Method mobile station and radiocommunication system for controlling safety related functions in communication handling

• US 6,804,506 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bolz, Gert, Freitag, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/646,675
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/410, 455/414.1, 455/516, 455/517, 379/142.05, 379/189, 380/257, 380/270-273, 380/275
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/205 involving negotiation or determination of the one or more network security mechanisms to be used, e.g. by negotiation between the client and the server or between peers or by selection according to the capabilities of the entities involved negotiation of communication capabilities H04L69/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

Method, mobile station and radio communications system for controlling security-related functions for call handling.

Based on the known method and radio communications system for controlling the security-related functions for call handling with subscriber authentication and secrecy of the information, a ciphering request having an identifier (cimode) is received and evaluated by the mobile station (MS) in order to determine whether the communications network wishes to have connections on the air interface (AIF) with ciphered information or with unciphered information. In this case, the mobile station (MS) can be switched under subscriber control to an operating mode in which the connection (for example v1) is terminated if the received identifier (cimode) allows connections with unciphered information. If the radio subscriber does not wish unciphered connections to be intercepted, it is possible to ensure that the information is transmitted, if required, such that it is proof against interception, under subscriber control.

Claims

1. A method for controlling security-related functions for call handling in a radio communications system having an air interface for linking a mobile station to a communications network, comprising the steps of:

initiating a call set-up by said mobile station;

checking access authorization of a radio subscriber to said communications network in a subscriber authentication process carried out between said mobile station and said communication network;

sending a ciphering request for secrecy of information on said air interface of said communications network to said mobile station, said ciphering request having an identifier to determine whether said communications network accepts connections on said air interface with ciphered information or with unciphered information;

evaluating said sent ciphering request which was received by said mobile station, said mobile station being switchable under subscriber control to an operating mode in which a connection is terminated if said received ciphering request identifier allows connections with unciphered information;

sending a message to clear said connection by said mobile station via said air interface to said communications network; and

switching said mobile station under subscriber control to said operating mode utilizing input operations via a station key.

2. A method for controlling security-related functions for call handling in a radio communications system having an air interface for linking a mobile station to a communications network, comprising the steps of:

initiating a call set-up by said mobile station;

checking access authorization of a radio subscriber to said communications network in a subscriber authentication process carried out between said mobile station and said communication network;

sending a ciphering request for secrecy of information on said air interface of said communications network to said mobile station, said ciphering request having an identifier to determine whether said communications network accepts connections on said air interface with ciphered information or with unciphered information;

evaluating said sent ciphering request which was received by said mobile station, said mobile station being switchable under subscriber control to an operating mode in which a connection is terminated if said received ciphering request identifier allows connections with unciphered information;

temporarily switching off a transmitting/receiving unit that transmits and receives radio signals by said mobile station in order to terminate said connection; and

switching said mobile station under subscriber control to said operating mode utilizing input operations via a station key.

3. A radio communications system for controlling security-related functions for call handling, comprising:

an air interface for linking a mobile station to a communications network;

network devices for carrying out subscriber authentication for checking access authorization of a radio subscriber to said communications network as soon as the setting-up of a call is initiated by said mobile station;

network devices for sending a ciphering request for secrecy of information on said air interface to said mobile station, said network devices for sending a ciphering request having a control unit for insertion of an identifier into said ciphering request to determine whether said communications network accepts connections on said air interface with ciphered information or with unciphered information,

said mobile station sends a message to clear said connection via said air interface to said communications network, and

said mobile station has a control unit for evaluation of a received said identifier, said mobile station being switchable under subscriber control via input operations by a station key to an operating mode in which said mobile station control unit allows termination of a connection when said received identifier allows connections with unciphered information.

4. A mobile station for controlling security-related functions for call handling in a radio communications system, comprising:

an air interface;

a mobile station;

a communications network, said air interface linking said mobile station to said communication network, said communications network comprising;

network devices for carrying out subscriber authentication for checking access authorization of a radio subscriber to said communications network as soon as a setting-up of a call is initiated by said mobile station, and

network devices for sending a ciphering request for secrecy of information on the air interface to the mobile station;

said mobile station further comprising

a control unit for evaluation of an identifier which is sent from said communications network and indicates whether said communications network accepts connections on said air interface with ciphered information or with unciphered information, said mobile station being switchable switched under subscriber control to an operating mode in which said control unit allows termination of a connection when a received said identifier allows connections with unciphered information; and

a separate station key, whose operation allows said mobile station to be switched to said operating mode, under subscriber control, wherein

said control unit in said mobile station produces a message to clear said connection, and sends this message via said air interface to said communications network.

5. The mobile station as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said control unit in said mobile station produces a message to clear said connection, and sends this message via said air interface to said communications network.