EBI Assignment Security Verification in 5G EPS Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the 5G mobile communications system, assigning an Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer identity (EBI) that meets user plane security requirements is challenging, leading to unnecessary signaling overheads and resource wastage due to mismatched security capabilities between the 5G system and the EPS.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus are introduced to request EBI assignment only when the user plane security enforcement information of a PDU session matches the user plane encryption protection information of the EPS, ensuring that the assigned EBI meets the security requirements, thereby avoiding the assignment of unsuitable EBIs and optimizing resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If EBI assignment is performed without checking user plane security compatibility, then signaling overhead is reduced, but security requirements are not met and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by checking user plane security compatibility between 5G and EPS before initiating EBI assignment. The transmission management apparatus determines whether the user plane security enforcement information of the PDU session is compatible with the user plane encryption protection information of the EPS in advance, and only sends EBI assignment request information when compatibility is confirmed. This prevents unnecessary signaling overhead while ensuring security requirements are met.
2Productivity
If EBI assignment request is sent without security compatibility check, then processing time is reduced, but incompatible EBIs are assigned causing resource wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary security compatibility verification before EBI assignment to prevent resource wastage. By checking whether user plane security enforcement information matches user plane encryption protection information beforehand, the system ensures that EBI assignment only proceeds when compatibility is confirmed, thereby avoiding assignment of incompatible EBIs and preventing EBI resource wastage while maintaining efficient processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If security compatibility verification is performed before EBI assignment, then resource utilization is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by performing security compatibility verification selectively rather than universally. The transmission management apparatus checks user plane security enforcement information and user plane encryption protection information only for PDU sessions that require EBI assignment in the EPS, not for all PDU sessions. This targeted approach ensures security compatibility is verified where needed while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
When an EBI needs to be assigned to an EPS bearer to which a QoS flow is mapped in an EPS, whether user plane security enforcement information of a PDU session matches user plane encryption protection information of the EPS is determined, that is, whether a user plane capability of the EPS can meet a user plane security requirement of the PDU session is determined. The EBI is assigned to the EPS bearer only when the requirement is met. Otherwise, the EBI is not assigned to the EPS bearer or the EBI is released if the EBI has been assigned. In this way, when UE moves from a 5GS to the EPS, the EPS bearer is prevented from using an EBI that does not meet the user plane security requirement for data transmission.