Patent ID: 7509496
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. Method for device-type authentication in a communication system, comprising the steps of: providing, in a first device connected to said communication system, first header information of a communication message; said first header information being related with a device-type associated commitment; said device-type associated commitment being a commitment for devices of a particular device-type regarding what capability the devices support; tamper-resistantly creating a first signature in said first device based on at least tamper-resistant device-type specific information of said first device; providing, in said first device, second header information of said communication message comprising said signature; communicating said communication message to a second device connected to said communication system; and authenticating said first header information by verifying said first signature after said communicating step, wherein said step of authenticating in turn comprises: determining, in said second device, a device-type of said first device based on said first header information; creating a second signature in said second device based on at least tamper-resistant information associated with said determined device-type; and accepting said determined device-type as authentic if said first and second signatures agree.