Importance

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Abstract

In known telecommunications systems using multiple access the terminal equipment assumes that the network element is genuine while the network element assumes that the terminal equipment is genuine. This allows false terminal equipment, a false network element or a third party to penetrate the system. The proposed commitment protocol applies bit block commitment known from cryptography and a shared encryption key and the authentication is divided into two parts, whereby one part of it is done by the terminal equipment and the other part is done by the network. The terminal equipment (MS) sends to the network element (BTS) a pseudo identifier (AMSI) which it has formed, whereupon encryption keys (MKEY, BKEY) are exchanged. Only when the network element has revealed its true identity, will the terminal equipment send the required information (IMSI, RND.sub.1, RND.sub.2) encrypted with a combination of the keys. Finally, the network element authenticates the terminal equipment by using the identity information which it has revealed. Only then can operation commence.

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First Claim