Peer-to-Peer Discovery Relay With Secure MIC Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, the high density of devices creates challenges in efficiently discovering and relaying discovery information about goods or services, particularly in limited coverage areas, while ensuring message integrity and providing economic incentives for relay devices.
Innovation Solution
A method for secure peer-to-peer relaying of discovery information using device-to-device communications, involving the generation and verification of message integrity check (MIC) values, relay-specific fields, and compensation mechanisms for relay devices, to ensure secure and efficient transmission of discovery information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If relay devices are used to extend coverage area, then the discovery range is improved, but message integrity cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing a Message Integrity Check (MIC) value based on a security key before the relay operation. This MIC value is attached to the discovery frame in advance, allowing verifying devices to later check whether the frame has been altered during relaying. The security key is pre-shared between the announcing device and verifying devices, establishing a trust foundation before the relay occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a MIC value that mediates between the relay device and the verifying device. The MIC acts as a digital seal that proves the authenticity of the discovery frame without requiring the verifying device to directly trust the relay device. This intermediary enables secure relaying through untrusted intermediate nodes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If relay-specific fields are added to discovery frames, then relay functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the discovery frame into distinct functional segments: original discovery information fields and new relay-specific fields. The relay-specific fields include the MIC value and relay hop counter, which are separated from the core discovery information. This segmentation allows relay functionality to be added without disrupting the original frame structure or requiring devices to process unnecessary fields.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the relay-specific fields optional and location-dependent. Only devices that need relay functionality (relay devices and verifying devices) process the MIC and relay hop counter fields. Announcing devices and simple receiving devices can ignore these fields. This localized processing reduces the effective complexity for different device types while maintaining full relay functionality where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for wireless communication, and more specifically to advertising discovery information, relaying discovery information, and to the secure relay of discovery information in wireless networks. Various frame structures are provided for such transmitting and relaying of discovery information. According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, security is provided for relaying discovery information. According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, compensation may be provided to a device that relays discovery information (e.g., when the relaying results in a transaction).