Patent ID: 7519354

Claim:
A method, comprising: authenticating a communications device by a network element configured with at least one authentication parameter, said at least one authentication parameter being selected at least partially based on a current time and a plurality of predetermined associations between segments of time and corresponding amounts of signaling traffic; wherein said communications device is authenticated at least partially based on an event counter threshold associated with a time segment during which a traffic event occurs, wherein an individual time segment is associated with a corresponding event counter threshold, a first time segment being associated with low signaling traffic and an event counter threshold corresponding to a first number of traffic events; and wherein a second time segment is associated with a higher amount of signaling traffic and an event counter threshold corresponding to a second number of traffic events less than said first number of traffic events, wherein said traffic events comprise: CPU Utilization, SRI causing PRN, Location Update Requests, CISS Requests, SMS Routing Requests, Report SM Delivery Requests, Ready For SM Request, USSD Requests and Indications Standby Requests, Send Routing Info for LCS Requests, Message Diversions, ATSI Requests and ATMod Requests.