Security Context Active Timer for Wireless Inactive State

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems lack effective security support during the inactive state, leading to increased power consumption and signaling overhead due to the need for frequent re-establishment of security contexts for small, periodic data transmissions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a security context active timer that maintains the validity of security information during the inactive state, allowing for autonomous data transmission without state changes and reducing the need for frequent key recalculation, thereby minimizing signaling and processing overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If security context is re-established for each data transmission in inactive state, then security is maintained, but power consumption increases and signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The security context is established in advance before the terminal enters inactive state, and is maintained valid during the inactive period through timer mechanisms. This preliminary establishment eliminates the need for repeated security setup operations during periodic data transmissions, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The security context remains continuously valid during the inactive state through the security context active timer, allowing uninterrupted data transmission without repeated authentication or key recalculation. This continuous validity reduces the frequency of power-consuming security operations while maintaining protective coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If security context is re-established for each data transmission in inactive state, then security is maintained, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Security context establishment is performed in advance before inactive state entry, with validity extended through timer mechanisms. This preliminary action prevents the need for repeated signaling exchanges during periodic data transmissions, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining security integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The security context maintains continuous validity during inactive state through timer-based extension, eliminating the need for repeated authentication signaling. This continuous validity reduces the quantity of signaling messages required while preserving security protection throughout the inactive period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If terminal transitions to connected state for data transmission, then security context is refreshed, but power consumption increases due to state changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity context freshnessVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The security context is preliminarily established with an extended validity period before the terminal enters inactive state. This advance preparation allows the terminal to remain in low-power inactive state while security protection remains active, avoiding the power-consuming transition to connected state for periodic transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The security context validity is continuously maintained during inactive state through timer extension mechanisms, allowing the terminal to perform data transmissions without state transitions. This continuous validity eliminates repeated connected state activations, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining security context freshness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3566478B1Inactive state security support in wireless communications system
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3566478B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3566478B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3566478B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, comprising: storing a security context comprising a first key for wireless data transmission, and applying a timer for defining validity of the security context for the data transmission during an inactive state.