Time certification in a wireless communications network
First Claim
1. A method performed by a user terminal of a wireless access network, the method comprising:
- obtaining a time reference from an access point of the wireless access network;
receiving a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority from the access point;
requesting certification of the time reference by a trusted entity;
receiving certification of the time reference by sending a message used to authenticate the user terminal to the access point, the message containing a timestamp based on the time reference, an identification of the trusted entity by which certification is to be performed, and a list of trusted entities by which certification may be performed; and
validating the digital certificate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The time reference of a user terminal that is derived from an unauthenticated access point can be certified by a trusted entity according to the present invention. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a user terminal obtaining a time reference from an access point of a wireless access network. The user terminal then receives a digital certificate having a validity period from the access point, the certificate being issued by a certificate authority. In one embodiment, the user terminal requests certification of the time reference by a trusted entity, and receives the certification. Then the user terminal can validate the digital certificate.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method performed by a user terminal of a wireless access network, the method comprising:
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obtaining a time reference from an access point of the wireless access network; receiving a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority from the access point; requesting certification of the time reference by a trusted entity; receiving certification of the time reference by sending a message used to authenticate the user terminal to the access point, the message containing a timestamp based on the time reference, an identification of the trusted entity by which certification is to be performed, and a list of trusted entities by which certification may be performed; and validating the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A user terminal comprising:
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a clock to maintain a time reference obtained from an access point; a transmitter to send a request for certification of the time reference by a trusted entity by sending a message used to authenticate the user terminal to the access point, the message containing a timestamp based on the time reference maintained by the clock, an identification of the trusted entity by which certification is to be performed, and a list of trusted entities by which certification may be performed; a receiver to receive the certification of the time reference and a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority from the access point; and a processor coupled to the receiver to validate the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method performed by an access point of a wireless access network, the method comprising:
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receiving a message including a timestamp from a user terminal of the wireless access network, a request that the timestamp the certified by the trusted entity, and an identification of the trusted entity;
wherein the identification of the trusted entity comprises a list of entities trusted by the user terminal;authenticating the user terminal using the message; sending a request for certification of the timestamp to a trusted entity that is trusted by the user terminal; receiving a time certification message signed by the trusted entity including a verification of the timestamp; and sending the time certification message to the user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An access point comprising:
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a receiver to receive a message including a timestamp from a user terminal, the received message further including a request that the timestamp be certified by the trusted entity and an identification of the trusted entity, the identification of the trusted entity comprising a list of entities trusted by the user terminal; a processor coupled to the receiver to authenticate the user terminal based on the received message; and a transmitter coupled to the processor, to send a request for certification of the timestamp to a trusted entity that is trusted by the user terminal, and to forward a certification message received from and signed by the trusted entity, the certification message including a verification of the timestamp. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A machine-readable medium storing data representing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a user terminal, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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obtaining a time reference from an access point; receiving a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority from the access point; requesting certification of the time reference by a trusted entity by sending a message used to authenticate the user terminal to the access point, the message containing a timestamp based on the time reference, an identification of the trusted entity by which certification is to be performed, and a list of trusted entities by which certification may be performed; receiving certification of the time reference; and validating the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A machine-readable medium storing data representing instructions that, when executed by a processor of an access point, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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receiving a message including a timestamp from a user terminal, the message further including a request that the timestamp be certified by the trusted entity and an identification of the trusted entity, wherein the identification of the trusted entity comprises a list of entities trusted by the user terminal; authenticating the user terminal using the message; sending a request for certification of the timestamp to a trusted entity that is trusted by the user terminal; receiving a time certification message signed by the trusted entity including a verification of the timestamp; and sending the time certification message to the user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method performed by a user terminal of a wireless access network, the method comprising:
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obtaining a time reference from an access point of the wireless access network; receiving a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority from the access point; requesting certification of the time reference by a trusted entity by sending a message used to authenticate the user terminal to the access point, the message containing a timestamp based on the time reference and an identification of the trusted entity by which certification is to be performed; receiving certification of the time reference by receiving a message from the access point, the message being signed by the trusted entity and containing information to verify the timestamp; and validating the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A user terminal comprising:
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a clock to maintain a time reference obtained from an access point; a transmitter to send a request for certification of the time reference by a trusted entity by sending a message used to authenticate the user terminal to the access point, the message containing a timestamp based on the time reference maintained by the clock and an identification of the trusted entity by which certification is to be performed; a receiver to receive the certification of the time reference and a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority from the access point by receiving a message from the access point, the message being signed by the trusted entity and containing information to verify the timestamp; and a processor coupled to the receiver to validate the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification