Method for transmitting and receiving control information for encryption in a mobile communication system supporting multimedia broadcast/multicast service

• US 7,526,091 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Sung-Ho, Jeong, Kyeong-In, Lee, Kook-Heui
• Primary Examiner(s): Simitoski; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/039,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20050157876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 380/200, 380/270, 380/262, 380/273, 380/43, 380/283, 713/163, 726/26, 725/31
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/068 using time-dependent keys, e.g. periodically changing keys cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for controlling usage of secret information H04L9/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365

Abstract

A method for minimizing overhead occurring caused by control information for encryption performed to protect MBMS data for an MBMS service in a mobile communication system. This method is implemented by distinguishing a case in which control information used for encryption is updated from another case in which the control information used for encryption is not updated, and transmitting different control information according to the distinguishment result. That is, when the control information used for encryption is not updated, only minimized control information is transmitted, and when the control information for encryption is updated, the entire updated control information is transmitted. Accordingly, the amount of control information transmitted along with MBMS data is minimized, contributing to an increase in the amount of MBMS data transmitted per unit time.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting control information for encryption for protecting a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) service by a broadcast/multicast-service center (BM-SC) in a mobile communication system including at least one mobile terminal desiring to receive the MBMS service and the BM-SC for providing the MBMS service desired by the at least one mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an MBMS data packet configured with control information not including encryption information for encrypting MBMS data for the MBMS service, and MBMS data encrypted based on the encryption information, when the encryption information has not been changed; and

transmitting an MBMS data packet configured with control information including the encryption information for encrypting MBMS data for the MBMS service, and MBMS data encrypted based on the encryption information, when the encryption information has been changed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control information not including the encryption information includes a data type indicator indicating a type of the MBMS data packet, and a version value for distinguishing the encryption information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the encryption information includes a key identifier (ID) of a primary encryption key and a random seed value and is used for calculating a secondary encryption key used for encrypting the MBMS data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when only the random seed value in the encryption information has been changed, the control information includes only the changed random seed value as the encryption information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a request for the control information is achieved by a radio bearer information retransmission message including a message type, a terminal identifier (ID), and a broadcast service ID.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when a transmission request for changed encryption information is received from the at least one mobile terminal, the control information includes the changed encryption information.

7. A method for receiving encrypted Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) data for an MBMS service by a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system including at least one mobile terminal desiring to receive the MBMS service and a broadcast/multicast-service center (BM-SC) for providing the MBMS service desired by the at least one mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an MBMS data packet from the BM-SC;

determining whether encryption information for encrypting MBMS data is included;

decrypting the MBMS data using an existing secondary encryption key when the encryption information is not included; and

calculating a secondary encryption key based on the encryption information provided through the MBMS data packet, and decrypting the MBMS data using the calculated secondary encryption key, when the encryption information is not included.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the encryption information includes a key identifier (ID) of a primary encryption key and a random seed value and is used for calculating the secondary encryption key used for encrypting the MBMS data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when only the random seed value in the encryption information is included, the secondary encryption key is calculated using the changed random seed value and its existing primary encryption key.

10. A method for transmitting control information for encryption for protecting a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) service by a broadcast/multicast-service center (BM-SC) in a mobile communication system including at least one mobile terminal desiring to receive the MBMS service and the BM-SC for providing the MBMS service desired by the at least one mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an MBMS data packet configured with control information not including the encryption information and MBMS data encrypted based on the encryption information when encryption information for encrypting MBMS data for the MBMS service has not changed;

transmitting an MBMS data packet configured with control information including the encryption information and the MBMS data encrypted based on the encryption information when encryption information for encrypting MBMS data for the MBMS service has been changed;

receiving an MBMS data packet from the BM-SC;

determining whether encryption information for encrypting the MBMS data is included;

decrypting the MBMS data using an existing secondary encryption key when the encryption information is not included; and

calculating a secondary encryption key based on encryption information provided through the MBMS data packet and decrypting the MBMS data using the calculated secondary encryption key, when the encryption information is included.

11. A method for receiving a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) data packet by a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system supporting a MBMS service, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an MBMS data packet configured with control information including an indicator for indicating if encryption information for encrypting the MBMS data has been updated and a version value for distinguishing previously transmitted encryption information from currently transmitted encryption information, and MBMS data encrypted based on the encryption information;

updating previously stored encryption information using the version value and the indicator; and

decrypting the encrypted MBMS data using the updated encryption information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator is one of an encryption key value used for encrypting the MBMS data and an indicator set for indicating if a random seed value has been updated.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the version value is an indicator set for indicating if the MBMS data packet has been updated.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the control information includes at least one of an updated encryption key used for encrypting the MBMS data in response to the indicator, and a random seed value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal calculates a secondary encryption key used for encrypting MBMS data using one of the updated encryption key value and the random seed value, and decrypting the encrypted MBMS data using the calculated secondary encryption key.