Patent · US Active

Wireless network authentication apparatus and methods

US8666368B2 · kind B2 · utility

38Cited by
0References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 22, 2010
Grant dateMar 4, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 17, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W48/08
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for authenticating and granting a client device (e.g., cellular telephone) access to a network. In one embodiment, a network service provider such as a cellular telephone company may distribute user access (e.g., Universal Subscriber Identity Module or “USIM”) credentials to a services manager via a USIM vendor. The services manager may maintain a list of authorized users. A user at a client may authenticate to the services manager. Once authenticated, the services manager may provide the user with a set of USIM credentials. When the user desires to use wireless network services, the user equipment may establish a wireless link between the user equipment and the network service provider. During authentication operations, the user equipment may use the USIM credentials to authenticate to the network service provider. Following successful authentication, the network service provider may provide the user equipment with wireless services.

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