AAA Server Trust Type Determination for Non-3GPP Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP protocols lack a method for obtaining the trust type of non-3GPP access systems, which is essential for seamless mobility and access to EPS services, leading to potential connection failures due to the inability to determine whether to use an ePDG entity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving UE establishing a link to a non-3GPP access system, initiating an access authentication request, and sending identification information to an AAA server to determine the trust type based on UE, non-3GPP access system, and operator's strategy, with the AAA server responding with the trust type to inform the UE's access decision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE uses existing 3GPP protocol for access, then access procedure is standardized, but UE cannot obtain trust type information of non-3GPP access system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an AAA server as an intermediary entity between the UE and the non-3GPP access system. The AAA server receives authentication requests from the UE, determines the trust type of the accessed non-3GPP system, and provides this information back to the UE. This intermediary mechanism enables information exchange without modifying the existing 3GPP access protocol, thus maintaining standardized procedures while filling the information gap.
2Reliability
If UE cannot determine trust type, then connection failure occurs, but adding new protocol increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The AAA server is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an authentication authority and as an information provider for trust type determination. By leveraging the existing AAA infrastructure already present in 3GPP networks, the patent avoids creating a completely new protocol stack. The same AAA server that handles authentication also provides trust type information, reducing overall system complexity while improving connection success rates.
3Speed
If UE accesses non-3GPP system without trust type, then access speed is fast, but access reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The trust type determination is performed preliminarily during the authentication phase, before the actual data access proceeds. The AAA server determines the trust type as part of the initial authentication process, and this information is made available to the UE in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the UE needs to make access decisions, the trust type information is already available, maintaining fast access speed while improving reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a method for obtaining a trust type of a non-3GPP access system comprising the following steps: a user equipment UE establishing a underlying link with a non-3GPP access system selected by the UE; the UE initiating an access authentication request and sending the identification information of the UE and the information of the non-3GPP access system to an Authentication, Authorization, Accounting server through the non-3GPP access system; the UE receiving a returned access authentication response and the trust type of the non-3GPP access system, and the trust type of the non-3GPP access system being determined by the AAA server based on the identification information of the UE, the information of the non-3GPP access system and the operator's strategy. The invention can realize that the trust type of the non-3GPP access system is determined and is informed to the UE by the AAA server during the access authentication performed by the UE, so that the UE can obtain the trust type of the non-3GPP access system.