Sidelink Groupcast Security Keying Without RRC Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in enabling secure sidelink connectionless groupcast communication without a radio resource control (RRC) connection between user equipment (UEs), particularly in managing security keys for such communications.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving security keys for sidelink connectionless groupcast communication between UEs without an RRC connection, where UEs request and transmit information indicating a distance for using the security key, allowing secure communication among UEs within a specified range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If security keys are managed for sidelink connectionless groupcast communication without RRC connection, then communication security is improved, but device complexity increases due to key management overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidsecurity key management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as an intermediary that generates and distributes security keys to multiple UEs. Instead of UEs managing keys bilaterally, the base station centrally manages key generation, distribution, and updates, simplifying the key management process while maintaining security for connectionless groupcast communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If security keys are distributed to multiple UEs within a distance, then communication efficiency is improved, but information management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidinformation management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary actions by pre-generating security keys and storing them in association with UE identifiers and distance parameters before actual communication occurs. This allows UEs to quickly establish secure communication without real-time key negotiation, improving communication efficiency while the base station manages the complexity of key distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If RRC connection is established for security key exchange, then security key management is simplified, but communication overhead and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity key exchangeVSAvoidconnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Security keys are generated and distributed by the base station in advance, associated with UE identifiers and distance parameters, before actual sidelink communication occurs. This eliminates the need for time-consuming RRC connection establishment specifically for key exchange, as keys are already available when needed for connectionless groupcast communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4454206B1Techniques for sidelink connectionless groupcast communication using a security key

Publication Date: 2026.04.08 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit, to a node, a request for a security key for sidelink connectionless groupcast communication that is performed without a radio resource control connection between UEs. The request may indicate a distance from the UE for using the security key. The UE may receive, from the node, information that indicates the security key. Numerous other aspects are described.