Dynamic wireless internet address assignment scheme with authorization

• US 6,801,941 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stiller, Thomas Michael, Newman, Nisha Pauline, Stephens, William Edward, Waldman, Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/633,669
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225-227, 709/245, 713/150, 713/155, 713/200
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A method of assigning a unique IP address to a user of a mobile communication device in an OBS network allows for the dynamic assignment of IP addresses to users entering the OBS network. The OBS network includes a plurality of interconnected OBSs where each of the OBSs includes a user database including an OBS identifier, user identifier, assigned IP address, MAC hardware address, and beam identifier for each user in the network. The OBS network also includes a master ticketing authority that maintains a database of unique IP address that may be assigned to users entering the network, a gateway, a master routing database, and at least one mobile communication device in contact with an OBS. Users in the network are also authenticated through the transmittal of encrypted random numbers between a user authentication site and a mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A method of assigning an IP address to a user of a wireless mobile communication device in an OBS network, comprising the steps of:

contacting an On-Board Switch (OBS) within said OBS network using said mobile communication device;

transmitting a user identifier, and a MAC hardware address of said wireless mobile communication device to said OBS;

requesting an IP address from said OBS;

requesting an IP address from a ticketing authority with said OBS;

assigning a unique IP address to said user;

transmitting said assigned IP address to said OBS;

transmitting said assigned IP address from said OBS to said wireless mobile communication device; and

storing said user identifier, said MAC hardware address, a beam identifier for said user, and said assigned IP address for said user as user data in a user database maintained by said OBS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps:

updating user data stored in the user database maintained by said OBS;

updating user data stored in user databases maintained by other OBSs in said OBS network, said user data stored in said user databases maintained by said other OBSs including an OBS identifier and user identifier for each user in said OBS network, an OBS identifier of an individual user identifying an OBS servicing said individual user; and

updating a master routing database in communication with a gateway of said OBS network, said master routing database including an OBS identifier, a user identifier, and an assigned, IP address for each user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of contacting a user within said OBS network from outside of said OBS network, said user having an assigned IP address, said step of contacting comprising the steps of:

contacting said gateway of said OBS network using said assigned IP address of said user to be contacted;

transmitting a data packet to said gateway;

retrieving an OBS identifier for said user having said assigned IP address from said master routing database;

forwarding said data packet to an OBS identified by said OBS identifier;

retrieving a beam identifier and MAC hardware address of said user having said assigned IP address from a user database of said identified OBS; and

transmitting said data packet to a wireless mobile communication device having said MAC hardware address in a beam identified by said beam identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of obtaining said assigned IP address from a domain name system.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of contacting a first user within said OBS network by a second user within said OBS network, said step of contacting comprising the steps of:

contacting an OBS servicing said second user;

transmitting a data packet to said OBS servicing said second user;

retrieving an CBS identifier for said first user from a user database of said OBS servicing said second user;

forwarding said data packet to an OBS identified by said OBS identifier if said first user is not served by said OBS servicing said second user;

retrieving a beam identifier and MAC hardware address for said first user to from a user database of said OBS identified by said OBS identifier; and

transmitting said data packet to a wireless mobile communication device having said MAC hardware address and located within a beam identified by said beam identifier.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of updating a user database of an OBS servicing a user in said OBS network to include a new beam identifier when said user and wireless mobile communication device move from a first beam in a footprint of said OBS to a second beam in said footprint of said OBS.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring an OBS signaling channel with said wireless mobile communication device;

contacting an OBS with a signal strength stronger than an OBS servicing said wireless mobile communication device;

transmitting a user identifier, MAC hardware address, and IP address to said OBS with said stronger signaling strength;

contacting said servicing OBS with said OBS with said stronger signaling strength;

requesting that servicing responsibilities for a user identified by said user identifier be transferred to said OBS with said stronger signaling strength;

approving said request with said servicing OBS;

updating user data stored in a user database of said OBS having said stronger signaling strength, said user data including said user identifier, said IP address, said MAC hardware address, and a beam identifier for said user;

updating user data stored in user databases maintained by each other OBS in said OBS network to include a new OBS identifier for said user, and

updating said master routing table to include said new OBS identifier for said user.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein each OBS user database includes a MAC hardware address, an assigned IP address, an OBS identifier, a user identifier, and a beam identifier for each user in said OBS network, the step of updating user data stored in user databases maintained by other OBSs in said OBS network further includes the step of updating each user database with said MAC hardware address, said beam identifier, and said IP address for said user.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a selected group of users to be contacted by a second user, said selected group identified by user data or combination of user data;

contacting an OBS servicing said second user;

transmitting a data packet to said OBS servicing said second user;

forwarding said data packet to all OBSs servicing said selected group; and

transmitting said data packet to a wireless mobile communication devices within said selected group.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said selected group is organized by geographic region, user identifier, functionality, rank, status, or combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said IP address is a class B IP address.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said master ticketing authority is located outside of said OBS network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of authenticating said user, the step of authenticating comprising the steps of:

contacting an OBS user authenticating site with said wireless mobile communication device;

inputting a password into said wireless mobile communication device;

deriving an encryption key from said password;

transmitting a first random number encrypted with said encryption key to said authentication site from said wireless mobile communication device;

transmitting a second random number from said authentication site to said wireless mobile communication device after receiving said first random number;

transmitting said first and second random numbers encrypted with said encryption key to said authentication site from said wireless mobile communication device;

receiving said encrypted first and second random numbers from said wireless mobile communication device;

decrypting said received encrypted first and second random numbers with a user authentication decryption key stored at said authentication site; and

authenticating said user if said decrypted first and second random numbers match said first and second random numbers.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of encrypting authentication information with said encryption key, transmitting said encrypted authentication data to said user authentication site, decrypting said encrypted authentication data with said user authenticating decryption key, and verifying said authentication data against stored user authentication data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said OBS network includes at least two user authentication sites.

16. An On-Board Switch (OBS) network, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected OBSs, each of said OBSs including a user database storing user data, wherein said user data includes, a user identifier for each user in said network, an IP address for each user serviced by said OBS, a MAC hardware address for a wireless mobile communication device used by each user serviced by said OBS, and a beam identifier for each user serviced by said OBS;

a master ticketing authority in communication with said OBSs, said master ticketing authority maintaining a database of unique assigned and unassigned IP addresses;

a gateway providing access to said OBS network from outside of said OBS network; and

a master routing database in communication with said gateway, wherein said master routing database includes a user identifier, an OBS identifier, and an IP address for each user in said OBS network.

17. The OBS network of claim 16, wherein each user database further comprises functionality, rank, or status data, or combination thereof, for each user in said OBS network.

18. The OBS network of claim 16, wherein each user database includes an IP address, a MAC hardware address, a beam identifier, an OBS identifier, and a user identifier for each user in said OBS network.

19. The OBS network of claim 16, further comprising at least one wireless mobile communication device in communication with an OBS within said OBS network.

20. The OBS network of claim 16, wherein said IP addresses are class B IP addresses.

21. The OBS network of claim 16, wherein said master ticketing authority is disposed outside of footprints of said OBSs.

22. The OBS network of claim 21, wherein said master ticketing authority is a distributed ticketing authority.

23. The OBS network of claim 16, further comprising a domain name system.

24. The OBS network of claim 16, further comprising at least one user authenticating site.

25. The OBS network of claim 24, wherein said authenticating site is located on at least one OBS within said network.