GSM authentication in a CDMA network

• US 20070180242A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Bruce, Nagaraj, Thadi, Jain, Nikhil
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

Systems and techniques for secured communications from a subscriber station is disclosed. The subscriber station includes a processor having an authentication algorithm for a first network. The processor is configured to use a key for a second network in the authentication algorithm to establish a session with the second network.

Claims

1. A subscriber station, comprising:

a processor having an authentication algorithm for a first network, the processor further being configured to use a key for a second network in the authentication algorithm to establish a session with the second network.

2. The subscriber station of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to establish a session with the second network through a wireless connection with the first network.

3. The subscriber station of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the key from a different key provisioned in the subscriber station.

4. The subscriber station of claim 3 wherein the processor further comprises a SIM, the different key being provisioned on the SIM.

5. The subscriber station of claim 3 wherein the first network is a CDMA network and the second network is a GSM network.

6. The subscriber station of claim 5 wherein the key is a ciphering key (K_C) and the different key provisioned on the SIM is an individual subscriber authentication key (K_i), and wherein the processor is further configured to generate the ciphering key (K_C) from the individual subscriber authentication key (K_i) using a GSM algorithm.

7. The subscriber station of claim 6 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the ciphering key (K_C) from the individual subscriber authentication key (K_i) and a random number from a home location register in the GSM network.

8. The subscriber station of claim 5 wherein the algorithm is a CAVE algorithm, the key is a ciphering key (K_C), and the different key provisioned on the SIM is an individual subscriber authentication key (K_i).

9. The subscriber station of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to use the ciphering key (K_C) in place of a SSD-A in the CAVE algorithm.

10. The subscriber station of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the authentication algorithm in response to a challenge from a service provider in the first network.

11. The subscriber station of claim 10 wherein the processor is further configured to generate a response to the challenge, the response being generated by applying the key and the challenge to the algorithm.

12. The subscriber station of claim 11 wherein the first network is a CDMA network, and the algorithm is a CAVE algorithm.

13. The subscriber station of claim 12 wherein the response is generated by also applying a subscriber station identification number and a dialed number to the CAVE algorithm.

14. A subscriber station, comprising:

a processor having an authentication algorithm configured to receive a first key for a first network, and a SIM configured to generate a second key for a second network, the processor further being configured to use the second key in place of the first key in the authentication algorithm to establish a session with the second network.

15. The subscriber station of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to establish a session with the second network through a wireless connection with the first network.

16. The subscriber station of claim 14 wherein the first network is a CDMA network and the second network is a GSM network.

17. The subscriber station of claim 16 wherein the algorithm is a CAVE algorithm, the first key is key is a shared secret key (SSD-A), and the second key is a ciphering key (K_C).

18. The subscriber station of claim 17 wherein the SIM is configured to generate the ciphering key (K_C) from an individual subscriber authentication key (K_i) provisioned in the SIM.

19. The subscriber station of claim 18 wherein the SIM is configured to generate the ciphering key (K_C) from the individual subscriber authentication key (K_i) using a GSM algorithm.

20. The subscriber station of claim 19 wherein the SIM is further configured to generate the ciphering key (K_C) from the individual subscriber authentication key (K_i) and a random number from a home location register in the GSM network.

21. The subscriber station of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the authentication algorithm in response to a challenge from a service provider in the first network.

22. The subscriber station of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to generate a response to the challenge, the response being generated by applying the second key and the challenge to the algorithm.

23. The subscriber station of claim 22 wherein the first network is a CDMA network, and the algorithm is a CAVE algorithm.

24. The subscriber station of claim 23 wherein the response is generated by also applying a subscriber station identification number and a dialed number to the CAVE algorithm.

25. A method of secured communications from a subscriber station having an authentication algorithm for a first network, comprising:

generating a key for a second network; and

using the key in the authentication algorithm to establish a session with the second network.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the session with the second network is established through a wireless connection with the first network.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the first network is a CDMA network, the second network is a GSM network, and the key is a ciphering key (K_C), and wherein the generation of the a ciphering key (K_C) comprises applying an individual subscriber authentication key (K_i) to a GSM algorithm.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the first network is a CDMA network, the second network is a GSM network, the key is a ciphering key (K_C), and the algorithm is a CAVE algorithm configured to receive a SSD-A, and wherein the ciphering key (K_C) is used in place of a SSD-A in the CAVE algorithm.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the key is used in the algorithm to establish a session with the second network in response to a challenge from a service provider in the first network.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

means for generating a key for a second network; and

means for using the key in the authentication algorithm to establish a session with the second network.

31. Computer readable media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of secured communications from a subscriber station having an authentication algorithm for a first network, the method comprising:

generating a key for a second network; and

using the key in the authentication algorithm to establish a session with the second network.