UE-to-Network Relay Discovery Key Handling in 5G Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G wireless communication system lacks a solution for UE-to-Network Relay, which is essential for both public safety and commercial use cases, particularly in terms of discovery key handling and key management for secure communication.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for transmitting a key request to a network function within a home network to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery in a visited network, using a Direct Discovery Name Management Function (DDNMF) to secure communications, including a list of networks and relay service codes for key provisioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If UE-to-Network Relay discovery is implemented in 5G systems, then connectivity for public safety and commercial use cases is improved, but key management complexity increases due to roaming between different networks
Solution Approach 1:
The home network's DDNMF acts as an intermediary between the roaming UE and the visited network's DDNMF. The home network DDNMF receives key requests from UEs, forwards them to the appropriate visited network DDNMF, and manages the key distribution process centrally, thereby reducing UE complexity while enabling multi-network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The key management function is segmented between home network DDNMF and visited network DDNMF. The home network DDNMF handles key request management and forwarding, while the visited network DDNMF handles key generation and provisioning. This segmentation allows each network function to focus on specific tasks, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If discovery keys are obtained from home network for visited network relay discovery, then security is improved through centralized key management, but signaling overhead increases between networks
Solution Approach 1:
The home network DDNMF is designed with multi-functionality to handle both local key management and inter-network key forwarding. This universal function reduces the need for separate signaling entities and optimizes the signaling path, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining centralized security management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple discovery keys are provisioned for different visited networks, then roaming capability is improved, but key storage requirements in UE increase
Solution Approach 1:
Discovery keys are provisioned to the UE in advance by the home network DDNMF before the UE actually needs to roam to visited networks. This preliminary provisioning ensures that keys are already available when needed, eliminating the need for real-time key generation during roaming and reducing storage management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a wireless device is provided. The method comprises transmitting (1002), to a network function within a home network of the wireless device, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery within a visited network in which the wireless device is roaming, receiving (1004), from the network function within the home network of the wireless device, a key response including the discovery key for network relay discovery within the visited network, and securing (1006) communications with a network relay in the visited network using the discovery key.