UE Trust Assessment for Secure Network Operator Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network architectures lack the ability to authenticate and assess the trustworthiness of user equipment (UE) and networks, leading to potential security risks and challenges in interworking between diverse networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for UE and network operators to obtain, analyze, and determine the trustworthiness of network operators using authentication parameters, including IDs, public keys, and trustworthiness levels, stored in a database or within the UE, enabling secure communication by differentiating between trustworthy and non-trustworthy networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the UE connects to public networks without authentication, then network accessibility is improved, but security and trustworthiness assessment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication parameter analysis before the UE connects to the network. The trust assessment function evaluates authentication parameters (IDs, public keys, trustworthiness levels) obtained from the network operator in advance, allowing the UE to decide whether to connect based on pre-assessed trustworthiness, thus maintaining both accessibility and security
2Reliability
If the network operator provides authentication parameters, then trustworthiness determination is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UE is equipped with a built-in trust assessment function that autonomously evaluates authentication parameters without requiring external assistance. The function independently analyzes the parameters, determines trustworthiness levels, and makes connection decisions, thereby improving reliability while avoiding additional system complexity through self-contained operation
3Speed
If the UE stores authentication parameters locally, then trust assessment speed is improved, but memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a hybrid storage approach where critical authentication parameters (IDs, public keys) are stored locally in the UE for rapid access, while complete authentication data and detailed trustworthiness criteria are maintained on remote servers. The trust assessment function uses locally stored essential parameters for quick initial assessment, reducing memory requirements while maintaining assessment speed
4Reliability
If the system implements comprehensive trust assessment, then security is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trust assessment function implements a multi-level evaluation process where essential authentication parameters (IDs, public keys, trustworthiness levels) are analyzed for critical security decisions, while optional detailed parameters are assessed only when needed. This partial action approach ensures comprehensive security for essential functions while reducing processing time by avoiding unnecessary analysis of all possible parameters
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques to ensure a trusted communication for a user equipment or a further network in a communication system, the communication system comprises a network operator that provides a communication network with at least one communication path, wherein the communication path can be used by the UE or by the further network to communicate with the communication network, the method comprises the following steps: • Obtaining authentication parameters of the network operator by the UE or by the further network via the communication path; • Analyzing the authentication parameters with respect to a trustworthiness level of the network operator and determining the level of trustworthiness of the network operator; • Accessing the network of the network operator based on the determined level of trustworthiness.