Relay Session Key Setup for P2P Link Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, securing a peer-to-peer communication link between user equipment and a mobile network without direct involvement from the managed mobile network is challenging, especially when user equipment lacks compatible wireless interfaces or resources, or when power consumption needs to be reduced while maintaining communication.
Innovation Solution
A method where a relay session key material is obtained from a managed mobile network node to secure a peer-to-peer communication link between user equipment and a relay user equipment, using identifiers and nonces to establish a secure connection, allowing data to be relayed over the link.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a peer-to-peer communication link is established between user equipment and relay user equipment without mobile network involvement, then communication setup is faster and more flexible, but security of the communication link deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile network pre-generates and distributes relay session key material to both the relay user equipment and the remote user equipment before the peer-to-peer communication link is established. This preliminary security setup allows the peer-to-peer link to be secured without real-time network involvement during the actual communication setup, thus maintaining both security and fast setup speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile network acts as an intermediary that provides security key material to the peer-to-peer communicating devices. Although the mobile network does not directly manage or monitor the peer-to-peer communication link, it enables security through the distributed key material, allowing the link to be both independent (fast setup) and secure (network-backed cryptography).
2Reliability
If user equipment uses its own wireless interface to communicate directly with the mobile network, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A relay user equipment acts as an intermediary between the remote user equipment and the mobile network. The relay UE maintains the power-consuming connection to the network, while the remote UE can communicate through the relay using lower power, thus distributing the energy burden while maintaining reliable network connectivity.
3Device complexity
If user equipment lacks compatible wireless interface or resources, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to communicate with mobile network deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A relay user equipment with full mobile network compatibility acts as an intermediary, allowing user equipment without compatible wireless interfaces or resources to communicate with the mobile network. The relay UE handles the complex network protocol requirements, while the remote UE can use simpler communication interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects pertain to ways to securing a peer-to-peer communication link that serves to relay transmissions to/from a managed mobile network node. A first user equipment may identify a second user equipment that can communicate via a peer-to-peer wireless interface and serve as a relay between the first user equipment and a managed mobile network node. A relay session key material may be obtained from the managed mobile network node. A peer-to-peer communication link between the first user equipment and the second user equipment may be established or modified by, for example, securing the peer-to-peer communication link based on the relay session key material. A protocol data unit session may be established, over the peer-to-peer communication link, between the first user equipment and the managed mobile network node for secured transmissions there between.