PDCP User Plane Integrity Activation for Rel-15 and ng-eNB
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no support for user plane integrity protection in the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) in Rel-15 ng-eNB in Options 4, 5, and 7, limiting the ability of Rel-15 UEs to use user plane integrity protection with Rel-16 ng-eNBs, and there is no mechanism to detect altered or modified user data traffic.
Innovation Solution
Implement methods for enabling user plane integrity protection (UP IP) in PDCP between a UE and a ng-eNB in Options 4, 5, and 7 by sending indications and activation messages to activate UP IP mode during procedures like PDU Session Establishment, Service Request, Registration Request, and mobility registration updates, using long term evolution radio access nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user plane integrity protection is implemented in PDCP for Rel-15 ng-eNB, then detection of altered user data traffic is enabled, but device complexity increases due to new protocols and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the UE with user plane integrity protection capabilities and indicators during device initialization. The UE includes UP IP capability indicators in session establishment requests before actual data transmission begins, so that when the network supports UP IP, the necessary parameters and procedures are already in place for immediate activation without requiring complex real-time configuration.
2Reliability
If user plane integrity protection mode is activated during PDU Session Establishment, then data integrity is ensured, but the session establishment procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the user plane integrity protection activation with the existing PDU session establishment procedure. The UE includes UP IP capability indicators and selected algorithms as part of the standard session establishment request message set, and the network integrates UP IP configuration into the existing session setup response. This combines multiple functions (session establishment and integrity protection activation) into a single integrated procedure, avoiding separate complex steps.
3Reliability
If indication messages are exchanged between UE and network to activate UP IP, then user plane integrity protection is enabled, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the UP IP indication messages to serve multiple functions within the existing signaling framework. The same indication messages used for session establishment also carry integrity protection algorithm selections and activation confirmations. The UE and network use existing message types (like PDU Session Establishment Request/Response) to simultaneously convey session parameters and UP IP configuration, making the signaling overhead serve multiple purposes rather than requiring separate dedicated messages for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a user equipment, UE, for enabling user plane integrity protection of data in a packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, in a radio access network is provided. The method includes sending a session establishment request towards a session management node that includes an indication of a user plane integrity protection mode supported by the UE. The method further includes receiving an activation message from a receiving radio access node that includes an indication to the UE to activate the user plane integrity protection mode for a data radio bearer established with the receiving radio access node. Methods performed by a session management node, a target access and mobility node, and a radio access node are also provided.