a an access network providing access to a target communication network and for determining a trust indication associated with the access network based on the compiled trust-related characteristics; and

(b) a client interface for making the trust indication available to a client detecting the access network.

21. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to determine a security protocol used for providing access to the target communication network.

22. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to determine a characteristic of a device used for providing access to the target communication network.

23. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to determine a security application used for providing access to the target communication network.

24. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to determine an encryption technique used for providing access to the target communication network.

25. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to determine an access control technique used for providing access to the target communication network.

26. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to determine an encryption/decryption key management technique associated with the access network.

27. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to determine a technique used to ensure message integrity of messages transmitted via the access network.

28. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the trust manager is adapted to assign one of a plurality of trust levels to the access network based on the compiled trust-related characteristics.

29. The trust authority of claim 20 comprising a database for storing access networks and corresponding trust indications.

30. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the client interface is adapted to provide the trust indication to an access gateway associated with the access network.

31. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the client interface is adapted to forward the trust indication to a client detecting the access network.

32. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the client interface is adapted to provide a digital certificate signed by the trust authority, the digital certificate including identifying information for the access network.

33. The trust authority of claim 20 wherein the client interface is adapted to provide a link to the trust authority to a client detecting the access network, the link corresponding to information identifying a trust indication associated with the access network.