Patents by Inventor Nicholas Bone

Nicholas Bone has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10700874
    Abstract: System and method for providing secure machine to machine, M2M, communications comprising a device management, DM, server configured to obtain credentials of one or more M2M devices and provision the one or more M2M devices with credentials of a virtual private network, VPN. An application programming interface, API. A VPN server comprising a first communications interface configured to communicate API requests and API responses with the API. A second communications interface configured to provide a VPN for the one or more M2M devices. Logic configured to issue an API request, wherein the request includes the credentials of the VPN. Receive an API response from the DM server including an indication of the one or more M2M devices provisioned with the credentials of the VPN. Initiate a VPN over the second interface between the one or more M2M devices and the VPN server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Tim Snape
  • Patent number: 10700854
    Abstract: Method, system and apparatus for provisioning a subscription of a service to a device comprising: receiving a message from a device, the message protected by first provisioning data installed on the device. Authenticating the message using data corresponding to the first provisioning data. On successful authentication, providing data enabling the device to recover protected second provisioning data from a subscription manager. Providing the device with the protected second provisioning data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Stephen Babbage, Aguibou Barry
  • Patent number: 10680814
    Abstract: A device, method or server having memory configured to store cryptographic material required to execute one or more device functions. A communications interface for communicating over a network. Logic configured to receive from the server over the communications interface the cryptographic material required to execute the one or more device functions. The device is configured to delete the cryptographic material from the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Tim Snape
  • Patent number: 10484869
    Abstract: Method and system for communicating securely with a user equipment, UE, using generic bootstrapping architecture, GBA, the system comprising a bootstrapping server function, BSF. A proxy server configured to receive messages from a user equipment, UE, in a first format. Convert the received messages from the first format to a second format. Transmit the received UE messages to a bootstrapping server function, BSF, in the second format. Receive messages from the BSF, in a third format. Convert the messages received from the BSF from the third format to a fourth format. Transmit the received BSF messages to the UE in the fourth format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Tim Snape
  • Patent number: 10455385
    Abstract: Provisioning a subscriber in a network is provided by: receiving an initialisation request for access to a network on behalf of a subscriber, at an admission platform of a network operator associated with the subscriber, and assigning the subscriber limited access rights to the network, the limited access rights being configured for communication between the subscriber and a subscription manager, for reconfiguration of identity information associated with the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Babbage, Nicholas Bone, Christopher Pudney, Aguibou Mountaga Barry
  • Patent number: 10298397
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a server, a device and methods for providing security data to a device requiring a password for use in protecting a function of the device. An example method comprises communicating a device identifier to the server; the server communicating security data to the device, wherein the password is derivable, at least in part, from the security data; the device deriving the password, at least in part, from the security data and storing the password as the access code for the protected function; and the server storing the device identifier with an association to the password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Tim Snape
  • Publication number: 20180205542
    Abstract: Method, system and apparatus for provisioning a subscription of a service to a device comprising: receiving a message from a device, the message protected by first provisioning data installed on the device. Authenticating the message using data corresponding to the first provisioning data. On successful authentication, providing data enabling the device to recover protected second provisioning data from a subscription manager. Providing the device with the protected second provisioning data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Stephen Babbage, Aguibou Barry
  • Patent number: 9992670
    Abstract: Facilitating authentication on communication between a mobile terminal and a server is achieved. The communication is made through a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of a network in which the mobile terminal is operating. A Home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) of the mobile terminal generates a ciphering key for encryption of packet-switched data between the mobile terminal and the server. As part of a message from a network entity in the Home PLMN to the SGSN in which the SGSN expects to receive the ciphering key, alternative data is communicated in place of the ciphering key. Secure communication between the mobile terminal and the server is performed by applying encryption using a ciphering key generated by a network entity in a Home PLMN of the mobile terminal in messages between the mobile terminal and the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Pudney, Assen Mahaboob Khan Golaup, Nicholas Bone
  • Patent number: 9699156
    Abstract: To enable formation of secure associations between IP-enabled devices when they have not previously connected, a method is proposed where a declaration of ownership of a target device is made by the subscriber of a originating device and that subscriber giving that declaration is authenticated by means of a SIM card, say. The originating device establishes secure connection to a first server. The target device establishes a secure connection to a second server. Provided the first and second servers can establish a conventional IP-type SA (e.g. using IPSec or TLS), there is a chain of secure associations between the two devices. This chain is then used to build a new secure association between originating device and target Device. The first and second servers thus act as proxies for two devices respectively and negotiate the secure association on their behalf. They then transfer the new secure association information securely to the devices using the existing chain of secure associations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Bone
  • Patent number: 9668129
    Abstract: To allow devices to authenticate to a wide area mobile network when they temporarily do not have a connection to a SIM card and to authenticate the base station and so protect against false base stations, a system is provided where certain authentication credentials are pre-fetched while connection to the SIM card and the authentication subsystem of the wide area mobile network are in signaling connection. These advance credentials are then presented by the devices in authentication requests without requiring access via the mobile network or the connected presence of the SIM card being necessary for successful authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Peter Howard
  • Publication number: 20170054564
    Abstract: System and method for providing secure machine to machine, M2M, communications comprising a device management, DM, server configured to obtain credentials of one or more M2M devices and provision the one or more M2M devices with credentials of a virtual private network, VPN. An application programming interface, API. A VPN server comprising a first communications interface configured to communicate API requests and API responses with the API. A second communications interface configured to provide a VPN for the one or more M2M devices. Logic configured to issue an API request, wherein the request includes the credentials of the VPN. Receive an API response from the DM server including an indication of the one or more M2M devices provisioned with the credentials of the VPN. Initiate a VPN over the second interface between the one or more M2M devices and the VPN server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas BONE, Tim SNAPE
  • Publication number: 20170041733
    Abstract: Provisioning a subscriber in a network is provided by: receiving an initialisation request for access to a network on behalf of a subscriber, at an admission platform of a network operator associated with the subscriber, and assigning the subscriber limited access rights to the network, the limited access rights being configured for communication between the subscriber and a subscription manager, for reconfiguration of identity information associated with the subscriber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen BABBAGE, Nicholas BONE, Christopher PUDNEY, Aguibou Mountaga BARRY
  • Publication number: 20170041785
    Abstract: Method and system for communicating securely with a user equipment, UE, using generic bootstrapping architecture, GBA, the system comprising a bootstrapping server function, BSF. A proxy server configured to receive messages from a user equipment, UE, in a first format. Convert the received messages from the first format to a second format. Transmit the received UE messages to a bootstrapping server function, BSF, in the second format. Receive messages from the BSF, in a third format. Convert the messages received from the BSF from the third format to a fourth format. Transmit the received BSF messages to the UE in the fourth format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas BONE, Tim SNAPE
  • Publication number: 20170019254
    Abstract: A device, method or server having memory configured to store cryptographic material required to execute one or more device functions. A communications interface for communicating over a network. Logic configured to receive from the server over the communications interface the cryptographic material required to execute the one or more device functions. The device is configured to delete the cryptographic material from the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Tim Snape
  • Publication number: 20160373258
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a server 120, a device 110 and methods for providing security data to a device 110 requiring a password for use in protecting a function of the device 110. An example method comprises communicating a device identifier to the server 120; the server 120 communicating security data to the device 110, wherein the password is derivable, at least in part, from the security data; the device 110 deriving the password, at least in part, from the security data and storing the password as the access code for the protected function; and the server 120 storing the device identifier with an association to the password.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas Bone, Tim Snape
  • Patent number: 9425844
    Abstract: Where a smartcard is embedded or inaccessible within a cellular telecommunications device (i.e. an eUICC), locking the smartcard (or the subscription associated with the smartcard) to a particular MNO while allowing the MNO to be altered legitimately presents a challenge. A method is described using policy control tables stored in a trusted service manager registry and/or the smartcard's data store. By maintaining the policy control table, any MNO subscription may be downloaded/activated on the smartcard but the device will be prevented from accessing the desired MNO because that access would violate the lock rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Babbage, Nicholas Bone
  • Patent number: 9271148
    Abstract: To facilitate authentication over a wireless access network, it is proposed to provide a hub device having an authentication storage means (i.e. a (U)SIM) to which one or more machine devices are connected. Each machine devices connects to a wireless access network and in order to authenticate with that network requests authentication information from the hub device. The core network of the wireless access network, authenticates each machine device and provides the machine devices with parallel access to the access network in accordance with authentication information obtained from the hub device. The authentication information is unique to the respective machine device but also associated with information stored on the authentication storage means of the hub device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Bone
  • Publication number: 20160050562
    Abstract: Facilitating authentication on communication between a mobile terminal and a server is achieved. The communication is made through a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of a network in which the mobile terminal is operating. A Home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) of the mobile terminal generates a ciphering key for encryption of packet-switched data between the mobile terminal and the server. As part of a message from a network entity in the Home PLMN to the SGSN in which the SGSN expects to receive the ciphering key, alternative data is communicated in place of the ciphering key. Secure communication between the mobile terminal and the server is performed by applying encryption using a ciphering key generated by a network entity in a Home PLMN of the mobile terminal in messages between the mobile terminal and the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher PUDNEY, Assen GOLAUP, Nicholas BONE
  • Publication number: 20160050561
    Abstract: Communicating between a mobile terminal and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) in a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) of the mobile terminal. An authentication and key agreement push message is communicated from the GGSN to the mobile terminal. This communicating is via a control plane channel and/or the authentication and key agreement push message is generated at the GGSN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher PUDNEY, Assen GOLAUP, Nicholas BONE
  • Publication number: 20160050568
    Abstract: Communication between a mobile terminal operating in a cellular network and a server is provided. Communication between the mobile terminal and the server is routed through a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of the cellular network in which the mobile terminal is operating. Cryptographic integrity check information is communicated in data link layer messages between the mobile terminal and the SGSN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher PUDNEY, Assen Golaup, Nicholas Bone