Method and apparatus for controlling country specific frequency allocation

• US 5,940,509 A
• Filed: 11/18/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Charron, Duane G., Duke, Steven B., Jovanovich, Alan F., Warren, Bruce G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Application Number:
  US08/972,905
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 380/23, 455/410
• US Class Current: 713/191
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/226 Selection of non-jammed channel for communication spectrum sharing arrangements H04W16/14; selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

A secure communication system is provided for transmitting a country specific frequency allocation in encrypted form between a host processor and a remote device. The secure communication system comprises a host processor and a remote device capable of communicating with the host processor over a communication link. The host processor has a plurality of stored data sets and a predefined encryption algorithm. Each one of the stored data sets comprises a country specific frequency allocation. The remote device has a unique identifier code and also has the predefined encryption algorithm. Responsive to the unique identifier code, the host processor provides a selected one of the plurality of data sets in encrypted form by utilizing the predefined encryption algorithm. The unique identifier code provides an encryption key for the predefined encryption algorithm. The remote device then decrypts the encrypted data set using the predefined encryption algorithm with the identifier code as a decryption key.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting an encrypted data set to a remote user, said remote user having a unique identifier code, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving said identifier code from said remote user over an unsecure communication link;

selecting a data set appropriate for said remote user;

encrypting said data set using a predefined encryption algorithm with said identifier code as an encryption key; and

transmitting said encrypted data set to said remote user over said unsecure communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying validity of said transmitted identifier code prior to said selecting step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step further comprises selecting a data set particular to a specific country in which said remote user is intended to operate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving said identifier code further comprises receiving said identifier code in an unencrypted form.

5. A communication system, comprising:

a host processor having a predefined encryption algorithm; and

a remote user adapted to communicate with said host processor over an unsecure communication link, said remote user having a unique identifier code that is communicated to said host processor over said unsecure communication link, said host processor having means for encrypting a data set appropriate for said remote user utilizing said predefined encryption algorithm and communicating said encrypted data set to said remote user over said unsecure communication link, said unique identifier code being used by said host processor as an encryption key for said predefined encryption algorithm.

6. The communication system of claim 5, further comprising means within said remote user for decrypting said encrypted data set using said predefined encryption algorithm with said identifier code as a decryption key.

7. The communication system of claim 5, wherein said selected data set further comprises frequency parameter data.

8. The communication system of claim 5, further comprising means within said host processor for verifying validity of said identifier code.

9. A communication apparatus comprising:

a memory storing configuration parameter data, software instructions, and an encryption algorithm;

a processing unit coupled to said memory and being adapted to perform communication functions in accordance with said configuration parameter data, said processing unit being operable to execute said software instructions, including;

establishing a communication link with a host processor,

transmitting a unique identifier code over said communication link to said host processor,

receiving a data set over said communication link, said data set being encrypted by said host processor using said encryption algorithm with said identifier code as an encryption key,

decrypting said data set using said encryption algorithm with said identifier code as a decryption key, and

modifying at least one of said configuration parameter data, software instructions and encryption algorithm in accordance with said decrypted data set.

10. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein said software instruction of transmitting an identifier code further comprises transmitting said identifier code in an unencrypted form.

11. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein said memory further comprises a non-volatile memory.

12. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein said memory further comprises a flash memory.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein said configuration parameter data further comprising frequency configuration data.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein said communication link further comprises an unsecure communication link.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein said communication link further comprises a commercial telephone line.