Exception handling in cellular authentication

Abstract

The cellular terminal sends a request to the cellular network for an authentication procedure trigger and responsively receives an authentication request message from the cellular network, the authentication request message having an indication of a selected encryption algorithm from a set of a plurality of encryption algorithms. The cellular terminal attempts to decode the authentication request message into a decoded authentication request according to the selected encryption algorithm and based on a shared secret known to the cellular terminal and the cellular terminal's network operator. the cellular terminal generating a determination of whether the attempt was successful and whether the cellular terminal supports the selected encryption algorithm in authenticating to the cellular network; and if the determination is affirmative, based on the decoded authenticating the request, the shared secret, and the selected encryption algorithm, generating and encrypting an authentication response message and sending the authentication response message to the cellular network; and in the event of a negative determination, generating a fault report and The fault report is sent to the cellular network.

Description

technical field [0001] This application relates generally to exception handling in cellular authentication. Background technique [0002] This section illustrates useful background information and is not an admission that any technology described herein represents prior art. [0003] Cellular networks, or more precisely cellular telecommunication networks, are ubiquitous in modern society. In order for a cellular terminal to initiate communication over a cellular network, the cellular terminal needs to attach or register with the network during a network registration process. During network registration, cellular terminals typically use the USIM application on the UICC, exchanging signals for authenticating themselves, or more precisely their subscriptions. During network registration, the cellular terminal obtains SIM access information, such as a session key, from the network, which the cellular terminal can then use to communicate in the cellular network. The access in...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This will cause error conditions that are not encountered today and need to be resolved in order to avoid modules not connecting at all

[0006] Although necessary for security, authentication signaling unfortunately delays the completion of the network registration process

Furthermore, the inventors have now determined that in certain combinations of cellular terminal equipment, network configuration, and cryptographic authentication protocols, a cellular terminal may enter a permanent failure loop such that its user cannot establish a telecommunications connection at all

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