Dual Connectivity Key Update for Handover Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE systems, dual connectivity handovers involving SCG changes are incomplete and prone to failure due to unclear key update procedures, leading to delayed handover completion and increased failure rates.
Innovation Solution
A communication device and method that securely updates security keys and parent keys in response to handover messages, enabling seamless encryption and decryption of data across multiple base stations during dual connectivity, prioritizing the first base station's random access procedure to ensure timely handover and connection changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE performs random access procedure to the SeNB first and then to the MeNB, then the handover command involving SCG change can be executed, but the handover completion is delayed and handover failure possibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by updating the KeNB key (first parent key) before updating the S-KeNB key (second parent key). This sequential key update approach ensures that the primary connection security is established first, providing a reliable foundation before establishing the secondary connection, thereby reducing handover failure risk while maintaining efficient completion timing
2Productivity
If the UE updates both KeNB key and S-KeNB key simultaneously, then the handover can be completed quickly, but the security key management becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the key update process into two distinct sequential steps: first updating the KeNB key, then updating the S-KeNB key based on the updated KeNB key. This segmentation simplifies the overall procedure by breaking down the complex simultaneous update into manageable, ordered operations, reducing errors while maintaining efficient handover execution
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device for handling data transmission/reception for dual connectivity comprises a storage unit for storing instructions of connecting to a first base station (BS) and a second BS; receiving a message from the first BS, wherein the message configures a handover to a third BS and a connection change to a fourth BS; updating a first parent key to a first updated parent key and updating a second parent key to a second updated parent key based on the first updated parent key, in response to the message; updating a first security key to a first updated security key based on the first updated parent key and updating a second security key to a second updated security key based on the second updated parent key, in response to the message.