UE Protection Scheme Updates for Secure Roaming Identity Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G communication networks lack a mechanism to dynamically update protection schemes for user equipment (UE) as it moves between communication networks, leading to potential identity exposure and security risks due to the use of non-optimal or non-privacy-preserving protection schemes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for the home communication network to send protection scheme configuration data to user equipment using a UE Parameter Update (UPU) or Steering of Roaming (SoR) procedure, allowing the UE to generate a unique identifier based on received data, and dynamically update protection schemes in visited networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user equipment moves between communication networks using existing 5G protocols, then network mobility and connectivity are maintained, but security protection schemes become non-optimal and identity exposure risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic protection schemes that adapt to different network environments. The home communication network determines appropriate protection schemes based on the visited network characteristics, and the UE dynamically updates its identifier generation method using received protection scheme configuration data when moving between networks, ensuring optimal security protection in each specific network context
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of identifier generation by introducing protection scheme configuration data that modifies how unique identifiers are created. The UE receives configuration data containing parameters for protected identifier generation, transforming the static identifier generation process into a dynamic one that adapts to different network security requirements
2Reliability
If static protection schemes are used in 5G networks, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but security risks increase when user equipment moves between different networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network entity in the home communication network as an intermediary that determines and distributes protection scheme configuration data to the UE. This intermediary approach centralizes the complexity of protection scheme management on the network side while keeping the UE implementation relatively simple, as the UE only needs to receive and apply the configuration data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the home communication network determine and send protection scheme configuration data to the UE in advance, before the UE moves to a visited network. This allows the UE to be pre-configured with appropriate protection schemes, eliminating the need for complex real-time adaptation when moving between networks
3Loss of information
If existing 5G procedures are used without protection scheme updates, then procedural simplicity is maintained, but privacy preservation is compromised in visited networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the update procedure universal by integrating protection scheme configuration into existing 5G procedures such as UE parameter update or steering of roaming. The same update mechanism serves both traditional parameter updates and new protection scheme configuration, eliminating the need for separate complex procedures while preserving identity privacy across different network scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for protection scheme configuration in a communication network are disclosed. For example, a home communication network of given user equipment sends protection scheme configuration data to the given user equipment using a user equipment parameter update procedure, or a steering of roaming procedure in a visited communication network scenario.