System and method for providing variable security level in a wireless communication system

Abstract

A system and method for providing variable security levels in a wireless communication network. The present invention optimizes the often conflicting demands of highly secure wireless communications and high speed wireless communications. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, various security sensors are scanned to determine the likely presence of an intruder within a predetermined trust zone. If an intruder is likely present, the security level is changed to the highest setting, and consequently a lower data rate, while the intruder is identified. If the identified intruder is in fact a trusted node, the security level is returned to a lower setting. If the identified intruder is not a trusted node, the security level is maintained at an elevated state while the intruder is within the trust zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting an intruding device in a communication network, the method comprising:
 detecting a presence of the intruding device within a trust zone of a communication network, wherein the trust zone is associated with a first security level; and   on a condition that the presence of the intruding device is detected, increasing the first security level to a second security level, wherein the second security level includes terminating data transmission to the intruding device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intruding device is an access point (AP). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intruding device is a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trust zone is a physical space defined by the communication network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intruding device is detected wirelessly. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting the presence of the intruding device is performed by at least one sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying the intruding device, wherein identifying the intruding device includes determining location information associated with the intruding device.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for detecting an intruding device in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to detect a presence of the intruding device within a trust zone of a communication network, wherein the trust zone is associated with a first security level; and   circuitry configured to increase the first security level to a second security level on a condition that the presence of the intruding device is detected, wherein the second security level includes terminating data transmission to the intruding device.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the intruding device is an access point (AP). 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the intruding device is a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the trust zone is a physical space defined by the communication network. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the intruding device is detected wirelessly. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the circuitry configured to detect the presence of the intruding device within the trust zone of the communication network is a processor and at least one sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 circuitry configured to identify the intruding device, wherein the circuitry configured to identify the intruding device is further configured to determine location information associated with the intruding device.