Patent ID: 8321913
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of authenticating a mobile wireless user device, the method comprising: the user device identifying other devices detected as being within the proximity of the user device using at least one mode of wireless access technology communications between the user device and the other devices to generate a current location signature comprising a plurality of weighted device identifiers; transmitting the current location signature to a server arranged to: compare the weighted identifier of each of said other devices listed in the current location signature with earlier listed reference weighted device identifiers comprising an authenticated reference signature; whereby said user device is authenticated when the identifier comparison of the device identifiers listed in the current location signature with earlier reference device identifiers listed in the authenticated reference signature meets a matching threshold comparison condition for authentication, wherein each said weighted device identifier comprises a device identifier which is weighted differently in dependence on each different wireless access technology communications mode used to identify at least one of the other devices in said location signature.