Network-Assisted Proximity Service Session Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Proximity service communication in LTE systems faces security risks due to peer-to-peer connections, which are vulnerable to denial of service attacks and lack effective authentication, and the usage of LTE licensed band is uncontrolled without network assistance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing network-assisted proximity service session management through methods and apparatuses that discover proximity service targets, verify identities, and set up communication via uplink and downlink signaling, ensuring authorization and controlled usage of the LTE licensed band by involving network nodes like MME and eNB for authentication and session management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pure peer-to-peer proximity service communication is implemented between terminals, then direct terminal to terminal communication is achieved, but security risks arise including vulnerability to denial of service attacks and inability to authenticate user identity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect terminal to terminal communicationVSAvoidsecurity and authentication

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the network (base station and core network elements) as an intermediary to assist in proximity service session management. The network receives proximity service requests from terminals, performs authentication and authorization verification, and manages session setup and release, thereby resolving the security and authentication issues while maintaining direct terminal communication capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If pure peer-to-peer proximity service communication is implemented, then direct communication without network detour is achieved, but control over LTE licensed band usage is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect communication efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork control and management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network acts as a mediator that provides lightweight control functions. The base station receives proximity service requests from terminals and forwards them to the core network for processing, enabling controlled management of LTE licensed band usage while maintaining the efficiency of direct terminal communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If network assisted proximity service session management is implemented, then security and control are improved, but system complexity increases due to involvement of network nodes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity and authorizationVSAvoidnetwork assistance infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages existing universal network elements (base station and core network) that already perform multiple functions including authentication, authorization, and session management. This approach provides enhanced security and control without requiring dedicated new infrastructure, as these network elements fulfill multiple roles in the proximity service management process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10616065B2Network assisted proximity service session management

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

There are provided measures for network assisted proximity service session management. Such measures exemplarily comprise discovering a proximity service target, said proximity service target providing proximity service, and setting up, via uplink and downlink signaling, proximity service communication with said proximity service target.