Security update procedure for zone switching in mixed-mode WiMAX network
First Claim
1. A zone switching method, comprising:
- performing, by a mixed-mode mobile station, a handover from a legacy frame structure of a legacy base station to a 802.16e zone of a mixed-mode frame structure of the mixed-mode base station, wherein the legacy base station supports an 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode base station supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards;
causing, by the mixed-mode mobile station, an anchor authenticator to be relocated from a legacy access service network gateway to a mixed-mode access service network gateway, wherein the legacy access service network gateway supports the 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode access service network gateway supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards;
performing, by the mixed-mode mobile station, a security update, resulting in a mixed-mode security context for operating in an 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure of the mixed-mode base station, the security update further comprising;
allowing a zone switching action time to elapse;
performing a key agreement, an authentication, or a re-authentication in the 802.16m zone, wherein data communication with the mixed-mode base station in the 802.16e zone is not interrupted;
performing additional re-entry procedures in the 802.16m zone, wherein data communication with the mixed-mode base station in the 802.16e zone is not interrupted; and
switching to communication in the 802.16m zone by the mixed-mode base station once the re-entry procedures are complete; and
switching, by the mixed-mode mobile station, from the 802.16e zone of the mixed-mode frame structure to the 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure;
wherein data communication using the 802.16e zone is not disrupted during the above operations.
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Abstract
A zone switching method is disclosed for use in a mixed-mode WiMAX environment. The zone switching method is useful in a WiMAX network having both 802.16e (legacy) and 802.16e/802.16m (mixed-mode, or advanced) entities, including mobile stations, base stations, and access service network entities. The zone switching method includes anchor authenticator relocation, dual security context maintenance, and security updates for both entry-before-break-capable mobile stations and for those mobile stations with slower switching speeds. The zone switching method enables an advanced mobile station to seamlessly switch from legacy to mixed-mode operation once the mixed-mode entities are available to service the 802.16m operations.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A zone switching method, comprising:
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performing, by a mixed-mode mobile station, a handover from a legacy frame structure of a legacy base station to a 802.16e zone of a mixed-mode frame structure of the mixed-mode base station, wherein the legacy base station supports an 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode base station supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards; causing, by the mixed-mode mobile station, an anchor authenticator to be relocated from a legacy access service network gateway to a mixed-mode access service network gateway, wherein the legacy access service network gateway supports the 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode access service network gateway supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards; performing, by the mixed-mode mobile station, a security update, resulting in a mixed-mode security context for operating in an 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure of the mixed-mode base station, the security update further comprising; allowing a zone switching action time to elapse; performing a key agreement, an authentication, or a re-authentication in the 802.16m zone, wherein data communication with the mixed-mode base station in the 802.16e zone is not interrupted; performing additional re-entry procedures in the 802.16m zone, wherein data communication with the mixed-mode base station in the 802.16e zone is not interrupted; and switching to communication in the 802.16m zone by the mixed-mode base station once the re-entry procedures are complete; and switching, by the mixed-mode mobile station, from the 802.16e zone of the mixed-mode frame structure to the 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure; wherein data communication using the 802.16e zone is not disrupted during the above operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
wherein the mixed-mode access service network gateway derives a pairwise master key from the master session key.
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8. A zone switching method comprising:
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performing, by the mixed-mode mobile station, a handover from a legacy frame structure of a legacy base station to a 802.16e zone of a mixed-mode frame structure of a mixed-mode base station, wherein the legacy base station supports an 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode base station supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards; causing, by the mixed-mode mobile station, an anchor authenticator to be relocated from a legacy access service network gateway to a mixed-mode access service network gateway, wherein the legacy access service network gateway supports the 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode access service network gateway supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards; performing, by the mixed-mode mobile station, a security update, resulting in a mixed-mode security context for operating in an 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure of the mixed-mode base station, the security update further comprising; performing a key agreement, an authentication, or a re-authentication to produce an 802.16m security context in the 802.16e zone during a zone switching action time, wherein data communication with the mixed-mode base station in the 802.16e zone is not interrupted; transferring the 802.16m security context between an 802.16e medium access controller and an 802.16m medium access controller; transmitting the 802.16m security context and related signaling of the 802.16e zone of the mixed-mode base station, wherein the two medium access controllers are in the mixed-mode base station; performing additional re-entry procedures in the 802.16e zone to produce additional 802.16m security context, wherein the additional re-entry procedures are performed either during or after the zone switching action time; transferring the additional 802.16m security context of the additional re-entry procedures between the 802.16e medium access controller and the 802.16m medium access controller; transmitting the 802.16m security context and related signaling of the 802.16e zone of the mixed-mode base station; and switching to communication in the 802.16m zone by the mixed-mode base station once the re-entry procedures are complete; and switching, by the mixed-mode mobile station, from the 802.16e zone of the mixed-mode frame structure to the 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure; wherein data communication using the 802.16e zone is not disrupted during the above operations. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A zone switching method, comprising:
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performing, by a base station, a handover from a legacy frame structure to a 802.16e zone of a mixed-mode frame structure, the legacy and mixed-mode frame structures being used by a mixed-mode mobile station, wherein the mixed-mode mobile station supports both an 802.16e standard and an 802.16m standard; causing, by the base station, an anchor authenticator to be relocated from a legacy access service network gateway to a mixed-mode access service network gateway, wherein the legacy access service network gateway supports the 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode access service network gateway supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards; performing, by the base station, a security update, resulting in a mixed-mode security context for operating in an 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure, the security update further comprising; allowing a zone switching action time to elapse; performing a key agreement, an authentication, or a re-authentication in the 802.16m zone, wherein data communication with the mixed-mode mobile station in the 802.16e zone is not interrupted; performing additional re-entry procedures in the 802.16m zone, wherein data communication with the mixed-mode mobile station in the 802.16e zone is not interrupted; and switching to communication in the 802.16m zone by the mixed-mode mobile station once the re-entry procedures are complete; and switching, by the base station, from the 802.16e zone of the mixed-mode frame structure to the 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure; wherein data communication using the 802.16e zone is not disrupted during the above operations. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
wherein the mixed-mode access service network gateway derives a pairwise master key from the master session key.
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18. A zone switching method comprising:
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performing, by a base station, a handover from a legacy frame structure to a 802.16e zone of a mixed-mode frame structure, the legacy and mixed-mode frame structures being used by a mixed-mode mobile station, wherein the mixed-mode mobile station supports both an 802.16e standard and an 802.16m standard; causing, by the base station, an anchor authenticator to be relocated from a legacy access service network gateway to a mixed-mode access service network gateway, wherein the legacy access service network gateway supports the 802.16e standard and the mixed-mode access service network gateway supports both 802.16e and 802.16m standards; performing, by the base station, a security update, resulting in a mixed-mode security context for operating in an 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure, the security update further comprising; performing a key agreement, an authentication, or a re-authentication to produce an 802.16m security context in the 802.16e zone during a zone switching action time, wherein the 802.16m security context is transferred between an 802.16e medium access controller and an 802.16m medium access controller; transmitting the 802.16m security context and related signaling of the 802.16e zone; performing additional re-entry procedures in the 802.16e zone to produce additional 802.16m security context, wherein the additional re-entry procedures are performed either during or after the zone switching action time; transferring the additional 802.16m security context of the additional re-entry procedures between the 802.16e medium access controller and the 802.16m medium access controller; transmitting the 802.16m security context and related signaling of the 802.16e zone; and switching to communication in the 802.16m zone by the mixed-mode mobile station once the re-entry procedures are complete; and switching, by the base station, from the 802.16e zone of the mixed-mode frame structure to the 802.16m zone of the mixed-mode frame structure; wherein data communication using the 802.16e zone is not disrupted during the above operations.
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Specification