Key Distribution Method

• US 20070280482A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yan, Jun, Wu, Dongjun
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/278
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/76 Proxy, i.e. using intermediary entity to perform cryptographic operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/205 involving negotiation or determination of the one or more network security mechanisms to be used, e.g. by negotiation between the client and the server or between peers or by selection according to the capabilities of the entities involved negotiation of communication capabilities H04L69/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

A key distribution method for the next generation network (NGN), includes steps of: (a) a terminal sending a registration request message to a soft switch; (b) the soft switch sending an authentication request message to an authentication center; (c) the authentication center authenticating the terminal, then the soft switch distributing the session key to the terminal after the registration authentication being passed. The invention implements the key distribution during the registration authentication, thus the traffic is smaller, and it could be associated with the specialties of the NGN, and improve the efficiency of solving the security problem, the registration authentication of the terminal and the distribution of the key are more suitable specifically for the NGN.

Claims

1. A key distribution method applied in the Next Generation Network comprising a terminal, a soft switch and an authentication center, comprising:

the terminal sending a registration request message to the soft switch for a registration;

the soft switch sending the authentication request message to the authentication center for the authentication for the terminal; and

the authentication center authenticating the terminal, generating a session key for the terminal and the soft switch, and upon a successful registration authentication, sending the session key to the soft switch so as to be distributed to the terminal.

2. The key distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the step of the authentication center authenticating the terminal comprises:

the authentication center generating a first verification word for the terminal according to a key Kc shared with the terminal, encrypting the session key with the shared key Kc, and returning the encrypted session key and the first verification word to the soft switch;

the soft switch returning a registration failure response message to the terminal to notify the terminal of a registration failure;

the terminal generating a second verification word according to the key Kc shared with the authentication center, and sending a registration message containing the second verification word to the soft switch for a registration again; and

the soft switch authenticating the terminal according to the first verification word and the second verification word.

3. The key distribution method according to claim 2, wherein the step of the soft switch distributing the session key to the terminal comprises:

the soft switch returning to the terminal a registration success response message containing the session key encrypted with the shared key Kc, and sending a terminal authentication success message to the authentication center; and

the terminal decrypting the session key encrypted by the authentication center according to the shared key Kc.

4. The key distribution method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

the terminal sending to the soft switch a list of security mechanisms supported by the terminal and priority information of each security mechanism;

the soft switch choosing an appropriate security mechanism for communication according to the list of security mechanisms and the priority information of each security mechanism of the terminal.

5. The key distribution method according to claim 1,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message is a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MOCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol;

or

wherein the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

6. The key distribution method according to claim 2,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message is a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message is a gatekeeper request message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

7. The key distribution method according to claim 3,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message is a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message is a gatekeeper request message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

8. The key distribution method according to claim 4,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message is a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message is a gatekeeper request message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

9. A key distribution method applied in the Next Generation Network comprising a terminal, a signaling proxy, a soft switch and an authentication center, comprising:

the terminal sending a registration request message through the signaling proxy to the soft switch for a registration;

the soft switch sending the authentication request message to the authentication center for the authentication for the terminal; and

the authentication center authenticating the terminal, generating a session key for the terminal and the signaling proxy, and upon a successful registration authentication, sending the session key to the soft switch so as to be distributed through the signaling proxy to the terminal.

10. The key distribution method according to claim 9, wherein the step of the authentication center authenticating the terminal comprises:

the authentication center generating a first verification word for the terminal according to a key Kc shared with the terminal and a key Ksp shared with the signaling proxy, encrypting the session key respectively with the shared key Kc and the shared key Ksp, and returning the encrypted session key and the first verification word to the soft switch;

the soft switch returning a registration failure response message through the signaling proxy to the terminal to notify the terminal of a registration failure;

the terminal generating a second verification word according to the key Kc shared with the authentication center, and sending a registration message containing the second verification word to the signaling proxy to be forwarded to the soft switch for a registration again; and

the soft switch authenticating the terminal according to the first verification word and the second verification word.

11. The key distribution method according to claim 10, wherein the step of the soft switch distributing the session key to the terminal comprises:

the soft switch forwarding to the signaling proxy a terminal registration success response message containing the session key encrypted by the authentication center respectively with the shared keys Kc and Ksp, and the signaling proxy decrypting with the shared key Ksp the session key encrypted by the authentication center with the shared key Ksp, calculating a message verification word for the registration success response message with the decrypted session key, and forwarding to the terminal the registration success response message containing the message verification word and the session key encrypted with the shared key Kc; and

C6) the terminal decrypting the session key encrypted by the authentication center according to the shared key Kc, and authenticating with the decrypted session key the message authentication word of the message returned from the signaling proxy so as to authenticate an identity of the signaling proxy, an integrity of the message and whether security mechanism parameters of the terminal returned from the signaling proxy are correct.

12. The key distribution method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprise:

the terminal sending to the signaling proxy a list of security mechanisms supported by the terminal and priority information of each security mechanism, and the signaling proxy choosing an appropriate security mechanism for communication according to the security mechanisms supported by the terminal and the priority information of each security mechanism.

13. The key distribution method according to claim 9,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 a protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message is a gatekeeper request message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

14. The key distribution method according to claim 10,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message is a gatekeeper request message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

15. The key distribution method according to claim 11,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message is a gatekeeper request message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is gatekeeper rejection message in H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

16. The key distribution method according to claim 12,

wherein the registration request message and the registration message are SIP protocol registration messages, the registration failure response message is a SIP protocol response message, and the registration success response message is a SIP protocol registration request success message;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system restart message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are a notification request message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the MGCP protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message comprises a system service status change message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, the registration failure response message and the registration success response message are an attribute modification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol, and the registration message comprises a notification message and a corresponding response message in the H.248 protocol;

or

wherein the registration request message is a gatekeeper request message in the H.323 protocol, the registration failure response message is a gatekeeper rejection message in the H.323 protocol, the registration message is a registration request message in the H.323 protocol, and the registration success response message is a registration success message in the H.323 protocol.

17. A key distribution system applied in the Next Generation Network comprising:

a terminal adapted to send a registration request message for a registration;

a soft switch adapted to receive and forward the authentication request message sent from the terminal for the authentication for the terminal; and

an authentication center adapted to receive the authentication request message forwarded from the soft switch, to authenticate the terminal, to generate a session key for the terminal and the soft switch, and to send, upon a successful registration authentication, the session key to the soft switch so as to be distributed to the terminal.

18. A key distribution system applied in the Next Generation Network comprising:

a terminal adapted to send a registration request message for a registration;

a signaling proxy adapted to enable the terminal to send the registration request message therethough;

a soft switch adapted to receive and forward the authentication request message sent from the terminal through the signaling proxy for the authentication for the terminal; and

an authentication center adapted to receive the authentication request message forwarded from the soft switch, to authenticate the terminal, to generate a session key for the terminal and the signaling proxy, and to send, upon a successful registration authentication, the session key to the soft switch so as to be distributed through the signaling proxy to the terminal.