Method for updating group temporal key, related apparatus and system

1. A method for updating a group temporal key, comprising:

setting, by an access point (AP), an updating period of a group temporal key (GTK);

updating, by the AP, the GTK whenever the updating period of the GTK occurs;

receiving, by the AP, a GTK request that is sent by a mobile station (STA) in an association list within a preset delay time period shorter than the updating period of the GTK, wherein the association list records all mobile stations communicating with the AP;

sending, by the AP, the updated GTK to the mobile stations in the association list according to the GTK request sent by the STA when determining the GTK request sent by the STA is sent within the preset delay time period after the updating period of the GTK occurs;

adding, by the AP, a new mobile station into the association list when the new mobile station associates with the AP; receiving, by the AP, a GTK request sent by the new mobile station; and

sending, by the AP, an old GTK to the new mobile station when the AP has not updated the GTK and stills uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

sending, by the AP, both the old GTK and the updated GTK to the new mobile station when the AP has updated the GTK but still uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and uses the updated GTK after the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.

3. A method for updating a group temporal key, comprising:

setting, by a first mobile station (STA), a requesting period of a GTK; and

sending, by the first STA a GTK request to an access point (AP) associated with the first STA in an association list, so that the AP assigns a GTK to the first STA when determining the GTK request is sent within a preset delay period after occurrence of the requesting period of the GTK, wherein an updating period of the GTK set by the AP is the same as the requesting period of the GTK,

wherein a new mobile station is added to the association list when the new mobile station associates with the AP,

wherein when the new mobile station sends a GTK request, an old GTK is sent to the new mobile station when the AP has not updated the GTK and stills uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

sending, by a second mobile station (STA), a GTK request to the AP when the second STA associates with the AP; and

receiving, by the second STA, an updated GTK and the old GTK that is still used, wherein the updated GTK and the old GTK are sent by the AP, so that the second STA uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the requesting period of the GTK, and uses the updated GTK after the preset delay time period which occurs after the requesting period of the GTK.

5. The method according to claim 3 ,

wherein the second STA uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the requesting period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay time period after the requesting period of the GTK.

6. An access point (AP), comprising:

at least one processor configured to implement:

a period setting unit, configured to set an updating period of a group temporal key (GTK);

an updating unit, configured to update the GTK whenever the updating period of the GTK occurs;

a receiving unit, configured to receive a GTK request that is sent by a mobile station (STA) in an association list within a preset delay time period is shorter than the updating period of the GTK, wherein the association list records all mobile stations communicating with the access point; and

a sending unit, configured to send the updated GTK to the mobile stations in the association list according to the GTK request sent by the STA when determining the GTK request sent by the STA is sent within the preset delay time period after of the updating period of the GTK occurs,

wherein the updating unit is further configured to add a new mobile station into the association list when the new mobile station associates with the access point; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a GTK request sent by the new mobile station; and

the sending unit is further configured to send both an old GTK and the updated GTK to the new mobile station when the access point has updated the GTK but still uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and uses the updated GTK after the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.

7. The access point according to claim 6 , wherein, the sending unit is further configured to send the old GTK to the new mobile station when the access point has not updated the GTK and stills uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the access point within the preset delay time period after the updating period of the GTK.

8. A mobile station (STA), comprising:

at least one processor configured to implement:

a period setting unit, configured to set a requesting period of a group temporal key (GTK); and

a sending unit, configured to send a GTK request to an access point (AP) associated with the STA, so that the AP assigns a GTK to the STA when determining the GTK request is sent within a preset delay period after occurrence of the requesting period of the GTK, wherein an updating period of the GTK set by the access point is the same as the requesting period of the GTK,

wherein a new mobile station is added to the association list when the new mobile station associates with the AP, and a GTK request is sent by the new mobile station, and

wherein an old GTK is sent to the new mobile station when the AP has not updated the GTK and stills uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.

9. A mobile station (STA), comprising:

at least one processor configured to implement:

a period setting unit, configured to set a requesting period of a group temporal key (GTK);

a sending unit, configured to send a GTK request to an access point (AP) when the STA associates with the AP, so that the AP assigns a GTK to the STA when determining the GTK request is sent within a preset delay period after occurrence of the requesting period of the GTK,

wherein an updating period of the GTK set by the AP is the same as the requesting period of the GTK; and

a first receiving unit, configured to receive an updated GTK and an old GTK that is still used, wherein the updated GTK and the old GTK are sent by the AP, so that the STA uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the requesting period of the GTK, and uses the updated GTK after the preset delay time period which occurs after the requesting period of the GTK occurs;

wherein a new mobile station is added to the association list when the new mobile station associates with the AP, and a GTK request is sent by the new mobile station, and

wherein the old GTK is sent to the new mobile station when the AP has not updated the GTK and stills uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.

10. A mobile station (STA), comprising:

at least one processor configured to implement:

a period setting unit, configured to set a requesting period of a group temporal key (GTK);

a sending unit, configured to send a GTK request to an access point (AP) when the STA associates with the AP, so that the AP assigns a GTK to the STA when determining the GTK request is sent within a preset delay period after occurrence of the requesting period of the GTK,

wherein an updating period of the GTK set by the AP is the same as the requesting period of the GTK;

a second receiving unit, configured to receive an old GTK that is still used and sent by the AP, so that the STA uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the requesting period of the GTK, and

wherein the sending unit is further configured to send a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay time period which occurs after the requesting period of the GTK;

wherein a new mobile station is added to the association list when the new mobile station associates with the AP, and a GTK request is sent by the new mobile station, and

wherein the old GTK is sent to the new mobile station when the AP has not updated the GTK and stills uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.

11. A system for updating a group temporal key, comprising:

a mobile station (STA);

an access point (AP) including:

a period setting unit, configured to set an updating period of a group temporal key (GTK);

an updating unit, configured to update the GTK whenever the updating period of the GTK occurs;

a receiving unit, configured to receive a GTK request that is sent by a mobile station (STA) in an association list within a preset delay time period is shorter than the updating period of the GTK, wherein the association list records all mobile stations communicating with the access point; and

a sending unit, configured to send the updated GTK to the mobile stations in the association list according to the GTK request sent by the STA when the GTK request sent by the STA is within the preset delay time period after the updating period of the GTK occurs;

the STA, including:

a period setting unit, configured to set a requesting period of the GTK; and

a sending unit, configured to send a GTK request to the AP associated with the STA, so that the AP assigns a GTK to the STA when determining the GTK request is sent within the preset delay period after occurrence of the requesting period of the GTK, wherein an updating period of the GTK set by the AP is the same as the requesting period of the GTK;

wherein the AP adds a new mobile station into the association list when the new mobile station associates with the access point, and the AP receives a GTK request sent by the new mobile station, and

wherein the AP sends an old GTK to the new mobile station when the access point has not updated the GTK and stills uses the old GTK, so that the new mobile station uses the old GTK prior to the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK, and sends a GTK request to the AP within the preset delay time period which occurs after the updating period of the GTK.