Methods and Apparatuses Generating a Radio Base Station Key in a Cellular Radio System
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
InventorsRolf Blom, Magnus Stattin, Karl Norrman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method and a system for providing secure communication in a cellular radio system radio base station key is generated by determining a set of data bits known to both the UE and the radio base station, and creating the radio base station key in response to the determined set of data.
Claims21
A method of creating a derived radio base station key in a source radio base station of a cellular radio system in a connection with a User Equipment (UE) being connectable to the cellular radio system, said method comprising:
- creating the radio base station key based on a determined set of data and an existing cryptographic key used for communication between the UE and the source radio base station;
- wherein the determined set of data is a physical cell identity specific to a particular target cell, known to both the UE and the source radio base station.
A node for use in a cellular radio system, the node being adapted to create a derived radio base station key, and wherein the node is configured to:
- determine a public physical cell identity specific to a particular target cell known to both a User Equipment (UE) communicating with the cellular radio system via a secure communication associated with an existing cryptographic key and a radio base station of the cellular radio system;
- and
- create the radio base station key based on the physical cell identity and the existing key.
A method of creating a Terminal Identity Token for identifying a User Equipment (UE) connected to a radio base station in a radio system, wherein the UE communicates with a radio base station via a secure communication associated with an existing cryptographic key, said method comprising:
- creating the Terminal Identity Token based on a physical cell identity of a target cell known to both the UE and the radio base station, the terminal identity and the existing key.
A method in a radio base station acting as a target base station for identifying a User Equipment (UE) wherein the UE communicates with a source radio base station via a secure communication associated with an existing cryptographic key, said method comprising:
- receiving a Terminal Identity Token from a source base station, the Terminal Identity Token being generated by the source base station based on a physical cell identity of a target cell, the terminal identity and the existing key;
- receiving a Terminal Identity Token from a UE, the Terminal Identity Token being generated by the UE based on a physical cell identity of a target cell, the terminal identity and the existing key;
- and
- identifying the UE in the target radio base station based on the received Terminal Identity Token.
A User Equipment (UE) adapted to identify itself, the UE being connectable to a radio base station in a radio system and adapted to communicate with a base station of the radio system via a secure communication associated with a unique existing encryption key, and wherein said UE is configured to:
- create the Terminal Identity Token based on a physical cell identity of a target cell known to both the UE and the radio base station, the terminal identity and the existing key;
- and
- transmit the Terminal Identity Token to one of the radio base stations of the radio system as an identity of the UE.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.