In a wireless communication system, a method and system for hardware
accelerator for implementing the f8 confidentiality algorithm in WCDMA
compliant handsets are provided. Input variables may be initialized in a
keystream generator and an intermediate value may be generated with a
confidentiality key parameter and a key modifier. The number of
processing blocks of output bits may be based on the length of the input
bitstream. The processing blocks of output bits may be generated
utilizing a KASUMI operation and may be based on an immediately previous
processing block of output bits, the intermediate value, and an
indication of the current processing block of output bits. The processing
blocks of output bits may be generated after an indication that an
immediately previous processing block of output bits is available. The
keystream generator may indicate when a first and any additional
processing blocks of output bits have been determined.