PIN Credential Provisioning via Gateway Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

The 5G system lacks a mechanism to securely provision operator credentials to PIN elements preconfigured with default credentials, preventing effective management and identification of PIN elements behind a gateway, especially in personal IoT networks.

Innovation Solution

A method for personal IoT network (PIN) element credential provisioning involves a PIN element gateway and network functions to request, authenticate, and provision credentials through a third-party AAA server, ensuring secure non-3GPP connections and using network functions like AMF to establish PDU sessions for credential provisioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If PIN elements are preconfigured with default credentials for easy deployment, then ease of operation is improved, but security and manageability deteriorate because the 5G system cannot provision operator credentials to these elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of deploymentVSAvoidsecurity and manageability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

PIN elements are preconfigured with default credentials before deployment to enable easy initial operation and network attachment. This preliminary configuration allows devices to join the network without complex setup procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A credential provisioning mechanism is introduced as an intermediary process between the 5G system and PIN elements. The system provisions operator credentials through authenticated requests, replacing or supplementing default credentials while maintaining secure management control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a credential provisioning mechanism is implemented through multiple network functions (AMF, AUSF, UDM, NSSAAF, AAA server), then security and manageability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity and manageabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The credential provisioning system is segmented into specialized network functions, each handling specific tasks: AMF for access management, AUSF for authentication, UDM for data management, NSSAAF for authorization, and AAA server for credential provisioning. This division allows complex security operations to be distributed across manageable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple network functions are designed to work together in a unified credential provisioning framework. The same authentication and credential management mechanisms serve both initial device onboarding and ongoing security management, reducing overall system complexity despite the number of components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250343695A1Personal IoT network (PIN) primitive credential configuration method and apparatus, communication device, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD

AI summary

A method for personal IoT network (PIN) element credential provisioning, is performed by a PIN element gateway, and includes: receiving first information sent by a PIN element, wherein the first information is used to request for provisioning a credential to the PIN element; and sending authentication result information to the PIN element in response to the PIN element gateway performing an operation of credential provisioning.