Method for determining encryption algorithm of secret communication based on mobile country codes

• US 7,362,866 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zheng, Zhibin
• Primary Examiner(s): Moazzami; Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoffman; Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US10/499,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for determining encryption algorithm used in security communication based on Mobile Country Code (MCC) number. In this method, a Mobile Country Code (MCC) number list is preset in a Core Network (CN), and all the MCC numbers of those countries or service providers adopting the same self-developed encryption algorithms as those adopted by the homeland are stored in this MCC number list. When a User Equipment (UE) is calling or being called, the UE sends an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI) information of the current subscriber to the CN, and the CN parses the information and extracts the MCC number after receiving the IMSI information. The CN compares the extracted MCC number of the current subscriber with elements of the MCC number list one by one, if the MCC number of the current subscriber is identical with a certain MCC number in the MCC number list, the CN selects the domestic self-developed encryption algorithm; if the MCC number of the current subscriber is not identical with any MCC number in the MCC number list, the CN selects an available standard encryption algorithm for the security communication. The CN sends the UEA of the selected encryption algorithm to an access network; then the access network sends the UEA of the selected encryption algorithm to the UE. The present method not only allows the coexistence of standard encryption algorithms and self-developed encryption algorithm, but also simplifies the process of encryption algorithm selection. Accordingly, the subscriber interest and service quality is guaranteed.

Claims

1. A method for determining encryption algorithm used in secured communication based on Mobile Country Code (MCC), comprising:

setting a MCC number list in a Core Network (CN), and storing all MCC numbers of those countries or service providers adopting the same self-developed encryption algorithms as those adopted by the homeland in this MCC number list;

when a User Equipment (UE) is calling or being called, the UE sending an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI) information of the current subscriber to the CN, the CN parsing the IMSI information and extracting the MCC number after receiving the IMSI information;

if the MCC number list in the CN is null, the CN directly selecting an available standard encryption algorithm for the secured communication;

otherwise the CN comparing the extracted MCC number of the current subscriber with elements of the MCC number list one by one, and

if the MCC number of the current subscriber is identical with a certain MCC number in the MCC number list, the CN selecting the domestic self-developed encryption algorithm for the secured communication,

otherwise the CN selecting an available standard encryption algorithm for the secured communication; and

the CN instructing the UE and an access network to start secured communication with the selected encryption algorithm.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said CN instructing the UE and the access network to start secured communication with the selected encryption algorithm comprises:

after selecting the encryption algorithm, the CN sending the User Encryption Algorithm (UEA) of the selected encryption algorithm to the access network;

then the access network setting its own secured mode and sending the UEA of the selected encryption algorithm to the UE, the UE setting its own security mode after receiving the UEA;

the UE and the access network starting secured communication with the selected encryption algorithm.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the CN storing the extracted MCC number in a register after extracting the MCC number of the current subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, the current subscriber supports all of the available standard encryption algorithms if the MCC number list is null.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the current subscriber supports all of the available standard encryption algorithms if the MCC number list is null.

5. A method for selecting an encryption algorithm used in secure communication based on Mobile Country Code (MCC), comprising:

selecting a MCC number list in a Core Network (CN), and storing in the selected MCC number list all MCC numbers of those countries or service providers adopting a self-developed encryption algorithm adopted by a homeland;

when a User Equipment (UE) initiates or receives a call, the UE sending International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI) information of a current subscriber to the CN, the CN parsing the IMSI information and extracting the MCC number from the IMSI information;

if the MCC number list in the CN is null, the CN directly selecting an available standard encryption algorithm for the secure communication;

otherwise, the CN comparing the extracted MCC number of the current subscriber with the MCC numbers stored in the MCC number list, and if the MCC number of the current subscriber is identical with a matching MCC number in the MCC number list, the CN selecting the domestic self-developed encryption algorithm for the secure communication;

otherwise, the CN selecting an available standard encryption algorithm for the secure communication.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the CN sending the User Encryption Algorithm (UEA) of the selected encryption algorithm to an access network;

the access network setting its own security mode and sending the UEA of the selected encryption algorithm to the UE; and

the UE setting its own security mode after receiving the UEA.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the CN storing the extracted MCC number in a register after extracting the MCC number of the current subscriber.

9. A method for selecting an encryption algorithm used in secure communication based on Mobile Country Code (MCC), comprising:

selecting a MCC number list in a Core Network (CN), and storing in the selected MCC number list all MCC numbers of those countries or service providers adopting a self-developed encryption algorithm adopted by the homeland;

when a User Equipment (UE) initiates or receives a call, the UE sending International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI) information of a current subscriber to the CN, the CN parsing the IMSI information and extracting the MCC number from the IMSI information;

if the MCC number list in the CN is null, the CN directly selecting an available standard encryption algorithm for the secure communication;

otherwise, the CN comparing the extracted MCC number of the current subscriber form the IMSI information with the MCC numbers stored in the MCC number list, and if the MCC number of the current subscriber is identical with a matching MCC number in the MCC number list, the CN selecting the domestic self-developed encryption algorithm for the secure communication;

otherwise, the CN selecting an available standard encryption algorithm for the secure communication,

the selected encryption algorithm being used by the UE for secure communication.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

the CN sending the User Encryption Algorithm (UEA) of the selected encryption algorithm to an access network;

the access network setting its own security mode and sending the UEA of the selected encryption algorithm to the UE; and

the UE setting its own security mode after receiving the UEA.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the CN storing the extracted MCC number in a register after extracting the MCC number of the current subscriber.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the current subscriber supports all of the available standard encryption algorithms if the MCC number list is null.