Federated Blockchain Handover Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous cellular networks, frequent handovers of user equipment between cells lead to numerous reauthentication procedures, which negatively impact network performance, causing delays and reducing network reliability.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-enabled handover authentication system that leverages a federated blockchain implementation and multi-access edge computing (MEC) to authenticate user equipment initially and provide encryption data, allowing MEC devices to facilitate handovers without reauthentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional reauthentication procedures are performed during each handover, then network security is maintained, but network response delays increase and network reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by obtaining authentication information from the source access point before the handover occurs. This authentication information is then used by the target access point to authenticate the user equipment without requiring a new authentication procedure, thus eliminating reauthentication delays while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication information transfer mechanism where the source access point provides authentication information to the target access point. This intermediary process allows the target access point to verify the user equipment's credentials without directly engaging in a time-consuming authentication exchange with the user equipment itself.
2Reliability
If repeated reauthentication procedures are performed during frequent handovers, then authentication security is maintained, but network resources are consumed and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the authentication information from the source access point and transfers it to the target access point. This extraction eliminates the need for the target access point to perform a complete authentication procedure with the user equipment, thereby reducing network resource consumption and improving overall network performance while maintaining authentication security.
3Ease of operation
If traditional handover authentication procedures are used, then each access point can independently verify user equipment, but the number of authentication procedures increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the authentication verification function into the handover process itself. By combining the authentication information transfer with the handover signaling, the system eliminates the need for separate authentication procedures at each access point, thereby reducing the overall complexity and number of authentication steps required.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, authenticating, by a federated blockchain controller, a user equipment located within a cell coverage area of a network that includes heterogeneous cells. The federated blockchain controller can provide encryption data to the user equipment and corresponding authentication information to one or more multi-access edge computing (MEC) devices associated with the heterogeneous cells to enable secure and efficient handovers for the user equipment amongst the heterogeneous cells, without a need for additional handover reauthentication procedures. Other embodiments are disclosed.