Patent ID: 8359470

Claim:
A method of operating a wireless communication system, the method comprising: exchanging wireless communications between a wireless access node and a wireless communication device to perform a network entry process, wherein the network entry process comprises at least a capability exchange phase and a subsequent authentication exchange phase; monitoring performance characteristics of a wireless link between the wireless communication device and the wireless access node carrying the wireless communications of the network entry process; during the capability exchange phase, transferring a capability negotiation message from the wireless communication device, and receiving the capability negotiation message in the wireless access node; during the authentication exchange phase, transferring an authentication key associated with the wireless communication device and a digital signature for the capability negotiation message from the wireless communication device, and receiving the authentication key associated with the wireless communication device and the digital signature for the capability negotiation message in the wireless access node; authenticating the capability negotiation message by processing the digital signature for the capability negotiation message and the authentication key associated with the wireless communication device; detecting when the network entry process is discontinued if the capability negotiation message is not authentic; and processing the performance characteristics and a time of when the network entry process is discontinued to determine if the performance characteristics at the time of when the network entry process is discontinued indicate a security breach on the wireless link.