Cellular Network Identity Assignment for Wi-Fi Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi deployments in mobile networks are largely separate from cellular networks, leading to inefficient authentication processes that require extensive signaling and pose security risks, hindering improved user experience and integration between 3GPP and Wi-Fi access.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to assign a unique cellular network identity, such as a pseudonym or fast re-authentication identity, to user equipment, which is used to coordinate authentication between cellular and wireless local area networks, allowing for seamless attachment and authentication without the need for extensive signaling or new databases, thereby facilitating integrated access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensive signaling is used for authentication between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, then authentication can be performed, but security risks increase and resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication functionality from the traditional extensive signaling process by introducing a authentication result indicator that directly indicates whether authentication was successful, eliminating the need for complex multi-step signaling while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a authentication result indicator that copies or represents the authentication outcome in a simplified form, allowing the network node to determine authentication success without processing extensive signaling sequences, thereby reducing security exposure
2Ease of manufacture
If Wi-Fi and cellular networks are kept separate, then deployment is simpler, but user experience and integration are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authentication mechanism where the authentication result indicator can be applied across both Wi-Fi and cellular networks, enabling integrated access and seamless user experience while maintaining deployment simplicity through a standardized approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary authentication between Wi-Fi and cellular networks using the authentication result indicator before actual data transmission, enabling seamless integrated access and improving user experience by pre-establishing trust relationships
3Reliability
If traditional authentication signaling is used, then authentication can be performed, but resources are consumed and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential authentication outcome from complex signaling sequences by using a dedicated authentication result indicator, eliminating unnecessary signaling steps and improving authentication efficiency while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows the authentication process to skip extensive signaling steps by directly indicating authentication success or failure through the authentication result indicator, rushing through the essential verification and improving processing speed
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assigning a cellular network identity. The method comprises receiving (222), in a user equipment capable to attach to a cellular network and a wireless local area network, a unique representation of a user equipment context of the user equipment and in what cellular network node the user equipment is or is going to be attached, from a network node. The unique representation is labelled (224) as a cellular network identity and cellular network identity is stored (226) a pseudonym identity and/or a fast re-authentication identity in a memory in the user equipment.