Authentication Node Fast Roaming MNO Enterprise Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current networking architectures face challenges in facilitating efficient roaming between different mobile networks, particularly between public and private wireless wide area networks, due to complex authentication processes and resource management issues in mobile communication environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of 3GPP secondary authentication techniques to facilitate fast roaming by generating authentication material for user equipment (UE) when transitioning from a public mobile network operator's access network to an enterprise private network, leveraging existing secondary authentication processes to optimize key material delivery and reduce authentication latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional authentication processes are used for roaming between public and private wireless networks, then security and authentication reliability are maintained, but authentication time increases and network switching efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication by establishing a secondary authentication relationship between the UE and the enterprise private network while the UE is still connected to the public mobile network. The authentication node generates and delivers authentication material (keys, identifiers) in advance, so that when the UE needs to switch to the private network, authentication is already complete or near-complete, significantly reducing the actual switching authentication time while maintaining security requirements.
2Speed
If fast roaming authentication is implemented, then authentication speed improves, but network architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an authentication node as an intermediary component that bridges the public mobile network and the enterprise private network. This node performs the complex authentication operations and key management, while the UE and network elements interact through simplified interfaces. The intermediary handles the complexity of generating authentication material, managing security contexts, and coordinating between different network domains, thereby achieving fast authentication without requiring each endpoint to handle complex authentication logic.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive authentication material is delivered to UE during secondary authentication, then roaming readiness improves, but signaling overhead and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by delivering authentication material specifically tailored to the UE's actual needs and the specific enterprise network it intends to access. Rather than providing all possible authentication credentials universally, the authentication node generates and delivers only the necessary authentication material (specific keys, identifiers, and parameters) for the particular roaming scenario. This targeted approach ensures the UE is ready for specific roaming operations while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead and processing load from extraneous authentication data.
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are techniques to facilitate fast roaming between a mobile network operator-public (MNO-public) wireless wide area (WWA) access network and an enterprise private WWA access network. In one example, a method is provided that may include generating, by an authentication node, authentication material for a user equipment (UE) based on the UE being connected to a public WWA access network, wherein the public WWA access network is associated with a mobile network operator, and the authentication node and the UE are associated with an enterprise entity; obtaining, by the authentication node, an indication that the UE is attempting to access a private WWA access network associated with the enterprise entity; and providing, by the authentication node, the authentication material for the UE, wherein the authentication material facilitates connection establishment between the UE and the private WWA access network.