LTE Handover Authentication Synchronization via Base Station Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE wireless communication systems, handovers between coverage areas of base stations lead to synchronization issues in security authentication, causing reduced throughput and inconvenience due to the need for lengthy data transmission suspension and key updates during the 4-way handshake authentication process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a source base station performing a handover with a target base station and wireless local area network termination, transmitting a RRCConnectionReconfiguration, and the communication device performing a random access procedure, with the target base station confirming receipt to ensure synchronized key updates, thereby allowing direct 4-way handshake authentication without triggering unnecessary full authentication procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE moves across coverage boundary and handover occurs, then the UE can maintain connectivity with the network, but the authentication synchronization between UE and WLAN termination is lost, requiring lengthy re-authentication procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The source base station feeds back the handover execution status to the WLAN termination by sending a handover confirm message. This feedback mechanism ensures the WLAN termination is aware of the handover and can maintain authentication synchronization without requiring lengthy re-authentication procedures, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The source base station performs the handover execution and notifies the WLAN termination in advance before the UE completes the random access procedure with the target base station. This preliminary action allows the WLAN termination to prepare for potential authentication updates, reducing the need for lengthy re-authentication and minimizing data transmission suspension time.
2Reliability
If the UE performs association procedure to update keys after handover, then authentication security is maintained, but throughput is reduced due to lengthy authentication procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The handover confirm message sent from the source base station to the WLAN termination provides feedback that allows the WLAN termination to understand the handover status and maintain authentication synchronization. This eliminates the need for the UE to perform lengthy association procedures to update keys, thereby maintaining authentication security while preventing throughput reduction.
3Reliability
If the UE stops data transmission for key updates during handover, then security authentication is maintained, but user experience deteriorates due to inconvenience and throughput reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The source base station executes the handover and notifies the WLAN termination before the UE needs to perform key updates. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for authentication maintenance without interrupting the UE's data transmission, thereby maintaining security authentication while improving user convenience and preventing throughput reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The handover confirm message provides feedback to the WLAN termination, enabling it to maintain authentication synchronization and allow the UE to continue data transmission without stopping for key updates. This resolves the contradiction between maintaining security authentication and ensuring user convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for handling a security authentication between a communication device, a source base station (BS), a target BS and a wireless local area network (WLAN) termination (WT) comprises the source BS performing a handover with the target BS and the WT; the source BS transmitting a RRCConnectionReconfiguration to the communication device, after performing the handover; the communication device performing a random access procedure with the target BS, after receiving the RRCConnectionReconfiguration; and the target BS transmitting a confirm message to the WT after performing the random access procedure, wherein the confirm message indicates that the RRCConnectionReconfiguration is received by the communication device.