Radio Bearer Ciphering Configuration for Lower Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies lack a method to efficiently configure ciphering and integrity protection for each Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session or Data Radio Bearer (DRB) in New Radio (NR) systems, leading to unnecessary overhead and potential security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to configure ciphering for radio bearers with minimal signaling overhead by using default settings and only signaling changes when necessary, allowing individual configuration of ciphering for each radio bearer, including parameters in specific Information Elements (IEs) within RRC messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ciphering configuration is included in every RRC message for each radio bearer, then security is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ciphering configuration indication from every RRC message and places it only in the SecurityConfig information element. This allows the ciphering configuration to be transmitted once at the beginning rather than repeated in every subsequent message, significantly reducing signaling overhead while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by configuring ciphering settings in advance through the SecurityConfig IE before actual data transmission begins. Once configured, these settings remain active for all subsequent RRC messages without needing re-transmission, thereby reducing ongoing signaling requirements.
2Reliability
If integrity protection is added to all DRBs, then security is improved, but communication overhead increases due to MAC-I
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling integrity protection selectively for specific radio bearers based on their security requirements. Instead of applying integrity protection uniformly to all DRBs, the system configures it only where necessary, thereby maintaining security for sensitive bearers while minimizing overhead for others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of integrity protection from a fixed always-on state to a configurable state controlled by the SecurityConfig IE. This allows the system to dynamically adjust integrity protection settings based on traffic type and security requirements, optimizing the balance between security and overhead.
3Manufacturing precision
If ciphering configuration is transmitted in every RRC message, then configuration accuracy is improved, but transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ciphering configuration from repetitive RRC messages and consolidates it in the SecurityConfig IE. This ensures configuration accuracy is maintained through explicit initial configuration while eliminating the time waste of re-transmitting the same configuration data in every message.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration action by establishing ciphering settings in advance through SecurityConfig before data transmission begins. This preliminary setup ensures configuration accuracy is achieved once, avoiding the need for repeated transmissions and reducing overall transmission time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, performed by a wireless device, is disclosed. The method is for managing radio resources in the wireless device and comprises receiving a message configuring a radio bearer for use by the wireless device, checking the message for a ciphering configuration setting enabling or disabling ciphering for the radio bearer, and performing at least one of enabling or disabling ciphering for the radio bearer in accordance with the received message. Also disclosed are a method performed by a base station for configuring radio resources for use by a wireless device, a wireless device, a user equipment and a base station.