Method and apparatus for providing authentication security in a wireless communication system
First Claim
1. In mobile communication system, a method for authenticating the identity of a mobile station, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a sequence of dialed digits entered by a mobile station user which identify a target communication unit;
generating a first number derived from said sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits;
generating an authentication message in accordance with said first number; and
transmitting said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message from said mobile station to a remote base station.
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Abstract
An apparatus for providing authentication of a mobile station in a wireless communication system. The present invention takes the number dialed by the mobile station user and computes the 24 bit number (AUTH-- DATA) for authentication in accordance with a hashing function that has the following characteristics. The hashing function takes as its input at least the entire dialed digit string contained in the request for service and the number of digits. In a preferred embodiment, the ordering of the digits affects the result, as well as, the values of the digits. The preferred embodiment of the hashing function also accepts some or all of the mobile station identifier data. The function provides as output a number of suitable size for input to a second calculation of an authentication signature, such as the 24 bits required for AUTH-- DATA. The output number is created in such a way that there is a minimum likelihood that other sets of dialed digits may create the same result.
27 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In mobile communication system, a method for authenticating the identity of a mobile station, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a sequence of dialed digits entered by a mobile station user which identify a target communication unit; generating a first number derived from said sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits; generating an authentication message in accordance with said first number; and transmitting said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message from said mobile station to a remote base station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In mobile station, a method for authenticating the identity of said mobile station, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a sequence of dialed digits entered by a mobile station user which identify a target communication unit; generating a first number derived from said sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits; generating an authentication message in accordance with said first number; and transmitting said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message from said mobile station to a remote base station. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. In base station, a method for authenticating the identity of a mobile station, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at said base station a sequence of dialed digits and an authentication message transmitted by said mobile station; generating a local version of said first number derived from said received sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said received sequence of dialed digits; generating a locally generated authentication message in accordance with said locally generated first number; and comparing said locally generated authentication message with said received authentication message. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A mobile station comprising:
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means for receiving a sequence of dialed digits entered by a mobile station user which identify a target communication unit; means for generating a first number derived from said sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits; means for generating an authentication message in accordance with said first number; and means for transmitting said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message from said mobile station to a remote base station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A base station comprising:
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means for receiving at said base station a sequence of dialed digits and an authentication message transmitted by said mobile station; means for generating a local version of said first number derived from said received sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said received sequence of dialed digits; means for generating a locally generated authentication message in accordance with said locally generated first number; and means for comparing said locally generated authentication message with said received authentication message. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification