Security techniques for device assisted services

• US 8,391,834 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/694,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 370/468, 370/252, 455/461, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 705/30, 705/34, 709/203, 709/217, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 : for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 : Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 : Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 : the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 : using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

Security techniques for device assisted services are provided. In some embodiments, secure service measurement and/or control execution partition is provided. In some embodiments, implementing a service profile executed at least in part in a secure execution environment of a processor of a communications device for assisting control of the communications device use of a service on a wireless network, in which the service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the service profile is associated with a service plan that provides for access to the service on the wireless network; monitoring use of the service based on the service profile; and verifying the use of the service based on the monitored use of the service.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

one or more modems for enabling a communications device to communicate over at least a first wireless network and a second wireless network;

one or more processors of the communications device configured to;

determine that the communications device is connected to the first wireless network;

based on the determination that the communications device is connected to the first wireless network, implement a first service profile executed at least in part in a secure execution environment, the first service profile for assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network, wherein the service profile includes one or more service policy settings, at least one of the one or more service policy settings for assisting in controlling access to the service over the first wireless network; and

monitor an attempted or successful use of the service over the first wireless network; and

memory of the communications device coupled to the one or more processors and configured to provide the one or more processors with instructions.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to send information about the monitored attempted or successful use of the service to a network element, wherein the information comprises service usage information.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device is a mobile communications device or an intermediate networking device, and the service includes one or more Internet based services.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a modem, and at least one of the one or more processors of the communications device is located in the modem.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device is a mobile communications device, and wherein the service includes one or more Internet based services, and wherein the mobile communications device includes one or more of the following:

a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an eBook reader, a music device, an entertainment device, a gaming device, a computer, laptop, a netbook, a tablet, and a home networking system.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first service profile allows for access to the service with service capabilities that are controlled based on one or more of the following:

a period of time, a network address, a service type, a content type, an application type, a bandwidth, and a data usage.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more service policy settings include one or more of the following:

an access control setting, a traffic control setting, a billing system setting, a user notification setting, a user notification with acknowledgement setting, a user notification with synchronized service usage information setting, a user privacy setting, a user preference setting, an authentication setting, an admission control setting, an application access setting, a content access setting, a transaction setting, a network management communication setting, and a device management communication setting.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the secure execution environment includes a protected device assisted service execution partition.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the secure execution environment includes a protected device assisted service execution partition, and wherein the protected device assisted service execution partition is implemented at least in part as a hardware partition.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the secure execution environment includes a protected device assisted service execution partition, and wherein the protected device assisted service execution partition is implemented at least in part as a software partition.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the secure execution environment includes a protected device assisted service execution partition, and wherein the protected device assisted service execution partition is implemented at least in part in a virtual machine executed on the one or more processors of the communications device.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the secure execution environment includes a protected device assisted service execution partition, and the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein the one or more device assisted service agents executed in the protected device assisted service execution partition are in communication with a network element.

13. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the secure execution environment includes a protected device assisted service execution partition, and the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein the one or more device assisted service agents executed in the protected device assisted service execution partition include a device agent for providing a service usage measure.

14. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the secure execution environment includes a protected device assisted service execution partition, and the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein the one or more device assisted service agents executed in the protected device assisted service execution partition are in secure communication with a network element, and wherein the secure communication with the network element includes encrypted communications.

15. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a modem, and at least one of the one or more processors of the communications device is located in the modem, and wherein the secure execution environment includes a secure modem execution partition that is implemented using a hardware or software partition, and wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute one or more device assisted service agents in the secure modem execution partition, wherein the device assisted service agents executed in the secure modem execution partition are in communication with a network element.

16. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a modem, and at least one of the one or more processors of the communications device is located in the modem, and wherein the secure execution environment includes a secure modem execution partition that is implemented using a hardware or software partition, and wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute one or more device assisted service agents in the secure modem execution partition, wherein the device assisted service agents executed in the secure modem execution partition are in secure communication with a network element, and wherein the secure communication with the network element includes encrypted communications.

17. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a modem, and at least one of the one or more processors of the communications device is located in the modem, and wherein the secure execution environment includes a secure modem execution partition that is implemented using a hardware or software partition, and wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute one or more device assisted service agents in the secure modem execution partition, wherein one or more device assisted service agents executed in the secure modem execution partition include a modem agent for providing service usage measure.

18. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute a first set of one or more device assisted service agents in a kernel execution partition; and

execute a second set of one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein at least one agent of the second set of one or more device assisted service agents is in communication with a network element.

19. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute a first set of one or more device assisted service agents in an application execution partition;

execute a second set of one or more device assisted service agents in a kernel execution partition; and

execute a third set of one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein at least one agent of the third set of one or more device assisted service agents is in communication with a network element.

20. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute a first set of one or more device assisted service agents in an application execution partition;

execute a second set of one or more device assisted service agents in a kernel execution partition;

execute a third set of one or more device assisted service agents in a modem execution partition; and

execute a fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein at least one agent of the fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents is in communication with a network element.

21. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute a first set of one or more device assisted service agents in an application execution partition;

execute a second set of one or more device assisted service agents in a kernel execution partition;

execute a third set of one or more device assisted service agents in a modem execution partition; and

execute a fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein at least one agent of the fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents is in communication with a network element, and wherein the fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents comprises one or more of the following;

an application identifier agent, an access control integrity agent, a policy control agent, a policy implementation agent, and a service usage measure agent.

22. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute a first set of one or more device assisted service agents in an application execution partition;

execute a second set of one or more device assisted service agents in a kernel execution partition;

execute a third set of one or more device assisted service agents in a modem execution partition, wherein the modem execution partition is in communication with the protected device assisted execution partition using a modem local channel; and

execute a fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein at least one agent of the fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents is in communication with a network element, and wherein the fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents comprises one or more of the following;

an application identifier agent, an access control integrity agent, a policy control agent, a policy implementation agent, and a service usage measure agent.

23. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are further configured to:

execute a first set of one or more device assisted service agents in an application execution partition;

execute a second set of one or more device assisted service agents in a kernel execution partition;

execute a third set of one or more device assisted service agents in a modem execution partition, wherein the modem execution partition is in communication with the protected device assisted execution partition using a modem local channel, and wherein at least one agent of the third set of one or more device assisted service agents comprises a service usage measure agent; and

execute a fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents in the protected device assisted service execution partition, wherein at least one agent of the fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents is in communication with a network element, and wherein the fourth set of one or more device assisted service agents comprises one or more of the following;

an application identifier agent, an access control integrity agent, a policy control agent, a policy implementation agent, and a service usage measure agent.

26. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a roaming network, and wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises disallowing communications on the roaming network.

27. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a roaming network, and wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises restricting at least an aspect of communications on the roaming network.

28. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a cellular network, and wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises disallowing communications on the cellular network.

29. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a cellular network, and wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises restricting at least an aspect of communications on the cellular network.

30. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine that the communications device is connected to the second wireless network; and

implement a second service profile, the second service profile for assisting control of usage by the communications device of the service over the second wireless network.

31. The system recited in claim 30, wherein the one or more service policy settings are one or more first service policy settings, and wherein the second service profile comprises one or more second service policy settings.

32. The system recited in claim 30, wherein the one or more processors are configured to implement the second service profile by executing the second service profile at least in part in the secure execution environment.

33. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine that the communications device is connected to the second wireless network; and

refrain from implementing the first service profile based on the determination that the communications device is connected to the second wireless network.

34. The system recited in claim 1, wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises assisting in providing the service with an identified quality of service (QOS).

35. The system recited in claim 1, wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises assisting in disallowing use of the service.

36. The system recited in claim 1, wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises assisting in restricting use of the service.

37. The system recited in claim 1, wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises assisting in applying a traffic shaping to the service.

38. The system recited in claim 1, wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises assisting in controlling a particular service usage activity.

39. The system recited in claim 38, wherein assisting in controlling a particular service usage activity comprises disallowing the particular service usage activity.

40. The system recited in claim 38, wherein assisting in controlling a particular service usage activity comprises restricting the particular service usage activity.

41. The system recited in claim 38, wherein assisting in controlling a particular service usage activity comprises traffic shaping the particular service usage activity.

42. The system recited in claim 38, wherein in controlling a particular service usage activity comprises assisting in providing an identified quality of service (QOS) to the particular service usage activity.

43. The system recited in claim 38, wherein the particular service usage activity comprises communications associated with a particular application.

44. The system recited in claim 38, wherein the particular service usage activity comprises:

communications over a roaming network, communications over a cellular network, communications associated with a particular source or destination, communications associated with a particular traffic type, communications associated with a transaction service, communications associated with an advertising service, communications associated with an application type, communications associated with a particular network communication end point, or communications associated with a particular transaction type.

45. The system recited in claim 44, wherein the particular traffic type comprises best-effort traffic, real-time traffic, voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) traffic, live video traffic, streaming traffic, multi-cast traffic, uni-cast traffic, point-to-point traffic, traffic associated with a file type, traffic associated with an application, traffic with a particular priority, traffic without an assigned priority, traffic associated with the first wireless network, or traffic associated with the second wireless network.

46. The system recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first service profile is based on a user preference.

47. The system recited in claim 46, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to obtain the user preference through the user interface.

48. The system recited in claim 1, wherein assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network comprises providing differentiated quality of service (QOS) to two or more service usage activities.

49. The system recited in claim 48, wherein the differentiated QOS is based on an assigned QOS hierarchy.

50. The system recited in claim 48, wherein at least one of the two or more service usage activities comprises:

communications over a roaming network, communications over a cellular network, communications associated with a particular source or destination, communications associated with a particular application, communications associated with a particular traffic type, communications associated with a transaction service, communications associated with an advertising service, communications associated with an application type, communications associated with a particular network communication end point, and communications associated with a particular transaction type.

51. The system recited in claim 50, wherein the particular traffic type comprises best-effort traffic, real-time traffic, voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) traffic, live video traffic, streaming traffic, multi-cast traffic, uni-cast traffic, point-to-point traffic, traffic associated with a file type, traffic associated with an application, traffic with a particular priority, traffic without an assigned priority, or traffic associated with a particular network.

52. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the service is associated with a particular quality of service (QOS), and wherein first service profile assists in providing the service with the particular QOS.

53. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first service profile assists in authorizing the communications device to use the wireless network.

54. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to obtain at least a portion of the first service profile from the network element.

55. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to obtain configuration information from a network element, the configuration information for assisting the one or more processors in modifying or allowing modifications to at least one service policy setting of the one or more service policy settings.

56. The system recited in claim 55, wherein the communications device is an intermediate networking device.

57. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to obtain at least one of the one or more service policy settings from a network element.

58. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to send information about the monitored attempted or successful use of the service to a network element.

59. The system recited in claim 58, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to obtain a message from the network element, the message confirming receipt of the information about the monitored attempted or successful use of the service.

60. The system recited in claim 58, wherein the information about the monitored attempted or successful use of the service comprises quality of service (QOS) information.

61. The system recited in claim 58, wherein the network element is a quality of service (QOS) control element.

62. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the communications device are configured to implement the first service profile based on the monitored attempted or successful use of the service over the first wireless network.

24. A method, comprising:

determining that a communications device capable of connecting to a first wireless network and to a second wireless network is connected to the first wireless network;

based on determining that the communications device is connected to the first wireless network, implementing a first service profile executed at least in part in a secure execution environment of the communications device, the first service profile for assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network, wherein the service profile includes one or more service policy settings for assisting in controlling access to the service over the first wireless network; and

monitoring an attempted or successful use of the service over the first wireless network.

25. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

determining that a communications device capable of connecting to a first wireless network and to a second wireless network is connected to the first wireless network;

based on determining that the communications device is connected to the first wireless network, implementing a first service profile executed at least in part in a secure execution environment of the communications device, the first service profile for assisting control of usage by the communications device of a service over the first wireless network, wherein the service profile includes one or more service policy settings for assisting in controlling access to the service over the first wireless network; and

monitoring an attempted or successful use of the service over the first wireless network.