WTRU Relay Security Policy Alignment for End-to-End User Plane Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in ensuring secure communication policies across user planes and V2X security in advanced wireless communication systems, particularly in scenarios involving network relays, where security policy misalignment can occur.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method for end-to-end security policy enforcement using a Uu security policy queried from a network, which ensures consistent security policies across user planes and network relays, particularly in L3 WTRU2NW relay scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate security policies are used for user plane and V2X security in relay scenarios, then flexibility in security configuration is improved, but security policy misalignment occurs leading to security vulnerabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity configuration flexibilityVSAvoidsecurity consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate user plane security policies and V2X security policies into a unified end-to-end security policy framework. The security policy enforcement point integrates both security requirements, ensuring that security decisions are made based on the combined policy rather than separate policies that may misalign. This merging eliminates security vulnerabilities caused by policy misalignment while maintaining the flexibility of having distinct security requirements for different traffic types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If security policies are enforced independently for different traffic types, then policy customization is improved, but security policy misalignment and vulnerabilities arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy customizationVSAvoidsecurity vulnerabilities
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a security policy enforcement point that acts as an intermediary between the security policy management function and the relay node. This intermediary receives security policy information from the security management function and ensures proper enforcement at the relay node, preventing security vulnerabilities that arise from independent policy enforcement. The intermediary coordinates security decisions across different traffic types, ensuring consistent security posture while allowing customized security requirements to be met.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If relay nodes enforce local security policies without network coordination, then autonomous security management is improved, but end-to-end security consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous security managementVSAvoidend-to-end security consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the relay node reports security policy enforcement status and traffic information to the security management function, which then provides updated security policy information back to the relay node. This closed-loop feedback system allows the relay node to operate autonomously while maintaining end-to-end security consistency through continuous coordination with the network. The feedback mechanism ensures that local security decisions align with overall network security requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4237981B1Methods, apparatus, and systems for communications security with proximity services relay wtru
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC
  • EP4237981B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4237981B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4237981B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, and systems for a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) performing relay communications are provided. A method may include receiving a first message indicating: (1) a first security policy associated with a first data link, and (2) a maximum data rate for integrity protection (MDRIP) supported by the remote WTRU; transmitting, to a network, a second message indicating: (1) an MDRIP supported by the remote WTRU or by the relay WTRU, and (2) a request for PDU session establishment; receiving, from the network, a third message indicating a second security policy for a second data link; and establishing the first data link with the remote WTRU on the condition that an end-to-end (e2e) security policy is compatible with the second security policy, wherein the e2e security policy is determined according to the second security policy and a UP security policy of the relay WTRU.