Patent ID: 9722789
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: H04B,H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A method comprising: performing, by a communications terminal of a mobile communications network, an authentication function with a remote gateway node of the mobile communication network, including generating a first data encryption key configured for a first level of encryption for session data of a communications session of the communications terminal and an authentication key configured for authentication security protection for control layer messaging, wherein the session data and the control layer messaging are to be transmitted between the communications terminal and the remote gateway node over one or more channels of the communications network; receiving, by the communications terminal, a security mode command from the remote gateway node, wherein the security mode command includes a key indicator; generating, by the communications terminal, a second data encryption key based on the key indicator and a first key algorithm secured for the communications terminal, wherein the second data encryption key is generated for a second level of encryption for the session data, wherein the second level of encryption is at a higher security level as compared to the first level of encryption; and generating, by the communications terminal, a key indicator response based on the key indicator, and transmitting a security mode complete command including the key indicator response to the remote gateway node, wherein the key indicator response is configured to enable the remote gateway node to generate the second data encryption key based on the key indicator response and a second key algorithm secured for the remote gateway node.