Patent EA-001631-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and apparatus for providing authentication security in a wireless communication system
Inventor: ROSE GREGORY G
IPC: G09C1/00
Filed: 1997-12-19
Abstract: 1. A method for authenticating the identity of a mobile station, comprising the steps of: receiving a sequence of dialed digits entered by a mobile station user which identify a target communication unit; generating a first number derived from said sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits; generating an authentication message in accordance with said first number; and transmitting said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message from said mobile station to a remote base station. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps: receiving at said base station said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message; generating a local version of said first number derived from said received sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said received sequence of dialed digits; generating a locally generated authentication message in accordance with said locally generated first number; and comparing said locally generated authentication message with said received authentication message. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating a locally generated authentication message is performed in accordance with a set of mobile station identification parameters stored in said base station. 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of generating an authentication message is performed in accordance with a set of mobile station identification parameters stored in said mobile station. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating said first number comprises setting part of said first number to said number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits. 6. In mobile station, a method for authenticating the identity of said mobile station, comprising the steps of: receiving a sequence of dialed digits entered by a mobile station user which identify a target communication unit; generating a first number derived from said sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits; generating an authentication message in accordance with said first number; and transmitting said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message from said mobile station to a remote base station. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of generating an authentication message is performed in accordance with a set of mobile station identification parameters stored in said mobile station. 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of generating said first number comprises setting part of said first number to said number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits. 9. The method for authenticating the identity of a mobile station, comprising the steps of: receiving at said base station a sequence of dialed digits and an authentication message transmitted by said mobile station; generating a local version of said first number derived from said received sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said received sequence of dialed digits; generating a locally generated authentication message in accordance with said locally generated first number; and comparing said locally generated authentication message with said received authentication message. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of generating a locally generated authentication message is performed in accordance with a set of mobile station identification parameters stored in said base station. 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of generating said local version of said first number comprises setting part of said local version of said first number to said number of digits in said received sequence of dialed digits. 12. A mobile station comprising: means for receiving a sequence of dialed digits entered by a mobile station user which identify a target communication unit; means for generating a first number derived from said sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits; means for generating an authentication message in accordance with said first number; and means for transmitting said sequence of dialed digits and said authentication message from said mobile station to a remote base station. 13. The mobile station of claim 12 further comprising: mobile station identification parameter means for providing identification parameters; and wherein said means for generating an authentication message is responsive to said identification parameters. 14. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein said means for generating a first number sets part of said first number to said number of digits in said sequence of dialed digits. 15. A base station comprising: means for receiving at said base station a sequence of dialed digits and an authentication message transmitted by said mobile station; means for generating a local version of said first number derived from said received sequence of dialed digits and the number of digits in said received sequence of dialed digits; means for generating a locally generated authentication message in accordance with said locally generated first number; and means for comparing said locally generated authentication message with said received authentication message. 16. The base station of claim 15 wherein means for generating said local version of said first number sets part of said first number to said number of digits in said received sequence of dialed digits.