Patent ID: 8964987
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the steps of: generating, by an infrastructure device other than a mobile station, a plurality of encryption keys and associating each encryption key with one geographical area of a plurality of geographical areas in the same communication system, wherein each geographical area of the plurality of geographical areas is associated with a base station; forwarding a first encryption key to a first base station serving a first geographical area associated with the first encryption key; determining a second geographical area that is adjacent to the first geographical area and wherein the second geographical area is served by a second base station and wherein the first and the second base stations share a single zone controller; forwarding a second encryption key associated with the adjacent geographical area to the first base station covering the first geographical area; and transmitting, by the first base station covering the first geographical area, the second encryption key to a mobile station registered at the first base station prior to the mobile station switching to the adjacent geographical area; wherein the first encryption key and the second encryption key is encrypted with first of an intrakey and an interkey prior to the forwarding steps, wherein the intrakey is used only by infrastructure system devices other than a mobile station for encrypting at least an encryption key prior to transport within a single one of the geographical areas, and the interkey is used only by infrastructure system devices other than a mobile station for encrypting at least an encryption key for transport between any two of the geographical areas.