Method and apparatus for securing communication between a mobile node and a network

• US 8,769,281 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chowdhury, Kuntal
• Primary Examiner(s): Armouche, Hadi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, DAO Q
• Application Number:
  US13/622,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20130019097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/062 applying encryption of the keys cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution using key encryption key H04L9/0822
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3242 involving keyed hash functions, e.g. message authentication codes [MACs], CBC-MAC or HMAC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method and apparatus is presented for securely negotiating a session key between a mobile node and a network node, such as a first hop IP router. A session key is encoded using asymmetric encryption. The encrypted session key is then communicated to the first hop IP router for later use. In accordance with another teaching of the present invention, the session key is then used by the mobile node and a first hop IP router to authenticate a message. Lastly, in accordance with the third teaching of the present invention, a standardized protocol is used to securely negotiate the session key between the mobile node and the first hop IP router.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating a message comprising the steps of:

a device receiving a message wherein the device comprises a first hop IP router;

the device receiving an authentication code for the message;

the device generating a first checksum of the message;

the device accessing a session key, wherein the session key is negotiated prior to the accessing by;

initiating a communication session using a protocol;

sending a public key within a vendor specific packet of the protocol, wherein the vendor specific packet includes a field indicating that the packet includes data in a format specified by a vendor;

receiving an encrypted session key within an initial request message (RRQ) of the protocol, wherein the encrypted session key is generated from the public key; and

decrypting the encrypted session key to generate the session key;

the device extracting a second checksum of the message from the authentication code using the session key; and

the device comparing the first checksum of the message with the second checksum of the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing the first checksum of the message with the second checksum of the message is used to authenticate the message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication code is appended to the message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication code is encoded with the message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message and authentication code is received from a mobile node.

6. A network device, comprising:

wireless communication circuitry for performing wireless communication;

processing hardware coupled to the wireless communication circuitry, wherein the processing hardware is configured to;

receive a message;

receive an authentication code;

generate a first checksum of the message;

access a session key, wherein the session key is negotiated prior to the accessing by;

initiating a communication session using a protocol;

sending a public key within a vendor specific packet of the protocol, wherein the vendor specific packet includes a field indicating that the packet includes data in a format specified by a vendor;

receiving an encrypted session key within an initial request message (RRQ) of the protocol, wherein the encrypted session key is generated from the public key; and

decrypting the encrypted session key to generate the session key;

extract a second checksum of the message from the authentication code using the session key; and

compare the first checksum of the message with the second checksum of the message;

wherein the network device comprises a first hop IP router.

7. The network device of claim 6, wherein said comparing the first checksum of the message with the second checksum of the message is used to authenticate the message.

8. The network device of claim 6, wherein the authentication code is appended to the message.

9. The network device of claim 6, wherein the authentication code is encoded with the message.

10. The network device of claim 6, wherein the message and authentication code is received from a mobile node.

11. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by a first hop IP router to:

receive a message;

receive an authentication code;

generate a first checksum of the message;

access a session key, wherein the session key is negotiated prior to the accessing by;

initiating a communication session using a protocol;

sending a public key within a vendor specific packet of the protocol, wherein the vendor specific packet includes a field indicating that the packet includes data in a format specified by a vendor;

receiving an encrypted session key within an initial request message (RRQ) of the protocol, wherein the encrypted session key is generated from the public key; and

decrypting the encrypted session key to generate the session key;

extract a second checksum of the message from the authentication code using the session key; and

compare the first checksum of the message with the second checksum of the message.

12. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein said comparing the first checksum of the message with the second checksum of the message is used to authenticate the message.

13. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein the authentication code is appended to the message.

14. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein the authentication code is encoded with the message.

15. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein the message and authentication code is received from a mobile node.