SECURITY FOR NETWORK LOAD BROADCASTS OVER CELLULAR NETWORKS

• US 20140161256A1
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bari, Farooq, Cui, Zhi
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/24 Key scheduling, i.e. generating round keys or sub-keys for block encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0863 involving passwords or one-time passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for using one-time keys in a packet data network H04L63/067
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for obtaining cellular network load information in a secure manner are disclosed. For example, the method receives the cellular network load information, where the cellular network load information is encrypted. The method then decrypts the cellular network load information using a decryption key and performs a task responsive to the network load information that is decrypted.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining cellular network load information, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, the cellular network load information, wherein the cellular network load information is encrypted;

decrypting, by the processor, the cellular network load information using a decryption key; and

performing, by the processor, a task responsive to the network load information that is decrypted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the decryption key was received from a policy server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular network load information is received from the cellular network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the decryption key is specific to a category of subscribers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the decryption key is specific to a category of device types.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the decryption key is time dependent.

7. The method of claim 1, where the task is performed based on a policy of the cellular network.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the policy, wherein the policy is received prior to the receiving the cellular network load information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the policy is received from a policy server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the task comprises:

switching an endpoint device from a usage of the cellular network to a non-cellular network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the task comprises:

switching an endpoint device from a usage of a non-cellular network to the cellular network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a processor of an endpoint device.

13. A tangible computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for obtaining cellular network load information, the operations comprising:

receiving the cellular network load information, wherein the cellular network load information is encrypted;

decrypting the cellular network load information using a decryption key; and

performing a task responsive to the network load information that is decrypted.

14. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the decryption key was received from a policy server.

15. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the cellular network load information is received from the cellular network.

16. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a policy of the cellular network, wherein the policy is received prior to the receiving the cellular network load information, wherein the task is performed based on the policy.

17. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the policy is received from a policy server.

18. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the task comprises:

switching an endpoint device from a usage of the cellular network to a non-cellular network.

19. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the task comprises:

switching an endpoint device from a usage of a non-cellular network to the cellular network.

20. An apparatus for obtaining cellular network load information, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving the cellular network load information, wherein the cellular network load information is encrypted;

decrypting the cellular network load information using a decryption key; and

performing a task responsive to the network load information that is decrypted.