US 2019/0246271 A1 · NETWORK NODES AND METHODS PERFORMED BY NETWORK NODE FOR SELECTING AUTHENTICATION MECHANISM

Abstract

Methods and network nodes of a wireless communications network are disclosed. The network nodes are operable to initiate a plurality of authentication mechanisms. Responsive to receipt of a request for authentication transmitted by a terminal device of the wireless communications network, the network nodes are configured to select an authentication mechanism from the plurality of authentication mechanisms; and are further configured to initiate the selected authentication mechanism to authenticate the terminal device with the wireless communications network.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method for initiating authentication, the method being performed by a network node located in a core network of a home mobile network and comprising:

responsive to receipt of a request transmitted from a visited mobile network for authentication of a terminal device having a subscription in the home mobile network, selecting an authentication mechanism from a plurality of authentication mechanisms which the network node is operable to initiate, wherein each authentication mechanism comprises an authentication method and a network location in which the authentication method is to be carried out and which network location is either the home mobile network or the visited mobile network, and
initiating the selected authentication mechanism to authenticate the terminal device.

A network node for initiating authentication, comprising processor circuitry and a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that are executable by the processor circuitry whereby the network node is located in a core network of a home mobile network and is operative to:

responsive to receipt of a request for authentication transmitted from a visited mobile network for authentication of a terminal device having a subscription in the home mobile network, select an authentication mechanism from a plurality of authentication mechanisms which the network node is operable to initiate, wherein each authentication mechanism comprises an authentication method and a network location in which the authentication method is to be carried out and which network location is either the home mobile network or the visited mobile network;
and
initiate the selected authentication mechanism to authenticate the terminal device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network nodes and methods performed by network node for selecting authentication mechanism

Life of this patent

Network nodes and methods performed by network node for selecting authentication mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27