FMIF-DB Registration of Legacy Residential Gateways to 5G Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy residential gateways in fixed access networks lack the necessary credentials and awareness to interact with 5G Core Networks, hindering their registration and authentication processes, which are different from mobile networks and require specific interfaces and credentials.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 5G Fixed Mobile Interworking Function Database (FMIF-DB) that stores UE credentials, configuration, and dynamic data, along with a Provisioning Service Node and Certificate Authority, to facilitate the registration of legacy residential gateways by managing subscriptions and credentials, and enabling them to interact with the 5G Core Network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If legacy residential gateways are integrated into 5G Core Network, then service capability and network convergence are improved, but device complexity and authentication difficulty increase due to lack of 3GPP credentials and NAS stack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Fixed Mobile Interworking Function (FMIF) as an intermediary between legacy residential gateways and the 5G Core Network. The FMIF performs authentication on behalf of the gateway by interacting with the 5G-AUSF and 5G-UDM, eliminating the need for the gateway to have 3GPP credentials or NAS stack while enabling seamless integration into the 5G network
2Ease of operation
If direct N1 interface connection is established between 5G-RG and AMF, then registration procedure is simplified, but security risk increases due to lack of proper credentials in legacy gateways
Solution Approach 1:
The FMIF acts as a security intermediary that mediates between the legacy gateway and the 5G Core Network. It handles all security-critical operations including authentication with 5G-AUSF, security context management with 5G-SEAF, and key derivation, thereby maintaining security while simplifying the registration procedure for legacy devices
3Adaptability or versatility
If 5G Core Network supports both 3GPP and non-3GPP accesses with common interfaces, then network convergence is improved, but control plane complexity increases due to multiple access types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control plane functions by introducing a dedicated FMIF component that handles all non-3GPP access-specific operations. This separates the complex authentication and security management tasks from the common 5G Core Network control plane, allowing independent optimization and management of different access types while maintaining network convergence
Data Source
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AI summary
A 5G Fixed Mobile Interworking Function Database entity, FMIF-DB, (10) in a system compris-ing a Wireline 5G Access Network, W-5GAN, connecting to a Fixed Network Residential Gate-way, FN-RG, (7), the W-5GAN comprising a Wireline Access Node, AN, (8) and a 5G Fixed Mo-bile Interworking Function, FMIF, (9), the FMIF (9) connecting to Ac-cess and Mobility Manage-ment Function, AMF, (14) and to an User Plane Function, UPF, (13) and the FMIF DN (10). The wireline Access Node (8), coupling to a Fixed Network Residential Gateway, FN-RG (7) providing services such as TV, Internet and voice, the database apparatus (10) being adapted for holding - User entity, UE, credentials for providing an identity of an FN-RG (7) as a User En-tity, UE, and - UE configuration data for the FN-RG (7).