Data session authentication credentials update for a wireless communication device

• US 7,634,253 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Plestid, Thomas Leonard Trevor, Patterson, Ian M., Lewis, Allan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US11/213,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20070077914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/436, 455/439, 455/442, 455/445, 455/451, 455/452.1, 455/453, 370/395.41, 370/230, 370/231, 370/235, 370/278, 370/282, 370/289, 370/360, 370/395.2, 379/15.01, 379/91.02
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method (200) and an apparatus (300) in a wireless portable communication device (102) for maintaining appropriate authentication credentials required for a common data application in a current service network are provided. A method (400) in a wireless communication network (106) for providing current authentication credentials required for the common data application accessible through the wireless communication network (106) is also provided. The wireless portable communication device (102) has default authentication credentials required for the common data application in a default service network (106), receives (204) a data session configuration file including authentication credentials based upon a predetermined condition, prioritizes (206) between the default authentication credentials and the received authentication credentials, and uses (208) the authentication credentials having higher priority for the common data application in the current service network (110). The wireless communication network (106) maintains (404) the current authentication credentials indicative of currently required authentication credentials for the common data application, detects (406) a predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file, and transmits (408) the data session configuration file having the current authentication credentials. Upon receiving (410), the wireless communication network (106) allows (412) proper access to the common data application upon receiving the current authentication credentials.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless portable communication device for use in maintaining appropriate authentication credentials for accessing a common data application maintained in a common service network for receiving a messaging service, the wireless portable communication device having default authentication credentials for submission when establishing, via a default cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network for receiving the messaging service via the default cellular network, the method comprising the acts of:

in response to a change in subscription for the wireless portable communication device from the default cellular network to a current cellular network;

receiving, via the current cellular network, a data session configuration file including authentication credentials for submission when establishing, via the current cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network;

prioritizing between the default authentication credentials and the received authentication credentials; and

using the received authentication credentials corresponding to the current cellular network for submission when establishing, via the current cellular network, the data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network for receiving the messaging service via the current cellular network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data session configuration file further includes a list of a plurality of communication networks mapped against the received authentication credentials for use with the common data application maintained in the common service network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a request to receive the data session configuration file before receiving the data session configuration file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

overwriting the default authentication credentials with the received authentication credentials after prioritizing between the default authentication credentials and the received authentication credentials.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

making the received authentication credentials as new default authentication credentials.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data session configuration file includes receiving the data session configuration file upon registering the wireless portable communication device to the current cellular network using a common registration channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data session configuration file includes receiving the data session configuration file upon failing to properly access the common data application maintained in the common service network via the current cellular network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data session configuration file includes autonomously receiving the data session configuration file periodically.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data session configuration file includes receiving the data session configuration file upon roaming from the default cellular network to the current cellular network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the common data application comprises an e-mail application for a messaging service comprising an e-mail message service.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication credentials comprise an access point name (APN) and the data connectivity comprises a packet data protocol (PDP) context.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication credentials comprise a network access identifier (NAI) and the data connectivity comprises a point-to-point protocol (PPP) session.

13. A wireless portable communication device configured to maintain appropriate authentication credentials for accessing a common data application maintained in a common service network for receiving a messaging service, the wireless portable communication device having default authentication credentials stored in memory, the default authentication credentials for submission when establishing, via a default cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network for receiving the messaging service via the default cellular network, the wireless portable communication device comprising:

a configuration file receiver configured to receive a data session configuration file including authentication credentials based on a change in subscription from the default cellular network to a current cellular network, the received authenticated credentials for submission when establishing, via the current cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network;

a prioritization module coupled to the configuration file receiver and to the memory, the prioritization module configured to prioritize between the default authentication credentials and the received authentication credentials;

a credential selector coupled to the prioritization module, the credential selector configured to select the received authentication credentials corresponding to the current cellular network for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network; and

a credential transmitter coupled to the credential selector, the credential transmitter configured to transmit the selected authorization credentials when establishing, via the current cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network for receiving the messaging service via the current cellular network.

14. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the data session configuration file further includes a list of a plurality of cellular networks mapped against the received authentication credentials for use with the common data application maintained in the common service network.

15. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13 further comprising:

a request transmitter coupled to the configuration file receiver, the request transmitter configured to transmit a request to receive the data session configuration file.

16. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the authentication credentials comprise an access point name (APN) and the data connectivity comprises a packet data protocol (PDP) context.

17. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the configuration file receiver is further configured to receive the data session configuration file upon registration of the wireless portable communication device to the current cellular network using a common registration channel.

18. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the configuration file receiver is further configured to receive the data session configuration file upon failure of the wireless portable communication device to properly access the common data application maintained in the common service network via the current cellular network.

19. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the configuration file receiver is further configured to autonomously receive the data session configuration periodically.

20. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the configuration file receiver is further configured to receive the data session configuration file upon the wireless portable communication device roaming from the default cellular network to the current cellular network.

21. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein authentication credentials comprise a network access identifier (NAI) and the data connectivity comprises a point-to-point protocol (PPP) session.

22. The wireless portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the configuration file receiver is further configured to receive the data session configuration file upon a determination that a subscriber identity module used in the wireless portable communication device is associated with a different cellular network from at least one of:

a cellular network associated with the wireless portable communication device, and

the current cellular network.

23. The wireless portable communication device of claim 22, wherein the subscriber identity module is at least one of:

a Subscriber Identity Module used in networks based upon Global System for Mobile Communications, and

a Removable User Identification Module used in networks based upon Code Division Multiple Access.

24. A method in a cellular network for use in providing appropriate authentication credentials required for submission by a wireless portable communication device when it establishes, via the cellular network, data connectivity for accessing a common data application maintained in a common service network adapted to provide a messaging service, the wireless portable communication device having default authentication credentials required for submission when it establishes, via a default cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network for receiving the messaging service via the default cellular network, the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining current authentication credentials required for submission by the wireless portable communication device when it establishes, via the cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network;

detecting a predetermined condition which is based on a change in subscription for the wireless portable communication device from the default cellular network to the cellular network;

transmitting a data session configuration file having the current authentication credentials in response to detecting the predetermined condition; and

allowing proper access to the common data application maintained in the common service network for providing the messaging service to the wireless portable communication device via the cellular network upon receiving the current authentication credentials from the wireless portable communication device when the data connectivity is established via the cellular network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein maintaining the current authentication credentials indicative of currently authentication credentials for the common data application includes receiving the currently authentication credentials for the common data application from the common service network.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein detecting a predetermined condition for transmitting a data session configuration file includes detecting the predetermined condition by the common data service network.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the data session configuration file further includes a list of a plurality of cellular networks mapped against the appropriate authentication credentials for use with the common data application maintained in the common service network.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

receiving a request for the data session configuration file.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

receiving a registration of the wireless portable communication device using a common registration channel.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

determining the wireless portable communication device failing to properly access the common data application maintained in the common service network.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

reaching a predetermined periodic transmission time interval.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

broadcasting the data session configuration file.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the current authentication credentials comprise an access point name (APN) and the data connectivity comprises a packet data protocol (PDP) context.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the common data application comprises an e-mail application and the messaging service comprises an e-mail service.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of detecting the predetermined condition is based on determining that a subscriber identity module of the wireless portable communication device is associated with the cellular network different from the default cellular network.

36. A method in a common data service network for use in providing appropriate authentication credentials required for submission by a wireless portable communication device when it establishes, via a current cellular network, data connectivity for accessing a common data application maintained in the common data service network adapted to provide a messaging service, the wireless portable communication device having default authentication credentials for submission when it establishes, via a default cellular network, data connectivity for accessing the common data application maintained in the common service network for receiving the messaging service via the default cellular network, the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining current authentication credentials required for submission by the wireless portable communication device when it establishes, via the current cellular network, data connectivity for the common data application maintained in the common data service network;

detecting a predetermined condition which is based on a change in subscription for the wireless portable communication device from the default cellular network to the current cellular network;

transmitting the data session configuration file having the current authentication credentials in response to detecting the predetermined condition; and

allowing proper access to the common data application maintained in the common data service network for providing the messaging service to the wireless portable communication device via the current cellular network upon receiving the current authentication credentials from the wireless portable communication device when the data connectivity is established via the current cellular network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data session configuration file further includes a list of a plurality of cellular networks mapped against the appropriate authentication credentials for use with the common data application.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

receiving a request for the data session configuration file.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

determining the wireless portable communication device failing to properly access the common data application maintained in the common service network.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the predetermined condition for transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

reaching a predetermined periodic transmission time interval.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein transmitting the data session configuration file includes:

broadcasting the data session configuration file.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the current authentication credentials comprises one of an access point name (APN) for a packet data protocol (PDP) context and a network access identifier (NAI) for a point-to-point protocol (PPP) session.