TVWS Device Validation via Integrity Protected RRC Messages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face inefficiencies in validating communication devices for using television radio bands/channels, particularly in scenarios involving handover operations, leading to potential service interruptions due to the need for device revalidation when switching access network control elements in TV White Spaces (TVWS).
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that include an identification verification processor to securely transmit a unique identification element within an integrity-protected message for radio resource connection reconfiguration, ensuring only certified devices access TVWS resources, and a verification process relay to validate devices through a database, minimizing service disruptions during handovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If device validation is performed through a database when switching access network control elements, then device certification can be ensured, but service interruption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs validation of the unique identification element against the database in advance, before the handover is executed. The source access network control element validates the device's identification element when the radio resource connection reconfiguration is initiated, so that when the target access network control element receives the handover request, the validation result is already available or can be quickly verified, thus reducing service interruption time while ensuring device certification
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the validation result of the unique identification element is communicated back through the network. The source access network control element obtains the validation result from the database and forwards it to the target access network control element, enabling the target element to make informed decisions about resource allocation without performing a complete validation process, thereby reducing service interruption time
2Reliability
If unique identification element is transmitted in integrity-protected messages, then security is improved, but message complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing integrity protection and ciphering mechanisms that are already part of the radio resource control protocol suite. The unique identification element is transmitted within standard message types (RRCConnectionReconfiguration, RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete) that already have integrity protection built-in, rather than creating new specialized message formats. This approach maintains security while avoiding additional message complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The integrity protection and verification of the unique identification element is handled automatically by the existing security mechanisms in the protocol stack. The receiving entity automatically verifies the integrity of the message containing the unique identification element using the already-established security context and keys, without requiring additional manual verification steps or complex processing
Data Source
AI summary
There is proposed a mechanism for validating a communication device such as a UE for allowing usage of television radio bands/channels (TVWS). An identification verification process of the communication device is performed by including a unique identification element into an integrity protected and ciphered message related to a radio resource connection reconfiguration procedure, the unique identification element identifying a certified communication device allowed to use radio resources of a television radio band. The message is transmitted to the communication network for performing an identification verification processing with a TVWS database. Furthermore, a mechanism for a handover scenario is provided where validating of the communication device for allowing usage of television radio bands/channels (TVWS) is performed.