Mobile Management Node USIM Validation for Relay Attach

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the LTE-Advanced scheme, when a relay node's USIM cannot be used for an attach process, the NAS security is always set, leading to wasteful resource usage due to unnecessary transmission of the (SI) Initial Context Setup Request.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication method and mobile management node that only set NAS security between the mobile management node and the relay node if the USIM is determined to be usable for the attach process, and fail the authentication and key agreement procedure if the USIM is not usable, thereby avoiding unnecessary resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If NAS security is always set between the mobile management node and the relay node, then the attach process can proceed, but unnecessary resources are consumed when the USIM cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattach process completionVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing USIM validation and determining attach eligibility before setting NAS security. The mobile management node checks whether the USIM can be used for the attach process executed as the relay node, and only proceeds to set NAS security when the validation succeeds. This prevents wasteful resource consumption by avoiding unnecessary security setup when the USIM is invalid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the authentication and key agreement procedure always succeeds, then NAS security can be set, but unnecessary procedures are executed when the USIM cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattach process efficiencyVSAvoidprocedure execution time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary validation of the USIM's usability for relay node attach before initiating the full authentication and key agreement procedure. By checking whether the USIM can be used for the attach process in advance, the system avoids executing unnecessary authentication procedures when the USIM is invalid, thereby reducing procedure execution time and improving overall attach process efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by failing the authentication and key agreement procedure when the USIM cannot be used, rather than allowing it to succeed. This inversion prevents unnecessary NAS security setup and subsequent resource consumption, as the system deliberately terminates the authentication process when validation fails, turning a potential waste into an efficient early termination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2696616B1Mobile communication method and mobile management node
Publication Date: 2016.12.28 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2696616B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2696616B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2696616B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In an attach process executed as a relay node RN, the wasteful use of a resource is avoided. A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step of transmitting, by a radio base station DeNB, "(S1) Initial UE message" indicating the attach process executed as the relay node RN to a mobile management node MME in response to "Attach Request (RN)" received from the relay node RN having a secure channel established between the relay node RN and USIM-RN, a step of starting, by the mobile management node MME, "EPS-AKA" between the relay node RN and the USIM-RN in response to the "(S1) Initial UE message", and a step of failing in the "EPS-AKA" when it is determined that the USIM-RN cannot be used for the attach process executed as the relay node RN.