Patent Application
20070097934
The field of invention relates generally to wireless networks and, more specifically but not exclusively relates to techniques for implementing secure direct links between wireless network stations.
In recent years, network reach and flexibility has been greatly enhanced through the development and deployment of wireless networks. Among many different wireless protocols are now available (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infared, various cellular transmission schemes, WiMax, etc.), a large number of wireless networks deployed today employ wireless network components that operate under the IEEE (Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers) 802.11 suite of standards.
The most numerous WLAN (wireless local area network) deployments, commonly referred to as “Wi-Fi” (wireless fidelity) networks, employ an air interface operating in the 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) frequency range. The original Wi-Fi standard was developed by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), and is based on the IEEE 802.11a specification. The IEEE Standard provides support for three different kind of PHY layers, which are an InfraRed (IR) baseband PHY, a frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and a direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) PHY operating at either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band. For IEEE 802.11b, this results in a bandwidth of up to 11 megabits per second (Mb/s) when an appropriate signal strength is available. IEEE 802.11g defines a similar standard to Wi-Fi, with backward compatibility to 802.11b. However, 802.11g employs orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) rather than DSSS, and supports bandwidth up to 54 Mb/s. Enhanced implementations of 802.11g are asserted by their manufacturers to support transfer rates of up to 108 Mb/s. WLAN equipment employing the IEEE 802.11a standard has also been recently introduced. The 802.11a standard employs a 5 GHz air interface using an OFDM carrier.
A typical 802.11 WLAN deployment implemented with a single wireless access point (AP) 100 is shown in
In most deployments, a wireless AP is deployed to extend the reach of a network, such as a LAN, WLAN (wide LAN) or MAN (Metropolitan Area Network). Accordingly, AP 100 is depicted as being linked to a switch 118 via an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) link 120. In general, switch 118 is representative of various types of switches and routers present in a typical LAN, WLAN or MAN. In some cases, the switching operations may be facilitated via a server 122 that runs software to manage the network and perform software-based switching/routing operations.
A group of stations coordinated by Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) or Point Coordination Function (PCF) is called a basic service set (BSS). In the Infrastructure mode, the AP facilitates and coordinates communication and channel access between stations, and provides access mechanisms for the stations to access various land-based networks via network infrastructure connected to an AP, such as depicted by switch 118, enterprise network 124 and Internet 126. Stations authenticated and associated with an AP do not operate in an ad-hoc mode where peer-to-peer communication is done without connectivity to the AP. Thus, in the infrastructure mode, the AP serves as a central controller and coordinators for data traffic between stations within its coverage area by providing a routing function on the WLAN side. Furthermore, an AP provides another routing function pertaining to the routing of downlink traffic originating from an upstream network (such as enterprise network 124 and Internet 126, as well as traffic originating from other APs) and destined for a WLAN station served by the AP.
In general, stations in an IEEE 802.11 WLAN are not allowed to transmit frames directly to one another and should always rely on the AP for the delivery of frames. However, the IEEE has recently ratified a draft Standard (IEEE P802.11e/D13.0, January 2005) defining Quality of Service (QoS) enhancements for 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. According to Section 11.7, stations with QoS facility (QSTAs) may transmit frames directly to another QSTA by setting up such a data transfer using the DLS (Direct Link Set-up) protocol.
In connection with support for direct links between stations, security measures have also been defined under the IEEE P802.11e/D13.0 draft Standard. However, the security measures are insufficient to support direct links with adequate security levels.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified:
a and 5b collectively comprise is a message flow diagram illustrating various messages passed between two stations and an access point to deploy a security mechanism for a direct link, according to one embodiment of the invention
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for implementing secured direct links in wireless networks are described herein. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
In accordance with aspects of the embodiments now described, techniques are disclosed for implementing secure direct links between stations in wireless networks. During secure direct link setup, new keys are generated for each secure session between a pair of linked stations, such that each secure session is always provided with a “fresh” set of keys. Furthermore, the keys are generated and distributed in a manner under which they cannot (computationally) be intercepted or otherwise identified via eavesdropping over the shared 802.11 air interface. This provides significant enhancements of the measures for implementing a secure direct link under the IEEE P802.11e/D13.0 draft Standard.
As an overview,
As depicted in an optional block 202, in some embodiments a list of QSTAs is provided to each QSTA (or otherwise selected QSTAs). The list may be statically generated in advance, may be dynamically generated during on-going operations, or a combination of these two approaches may be employed. For example, in many managed networks, only authorized stations are allowed to access a WLAN. Since these stations are known in advance by a network manager or the like, the network manager can provide information to each station that can operate as a QSTA concerning other stations that can also operate as a QSTA, thus informing each station capable of employing direct links under IEEE P802.11e/D13.0 of other QSTAs that may be reached within the WLAN. Under another scheme, when a QSTA joins a WLAN, its capabilities are broadcast to other QSTAs already in the WLAN, thus enabling those QSTAs to update their respective direct link QSTA lists.
Continuing at a block 204, the operations of this block and the following block 206 are performed to set up each secure direct link. First, a DLS link is set up between a pair of QSTAs in the manner described below with reference to
An RSNA relies on several components external to the IEEE 802.11 suite of Standards. The first component is an IEEE 802.1X (IEEE P802.1X-REV, Draft Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks: Port-Based Network Access Control) port access entity (PAE). PAEs are present on all STAs in an RSNA and control the forwarding of data to and from the MAC. An access point implements an Authenticator PAE and implements the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) Authenticator role, whiie a STA implements a Supplicant PAE and implements the EAP peer role. In an independent basic service set (IBSS) environment, each STA implements both an Authenticator PAE and a Supplicant PAE and both the EAP Authenticator and EAP peer roles.
A second component is the Authentication Server (AS). The AS may authenticate the elements of the RSNA itself, i.e., the non-AP STAs, while APs may provide material that the RSNA elements can use to authenticate each other. The AS communicates through the IEEE 802.1X Authenticator with the IEEE 802.1X Supplicant on each STA, enabling the STA to be authenticated to the AS and vice versa. An RSNA depends upon the use of an EAP method that supports mutual authentication of the AS and the STA. In certain applications, the AS may be integrated into the same physical device as the AP, or into a STA in an IBSS.
IEEE 802.11i™-2004 Standard uses the notion of a security association to describe secure operations. Secure communications are possible only within the context of a security association, as this is the context providing the state—cryptographic keys, counters, sequence spaces, etc.,—needed for correct operation of the IEEE 802.11™-2004 cipher suites.
As defined under section 8.4 (RSNA security association management) of IEEE 802.11i™-2004 Standard, a security association is a set of policy(ies) and key(s) used to protect information. The information in the security association is stored by each party of the security association, must be consistent among all parties, and must have an identity. The identity is a compact name of the key and other bits of security association information to fit into a table index or an MPDU (MAC protocol data unit).
Returning to
During message exchange 300, the QAP will pass key information, along with information identifying algorithms to be subsequently employed for key extraction and authentication operations. These include a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) 302, a MIC (Message Integrity Code) algorithm identifier (MIC_ID) 304, and a Wrap encryption algorithm identifier (Wrap_ID) 306.
RSNA defines two key hierarchies: a) Pairwise key hierarchy, to protect unicast traffic, and b) Group Temporal Key (GTK), a hierarchy consisting of a single key to protect multicast and broadcast traffic. At the top of the Pairwise hierarchy is the Pairwise Masker Key (PMK). Under alternative approaches, a PMK can be derived from an EAP-based method or may be obtained directly from a pre-shared key (PSK). In one embodiment, the Pairwise key hierarchy utilizes PRF-384 or PRF-512 (Pseudo Random Function-X, as defined below, where X=number of bits) to derive session-specific keys from a 256 bit PMK. The Pairwise key hierarchy takes a PMK and generates a Pairwise Transient Key (PTK), as depicted in
Section 8.5.1.1 of the IEEE 802.11i™-2004 Standard defines the PRF function as follows, wherein A is a unique label for each different purpose of the PRF; Y is a single octet containing 0; X is a single octet containing the parameter; and ∥ denotes concatenation:
H—SHA-1(K, A, B, X)←HMAC—SHA-1(K, A∥YμBμX)
PRF(K, A, B, Len)
PRF-128(K, A, B)=PRF(K, A, B, 128)
PRF-192(K, A, B)=PRF(K, A, B, 192)
PRF-256(K, A, B)=PRF(K, A, B, 256)
PRF-384(K, A, B)=PRF(K, A, B, 384)
PRF-512(K, A, B)=PRF(K, A, B, 512)
As shown in
In a manner similar to that illustrated in
Details of the DLS link set up operation of block 204 are illustrated in
If the target recipient (QSTA-B in this instance) is associated with the BSS for the QAP, direct streams (i.e., links) are allowed in the policy of the BSS, and the target recipient is a QSTA, the QAP then forward the DLS Request frame to the recipient, as depicted by message 1b. If the target recipient does not meet these qualifications, a message is returned from the QAP to the initiator indicating that the targeted station does not support direct links. In some instances, the QAP may not receive the DLS request frame from QSTA-A. Under this situation, the QSTA-A may re-send the DLS request frame to the QAP after a time-out period. As discussed above, under the optional operations of block 202, each QSTA is provided with a list of other available QSTA's. Accordingly, under such implementations, an initiator station will be able to ascertain whether a target station supports the applicable QoS facility to support direct links with that station prior to sending a DLS Request frame to that station.
If the recipient station accepts the request to set up a direct link with the initiator, it sends a DLS Response frame 404 to the QAP, as depicted by message 2a. The DLS Response frame contains the rate set, (extended) capabilities of QSTA-B, and the MAC addresses of QSTA-A and QSTA-B. The QAP then forwards the DLS Response frame to QSTA-A (message 2b), after which the direct link 400 becomes active and frames can be sent from QSTA-A to QSTA-B and from QSTA-B to QSTA-A.
Section 11.7.5 in the IEEE 802.11e/D13 draft Standard specifies a security scheme to enable secured DLS operation. However, the specified security scheme is insufficient to provide adequate security in today's environment. Specifically, the inventors have identified the following design flaws:
In accordance with aspects of the security mechanisms now described, techniques are disclosed for setting up secure direct links with substantial enhancements over the secure direct link scheme employed by the IEEE 802.11e/D13 draft Standard. These aspects not only address the aforementioned design flaws, but provide a key generation, distribution and implementation environment that is computationally secure. What these means is that given the current computer technology, it is not computationally feasible to “intercept” or otherwise identify the keys used for encrypting data sent over the secure links. Furthermore, the techniques may be easily extended to provide computationally secure protection for future, yet to be developed computer processing capabilities.
a and 5b shows details of a message exchange process used to set up security measures for an established, but unsecured direct link, according to one embodiment of the invention. In general, the operations illustrated in
Typically, a request to deploy the security measures will be initiated by the initiator of the DLS link, although this isn't a strict requirement. Accordingly, the secure link set up process illustrated in
In response to receiving message 502, station QSTA-B generates its own random number R_B in a block 504, and generates a message 506 to the QAP containing a concatenation of R_B, R_A, MAC_B, and MAC_A. Thus, this message binds the identities of both stations QSTA-A and QSTA-B to the random numbers R_A and R_B. Message 506 is then sent from station QSTA-B to the QAP. In response to receiving message 506, the QAP extracts the values for each of R_B, R_A, MAC_B, and MAC_A, and stores them in memory.
Next, in a block 508, the QAP generates a symmetric session key K_AB and a Key Name identifier KID_AB. In one embodiment, K_AB is a random number of sufficient length applicable to the WLAN environment to computationally guarantee security in view of existing computing capabilities. For example, under today's computing capabilities, security keys having a length of 128-bit or above are generally termed computationally secure in view of the computing capabilities of current supercomputers. It is further noted that since the computing capabilities of WLAN stations are typically orders of magnitude lower than supercomputers, the length of the keys describe herein may be significantly less than 128 bits, such as but not limited to 64-bit keys.
Meanwhile, in one embodiment KID_AB is calculated using the following equation:
KID—AB:=hash(R—B∥R—A∥MAC—B∥MAC—A) (1)
In general, one of many various well-known hash functions may be employed in Equation 1, such as SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm)-1, SHA-256, or AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) in the Davies-Meyer mode.
Once the values for K_AB and KID_AB are generated, the QAP generates a pair of security strings SA and SB to be respectively employed for securely transferring the K_AB and KID_AB values to stations QSTA-A and QSTA-B. For example, security string values SA and SB are generated using the following equation:
SA:=R—A∥MAC—B∥MAC—A∥Wrap(KEK—A, K—AB∥KID—AB) (2a)
SB:=R—B∥MAC—B∥MAC—A∥Wrap(KEK—B, K—AB∥KID—AB) (2b)
Under the foregoing equations, the Wrap (param 1, param 2) function corresponds to an agreed-to key wrap encryption algorithm employed by the WLAN deployment and identified by the Wrap_ID value stored at the QAP and each of stations QSTA-A and QSTA-B. In one embodiment, the Wrap function corresponds to the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) key wrap algorithm, defined in IETF RFC (Internet Engineering Task Force Request for Comment) 3394, Advanced Encryption Standard Key Wrap Algorithm, September 2002. Other encryption algorithms may also me employed.
In addition to generating the security string SA and SB, the QAP also generates a hash on each of these strings using a hash function identified by an agreed-to MIC algorithm identified by the MIC_ID values distributed during the RSNA link set up previously performed. As shown by the following equations 3a and 3b:
hash(SA):=MIC(KCK—A, R—A∥MAC—B∥MAC—A∥Wrap(KEK—A, K_AB∥KID—AB)) (3a)
hash(SB)=MIC(KCK—B, R—A∥MAC—B∥MAC—A∥Wrap(KEK—B, K—AB∥KID—AB)) (3b)
The Message Integrity Check (MIC) algorithm employs the respective key conformation keys KCK_A and KCK_B as the hash keys that operate on the respective security strings SA and SB. In general, the MIC algorithm may employ one of many well-known hash algorithms that are implemented by the WLAN security scheme. For example, in one embodiment, the HMAC SHA-1 algorithm or AES in CMAC mode may be employed as the MIC algorithm. Other hash algorithms may also be implemented in a similar manner.
Once the security strings and corresponding MIC hashes are generated, messages 510 and 512 containing the security string concatenated with the hash of the security string for each of stations QSTA-A and QSTA-B are sent from the QAP to these respective stations. Continuing at the top of
MIC(KCK—A, SA)=hash(SA) (4)
As depicted by a decision block 514, if the inequality evaluates to TRUE, the authenticity of the message is confirmed. Under such a result, the QSTA then unwraps the K_AB and KID_AB values using its key encryption key and the agreed-to Wrap encryption algorithm, which is identified by the Wrap_ID value. This operation is performed by station QSTA-A in a block 518. If the result of decision block 514 is FALSE, then the message received from the QAP is either corrupted, or it was sent by another station or entity “faking” that it is the QAP. Under this circumstance, the entire process should be restarted.
Similar operations are performed at station QSTA-B. In this case, the equality,
MIC(KCK—A, SB)=hash(SB) (5)
is evaluated in a decision block 516. If the result is TRUE, station QSTA-B unwraps the K_AB and KID_AB values using its key encryption key and the agreed-to Wrap encryption algorithm identified by the Wrap_ID value, as depicted in a block 518. As before, if the result is FALSE, the process is restarted.
Another aspect of the messaging scheme is the including of the previously-generated random numbers R_A and R_B that is employed in the respective messages 510 and 512 sent to stations QSTA-A and QSTA-B. In some instances, an initiator station may have to send out multiple secure link initiation request messages. By comparing the random number it generated for a given request message with first portion of the security string, the request message that was successful can be identified.
At this point, each of stations QSTA-A and QSTA-B have extracted the same values for symmetric session key K_AB and key name KID_AB from respective messages 510 and 512. These stations then perform a 4-Way Handshake using symmetric session key K_AB as the PMK, as depicted by a message exchange 522 and described in further detail with reference to
In connection with the foregoing activities, the QAP should delete the symmetric session key K_AB, or otherwise prevent any other element in the WLAN from accessing this key. Since the PTK ultimately derived from key K_AB is only used for sending messages between stations (e.g., QSTA-A and QSTA-B), there is no reason for the QAP to keep key K_AB.
In a block 600, station QSTA-A generates a nonce ANonce. Similarly, in a block 602, station QSTA-B generates a nonce SNonce. A nonce is a number used once in security schemes and typically may comprise a random number or a current time (in number form). Station QSTA-A sends a first message 604 comprising an EAPOL-Key frame containing the ANonce and a Unicast identifier code to station QSTA-B. In response, station QSTA-B derives a PDTK from its copy of the PMK (K_AB) in a block 606. Station QSTA-B then sends a message 608 comprising an EAPOL-Key frame containing the SNonce, Unicast identifier code, and a MIC identifier to station QSTA-A. In response, station QSTA-A derives its PDTK from its copy of the PMK in a block 610.
The 4-Way Handshake is completed using the third message 612 and the fourth message 614. The third message 612 comprises an EAPOL-Key frame containing indicia to tell the recipient to install the PDTK, the Unicast identifier code, the MIC identifier, and potentially additional optional parameters, such as a GTK. The fourth message 614 comprises an EAPOL-Key frame containing the Unicast identifier code and the MIC identifier. After exchange of the third and fourth messages 612 and 614, the PDTKs are installed at stations QSTA-A and QSTA-B, as depicted by respective blocks 616 and 618.
To support transport of the messages between the various endpoints in
In general, the random numbers described herein may be generated by a true random number generator or a pseudo random number generator (provided the bit length and randomness of the random number is sufficient). Furthermore, the random numbers may be generated using either software- or hardware-based mechanisms, using well-known algorithms.
In general, the logic for performing the operations of the wireless stations described herein will be primarily or solely implemented via execution of software and/or firmware instructions on the station's host device. For example, for stations such as a notebook computer or desktop computer, the logic may be generally implemented in an operating system component or an application program that runs on an operating system. For instance, in one embodiment the logic is implemented in a WLAN operating system driver. Meanwhile, for hand-held devices and the like, the logic may be typically implemented via firmware or as an application running on a host operating system built into the device.
In addition to implementing operations via execution of software and firmware, other operations may be implemented via built-in hardware logic, such as programmed logic contained in FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) ASICs (Application specific integrated circuits), and similar circuits. Techniques for implementing logic using these and other hardware-based mechanisms are well-known in the electronic arts.
The operations performed by the access points described herein are typically implemented in a somewhat different manner than for the stations. Unlike the general-purpose capabilities provided by a WLAN station, a typical AP comprises a stand-alone device of relatively low cost that is configured to perform dedicated WLAN host operations. As such, the AP device does not employ an operating system (or employs a very minimal operating system), but rather implements its logic via built-in hardware logic and execution of firmware on a built-in processor element or the like.
In further detail,
The WLAN controller is further depicted as including an 802.11 PHY block 710, and an 802.11 MAC (Media Access Control) block 712. As will be recognized by those skilled in the networking arts, the PHY and MAC blocks are respectively associated with the Physical and Data Link layers, which comprise the two lowest layers (layer-1 and layer-2) in the seven-layer OSI (Open System Interconnect) network communication model.
As its name implies, WLAN/Ethernet bridge 702 is employed as a bridge between 802.11 WLAN signals and 802.3 Ethernet signals. More particularly, in the illustrated architecture, WLAN/Ethernet bridge 702 provides an interface between 802.11 frames passed to and from the WLAN sub-system, and 802.3 frames passed to and from Ethernet controller 704. This is facilitated, in part, by an 802.11/802.3 translator 714, which translates frame formats between 802.11 and 802.3 and vice-versa. As an option, the frame translation operations may be performed by WLAN controller 708.
As discussed above, an access point may also need to perform switching and/or routing functions. At one level, switching operations are performed via WLAN sub-system 700, such as managing access to the WLAN channel(s) using collision avoidance mechanisms and the like, since by its nature, the WLAN air interface comprises a shared medium necessitating some type of switching mechanism. Additionally, the AP must perform switching/routing operations, wherein packets received at an input side of an input/output (I/O) port are routed to either an appropriate destination station via the WLAN sub-system or to another I/O port to be transferred to another network. For illustrative purposes, the switching and routing operations are depicted in
Another operation typically provided by an access point relates to security. Not only is a WLAN signal sent over a shared medium, it may be accessed (at the signal level) by any station within the AP's coverage area, regardless of whether that station is authorized or not to access the AP. Accordingly, to control AP access, various security schemes are implemented, such as WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) schemes. Under these schemes, packets are encrypted using some security key infrastructure, such as shared keys, rotating keys, etc. At the same time, Ethernet transmissions are typically are either a) not encrypted or b) encrypted using decryption/encryption managed by the transmission endpoints rather than the AP (e.g., Virtual Private Connections, Secure Socket Layer security, etc.) To facilitate the encryption and decryption operations necessary to support secure WLAN traffic, WLAN/Ethernet bridge 702 also includes an encryption/decryption block 722. Generally, some or all of the operations illustrated by encryption/decryption block 722 may be performed by WLAN sub-system 700, depending on the particular AP architecture.
Another operation provided by an AP is station management. For example, prior to being permitted access to AP services, a station typically needs to perform a registration operation or the like, such as performed during an RSNA link set up. During this process, the MAC address of the station will be acquired and the station will be identified/authenticated, an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the station will be dynamically or statically allocated and stored in an MAC-to-IP address translation table access by switch/router 720, and other related operations are performed. The station management operations are collectively depicted as being performed by a station management block 724, which access WLAN controller 708 via a management interface 726.
The Ethernet controller 704 is used to provide the interface between the AP and various networks to which the AP is communicatively coupled via corresponding network infrastructure, such as switches, bridges, routers, etc. To facilitate these operations, the Ethernet controller typically includes one or more I/O ports 728, an 802.3 PHY block 730, and an 802.3 MAC block 732. In general, I/O ports 728 will be coupled to one or more networks via corresponding IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) links. Accordingly, such ports are alternately referred to as Ethernet ports or Ethernet I/O ports. In other instances, an Ethernet port name includes its underlying transmission rate, such as a GigE (Gigabit per second Ethernet) port for for Ethernet ports supporting GigE transmission rates.
The partitioning of the functional blocks illustrated in
Typically, the operations depicted by all or a portion of the various functional blocks depicted for the WLAN/Ethernet bridge are facilitated via execution of corresponding software modules that are executed on an embedded processor or the like, or otherwise via embedded hardware logic. The various logic and processor elements may comprise discreet components, or may be combined on one or more integrated circuits or the like.
Instruction to be executed on internal processor 802 to perform associated AP operations will typically be stored in some type of non-volatile (NV) storage device, such as depicted by an NV store 812. For example, NV store may generally comprise a rewritable non-volatile memory, such as a flash memory device. Typically, internal processor 802 may access NV store either directly, through memory controller 806, or through another memory interface (not shown). A portion of the instructions may also be downloaded during runtime using a carrier wave file or the like and stored in external memory 806.
Encryption and decryption operations may typically be performed via execution of corresponding software/firmware on internal processor 802, or via built-in hardware components, such as depicted by optional encryption and decryption units 814 and 816. Similarly, random numbers may be generated via execution of software/firmware on internal processor 802, or via a build-in random number generator (RNG) unit 818.
As described above, various operations performed by the WLAN stations and the APs herein may be implemented via execution of software and/or firmware on some type of processing element. Thus, embodiments of this invention may be used as or to support instructions embodied as one or more software/firmware components executed upon some form of processing element or otherwise implemented or realized upon or within a machine-readable medium. A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium can include articles of manufacture such as a read only memory (ROM); a random access memory (RAM); a magnetic disk storage media; an optical storage media; and a flash memory device, etc. In addition, a machine-readable medium can include propagated signals such as electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.).
The mechanisms disclosed herein for setting up secure direct link between WLAN stations provide significant advantages over the security scheme defined in the IEEE 802.11e/D13 draft Standard. Notably, a newly generated key is employed to secure each direct link session, based on a randomly-generated and statistically unpredictable number. Additionally, the key distribution mechanism is computationally unbreakable, guaranteeing that only the intended recipients will be able to access the shared session key from which the PDTK is derived. Furthermore, the key distribution mechanism provides built-in authentication and message identity features, ensuring each direct link participant station that the only WLAN elements having access to a session key are the participant stations and the QAP.
The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
These modifications can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.
