Modified USIM Subscription for Neutral Host Network Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in authenticating user equipment (UE) on neutral host networks, which do not use traditional mobile network operator (MNO) authentication methods, requiring secure storage and management of certificates and lacking granular identifiers for service providers.
Innovation Solution
A modified universal subscriber identity module (USIM) subscription is used by UE to generate a subscriber identifier based on a service provider identifier and a modified mobile subscriber identity, allowing authentication on neutral host networks without secure certificate storage and management, using EAP-AKA' procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional MNO authentication methods are used on neutral host networks, then authentication security is maintained, but device complexity increases due to requirements for secure certificate storage and management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the authentication mechanism by using a modified USIM subscription that contains a service provider identifier and modified mobile subscriber identity. This copy enables authentication on neutral host networks without requiring the full certificate-based security infrastructure, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining authentication functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential authentication elements (service provider identifier and modified mobile subscriber identity) from the traditional certificate-based authentication system. By taking out only what is necessary for authentication and leaving behind the complex certificate management requirements, the solution reduces device complexity while preserving security functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If certificate-based credentials are used for authentication on neutral host networks, then authentication capability is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requirements for secure storage and management of certificates
Solution Approach 1:
The modified USIM subscription enables the UE to self-configure for neutral host network authentication by automatically using the service provider identifier and modified mobile subscriber identity. This eliminates the need for manual certificate installation, storage, and management operations, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining authentication capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional USIM subscriptions are used, then mobile network operator authentication is supported, but adaptability deteriorates for accessing neutral host networks without granular identifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional monolithic USIM subscription into distinct components: a service provider identifier field and a modified mobile subscriber identity field. This segmentation allows the USIM to provide granular identification suitable for neutral host networks while maintaining the overall subscription structure, thus improving adaptability without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the USIM subscription parameters by changing the identifier structure to include a service provider identifier and modified mobile subscriber identity. This parameter change enables the USIM to function on both traditional MNO networks and neutral host networks, improving adaptability while using the existing USIM infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure describe authentication of a user equipment (UE) in a network. It can be determined, by the UE, to access a discovered network for wireless communications, and based on a service provider associated with the discovered network, to use a modified universal subscriber identity module (USIM) subscription stored in the UE for authentication with the discovered network. The UE can obtain a subscriber identifier for authenticating on the discovered network via the authentication, where the subscriber identifier is generated based at least in part on a service provider identifier associated with the service provider and a modified mobile subscriber identity associated with the service provider. The UE can send the subscriber identifier to a node of the discovered network for the authentication.