MOBIKE Aware LTE Wi-Fi Handoff Security Association Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in seamlessly handover VoLTE calls between LTE and non-LTE networks, such as Wi-Fi, which affects voice call quality and throughput.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a MOBIKE aware LTE to Wi-Fi handoff optimization protocol that establishes and maintains security associations with an ePDG over Wi-Fi, allowing for a controlled handover to LTE and setting a timer for maintaining these associations, ensuring continuous security and efficient network transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a handover from Wi-Fi to LTE network is performed, then network connectivity is maintained, but security associations may be lost or compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing security associations with the ePDG before the actual handover occurs. The UE indicates MOBIKE support and timer values during the initial security association setup, preparing the groundwork for seamless handover while maintaining security. This preliminary configuration enables the security context to be preserved across network transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The ePDG acts as an intermediary that maintains security associations across different networks. By keeping the security association active during the handover transition period (controlled by the timer), the ePDG mediates between the UE and the core network, ensuring security continuity even as the access network changes from Wi-Fi to LTE.
2Reliability
If security associations are maintained after handover, then security continuity is improved, but network resources are consumed longer
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic timer-based actions to manage security association maintenance. The UE indicates a specific timer value that controls how long security associations are maintained after handover. This periodic/timeout-based approach ensures security continuity for the necessary duration while automatically releasing resources after the timer expires, balancing security requirements with resource efficiency.
3Productivity
If MOBIKE support is indicated with timer values, then handover optimization is achieved, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The MOBIKE protocol provides a universal solution that handles multiple handover scenarios (Wi-Fi to LTE, LTE to Wi-Fi, inter-LTE handovers) through a single protocol framework. By indicating MOBIKE support and timer values, the system achieves optimized handover across different network types without requiring separate mechanisms for each scenario, improving productivity while managing complexity through protocol standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of this disclosure provides a user equipment (UE) for managing handovers between different networks. The UE includes a memory and at least one processor operably connected to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to establish security associations with an evolved data packet gateway (ePDG) over a Wi-Fi network. The at least one processor is also configured to indicate MOBIKE support and a specific timer value corresponding to a specific period of time for maintaining the security associations. The at least one processor is also configured to, after establishing the security associations, perform a handover from the Wi-Fi network to a long term evolution (LTE) network. The at least one processor is also configured to maintain the security associations for the specific period of time corresponding to the specific timer value after performing the Wi-Fi to LTE handover and disconnecting from the Wi-Fi network.