Patent ID: 7613299

Claim:
A method for use in authenticating a service network to a station, the method comprising: reducing amount of authentication vector traffic by establishing a shared secret key (SSK(i)) between said service network and said station using one authentication vector when said authentication vector is generated by a home environment of said station, thereby obtaining a shared secret authentication vector (SSAV); storing said SSAV at the service network, said SSK(i) being extracted by said service network and shared between said service network and said station; transmitting information to the station from the service network that enables the station to compute the key stored at the service network; receiving a request for service at the service network from the station; adjusting a verification value at each usage of the key; and transmitting, from the service network to the station, information corresponding to the verification value that forms a part of a verification computation enabling the station to authenticate the service network.