Sharma and Leung Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences 2012, 2:16 http://www.hcis-journal.com/content/2/1/16

RESEARCH Open Access IP Multimedia subsystem authentication protocol in LTE-heterogeneous networks

Madhu J Sharma* and Victor CM Leung

*Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract Department of Electrical and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) introduces important advantages for users of Computer Engineering, The University of British Columbia, LTE-femtocell heterogeneous access networks. In order to access services hosted in the Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4 Canada IMS layer, the user has to undergo authentication procedure with the access network, followed by an authentication procedure with the IMS layer. This multi-pass authentication procedure is essential for securing IMS from malicious users, resulting in added overhead and possible degradations. The problem is further compounded when the user moves from one femtocell domain into another, which requires the authentication procedure to be repeated. To mitigate this problem, we present a lightweight, robust, and architecture-compatible IMS authentication protocol that implements a one-pass IMS procedure by promoting efficient key re-use for a mobile user. We make use of Home Node B femtocells to perform the role of IMS proxy. To verify the feasibility of using our protocol in mobile networks, an abstract model of our protocol is derived. The abstract model is emulated using Asterisk server and virtualization techniques. We also analyze the authentication delay of our proposed scheme. Numerical results reveal a reduction in user authentication delay of more than 50 percent compared to the existing authentication procedure.

Introduction The goal of this paper is to extend the improved IP Multimedia Subsystem-Authentication and Key Agreement (IMS-AKA) protocol proposed in [1] to Long Term Evolution (LTE) domain, and perform a feasibility study using emulation techniques. LTE is commonly referred to as a type of Fourth Generation () wireless service. LTE offers superior service using femtocells and picocells, in co-ordination with the core network. A deployment that supports macros, picos, femtos and relays in the same spectrum is called a heterogeneous network. In our paper, we present LTE-femtocell heterogeneous network for IMS access. The choice of the access network is prerogative of the mobile operator, because IMS services are independent of the underlying access network. However, to support rich applications offered by IMS, it is better to chose an access network that would support high bandwidths and low jitter. The speeds offered by todays LTE network clearly do not support bandwidth intensive applications like video conferencing and cloud gaming. Hence, we consider a heterogeneous LTE-femtocell network. In the new LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) architecture, there is no circuit-switched domain to handle voice calls in the traditional / way. A solution for voice over LTE

© 2012 Sharma and Leung; licensee Springer. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Sharma and Leung Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences 2012, 2:16 Page 2 of 19 http://www.hcis-journal.com/content/2/1/16

will, therefore, be needed as LTE access becomes more widespread. In order to support voice calls, numerous approaches were considered, including IMS. IMS is an access inde- pendent subsystem, and offers much more than voice. As a result, it becomes much more easier to migrate services and solutions from one access network to another. The IMS is a standardized Next Genera