Subscriber identity authentication in fixed cellular terminals

• US 5,854,976 A
• Filed: 11/13/1996
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rodrigo Sanchez, Jose Maria, Garcia Aguilera, Jose Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Application Number:
  US08/700,535
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/433, 455/461, 455/550, 455/558, 455/561, 455/554, 455/575, 379/91.01, 379/143, 379/144, 379/145, 379/155, 379/357, 380/23, 235/380
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

The fixed cellular terminals (TCF) include a subscriber identity module which, in order to permit authentication of the identity of the subscriber (U) without any intervention on his part, is fixed. It is of particular application in fixed cellular terminals (TCF) of the GSM type that form part of an access network based on the infrastructure of acellular mobile network. These subscriber identity modules incorporate the function of the subscriber identification number verification. During the installation stage each fixed cellular terminal (TCF) stores the subscriber identification number, which it later provides to the subscriber identity module making it become fully active when the number supplied coincides with that held in the subscriber identity module. In the initialization process, the fixed cellular terminal (TCF) generates a new subscriber identification number, that it stores internally in its subscriber identity module for use in subsequent reinitializations.

Claims

1. A procedure for authentication of subscriber identity for a fixed cellular terminal (TCF) so as to allow the fixed cellular terminal to be used by a subscriber, said procedure implemented by a subscriber identity module (SIM) incorporated in the fixed cellular terminal (TCF) by making use of a subscriber identification number and by use of an internal memory within the TCF, characterized in that the fixed cellular terminal (TCF) performs the following steps:

storing a first subscriber identification number in the subscriber identity module (SIM),

supplying to the subscriber identity module (SIM) a second subscriber identification number,

fully activating the subscriber identity module (SIM) so as to allow the TCF to be used by the subscriber in the event that the first and second subscriber identification numbers coincide, and

generating a new subscriber identification number and storing this new subscriber identification number in both the internal memory and in the subscriber identity module (SIM) if the first and second subscriber identification numbers coincide.

2. A procedure for authentication of subscriber identity according to claim 1, characterized in that the steps are implemented when installing the fixed cellular terminal (TCF).

3. A fixed cellular terminal (TCF) for use in access systems with mobile cellular technology for access by a set of subscribers (U) to a fixed network (RF), which comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM) that performs a subscriber identity authentication process;

the fixed cellular terminal (TCF) being characterized in that the subscriber identity module (SIM verifies a subscriber identification number enabled by the TCF during the subscriber identity authentication process, and wherein the fixed cellular terminal (TCF) further comprises a means to store the subscriber identification number, a means to supply the subscriber identification module (SIM) with the subscriber identification number and thereby activate it fully in the event that a number supplied coincides with a number stored internally in the subscriber identity module (SIM), a means to generate a new subscriber identification number, and a means to store the new subscriber identification number in both an internal memory and in the subscriber identity module (SIM).

4. A fixed cellular terminal (TCF) according to claim 3, characterized in that when it is reinitialized, it employs the new subscriber identification number in order to verify the authenticity of the identity of the subscriber (U).