Pre-authentication method, device and system

摘要

The present invention relates to mobile communications technologies, and discloses a method, device, and system for pre-authentication. The method includes:
receiving a pre-authentication message that carries a pre-authentication option; determining a Mobile Node (MN) to be pre-authenticated according to the pre-authentication message; sending an authentication request message to an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server to request authentication of the MN, where the authentication request message carries the pre-authentication option; receiving an authentication response message that is sent by the AAA server, where the authentication response message carries a pre-authentication key used between a Candidate Authenticator (CA) and the MN; and sending the pre-authentication key to the MN. The system includes a pre-authentication device and an AAA server. Through implementation of the present invention, the pre-authentication key is used to protect communication between the MN and the CA. In this way, security of communication is enhanced, and delay of switching and authentication is shortened.