METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ESTABLISHING SECURITY ASSOCIATIONS AND PERFORMING HANDOFF AUTHENTICATION IN COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

摘要

A method of providing secure communications between a base station, a relay station, and a mobile station in a communication network includes receiving, by the relay station, an unsolicited security key from the base station; receiving, by the relay station, a signaling message from the mobile station; and authenticating, by the relay station, the mobile station using the security key. A method of providing secure communications between a base station, a relay station, and a mobile station in a communication network includes receiving, by the relay station, a signaling message from the mobile station; transmitting, by the relay station, subsequent to receiving the signaling message, a security key request to the base station; receiving, by the relay station, a security key from the base station in response to the previously sent security key request; and authenticating, by the relay station, the mobile station using the received security key.