Communications Method

• US 20140245003A1
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited
• Original Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited
• Inventors: Barker, Nick
• Granted Patent: US 9,578,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

The present application relates to a method of providing connectivity to a vehicle. The method comprises, at a first device aboard the vehicle, establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, the at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device remote from the first device, transmitting via the at least one first connection an allocation request to the second device, receiving via the at least one first connection an allocation response from the second device, the allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from the first device, and establishing a second connection with a network and authenticating the first device on the network using the first authentication device.

Claims

1. A method of providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising at a first device aboard the vehicle:

establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device remote from said first device;

transmitting via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

receiving via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device; and

establishing a second connection with a network and authenticating said first device on the network using said first authentication device, authenticating said first device on the network comprising transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second connection with a network and authenticating said first device on the network comprises:

transmitting a connection request to a fourth device on said second network;

receiving in response to said connection request a first authentication token;

transmitting said first authentication token to said first authentication device;

receiving a second authentication token from said first authentication device; and

transmitting said second authentication token to said fourth device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of networks;

wherein said allocation request comprises an indication of said selected one of said plurality of networks; and

said first authentication device is associated with said selected one of said plurality of networks.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said selection of one of said plurality of second networks is based upon respective signal strengths of said plurality of networks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second token comprises a result of signing said first token with a key maintained by the first authentication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first authentication device is a subscriber identity module (SIM).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said network is a GSM network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first connection is established using a second authentication device co-located with said first device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein establishing said first connection comprises selecting said second authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices co-located with said first device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a geographical location;

wherein said allocation request comprises an indication of said determined geographical location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first authentication device is associated with said geographical location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocation response indicates a third authentication device of said plurality of authentication devices remote to said first device;

and

wherein the method further comprises establishing a third connection with a third network and authenticating said first device on said third network using said third authentication device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second connection comprises switching between a first state in which a first modem of said first device uses an authentication device co-located with the first device to a second state in which said first modem uses said first authentication device.

14. The method of claim 13 as dependent upon claim 12, wherein in said second state a second modem of said first device uses a second authentication device co-located with the first device;

and

wherein establishing a third connection comprises switching to a third state in which said second modem uses said third authentication device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocation response comprises a lease time and the method further comprises:

transmitting a renewal request to said second device before the expiry of said lease time.

16. A method of providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising:

at a second device remote from the vehicle;

receiving via a first connection with a first device aboard said vehicle, an allocation request;

selecting a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device;

transmitting an allocation response to said first device, the allocation response indicating said first authentication device; and

authenticating said first device on the network by transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said allocation request comprises at least one criterion;

and

said first authentication device is selected based upon said at least one criterion.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one criterion comprises at least one of a network operator and a geographical location.

19. An apparatus for providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising a first device aboard the vehicle, the first device comprising:

means for establishing at least one first connection with at least one network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device remote from said first device;

means for transmitting via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

means for receiving via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device; and

means for establishing a second connection with a second network and authenticating said first device on the second network using said first authentication device by transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection.

20. An apparatus for providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising a second device remote from the vehicle, the second device comprising:

means for receiving via a first connection with a first device aboard said vehicle, an allocation request;

means for selecting a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device;

means for transmitting an allocation response to said vehicle, the allocation response indicating said first authentication device; and

the first authentication device comprising means to authenticate said first device on the network by transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising computer readable instructions configured to cause a computer to carry out a method of providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising at a first device aboard the vehicle:

establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device remote from said first device;

transmitting via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

receiving via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device; and

establishing a second connection with a network and authenticating said first device on the network using said first authentication device, authenticating said first device on the network comprising transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection.

22. A computer apparatus for providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising:

a memory storing processor readable instructions; and

a processor arranged to read and execute instructions stored in said memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions arranged to control the computer to carry out a method of providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising at a first device aboard the vehicle;

establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device remote from said first device;

transmitting via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

receiving via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device; and

establishing a second connection with a network and authenticating said first device on the network using said first authentication device, authenticating said first device on the network comprising transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection.