IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,638,324
Granted Patent B2
US 10,638,324 · App. 16/424,751 · Granted Apr 28, 2020

Method and fake base station for detecting subscriber identity

Inventor: Jukka Kemppainen (Tyrnävä, FI)
Assignee: EXFO OY
H04W12/12H04W8/18H04W12/0013H04W12/1006H04W48/02H04W64/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,638,324
App. No.
16/424,751
Granted
Apr 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and fake base station for detecting subscriber identity are disclosed. The method includes: capturing at least one wireless message containing an encrypted subscriber identity of a fifth generation mobile phone system transmitted from a mobile subscriber apparatus; transmitting a reject message of the fifth generation mobile phone system for the mobile subscriber apparatus; capturing at least one wireless message of the fourth generation mobile phone system transmitted from the mobile subscriber apparatus; detecting an unencrypted subscriber identity from the at least one captured wireless message of the fourth generation mobile phone system; and transmitting a disconnect message of the fourth generation mobile phone system for the mobile subscriber apparatus.

Claims (25)

1. A method comprising:

capturing, in a fake base station, at least one wireless message containing an encrypted subscriber identity of a fifth generation mobile phone system transmitted from a mobile subscriber apparatus interoperable both with the fifth generation mobile phone system and a fourth generation mobile phone system;

in response to the captured at least one wireless message of the fifth generation mobile phone system, transmitting, by the fake base station, a reject message of the fifth generation mobile phone system for the mobile subscriber apparatus;

after transmitting the reject message, capturing, in the fake base station, at least one wireless message of the fourth generation mobile phone system transmitted from the mobile subscriber apparatus;

detecting, by the fake base station, an unencrypted subscriber identity from the at least one captured wireless message of the fourth generation mobile phone system;

after detecting the unencrypted subscriber identity, transmitting, by the fake base station, a disconnect message of the fourth generation mobile phone system for the mobile subscriber apparatus;

generating a distance estimate related to the mobile subscriber apparatus based on radio parameters of at least one of the fourth generation mobile phone system, and the fifth generation mobile phone system; and

keeping the mobile subscriber apparatus connected to a fifth generation fake cell implemented by the fake base station for a maximum allowed time before transmitting the reject message.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encrypted subscriber identity comprises:

a Subscription Concealed Identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unencrypted subscriber identity comprises:

an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

4. A fake base station comprising:

one or more processing units and one or more radio transceivers configured to perform the following:

capturing at least one wireless message containing an encrypted subscriber identity of a fifth generation mobile phone system transmitted from a mobile subscriber apparatus interoperable both with the fifth generation mobile phone system and a fourth generation mobile phone system;

in response to the captured at least one wireless message of the fifth generation mobile phone system, transmitting a reject message of the fifth generation mobile phone system for the mobile subscriber apparatus;

after transmitting the reject message, capturing at least one wireless message of the fourth generation mobile phone system transmitted from the mobile subscriber apparatus;

detecting an unencrypted subscriber identity from the at least one captured wireless message of the fourth generation mobile phone system;

after detecting the unencrypted subscriber identity, transmitting a disconnect message of the fourth generation mobile phone system for the mobile subscriber apparatus;

generating a distance estimate related to the mobile subscriber apparatus based on radio parameters of at least one of the fourth generation mobile phone system, and the fifth generation mobile phone system; and

keeping the mobile subscriber apparatus connected to a fifth generation fake cell implemented by the fake base station for a maximum allowed time before transmitting the reject message.

5. The fake base station of claim 4 , wherein the encrypted subscriber identity comprises:

a Subscription Concealed Identifier.

6. The fake base station of claim 4 , wherein the unencrypted subscriber identity comprises:

an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: KEMPPAINEN, JUKKA
To: EXFO OY
Reel/Frame 049517/0012 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 18174859 · May 29, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190373473A1 · Dec 5, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,457,488