Subscriber identification device, method and apparatus for providing local authentication in a communication system

摘要

Methods and apparatus are presented for providing local authentication of subscribers travelling outside their home systems. A subscriber identification token 230 provides authentication support by generating a signature 370 based upon a key that is held secret from a mobile unit 220. A mobile unit 220 that is programmed to wrongfully retain keys from a subscriber identification token 230 after a subscriber has removed his or her token is prevented from subsequently accessing the subscriber's account.