US5875394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of mutual authentication for secure wireless service provision
Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
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Filing: 1996-12-27
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Granted: 1999-02-23
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Expires: 2016-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A mutual authentication process assures that a subscriber does not provide sensitive activation information to an imposter network and a network does not provide sensitive activation information to an imposter subscriber. The mutual authentication is facilitated by a pair of passwords that are communicated between the activation center of the network and the subscriber via a secure channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Kevin Daly
- 👤 Leslie Dale Owens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/26; H04W8/265; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/08; H04L63/0869; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/38; H04M3/382; H04W12/00; H04W12/06; H04W12/062; H04W12/068; H04L63/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for securing mobile station provisioning comprising the steps of: prior to a mobile station activation operation, providing to a subscriber of said mobile station a subscriber password and a network password; subsequent to the providing of the subscriber password and the network password, receiving a request for mobile station provisioning; upon receipt of said request requesting transmission of a subscriber password and verifying a received subscriber password; and wherein mobile station provisioning proceeds if the subscriber password is verified.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for securing mobile station provisioning comprising the steps of: prior to a mobile station activation operation, providing to a subscriber of said mobile station a subscriber password and a network password; subsequent to the providing of the subscriber password and the network password, receiving a request for mobile station provisioning; upon receipt of said request requesting transmission of a subscriber password and verifying a received subscriber password; and wherein mobile station provisioning proceeds if the subscriber password is verified.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of: transmitting a network password to a subscriber; and receiving notice of verification of said network password, wherein mobile station provisioning proceeds only if notice of verification of the network password is received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a subscriber password and network password comprises the steps of: generating a subscriber password and a network password; correlating the generated subscriber password and network password with a mobile station identifier; securely transmitting the subscriber password and network password to the subscriber associated with said mobile station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of transmitting comprises communicating the subscriber password and network password to the subscriber via a land-line telephone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of transmitting comprises the steps of: receiving a call via a land-line telephone from the subscriber; verifying the subscriber; and communicating said subscriber password and said network password to said subscriber during said call after verifying the subscriber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a system for over-the-air activation of a mobile station, a method for mutual authentication of a subscriber and a network comprising the steps of: provisioning a network password and a subscriber password to a subscriber associated with the mobile station; at the time of activation sending said network password to the mobile station; receiving a subscriber password from the mobile station; verifying the received subscriber password by comparing the received subscriber password to the subscriber password provisioned to the mobile station's subscriber; and authorizing activation if said received subscriber password matches the provisioned subscriber password.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a system for over-the-air activation of a mobile station, a method for mutual authentication of a subscriber and a network comprising the steps of: provisioning a network password and a subscriber password to a subscriber associated with the mobile station; at the time of activation sending said network password to the mobile station; receiving a subscriber password from the mobile station; verifying the received subscriber password by comparing the received subscriber password to the subscriber password provisioned to the mobile station's subscriber; and authorizing activation if said received subscriber password matches the provisioned subscriber password.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 comprising the further steps of receiving notification of verification of said network password.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of provisioning includes the steps of: receiving a secure call from the subscriber; and correlating in a database subscriber information, mobile station information, the network password and the subscriber password.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said secure call is via a land-line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 wherein one of said network password and said subscriber password is selected by the subscriber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the network selects said network password and said subscriber password and communicates said passwords to the subscriber during said secure call.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said secure call is via a land-line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of provisioning comprises: providing to said subscriber with the mobile station the network password and subscriber password; and correlating in a database subscriber information, mobile station information, the subscriber password and the network password.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said mobile station information includes an ESN associated with said mobile station.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for mutual authentication for mobile station provisioning comprising the steps of: during a password generation session at a network node, establishing a secure communication with a subscriber; generating a subscriber password and a network password; and transmitting said subscriber password and said network password to said subscriber; and during a provisioning session at a network node, receiving a first password from the mobile station; transmitting a second password to said mobile station; and provisioning said mobile station with activation data if said first password matches said subscriber password and said second password matches said network password.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for mutual authentication for mobile station provisioning comprising the steps of: during a password generation session at a network node, establishing a secure communication with a subscriber; generating a subscriber password and a network password; and transmitting said subscriber password and said network password to said subscriber; and during a provisioning session at a network node, receiving a first password from the mobile station; transmitting a second password to said mobile station; and provisioning said mobile station with activation data if said first password matches said subscriber password and said second password matches said network password.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said step of establishing a secure communication comprises receiving a call via a land-line telephone; and verifying said subscriber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-22 | 2002-08-24 | 2003-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-22 | 2006-08-24 | 2007-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-22 | 2010-08-24 | 2011-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |