Destination-Specific Ciphering for Multi-Donor IAB Packet Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in handling multi-hop relays in integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks, particularly in high-frequency radio communications, where signal coverage is limited, and efficient routing of packets between multiple IAB donors is not effectively addressed.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves ciphering and deciphering uplink and downlink packets with specific configurations to identify the destination or source IAB donor, using identifiers and associations to map packets to appropriate data radio bearers and logical channels, ensuring accurate routing through IAB nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multi-hop backhauling is used to extend coverage in high-frequency radio communication systems, then coverage extension is improved, but packet routing complexity between multiple IAB donors worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backhaul network into multiple IAB donors, each responsible for specific packets or UEs. This segmentation allows coverage extension through multiple hops while managing routing complexity by distributing the routing burden across multiple donors rather than requiring one donor to handle all routing decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces IAB nodes as intermediaries between UEs and IAB donors. These intermediary nodes perform local routing decisions and packet forwarding, reducing the routing complexity at the donor level while enabling multi-hop coverage extension. The intermediary nodes act as intelligent relays that simplify the overall network routing architecture.
2Reliability
If packets are ciphered with destination-specific configurations in multi-hop IAB networks, then packet security and accurate routing are improved, but processing overhead at UE and IAB nodes worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring ciphering parameters and routing information at the UE before transmission. The UE is provided with multiple cipher configurations corresponding to different IAB donors, and selects the appropriate configuration based on the destination. This preliminary setup reduces real-time processing overhead at intermediate nodes while maintaining secure and accurate packet routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using destination-specific ciphering configurations rather than a uniform ciphering approach. Each packet is ciphered with parameters tailored to its specific destination IAB donor, optimizing security and routing accuracy for each transmission path while allowing intermediate nodes to process packets with minimal overhead by relying on pre-configured parameters.
3Reliability
If multiple cipher configurations are maintained for different IAB donors, then packet security and routing accuracy are improved, but memory requirements and configuration complexity at UE worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a unified cipher configuration structure that can serve multiple IAB donors. Rather than maintaining completely separate ciphering systems for each donor, the UE is configured with a set of cipher parameters that can be selectively applied based on the destination. This multi-functional approach provides packet security for multiple donors while optimizing memory usage through parameter sharing and selective configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to wireless communication in an IAB network. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, a method may include: ciphering an uplink (UL) packet with a cipher configuration associated with a destination of the UL packet, wherein the UE is connected to a first integrated access and backhaul (IAB) donor and a second IAB donor via an IAB node, and the destination of the UL packet is either the first IAB donor or the second IAB donor; providing the ciphered UL packet with the destination of the UL packet; and transmitting the ciphered UL packet to the destination of the UL packet via the IAB node. By employing the solutions in the present disclosure, a UE can determine that the DL packet is from which IAB donor and thus can process the DL packet accordingly. Moreover, an IAB node can determine that the UL packet is to which IAB donor and can route the UL packet to the corresponding IAB donor.