Verification of cell authenticity in a wireless network through traffic monitoring

Abstract

We disclose various embodiments that enable a mobile terminal to confirm authenticity of a base station before the mobile terminal proceeds to camp on the corresponding cell. In an example embodiment, the authentication processing includes the mobile terminal tuning to a selected control channel of the base station to monitor RF signals transmitted thereon. The base station is deemed to be authentic if the monitored RF signals indicate the presence of live traffic between the base station and one or more other mobile terminals. The control channel can be selected from a fixed set of uplink and/or downlink control channels that are typically used by a legitimate base station. The presence of live traffic on the selected control channel can be detected by detecting certain control messages that are typically transmitted on that control channel between the base station and one or more mobile terminals served by that base station.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.