Patent ID: 6980795

Claim:
A wireless network, comprising: a radio network controller; and a wireless terminal, wherein said radio network controller is operable to transmit a first message to said wireless terminal, the first message being indicative of an initiation of a cipher key change, wherein said terminal is operable to transmit an acknowledge command to said radio network controller, said acknowledge command for preventing the radio network controller from re-transmitting the first message after a specified period of time; wherein said wireless terminal is operable to transmit a second message to said radio network controller subsequent to a reception of the first message by said wireless terminal, the second message being coded with a new cipher key as an acknowledgement of the cipher key change by said wireless terminal wherein said radio network controller is operable to transmit a third message to said wireless terminal immediately upon reception of the second message by said radio network controller, the third message being indicative of a deciphering by said radio network controller of the second message with the new cipher key wherein the third message is coded with the new cipher key as an indication that said radio network controller deciphered the second message with the new cipher key.