Communications method

• US 9,578,501 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited (Alstom SA)
• Original Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Barker, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanhnga B
• Application Number:
  US14/182,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20140245003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 713/153, 713/155, 713/165, 713/168, 713/171, 709/201, 709/204, 709/218, 709/227, 709/228, 709/230, 709/231, 709/237, 709/245, 380277-279, 370/216, 370/228, 370/252, 370/352, 370/464, 370/466, 455/410, 455/411
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

The present application relates to a method of providing connectivity to a vehicle. The method comprises, at a first device aboard the vehicle, establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, the at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device remote from the first device, transmitting via the at least one first connection an allocation request to the second device, receiving via the at least one first connection an allocation response from the second device, the allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from the first device, and establishing a second connection with a network and authenticating the first device on the network using the first authentication device.

Claims

1. A method of providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising at a first device aboard the vehicle:

establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device not aboard the vehicle and remote from said first device;

transmitting via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

receiving via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices not aboard the vehicle and remote from said first device, wherein said allocation response further indicates a third authentication device of said plurality of authentication devices;

establishing a second connection with a second network and authenticating said first device on the second network using said first authentication device, the establishing a second connection comprising switching between a first state in which a first modem of said first device uses an authentication device co-located with the first device to a second state in which said first modem uses said first authentication device, wherein in said second state a second modem of said first device uses a second authentication device co-located with the first device, the authenticating said first device on the network comprising transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection; and

establishing a third connection with a third network and authenticating said first device on said third network using said third authentication device, wherein establishing the third connection comprises switching to a third state in which said second modem uses said third authentication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a second connection with a network and authenticating said first device on the network comprises:

transmitting a connection request to a fourth device on said second network;

receiving in response to said connection request a first authentication token;

transmitting said first authentication token to said first authentication device;

receiving a second authentication token from said first authentication device; and

transmitting said second authentication token to said fourth device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of networks;

wherein said allocation request comprises an indication of said selected one of said plurality of networks; and

said first authentication device is associated with said selected one of said plurality of networks.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said selection of one of said plurality of second networks is based upon respective signal strengths of said plurality of networks.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said second authentication token comprises a result of signing said first authentication token with a key maintained by the first authentication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first authentication device is a subscriber identity module (SIM).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first network or said second network is a GSM network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first connection is established using a second authentication device co-located with said first device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein establishing said first connection comprises selecting said second authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices co-located with said first device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a geographical location;

wherein said allocation request comprises an indication of said determined geographical location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first authentication device is associated with said geographical location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocation response indicates a third authentication device of said plurality of authentication devices remote to said first device;

and

wherein the method further comprises establishing a third connection with a third network and authenticating said first device on said third network using said third authentication device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocation response comprises a lease time and the method further comprises:

transmitting a renewal request to said second device before the expiry of said lease time.

14. An apparatus for providing connectivity to a vehicle, comprising a first device aboard the vehicle, the first device being arranged to:

establish at least one first connection with at least one network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device not aboard the vehicle and remote from said first device;

transmit via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

receive via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device and not aboard the vehicle, wherein said allocation response further indicates a third authentication device of said plurality of authentication devices;

establish a second connection with a second network by switching between a first state in which a first modem of said first device uses an authentication device co-located with the first device to a second state in which said first modem uses said first authentication device, wherein in said second state a second modem of said first device uses a second authentication device co-located with the first device, and authenticating said first device on the second network using said first authentication device by transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection; and

establish a third connection with a third network by switching to a third state in which said second modem uses said third authentication device, and authenticate said first device on said third network using said third authentication device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising computer readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a first device aboard a vehicle to carry out a method of providing connectivity to the vehicle, comprising:

establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device not aboard the vehicle and remote from said first device;

transmitting via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

receiving via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from said first device and not aboard the vehicle, wherein said allocation response further indicates a third authentication device of said plurality of authentication devices;

establishing a second connection with a second network and authenticating said first device on the second network using said first authentication device, the establishing a second connection comprising switching between a first state in which a first modem of said first device uses an authentication device co-located with the first device to a second state in which said first modem uses said first authentication device, wherein in said second state a second modem of said first device uses a second authentication device co-located with the first device, the authenticating said first device on the network comprising transmitting authentication data between said first device and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection; and

establishing a third connection with a third network and authenticating said first device on said third network using said third authentication device, wherein establishing the third connection comprises switching to a third state in which said second modem uses said third authentication device.

16. A computer apparatus aboard a vehicle for providing connectivity to the vehicle, comprising:

a memory storing processor readable instructions; and

a processor arranged to read and execute instructions stored in said memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions arranged to control the computer apparatus to carry out a method of providing connectivity to the vehicle, comprising;

establishing at least one first connection with at least one first network, said at least one first connection allowing communication with a second device not aboard the vehicle and remote from the computer apparatus;

transmitting via said at least one first connection an allocation request to said second device;

receiving via said at least one first connection an allocation response from said second device, said allocation response indicating a first authentication device from a plurality of authentication devices remote from the computer apparatus and not aboard the vehicle, wherein said allocation response further indicates a third authentication device of said plurality of authentication devices;

establishing a second connection with a second network and authenticating said computer apparatus on the second network using said first authentication device, the establishing a second connection comprising switching between a first state in which a first modem of said first device uses an authentication device co-located with the first device to a second state in which said first modem uses said first authentication device, wherein in said second state a second modem of said first device uses a second authentication device co-located with the first device, the authenticating said computer apparatus on the network comprising transmitting authentication data between said computer apparatus and said first authentication device via said at least one first connection; and

establishing a third connection with a third network and authenticating said first device on said third network using said third authentication device, wherein establishing the third connection comprises switching to a third state in which said second modem uses said third authentication device.