Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of communication units, a method for updating a communication unit parameter comprising steps of: determining an update method preference value for the wireless communication system; partitioning the plurality of communication units into at least one group and partitioning the at least one group into at least one subgroup, wherein communication units of the at least one group are individually and commonly addressable within the wireless communication system; for each subgroup of the at least one subgroup: determining a number of communication units within the subgroup; applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to a predetermined function to select an update method; and using the update method to update the communication unit parameter in the communication units of the subgroup.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of communication units, a method for updating a communication unit parameter comprising steps of: determining an update method preference value for the wireless communication system; partitioning the plurality of communication units into at least one group and partitioning the at least one group into at least one subgroup, wherein communication units of the at least one group are individually and commonly addressable within the wireless communication system; for each subgroup of the at least one subgroup: determining a number of communication units within the subgroup; applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to a predetermined function to select an update method; and using the update method to update the communication unit parameter in the communication units of the subgroup.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the update method preference value between a group update method and an individual update method.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of partitioning the at least one group into the at least one subgroup based on at least one coverage area within the wireless communication system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method of claim 2, the step of applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to the predetermined function to select the update method further comprising steps of: calculating a group method truth value based on the update method preference value and the number of communication units as applied to the predetermined function; calculating an individual method truth value based on the update method preference value and the number of communication units as applied to the predetermined function; choosing the group update method as the update method when the group method truth value is greater than the individual method truth value; and choosing the individual update method as the update method when the group method truth value is not greater than the individual method truth value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of using the update method to update the communication unit parameter in the communication units of the subgroup, wherein the communication unit parameter is at least one encryption key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of using the update method to update the communication unit parameter in the communication units of the subgroup, wherein the communication unit parameter is an encryption map index.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an key management controller that includes a processor, wherein the key management controller operates within a wireless communication system and controls encryption keys for a plurality of communication units within the wireless communication system, a method for updating at least one encryption key comprising steps of: determining an update method preference value between a group update method and an individual update method for the wireless communication system; partitioning the plurality of communication units into at least one group and partitioning the at least one group into at least one subgroup, wherein communication units of the at least one group are individually and commonly addressable within the wireless communication system; for each subgroup of the at least one subgroup: determining a number of communication units within the subgroup; applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to a predetermined function to select one of either the group update method or the individual update method to produce a selected update method; and using the selected update method to update the at least one encryption key, via the wireless communication system, in the communication units of the subgroup.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an key management controller that includes a processor, wherein the key management controller operates within a wireless communication system and controls encryption keys for a plurality of communication units within the wireless communication system, a method for updating at least one encryption key comprising steps of: determining an update method preference value between a group update method and an individual update method for the wireless communication system; partitioning the plurality of communication units into at least one group and partitioning the at least one group into at least one subgroup, wherein communication units of the at least one group are individually and commonly addressable within the wireless communication system; for each subgroup of the at least one subgroup: determining a number of communication units within the subgroup; applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to a predetermined function to select one of either the group update method or the individual update method to produce a selected update method; and using the selected update method to update the at least one encryption key, via the wireless communication system, in the communication units of the subgroup.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
The method of claim 7, the step of applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to the predetermined function to produce a selected update method further comprising steps of: calculating a group method truth value based on the update method preference value and the number of communication units as applied to the predetermined function; calculating an individual method truth value based on the update method preference value and the number of communication units as applied to the predetermined function; choosing the group update method as the selected update method when the group method truth value is greater than the individual update truth value; and choosing the individual update method as the selected update method when the group method truth value is not greater than the individual method truth value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
In an key management controller that includes a processor, wherein the key management controller operates within a wireless communication system and controls an encryption map index for a plurality of communication units within the wireless communication system, a method for updating the encryption map index comprising steps of: determining an update method preference value between a group update method and an individual update method for the wireless communication system; partitioning the plurality of communication units into at least one group and partitioning the at least one group into at least one subgroup, wherein communication units of the at least one group are individually and commonly addressable within the wireless communication system; for each subgroup of the at least one subgroup: determining a number of communication units within the subgroup; applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to a predetermined function to select one of either the group update method or the individual update method to produce a selected update method; and using the selected update method to update the encryption map index, via the wireless communication system, in the communication units of the subgroup.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
In an key management controller that includes a processor, wherein the key management controller operates within a wireless communication system and controls an encryption map index for a plurality of communication units within the wireless communication system, a method for updating the encryption map index comprising steps of: determining an update method preference value between a group update method and an individual update method for the wireless communication system; partitioning the plurality of communication units into at least one group and partitioning the at least one group into at least one subgroup, wherein communication units of the at least one group are individually and commonly addressable within the wireless communication system; for each subgroup of the at least one subgroup: determining a number of communication units within the subgroup; applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to a predetermined function to select one of either the group update method or the individual update method to produce a selected update method; and using the selected update method to update the encryption map index, via the wireless communication system, in the communication units of the subgroup.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
The method of claim 9, the step of applying the update method preference value and the number of communication units to the predetermined function to produce a selected update method further comprising steps of: calculating a group method truth value based on the update method preference value and the number of communication units as applied to the predetermined function; calculating an individual update truth value based on the update method preference value and the number of communication units as applied to the predetermined function; choosing the group update method as the selected update method when the group method truth value is greater than the individual update truth value; and choosing the individual update method as the selected update method when the group method truth value is not greater than the individual method truth value.