Method and apparatus for authenication and protection of subscribers in telecommunication systems
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining secure communications through an encryption process between a subscriber unit and radio communication units of a telecommunication system, comprising:
- maintaining a record of pseudo random events associated with the subscriber unit;
communicating the record to a particular target radio communication unit; and
continuing the encryption process occurring between the subscriber unit and the particular target radio communication unit by using the record as an encryption variable.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Radio frequency based cellular telecommuication systems often require a subscriber (10) to maintain a proprietary identifier (19) or serial number (18) which is transmitted to a fixed network communication unit (20) to verify the authenticity of the subscriber (10). An enciphering and call sequencing method and apparatus are provided which can decrease unauthorized detection of these proprietary ID'"'"'s (18, 19). This method and apparatus permit efficient roaming by allowing authentication variables for multiple calls to be sent from the "home" system (20) to the "visted" system and stored by the "visted" system for use with subsequent calls. Further, a method and apparatus are provided which force the authenticating mobile (10) to use information that only it has available to itself. Furthermore, a method and apparatus are provided which allow continued encryption integrity during handoffs by maintaining a record of pseudo random events between a subscriber unit (10) and any radio communication unit (20) and using that record as an encryption variable.
253 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining secure communications through an encryption process between a subscriber unit and radio communication units of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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maintaining a record of pseudo random events associated with the subscriber unit; communicating the record to a particular target radio communication unit; and continuing the encryption process occurring between the subscriber unit and the particular target radio communication unit by using the record as an encryption variable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A telecommunication device which maintains secure communications through an encryption process between a subscriber unit and radio communication units remotely located from the subscriber unit, comprising:
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record means for maintaining a record of pseudo random events associated with the subscriber unit; and communication means, operatively coupled to the record means, for communicating the record to a particular target radio communication unit on a communication channel such that the encryption process can be continued between the subscriber unit and the particular target radio communication unit by using the record as an encryption variable. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A telecommunication device which maintains secure communications through an encryption process between a subscriber unit and radio communication units remotely located from the subscriber unit, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving a record of pseudo random events associated with the subscriber unit from over a communication channel; and encrypting means, operatively coupled to the receiving means, for continuing the encryption process between the subscriber unit and the target radio communication unit by using the record as an encryption variable. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of authentication between a subscriber unit and a radio communication unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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providing the subscriber unit with at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target communication unit; generating an authentication message in the subscriber unit as a function of the at least part of the telephone number; and transmitting the authentication message and the at least part of the telephone number from the subscriber unit to the radio communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of authentication between a subscriber unit and a radio communication unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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receiving, at the subscriber unit, a random number from the radio communication unit; providing the subscriber unit with an identification number and at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target radio communication unit; generating an authentication message in the subscriber unit as a function of the random number, the identification number, and the at least part of the telephone number; and transmitting the authentication message and the at least part of the telephone number from the subscriber unit to the radio communication unit.
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21. A method of authentication between a subscriber unit and a radio communication unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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receiving an authentication message and at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target radio communication unit, the authentication message being derived from at least part of a requested telephone number; and determining in the radio communication unit, through the use of the received authentication message and the received at least part of the telephone number, whether a received service request is authentic. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of authentication between a subscriber unit and a radio communication unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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generating, in the subscriber unit, an authentication message as a function of a known random number, an identification number, and the at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target radio communication unit; transmitting the authentication message and the at least part of the telephone number from the subscriber unit to the radio communication unit; receiving, in the radio communication unit, the authentication message and at least part of the telephone number; generating, in the radio communication unit, an expected authentication message as a function of the known random number, known information regarding the identification number, and the received at least part of the telephone number; and determining, in the radio communication unit, whether the received service request is authentic by comparing the received authentication message and the expected authentication message.
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33. A subscriber unit which authenticates communication with a radio communication unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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input means for obtaining at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target radio communication unit; processor means for generating an authentication message as a function of the at least part of the telephone number; and transmitter means for transmitting the authentication message and the at least part of the telephone number to the radio communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A subscriber unit which authenticates communications with a radio communication unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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receiver means for receiving a random number from the radio communication unit; input means for obtaining at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target radio communication unit; memory means for providing an identification number; processor means for generating an authentication message as a function of the random number, the identification number, and the at least part of the telephone number; and transmitter means for transmitting the authentication message and the at least part of the telephone number to the radio communication unit.
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41. A radio communication unit of authentication between a subscriber unit and a radio communication unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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memory means for providing a random number and information regarding an identification number; receiver means for receiving an authentication message and at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target radio communication unit, the authentication message being derived from the random number, the identification number, and at least part of a requested telephone number; and processor means for determining, through the use of the random number, the information regarding the identification number, the received authentication message, and the received at least part of the telephone number, whether a received service request is authentic.
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42. A radio communication unit which authenticates communications with a subscriber unit of a telecommunication system, comprising:
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receiver means for receiving an authentication message and at least part of a telephone number which uniquely identifies a target radio communication unit, the authentication message being derived from at least part of a requested telephone number; and processor means for determining, through the use of the received authentication message and the received at least part of the telephone number, whether a received service request is authentic. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification