Subscriber validation method in cellular communication system

• US 6,606,491 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Peck, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/105,218
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/410, 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/550, 455/551, 455/552, 455/553, 380/347-255, 380/270, 380/247, 380/249, 380/250, 380/281, 380/248
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A dual-mode communication system made up of an AMPS network and a GSM network provides for communication to and from dual-mode terminals equipped with corresponding SIM cards. The mobile terminals store a terminal-based ESN, and the SIM cards store a SIM-based ESN and MIN. The dual-mode system uses the terminal-based ESN and MIN for registration in the AMPS network. For authentication purposes, however, the dual-mode system uses the SIM-based ESN for key-based authentication in the AMPS network.

Claims

1. In a dual-mode communication system having a first network and a second network serving at least one dual-mode terminal equipped with a Subscriber Information Module (SIM) card, a subscriber validation method comprising the steps of:

performing a registration process in the first network using a terminal-based Electronic Serial Number (ESN); and

performing a key-based authentication in the first network based on a SIM-based ESN.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is an analog network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second network is a digital network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first network is an AMPS network and the second network is a GSM network.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

interfacing the first network with the second network via an interworking function (IWF) having an authentication database; and

performing the key-based authentication based on SIM-based ESN information stored in the authentication database.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the step of performing the key-based authentication that includes comparing an IWF-generated authentication result with a terminal generated authentication result.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing a key-based authentication in the first network based on a SIM-based ESN comprises the steps of:

retrieving the SIM-based ESN from a memory of the SIM card;

generating a first terminal authentication result (AUTHR) based on the SIM-based ESN;

transmitting the first AUTHR to the first network;

generating a second AUTHR at the first network based on a SIM-based ESN stored in an authentication database of an interworking function (IWF); and

matching the first AUTHR and second AUTHR.

8. In an analog communication system having at least one mobile terminal equipped with a Subscriber Information Module (SIM) card, a validation method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a Mobile Identification Number (MIN);

transmitting from the mobile terminal a first Electronic Serial Number (ESN); and

transmitting an authentication result, wherein said authentication result is derived based on a second ESN.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first ESN is stored in the mobile terminal and the second ESN and MIN are stored on the SIM card.

10. A dual-mode communication system, comprising:

a first network;

a second network;

at least one dual-mode terminal, including a Subscriber Information Module (SIM) card, a transmitter for transmitting a terminal-based Electronic Serial Number (ESN) for registration in the first network using; and

transmitting a SIM-based ESN for performing a key-based authentication in the first network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first network is an analog network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second network is a digital network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first network is an AMPS network and the second network is a GSM network.

14. The system of claim 10 further including an IWF block that interfaces the first network with the second network, the IWF block having an authentication database used for the key-based authentication.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the IWF block performs the key-based authentication by comparing an IWF-generated authentication result with a terminal generated authentication result.