Method of securing network access radio systems

• US 7,849,309 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Sanford
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, VENKATANARAY
• Application Number:
  US11/299,348
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 380/59, 380270-273, 726 3- 4, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/456.6, 455/466, 455458-459, 455/461, 455/507, 455517-519, 455352-353, 340/539.1, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/5.64, 340/10.51, 713/162, 713/168
• US Class Current: 713/162
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0471 Key exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol

Abstract

A method of providing security for network access radio systems and associated access radio security systems used with the systems. The method includes connecting an access radio having a radio link to a network; communicating between the access radio and a computer over the network using a ping application having ping commands and unique encrypted codes; and enabling operation of the access radio when the access radio is receiving ping commands. Typically, the access radio and the computer are nodes on the network and the network is a local area network (LAN). The ping application sends packets of information from the computer to the access radio and receives a response from the access radio. The ping application must be functioning (i.e., sending and receiving commands between the computer and the access radio) to enable the access radio to communicate via the radio link with a remote network.

Claims

1. A method of providing security for network access radio

systems comprising:

connecting an access radio to a network, the access radio comprising a radio link and a first ping application, wherein the first ping application is a continuous ping communication having a verified unique code or identifier in order to operate;

communicating between the access radio and the network using the radio link;

communicating between the access radio and a processing device on the network using the first ping application; and

disabling the radio link in response to a termination of ping communication between the access device and the processing device.

2. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 1, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) and wherein the access radio and the device are nodes on the network.

3. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises a second ping application.

4. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 3, wherein the first and second ping applications send packets of information between the processing device and the access radio.

5. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 1, wherein the access radio has a file transfer protocol, and wherein the file transfer protocol can only transfer files when the first ping application is operating.

6. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 3, wherein the first and second ping applications include a unique code for the access radio.

7. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 6, wherein the unique code includes a key exchange/encrypted tunneling methodology.

8. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 1, wherein the processing device is a computer, a server or a router.

9. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 1, wherein the access radio communicates with a remote access radio or a remote network.

10. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 3, wherein the first and second ping applications include commands and wherein the commands are in the form of packets of information.

11. A method of providing security for network access radio systems comprising:

providing a network comprising a network access radio having a radio link, a device and a ping application for continuously sending and receiving encrypted ping commands having a verified unique code or identifier in order to operate;

communicating between the access radio and the network using the radio link;

sending and receiving encrypted ping commands between the device and the access radio; and

enabling operation of the radio link when the access radio is receiving encrypted ping commands.

12. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 11, wherein the encrypted ping commands are in the form of packets of information and include a unique code for the access radio.

13. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 11, wherein the device is a computer, a server or a router.

14. The method of providing security for network access radio systems according to claim 11, wherein the device comprises a central processing unit (CPU).

15. A secure access radio system comprising:

a network;

a device connected to the network;

an access radio comprising a radio link connected to the network, wherein the radio link is used for communications between the access radio and the network; and

a ping application for continuously sending and receiving ping commands between the device and the access radio;

wherein the ping command having a verified unique code or identifier in order to operate;

wherein the radio link is operative only when the ping application is receiving ping commands.

16. The secure access radio system according to claim 15, wherein the device comprises a central processing unit (CPU).

17. The secure access radio system according to claim 15, wherein the network is a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

18. The secure access radio system according to claim 15, wherein the device is a computer, a server or a router.

19. The secure access radio system according to claim 15, wherein the device and access radio are nodes on the network.

20. The secure access radio system according to claim 15, wherein the ping commands are in the form of packets of information and include a code for the access radio.