Secure radio personal communications system and method

• US 6,256,514 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Haartsen, Jacobus Cornelius, Dent, Paul Wilkinson
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/156,976
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/561, 380/37, 380/23
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A secure radio personal communication system and method includes a base station which relays cellular verification signals between a wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal via the wire telephone network. Thus, cellular telephone calls which are routed to a cellular terminal via a base station, when the cellular terminal is within a local region covered by the base station, may be exchanged between the cellular network and cellular terminal over the wire telephone network. Calls from the wide area cellular network which are routed through the base station can thus employ the same security systems and methods which are employed by the wide area cellular network. Signals between the base station and the cellular terminal are preferably exchanged when the cellular terminal is parked in the base station. Verification and encryption signals may be exchanged. The same signals may be used for enhanced security when the base station is relaying wire network calls to the cellular terminal when the cellular terminal is in the local region. Alternatively, separate verification and encryption protocols may be used.

Claims

1. A telephone base station for connecting a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said telephone base station comprising:

wire telephone network connecting means, for connecting said base station to said wire telephone network; and

means for relaying cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between said wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via said wire telephone network connecting means so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of said wide area cellular network;

wherein the cellular verification signals are relayed from said wide area cellular network to the cellular terminal via said wire telephone network connecting means.

3. The telephone base station of claim 1 further comprising:

radio transceiving means, electrically connected to said relaying means, for coupling said cellular verification signals between said cellular terminal and said relaying means.

5. The telephone base station of claim 3 wherein said relaying means further relays cellular encryption signals between said wide area cellular network and said cellular terminal, via said radio transceiving means.

6. The telephone base station of claim 1 further comprising:

means for exchanging local telephone verification signals with said cellular terminal, for communications therewith when said cellular terminal is within said local region.

8. The telephone base station of claim 6 further comprising:

radio transceiving means, electrically connected to said exchanging means, for coupling said local telephone verification signals between said cellular terminal and said exchanging means.

9. The telephone base station of claim 1 further comprising means for receiving cellular encryption keys from said cellular network via said wire telephone network connecting means.

10. The telephone base station of claim 8 further comprising means for exchanging encryption signals with said cellular terminal, via said radio transceiving means.

11. The telephone base station of claim 1 wherein said relaying means further comprises means for preventing radiotelephone communication between said cellular terminal and said wide area cellular network via said wire telephone network connecting means unless the relayed cellular verification signals indicate that said radiotelephone communication is authorized.

12. The telephone base station of claim 11 wherein said preventing means comprises means for decrypting the called number.

13. The telephone base station of claim 6 wherein said exchanging means further comprises means for preventing radiotelephone communication between said cellular terminal and said wire telephone network via said wire telephone network connecting means unless the exchanged local verification signals indicate that said radiotelephone communication is authorized.

14. The telephone base station of claim 13 wherein said preventing means comprises means for decrypting the called number.

15. The telephone base station of claim 1 further comprising:

power line connecting means; and

battery charging means electrically connected to said power line connecting means, for charging a battery in a cellular terminal which is cooperatively mated thereto.

16. The telephone base station of claim 1 further comprising reactivation detecting means, for detecting reentry of said cellular terminal into said local region, said relaying means being further responsive to said reactivation detecting means.

17. The telephone base station of claim 1 further comprising telephone connecting means, for connecting said base station to a wire telephone.

2. A telephone base station for connecting a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said telephone base station comprising:

wire telephone network connecting means, for connecting said base station to said wire telephone network;

means for relaying cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between said wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via said wire telephone network connecting means so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of said wide area cellular network; and

coupling means, electrically connected to said relaying means, for cooperatively mating with a cellular terminal so that an electrical connection is provided between the cellular terminal and the base station when the cellular terminal is parked in the telephone base station, and for coupling said cellular verification signals between said cellular terminal and said relaying means through the electrical connection when the cellular terminal is parked in the telephone base station.

4. The telephone base station of claim 2 wherein said relaying means further relays cellular encryption signals between said wide area cellular network and said cellular terminal, via said wire telephone network connecting means.

7. A telephone base station for connecting a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said telephone base station comprising:

wire telephone network connecting means, for connecting said base station to said wire telephone network;

means for relaving cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between said wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via said wire telephone network connecting means so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of said wide area cellular network;

means for exchanging local telephone verification signals with said cellular terminal, for communications therewith when said cellular terminal is within said local region; and

coupling means, electrically connected to said exchanging means, for cooperatively mating with a cellular terminal so that an electrical connection is provided between the cellular terminal and the base station when the cellular terminal is parked in the telephone base station, and for coupling said local telephone verification signals for verifying the cellular terminal between said cellular terminal and said exchanging means through the electrical connection when the cellular terminal is parked in the telephone base station.

18. A security method for a telephone base station which connects a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said security method comprising the following step which is performed by the telephone base station:

relaying cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between the wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via the wire telephone network so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of the wide area cellular network wherein the cellular verification signals are relayed from the wide area cellular network to the cellular terminal via the wire telephone network.

20. The security method of claim 18 wherein said relaying step comprises the step of relaying cellular verification signals between the wide area cellular network and the cellular terminal via radio transmission, when the cellular terminal is within the local region.

22. The security method of claim 20 wherein said relaying step further comprises the step of relaying encryption signals between the wide area cellular network and the cellular terminal, via radio, when the cellular terminal is within the local region.

23. The security method of claim 18 further comprising the following step which is performed by the telephone base station step:

exchanging local telephone verification signals with the cellular terminal, for communications therewith when said cellular terminal is within said local region.

25. The security method of claim 23 wherein said exchanging step comprises the step of exchanging the local telephone verification signals between the wide area cellular network and the cellular terminal via radio transmission, when the cellular terminal is within the local region.

27. The security method of claim 25 wherein said exchanging step further comprises the step of exchanging cellular encryption signals with the cellular terminal, via radio, when the cellular terminal is within the local region.

28. The security method of claim 18 further comprising the following step which is performed by the telephone base station:

preventing radiotelephone communication between said cellular terminal and said wire telephone network via the base station, unless the relayed cellular verification signals indicate that said radiotelephone communication is authorized.

29. The security method of claim 28 wherein said preventing step comprises the step of encrypting and decrypting the called number.

30. The security method of claim 23 further comprising the following step which is performed by the telephone base station:

preventing radiotelephone communication between said cellular terminal and said wire telephone network via the base station, unless the exchanged local verification signals indicate that said radiotelephone communication is authorized.

31. The security method of claim 30 wherein said preventing step comprises the step of encrypting and decrypting the called number.

32. The security method of claim 18 wherein said relaying step is preceded by the following step which is performed by the base station:

detecting reentry of the cellular terminal into the local region.

19. A security method for a telephone base station which connects a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said security method comprising the following step which is performed by the telephone base station:

relaying cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between the wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via the wire telephone network so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of the wide area cellular network wherein said relaying step comprises the step of relaying the cellular verification signals for verifying the cellular terminal between the wide area cellular network and the cellular terminal through an electrical connection provided between the cellular terminal and the base station when the cellular terminal is parked in the base station.

21. The security method of claim 19 wherein said relaying step further comprises the step of relaying cellular encryption signals between the wide area cellular network and the cellular terminal, when the cellular terminal is parked in the base station.

24. A security method for a telephone base station which connects a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said security method comprising the following steps which are performed by the telephone base station:

relaying cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between the wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via the wire telephone network so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of the wide area cellular network; and

exchanging local telephone verification signals with the cellular terminal, for communications therewith when said cellular terminal is within said local region wherein said exchanging step comprises the step of exchanging the local telephone verification signals for verifying the cellular terminal between the wide area cellular network and the cellular terminal through an electrical connection provided between the cellular terminal and the base station when the cellular terminal is parked in the base station.

26. The security method of claim 24 wherein said exchanging step further comprises the step of exchanging cellular encryption signals with the cellular terminal, when the cellular terminal is parked in the base station.

33. A telephone base station for connecting a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said telephone base station comprising:

wire telephone network connecting means, for connecting said base station to said wire telephone network; and

means for relaying cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between said wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via said wire telephone network connecting means so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of said wide area cellular network;

wherein said cellular verification signals include a temporary key which is stored in said base station.

34. The telephone base station of claim 33 further comprising means for detecting that said cellular terminal is outside said local region, and for erasing a previously used temporary key from said base station in response thereto.

35. The telephone base station of claim 33 further comprising means for detecting that the cellular terminal is outside said local region and for rotating the use of said temporary keys in response thereto.

36. A security method for a telephone base station which connects a wire telephone network to a cellular terminal within a local region of a wide area cellular network, said security method comprising the following step which is performed by the telephone base station:

relaying cellular verification signals for verifying a cellular terminal between the wide area cellular network and a cellular terminal, via the wire telephone network so that calls routed through the base station use the verification signals of the wide area cellular network;

wherein the cellular verification signals include a temporary key which is stored in said base station.

37. The security method of claim 36 further comprising the following steps which are performed by the base station:

detecting that the cellular terminal is outside said local region; and

erasing said temporary key in response thereto.