Base transceiver station automatic encryption handling

• US 7,113,600 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rosenhed, Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lanier, Benjamin E.
• Application Number:
  US09/439,162
• Time in Patent Office: 2,510 Days
• Field of Search: 380/277
• US Class Current: 380/272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic

Abstract

A system and method for automatically selecting an encryption, or ciphering, algorithm in a cellular communication network is disclosed. A cellular communication network includes a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) connected to a Base Station Controller (BSC), which is connected to a Mobile services Switching Center (MSC). The BTS is adapted to implement one of at least two different encryption algorithms. The BSC includes a tabular database containing Mobile Country Codes (MCCs) and associated codes corresponding to the allowable encryption algorithm for the MCC. When the BTS is initialized, the BSC'"'"'s processor retrieves from the tabular database the encryption algorithm code that corresponds to the country in which the BTS resides. This code is transmitted to the BTS, which selects an encryption algorithm based on the value of this code.

Claims

1. A method of automatically selecting an encryption algorithm for use in a base transceiver station in a cellular communication system, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of different encryption algorithms in an encryption algorithm database;

extracting, from network information, a region code representative of the geographic jurisdiction in which the base transceiver station resides;

searching the encryption algorithm database for an encryption algorithm matching the region code; and

if a match is found, then selecting the encryption algorithm from the encryption algorithm database that matches the region code.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of extracting, from network information, a region code representative of the geographic jurisdiction in which the base transceiver station resides comprises:

retrieving the region code from system information stored in a memory module.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the network information is stored in a memory associated with a first network element and the encryption algorithm database is stored in a second network element.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

encrypting information using the selected encryption algorithm.

5. A method of automatically selecting an encryption algorithm for use in one or more base transceiver stations located in a cell in a cellular communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of encryption algorithm selection codes in a database associated with a base station controller;

receiving, at the base station controller, a signal indicating that a base transceiver station is being initialized;

in response to the signal, retrieving a mobile country code from system information stored in a memory associated with the base station controller;

retrieving, from the database associated with the base station controller, an encryption algorithm selection code associated with the mobile country code;

transmitting the retrieved encryption algorithm selection code to the base transceiver station being initialized; and

selecting from a plurality of different encryption algorithms at the base transceiver station, an encryption algorithm corresponding to the retrieved encryption algorithm selection code for use when communicating between the base transceiver station and a remote terminal.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

encrypting information using the selected encryption algorithm.

7. A method of automatically selecting an encryption algorithm for use in one or more base transceiver stations located in a cell in a cellular communication network that operates in accordance with GSM standards, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of encryption algorithm selection codes in a database associated with a mobile services switching center;

receiving, at the mobile services switching center, a signal indicating that a base transceiver station is being initialized;

in response to the signal, retrieving a mobile country code from system information stored in a memory associated with the mobile services switching center;

retrieving, from the database associated with the mobile services switching center, an encryption algorithm selection code associated with the mobile country code;

transmitting the retrieved encryption algorithm selection code to the base transceiver station being initialized; and

selecting from a plurality of different encryption algorithms at the base transceiver station, an encryption algorithm corresponding to the retrieved encryption algorithm selection code for use when communicating between the base transceiver station and a remote terminal.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the retrieved encryption algorithm selection code to the base transceiver station comprises:

transmitting the retrieved encryption algorithm selection code from the mobile services switching center to a base station controller; and

transmitting the retrieved encryption algorithm selection code from the base station controller to the base transceiver station.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

encrypting information using the selected encryption algorithm.

10. A network node for use in a cellular communication network having a plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one base station controller, and at least one mobile services switching center, comprising:

a processor;

a memory module, operatively associated with the processor;

operating software residing in the memory module, said software including a country code that indicates the country in which a selected base transceiver station resides; and

an encryption algorithm database stored in the memory module, the encryption algorithm database including codes representative of a plurality of countries and a plurality of encryption algorithm codes indicating different encryption algorithms authorized in each of the plurality of countries;

wherein the processor retrieves the country code from the system software, searches the encryption algorithm database for an encryption algorithm code associated with the country code, and transmits a signal representative of the encryption algorithm code to the selected base transceiver station.

11. The network node according to claim 10, wherein:

the network node comprises a base transceiver station.

12. The network node according to claim 10, wherein:

the network node comprises a base station controller.

13. The network node according to claim 10, wherein:

the network node comprises a mobile services switching center.

14. A cellular communication network, comprising:

a network node comprising;

a memory module for storing operating software, the operating software including a country code indicating the country in which a base station controller resides, and an encryption algorithm database including a plurality of country codes and a plurality of associated codes indicating different authorized encryption algorithms; and

a processor for retrieving the country code from the operating system software, searching the encryption algorithm database for an encryption algorithm code associated with the country code, and transmitting a signal representative of the encryption algorithm code to the base transceiver station; and

a base transceiver station including an encryption module adapted to select one of at least two different encryption algorithms in response to the signal received from the base station controller.

15. The cellular communication network according to claim 14, wherein:

the network node comprises a base transceiver station.

16. The cellular communication network according to claim 14, wherein;

the network node comprises a base station controller.

17. The cellular communication network according to claim 14, wherein:

the network node comprises a mobile services switching center.