Authentication failure trigger method and apparatus

Abstract

A wireless communications network and method include a home system, a serving system, and authentication failure triggers. The home system includes an authentication center, a network information element, and a prescribed authentication capable mobile station. The authentication center performs an authentication of the prescribed mobile station upon a network access by the mobile station. Authentication includes use of shared secret data particular to the prescribed mobile station. The serving system includes a network access element and a network information element associated therewith. The serving system is capable of performing authentication upon authentication capable mobile stations. Lastly, the authentication failure triggers and shared secret data are shared with the serving system by the authentication center of the home system upon the mobile station's initial system access. The authentication failure triggers include instructions for use by the serving system with respect to authentication failures which may occur during a subsequent serving system access. The authentication triggers direct the serving system to handle authentication failures according to the authentication policies of the home system's authentication center. Therefore, the requirement for the authentication failure report operation is advantageously reduced.