Wireless Security Parameter Synchronization During Mobility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, there is a synchronization issue between access terminals and network entities regarding security parameters, leading to dropped calls due to the access terminal not updating security parameters in time, causing a window where the network updates to new parameters while the terminal remains with old ones.

Innovation Solution

The access terminal and network entities implement a mechanism to abort the security mode procedure and revert to old security parameters during mobility procedures, sending dedicated indicators and confirmation messages to synchronize security parameters, ensuring the access terminal updates to new parameters only after confirmation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the access terminal updates security parameters after receiving security mode command, then security parameters are updated at the terminal, but the terminal may abort the security mode procedure during mobility procedures causing desynchronization with the network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity parameter synchronizationVSAvoidmobility procedure execution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The access terminal sends a security status indicator in the mobility update message before the network entity can update its security parameters, providing advance notice of the terminal's security parameter state. This preliminary action prevents the network from updating to new security parameters that the terminal cannot use, thereby avoiding desynchronization and dropped calls while maintaining mobility functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The security status indicator serves as feedback from the access terminal to the network entity about the terminal's current security parameter state. This feedback mechanism allows the network entity to adjust its security parameter updates based on the terminal's actual status, ensuring synchronization is maintained without compromising mobility procedure execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9930530B2Methods and apparatuses facilitating synchronization of security configurations

Publication Date: 2018.03.27 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses are provided for synchronizing security parameters between access terminals and a wireless network. An access terminal and network entity can conduct a security mode procedure where the access terminal sends a security mode complete message to the network entity. On receipt of the security mode complete message, the network entity may update to new security parameters. The access terminal may initiate a mobility procedure while the security mode procedure is ongoing and may, as a result, abort the security mode procedure and revert back to the old security parameters. The access terminal can send a mobility update message to the network entity including a dedicated status indicator adapted to inform the network entity that the access terminal has reverted back to the old security parameters. In response to the mobility update message, the network entity may revert back to the old security parameters.