Method and apparatus for updating an authorization key in a communication system

A method for operating a base station to update a Pairwise Master Key (PMK)/Authorization Key (AK) of a mobile station in an idle mode in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving a first location update request from the mobile station, the first location update request including a request for updating the PMK/AK;
• generating a NONCE_BS, wherein the NONCE_BS is a random number used for updating the PMK;
• transmitting a first response to the first location update request, the first response to the first location update request including the NONCE_BS;
• receiving a second location update request from the mobile station, the second location update request including the NONCE_BS and a NONCE_MS, wherein the NONCE_MS is a random number associated with the mobile station and used for updating the PMK;
• transmitting the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS to a Paging Controller (PC)/authorization station;
• receiving the AK from the PC/authorization station;
• and
• transmitting a second response to the second location update request, the second response to the second location update request including the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS.

A method for operating a mobile station in an idle mode to update a Pairwise Master Key (PMK)/Authorization Key (AK) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• acquiring a NONCE_BS, wherein the NONCE_BS is a random number associated with a base station and used for updating the PMK;
• generating a NONCE_MS, wherein the NONCE_MS is a random number used for updating the PMK;
• generating the PMK/AK using the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS;
• transmitting a location update request to the base station, the location update request including the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS;
• receiving a response to the location update request from the base station, the response to the location update request including the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS;
• and
• confirming the PMK/AK based on the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS.

A method for operating a base station to update a Pairwise Master Key (PMK)/Authorization Key (AK) of a mobile station in an idle mode in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving a location update request from the mobile station, the location update request including a NONCE_BS and a NONCE_MS, wherein the NONCE_BS is a random number associated with the base station and used for updating the PMK and the NONCE_MS is a random number generated by the mobile station and used for updating the PMK;
• transmitting the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS to a Paging Controller (PC)/authorization station;
• receiving the AK from the PC/authorization station;
• and
• transmitting a first response to the location update request, the first response to the location update request including the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS.

A method for operating a mobile station to update a Pairwise Master Key (PMK)/Authorization Key (AK) during a zone switching in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving a first message indicating that the zone switching is to be performed from a first base station, the first message indicating that the zone switching is to be performed including a NONCE_BS, wherein the NONCE_BS is a random number associated with a second base station and used for updating the PMK;
• generating a NONCE_MS, wherein the NONCE_MS is a random number used for updating the PMK;
• generating the PMK/AK using the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS;
• transmitting a second message for the zone switching to the second base station, the second message for the zone switching including the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS;
• receiving a response to the second message for the zone switching from the second base station, the response to the second message for the zone switching including the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS;
• and
• confirming the AK based on the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS.

A method for operating a base station to update a Pairwise Master Key (PMK)/Authorization Key (AK) during a zone switching in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• generating a NONCE_BS which is a random number associated with a second base station and used for updating the PMK of the PMK/AK;
• transmitting a first message indicating that the zone switching is to be performed in a first base station, the first message indicating that the zone switching is to be performed including the NONCE_BS;
• receiving a second message for a zone switching request containing a NONCE_MS and the NONCE_BS from a mobile station;
• transmitting the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS to an authorization station;
• receiving the AK of the PMK/AK from the authorization station;
• and
• transmitting a response to the zone switching request in the second base station, the response to the zone switching request including the NONCE_BS and the NONCE_MS.