Fast Re-authentication for Handovers in Wireless Communication Networks.

The evolution of wireless access technologies and the capabilities of today's mobile devices lead to an increasing demand of communication bandwidth. More and more packet-switched wireless access networks like Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and networks based on Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) are publicly available and operated by different providers. In order to achieve a high network coverage isolated access network providers are supposed to co-operate and to support handovers for users from access networks belonging to the same core network. Efficient authentication mechanisms are required that on the one hand exclude unauthorized users from the network and on the other hand support seamless handovers across access network boundaries. We propose a ticket-based fast re-authentication scheme that is independent from the actual authentication method and that only slightly modifies well-established standards like the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) and the Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS). As it is network technology independent, it in principle also allows fast handovers across different access network technologies. Keywords: Wireless Networks, Authentication, Handover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]