MLD Relay Architecture Forwarding Encrypted Payloads
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, especially in multi-link device (MLD) based relay architectures, the process of decrypting and re-encrypting encrypted payloads at each satellite access point (AP) introduces significant latency and processing delays, which can disrupt seamless roaming and increase end-to-end transmission time.
Innovation Solution
Configuring satellite APs to forward encrypted payloads directly to wireless stations (STAs) without decrypting or re-encrypting them, thereby reducing latency and maintaining end-to-end associations with the root AP, allowing seamless roaming across relay APs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellite APs decrypt and re-encrypt encrypted payloads at each relay hop, then security is maintained, but latency and processing delays increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decryption and re-encryption operations from intermediate satellite APs, eliminating these processing steps at relay hops. Only the root AP performs encryption, and intermediate APs simply forward the already-encrypted payloads, thus removing the time-consuming decryption/re-encryption cycle while maintaining security through the original encryption scheme.
Solution Approach 2:
The encryption operation is performed in advance by the root AP before the data traverses through intermediate satellite APs. This preliminary encryption allows subsequent relay APs to forward data without additional processing, as the security requirements are already satisfied by the initial encryption operation.
2Loss of time
If satellite APs forward encrypted payloads without decryption, then latency is reduced, but security verification becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the security management functions into the root AP, which maintains end-to-end associations with both STAs and performs all encryption operations. Intermediate satellite APs simply forward encrypted payloads without needing to verify or manage security, thus reducing their complexity while the root AP consolidates security responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The encrypted payload acts as an intermediary that carries security information without requiring intermediate processing. The root AP encrypts the payload with security keys, and intermediate APs merely transport this encrypted data, allowing security verification to occur only at the endpoints without complicating intermediate device operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If end-to-end associations are maintained with root AP, then seamless roaming is enabled, but intermediate AP coordination becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the association management and coordination functions from intermediate satellite APs, eliminating the need for complex multi-AP coordination during roaming. STAs maintain end-to-end associations only with the root AP, and intermediate APs simply forward data without needing to track or coordinate associations, thus enabling seamless roaming while reducing coordination complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides methods, components, devices and systems for performing actions to reduce end-to-end latency during a transmission of an encrypted payload of a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) from a root access point (AP) to a wireless station (STA) via a satellite AP. For example, the satellite AP may be configured to receive the encrypted payload from the root AP, and then forward the received encrypted payload to the wireless STA, without decrypting the received encrypted payload and re-encrypting unencrypted payload at the satellite AP.