TRAFFIC ENCRYPTION KEY GENERATION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

In one embodiment, a traffic encryption key is generated based on a count value associated with a mobile. The count value is indicative of network accesses by a mobile, and the traffic encryption key is for encrypting communication traffic between the mobile and a base station. Generation of the traffic encryption key at a base station may be triggered by receipt of a message indicating that the mobile may handoff to the base station. In this embodiment, the message includes the count value. In another embodiment, the traffic encryption key is generated based on the count value and a key count. The mobile may trigger updating the traffic encryption key by changing the key count, and sending the new key count to the base station in a traffic encryption key update request message.