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Method and apparatus for providing anonymous data transfer in a communication system

  • US 5,729,537 A
  • Filed: 06/14/1996
  • Issued: 03/17/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for providing anonymous data transfer service to at least one group of mobile stations in a mobile telecommunication system to permit anonymous transfer of data between a mobile station of the at least one group of mobile stations and a correspondent entity by way of a telecommunication network in which said anonymous transfer the telecommunication network is required to authenticate the mobile station'"'"'s membership in the group but inhibited from learning the specific personal identity of the authenticated mobile station transferring the data, said method comprising the steps of:

  • forming the at least one group of mobile stations, the at least one group defined by a group identity and an associated group subscriber authentication key in which the group identity and group authentication key are to be shared in common by every mobile station in the group;

    providing a copy of the group identity and the authentication key to each and every mobile station of the at least one group;

    initiating an attach procedure, the attach procedure including an attach request sent by a mobile station of the group to the telecommunication network, the attach request including the group identity provided to each mobile station of the at least one group during said step of providing and not including any indicia of identity from which the telecommunication network can ascertain the specific personal identity of the mobile station sending the attach request;

    allocating to the requesting mobile station a network-generated random number responsive to the attach request;

    calculating at the mobile station a mobile station-generated signed response of a value, at least in part, responsive to the common group authentication key provided to the requesting mobile station and the network generated random number;

    sending the mobile station-generated signed response to the telecommunication network;

    calculating at the telecommunication network a network-generated signed response calculated, also at least in part, responsive to the common group authentication key and the network-generated random number;

    comparing the mobile station-generated signed response with the network-generated signed response;

    allocating to the mobile station,in response to said compared signed responses being identical, an individual temporary mobile station identifier from which the telecommunication network cannot ascertain the specific personal identity of the mobile station;

    transferring the data between the mobile station through the network and the correspondent entity; and

    performing location management procedures.

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