Patent ID: 9215589
Filing Date: 2015-12-15
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of providing secure communications between a first base station, a first relay station, and a mobile station in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, by the first relay station, a signaling message from the mobile station, the signaling message including an identifier corresponding to the mobile station; transmitting, by the first relay station, subsequent to receiving the signaling message, a security key request to the first base station; receiving, by the first relay station, a security key from the first base station in response to the previously sent security key request, wherein the security key was generated from a prior authentication of the mobile station using signals transmitted through one of a second relay station, the first base station, or a second base station from which the mobile station was handed off to the first relay station; and authenticating, by the first relay station, the mobile station by verifying the identifier using the received security key generated from the prior authentication.