Authentication in a communication system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing Cellular Authentication Voice Encryption (CAVE) messages in an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) format. The CAVE messages are sent via an EAP transport mechanism. The Mobile Station (MS) is able to use a common authentication mechanism for other technologies.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A remote station apparatus comprising: 
 a processing unit;    a memory storage unit coupled to the processing unit, the memory storage unit storing authentication procedure instructions; and    a second memory storage unit coupled to the processing unit, the second memory storage unit storing a transport format instructions for transmitting the authentication procedure instructions.    
     
     
         2 . A method for authenticating a communication, comprising: 
 requesting a data service;    determining a voice communication authentication protocol; and    using the voice communication authentication protocol to authenticate the data service.    
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein using comprises: 
 storing messages of the voice authentication protocol in a transport message; and    transmitting the transport messages.    
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the authentication protocol is a Cellular Authentication Voice Encryption (CAVE) algorithm.  
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 4 , wherein the transport message is an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) message.  
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the transport message is an Extensible Authentication Protocol) message.  
     
     
         7 . An Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) message, comprising: 
 a first field for identifying the type of a message to transmit, the first field supporting a plurality of types, wherein one of the plurality of types in a Cellular Authentication Voice Encryption (CAVE) message; and    a second field for the message.    
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising: 
 sending Cellular Authentication Voice Encryption (CAVE) challenge message as an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) message;    receiving a CAVE response message as an EAP response message, the CAVE response message in response to the the CAVE challenge message; and    determining authentication of a service based on the CAVE response message.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for authenticating a communication, comprising: 
 means for requesting a data service;    means for determining a voice communication authentication protocol; and    means for using the voice communication authentication protocol to authenticate the data service.