Patent ID: 6075860
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a computer network allowing remote access, a system for authenticating an authorized user prior to authorizing access to said computer network, said system comprising:an account generator capable of generating both an authentication key and a mobile subscriber identifier for identifying said authorized user;an authentication card for securely receiving said authentication key and said mobile subscriber identifier;a remote terminal for facilitating remote access to said computer network, said remote terminal also receiving said authentication key and said mobile subscriber identifier from said account generator for use in authenticating said authorized user by encrypting and verifying mutually exchanged values across a wireless communication channel;a network server for also securely receiving said authentication key from said account generator and for authenticating said remote terminal by encrypting and verifying mutually exchanged values with said remote terminal prior to permitting access to said computer network, said network server having a means for generating and transmitting a random number across said wireless communication channel;a wireless modem operably coupled to said remote terminal and wirelessly coupled to said network server for establishing said wireless communication channel therebetween, wherein said wireless communication channel is capable of conversion into an encrypted authenticated wireless communication channel with (i) at said remote terminal, a means for encrypting said random number to form a remote terminal signed response: (ii) at said network server, a means for encrypting said remote terminal signed response to form a network signed response: and (iii) at said remote terminal, a means for encrypting said network signed response to form a data encryption key for use in encrypting all subsequent transferred data.