Patent · US Expired

User key validation to prevent fraud during system handoffs

US6522874B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
4References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 2000
Grant dateFeb 18, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 9, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B7/18593
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A user key validation during a handoff verifies the subscriber using the wireless communication system and prevents fraudulent use of the system. A wireless communication system (10) has a number of satellites (20, 22, 24) with which a subscriber unit (12) establishes a communication link. However, as the quality of the transmitted signal between an active satellite (22) and the subscriber unit (12) degrades, a handoff of the communication link with the subscriber unit (12) will occur if the subscriber (12) meets the authentication requirements of the system (10). The active satellite (22) generates user keys and transmits the user keys to the active subscriber units (12). A request of a handoff is made from the individual subscriber unit (ISU) (12) to the losing SV (22). The losing SV (22) communicates with the gaining SV (20) to establish a handoff. The losing SV (22) sends the user key of the ISU (12) to the gaining SV (20). The gaining SV (20) authenticates the ISU (12) by comparing the ISU user key to a user key stored in the losing SV (22). The gaining SV (20) becomes the active satellite, and generates and transmits the user key to the ISU. Notification of the authentication…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.