Proximity Service Discovery Key Routing for Reliable Device Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reliability of the device discovery process in proximity-based service communication is low, leading to reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A communication method involving a discovery key management network element that receives a request for a security parameter, obtains the target network identifier, and sends it to a second discovery key management network element to accurately determine the security parameter, reducing signaling and processing delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the discovery key management network element requests security parameters from multiple potential target networks, then the reliability of obtaining the correct security parameter is improved, but the signaling overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the first network element pre-determine and provide the target network identifier to the discovery key management network element before the security parameter request is made. This allows the discovery key management network element to directly query the correct target network without trial and error, resolving the contradiction by preparing the necessary information in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The first network element acts as an intermediary that bridges the discovery key management network element and the target network. It receives the proximity-based service identifier, determines the corresponding target network identifier, and provides it to the discovery key management network element, thereby eliminating the need for the latter to query multiple networks and reducing both time and signaling overhead.
2Reliability
If the discovery key management network element queries multiple networks for security parameters, then the reliability of obtaining the correct parameter is improved, but the signaling resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the target network identifier determination function from the discovery key management network element and assigns it to the first network element. This separation allows the discovery key management network element to focus solely on security parameter management while the first network element handles the network identification, eliminating unnecessary signaling to multiple networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The first network element serves as an intermediary that efficiently routes the security parameter request to the correct target network by determining the target network identifier based on the proximity-based service identifier. This intermediary function prevents the discovery key management network element from wasting signaling resources by querying multiple incorrect networks.
3Device complexity
If the system uses a generic approach to obtain security parameters without accurate target network identification, then the device complexity is reduced, but the discovery process efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The first network element is designed with multi-functionality, handling both the proximity-based service identifier and the target network identifier determination. This universal approach allows the system to maintain relatively simple device complexity while achieving high discovery process efficiency through accurate target network identification.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a communication method and an apparatus, to improve reliability of a device discovery process in proximity-based service communication, so as to enhance proximity-based service communication performance. The method may be implemented in the following steps: After receiving a security parameter obtaining request from a first communication apparatus, a first discovery key management network element obtains an identifier of a target network from a first network element, where the first request may include an identifier of a proximity-based service, the identifier of the target network corresponds to the identifier of the proximity-based service, the target network is a home network of a second communication apparatus, and the second communication apparatus is configured to provide the proximity-based service for the first communication apparatus. Then, the first discovery key management network element may further send a second request to a second discovery key management network element in the target network to request the security parameter, and may send, to a first terminal apparatus, the security parameter obtained from the second discovery key management network element.