Method and system for providing cellular assisted secure communications of a plurality of ad hoc devices

1. A method for providing secure communications among a plurality of ad hoc devices, the method comprising:

authenticating one or more first devices within a first network;

authenticating one or more second devices within a second network;

transmitting a group key to the authenticated first devices and to the authenticated second devices;

establishing an ad hoc network by at least one of the authenticated first devices and at least one of the authenticated second devices using the group key;

communicating within the ad hoc network among the at least one of the authenticated first devices and the at least one of the authenticated second devices;

communicating within the first network by the authenticated first devices using a first service group key; and communicating within the second network by the authenticated second devices using a second service group key.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the first network comprises a first cellular network operated by a first service provider, and

further wherein the second network comprises a second cellular network operated by a second service provider.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 ,

wherein the first network includes a first security service center, and further wherein the authenticating one or more first devices step comprises each of the one or more first devices authenticating itself with the first security service center; and

further wherein the second network includes a second security service center, and further wherein the authenticating one or more second devices step comprises each of the one or more second devices authenticating itself with the second security service center.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:

transmitting the first service group key from the first security service center to the authenticated first devices;

transmitting the second service group key from the second security service center to the authenticated second devices.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the establishing the ad hoc network step comprises the at least one of the authenticated first devices and the at least one of the authenticated second devices exchanging control packets encrypted with the group key for route discovery.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a re-authentication delay offset time to the authenticated first devices; and

re-authenticating the authenticated first devices at a time at least equal to the re-authentication delay offset time.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first network includes a first security service center, and wherein the transmitting the re-authentication delay offset step comprises:

transmitting the re-authentication delay offset time from the first security service center to the authenticated first devices.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

transmitting a new general group key and a new service group key to the authenticated first devices prior to the re-authentication delay offset time; and

operating the authenticated first devices using the new general group key and the new service group key after the re-authentication step.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a re-authentication delay offset time to the authenticated second devices; and

re-authenticating the authenticated second devices at a time at least equal to the re-authentication delay offset time.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second network includes a second security service center, and wherein the transmitting the re-authentication delay offset step comprises:

transmitting the re-authentication delay offset from the second security service center to the authenticated second devices.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:

transmitting a new general group key and a new service group key to the authenticated second devices prior to the re-authentication delay offset time; and

operating the authenticated second devices using the new general group key and the new service group key after the re-authentication step.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a re-key message including a re-key time to the authenticated first devices; and

generating a re-authentication of at least one of the authenticated first devices when a current time is at least equal to the re-key time.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first network includes a first security service center, and wherein the transmitting the re-key message step comprises:

transmitting the re-key message from the first security service center to the authenticated first devices.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a re-key message to the authenticated second devices; and

generating a re-authentication of at least one of the authenticated second devices when a current time is at least equal to the re-key time.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the second network includes a second security service center, and wherein the transmitting the re-key message step comprises:

transmitting the re-key message from the second security service center to the authenticated second devices.

16. A method of operation of a dual-mode communication device, the method comprising:

authenticating the dual-mode communication device within a cellular network;

receiving a general group key via the cellular network;

communicating within an ad hoc network using the general group key to securely exchange control packets with one or more other devices operating within the ad hoc network;

receiving a service group key from the security service center via the cellular network;

and using the service group key to securely exchange control and data packets via the ad hoc network with one or more other cellular devices.

17. A method of operation of a dual-mode communication device as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:

receiving a service group key from the security service center via the cellular network; and

using the service group key to securely exchange control and data packets via the ad hoc network with one or more other cellular devices.

18. A method of operation of a dual-mode communication device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the authenticating step comprises:

transmitting a secret key from the dual-mode communication device to a security service center via the cellular network.

19. A method of operation of a dual-mode communication device comprising:

launching an application;

identifying a peer device for the application;

receiving a public key for the peer device via the cellular network in which the communication device and the peer device both operate;

authenticating the peer device with the received public key;

encrypting a session key with the peer device's public key;

exchanging the session key and a dual-mode communication device public key with the peer device via the ad hoc network;

encrypting application packets with the peer device using the session key and the service group key; and

communicating with the peer device communicate over an ad hoc network communication channel to process the various operations of the application.