Identity privacy in wireless networks

A user equipment comprising:

• a memory configured to store a privacy mobile subscriber identity (PMSI);
• a transceiver configured to:
• send the PMSI in place of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to identify the UE with an initial attach message to a serving network;
• and
• receive, from the serving network, an authentication request that includes a next PMSI determined by a server in communication with the serving network, the next PMSI being derived from the PMSI;
• and
• a processor configured to generate an acknowledgment of receipt, wherein the transceiver is further configured send the acknowledgement of receipt to the server via the serving network.

A method for setting up network access with a server on a network, comprising:

• receiving, from a user equipment (UE) via one or more network elements in an intervening serving network, a privacy mobile subscriber identity (PMSI) in place of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to identify the UE from an initial attach message;
• determining, by the server, a next PMSI based on the PMSI;
• transmitting, from the server, authentication information to the serving network that includes the next PMSI, wherein the next PMSI is relayed by the serving network to the UE as part of authentication;
• and
• receiving, from the UE via the serving network, an acknowledgement of receipt that includes confirmation of the next PMSI.

A server comprising:

• a database configured to store a plurality of privacy mobile subscriber identities (PMSI) of user equipment (UE);
• a transceiver configured to receive, via one or more network elements in an intervening serving network from a UE, a privacy mobile subscriber identity (PMSI) in place of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to identify the UE from an initial attach message;
• and
• a processor configured to determine a next PMSI for the UE based on the PMSI;
• wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit authentication information to the serving network that includes the next PMSI, wherein the next PMSI is relayed by the serving network to the UE as part of authentication, and receive an acknowledgement of receipt that includes confirmation of the next PMSI from the UE via the serving network.

A computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

• code for causing a user equipment (UE) to send a privacy mobile subscriber identity (PMSI) in place of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to identify the UE with an initial attach message to a serving network;
• code for causing the UE to receive, from the serving network, an authentication request that includes a next PMSI determined by a server in communication with the serving network, the next PMSI being derived from the PMSI;
• and
• code for causing the UE to send an acknowledgment of receipt of the next PMSI to the server via the serving network.

A computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

• code for causing a server to receive, from a user equipment (UE) via one or more network elements in an intervening serving network, a privacy mobile subscriber identity (PMSI) in place of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to identify the UE from an initial attach message;
• code for causing the server to determine a next PMSI based on the PMSI;
• code for causing the server to transmit authentication information to the serving network that includes the next PMSI, wherein the next PMSI is relayed by the serving network to the UE as part of authentication;
• and
• code for causing the server to receive, from the UE via the serving network, an acknowledgement of receipt that includes confirmation of the next PMSI.