Secure Electronic Payments in Heterogeneous Networking: New Authentication Protocols Approach

Recent research efforts have been addressed towards maintain the heterogeneous networking transparent under the powerful all-IP concept. As example, current global standarization initiative specifies the 3G cellular system to wireless LAN inter-working. On the other hand, smart cards are presented as enough powerful devices capable to perform a strong authentication at lower layers of the protocol stack. Our work proposes a novel model reference and a scenario of applicability for secure electronic payment in this environment. Impact on the trust relations are assesed and a set of authentication requirements are provided. Finally, a new approach based on end-to-end layer 2 authentication protocols is adjusted to this proposal, considering the most interesting improvements in the authentication mechanisms applicable to this context.