LTE Relay Communication With Network-Assisted Peer Trust Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing layer 3 relay communication systems without a non-3GPP interworking function, there is a lack of a technical solution to determine whether a communication peer is trustworthy, posing security and privacy risks when establishing relay connections.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and system that provides relationship information from a network side to user equipment (UE) to identify trusted peers, using identifiers, group keys, authentication information, and service type information to verify trust relationships during relay discovery and connection establishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If relay communication is established without trust verification, then connection establishment is simple and fast, but security and privacy risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing trust relationship verification during the relay discovery and connection establishment phases. The network device determines whether a trust relationship exists between the first UE and second UE before allowing relay communication to proceed, ensuring security is established in advance rather than as an afterthought.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network device serves as an intermediary that facilitates trust verification. It receives identification information from the first UE, determines trust relationships with the second UE, and provides authentication results back to the first UE. This intermediary approach centralizes security management while maintaining relatively simple device implementations at the UE level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If trust verification mechanisms are implemented, then security of relay communication is enhanced, but connection establishment process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The first UE performs self-verification by sending identification information of the second UE to the network device and receiving authentication results. The UE autonomously determines whether to establish relay communication based on the trust relationship verification outcome, reducing the need for complex manual configuration or intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The network device acts as a mediator that simplifies the trust verification process for UEs. Instead of requiring UEs to implement complex verification algorithms themselves, the network device handles the trust relationship determination centrally, making the process easier to operate while maintaining strong security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If identification information is transmitted for verification, then trust relationship can be determined, but information transmission overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrust verificationVSAvoidinformation overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential identification information needed for trust verification from the complete UE identity data. The first UE sends specific identification information about the second UE to the network device, which then determines the trust relationship based on this extracted key information, minimizing unnecessary data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transmits only the necessary portion of identification information required for trust verification rather than complete UE profiles. This partial action approach sends sufficient data for security determination while avoiding excessive information overhead, balancing verification capability with transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4231681B1Trusted relay communication methods, system and readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4231681B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4231681B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4231681B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

This application discloses a communication method and apparatus for trusted or untrusted relay, a terminal, and a network side device, and pertains to the field of wireless communication technologies. The communication method for trusted or untrusted relay is applied to first LTE and includes: receiving relationship information delivered from a network side, where the relationship information is used to indicate a trust relationship of the first LTE; and receiving identification information sent by second LTE, and, based on the relationship information and the identification information, performing relay connection and/or relay communication with the second LTE, or refusing to perform relay connection and/or relay communication with the second LTE.