ENABLING EMERGENCY ACCESS TO SECURE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

摘要

Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for improving public safety communications and real-time information sharing to enable a public safety user to access available, secure private wireless communications (PWC) networks within a vicinity of an emergency for communications and data-sharing purposes. In an embodiment, a universal encryption key (UEK) is stored on a public safety access device. The public safety access device is providing access to a secure PWC network. The UEK is a key established by a certificate authority that enables public safety personnel to access the secure PWC network. Then, a public safety encryption key (PSKey) is received by the public safety access device from a user communication device. The public safety access device enables access for the user communication to access the secure PWC network upon a determination that the received PSKey is associated with the UEK.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
a memory storing an encrypted key repository that stores an association between a universal encryption key (UEK) and a public safety encryption key (PSKey), wherein the UEK is a key established by a certificate authority that enables public safety personnel to access a secure private wireless communications (PWC) network; a PWC controller module configured to control one or more wireless transceivers for accessing the secure PWC network and communicating with a user device of the public safety personnel; an authentication module coupled to the PWC controller module and configured to determine whether a PSKey received from the user device, via the one or more wireless transceivers, is associated with the UEK stored in the encrypted key repository; and a PWC network gateway application module coupled to the PWC controller module and the authentication module, and configured to communicatively connect the user device to the secure PWC network upon a determination that the received PSKey is associated with the stored UEK.