Multi-tier service and secure wireless communications networks

摘要

The present invention pertains to improved communication quality and security of transmission in cellular communication networks. A customer has the option to pay different fees for different tiers of service relating to voice quality, bandwidth access, and different tiers of service relating to communications security. Higher tiers may guarantee a specific vocoder or bit rate is used, or guarantee a specific encryption protocol is use to ensure secure communications. Different tiers may be associated with customers' records for billing purposes. The network may afford high end devices higher voice quality and/or security via a lookup table indicating what level of service is associated with a given device. Calling or receiving devices may negotiate with each other to change to a more robust vocoder or bit rate to ensure a higher quality and/or security. Furthermore, the user may opt to change the quality and/or security level before or during a call.

主权项

1. A method of setting a security protocol in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of base stations, the method comprising:
determining a security service level associated with a first mobile station registered with the wireless communication network; determining a security service level associated with a second mobile station; determining, using one or more processors, whether the first mobile station and the second mobile station belong to a closed group sharing one or more security service levels; identifying, using any of the one or more processors, whether there is a higher tier security service level and a lower tier security service level from among the first mobile station and the second mobile station security service levels; and when there is the higher tier security service level and the lower tier security service level, setting, using any of the one or more processors, a security protocol for use in communication between the first and the second mobile stations through one or more of the plurality of base stations, the setting being determined by at least one of the higher tier security service level and the lower tier security service level; wherein the setting is in accordance with an encryption protocol and one or more service guarantees, the one or more service guarantees including at least one of a minimum bandwidth, a maximum compression, a security level and a minimum quality of communication level.