Patent ID: 7835527

Claim:
A method for use in reducing processing time associated with ciphering information communicated in a mobile station, the mobile station configurable to operate in a wireless network, the method comprising: receiving, by the mobile station, a ciphering mode information message originated from the wireless network; determining that the ciphering mode information message is part of a security mode command message; identifying and processing radio bearer downlink ciphering activation time information in the ciphering mode information message; producing radio bearer uplink ciphering activation time information, and, generating a response message to the ciphering mode information message which includes the radio bearer uplink ciphering activation time information; transmitting the response message; and when the ciphering mode information message is part of a message that is different from a security code command message: refraining from processing radio bearer downlink ciphering activation time information in the ciphering mode information message, and, not producing an associated radio bearer uplink ciphering activation time, and, generating a response message to the non-security-mode-command message which does not include an associated radio bearer uplink ciphering activation time.