Nvidia Corporation

Tim Rogers

Olivier Jean

Alexander May-Weymann

Fabrice Nabet

A method of detecting an error in a security mode configuration procedure conducted at a radio access network is provided. A cell update message is transmitted which causes the radio access network to abort a security mode configuration procedure. After the transmission of an update message, a new security mode configuration is received and the original security mode configuration is replaced with a new security mode configuration. A security mode configuration check is performed on a received downlink message using the new security mode configuration. If the security mode configuration check fails, a further security mode configuration check is performed on the downlink message to detect an error in the security mode configuration procedure. If it is determined there has been an error in the security mode configuration procedure, security mode configuration checks are performed on further downlink messages received from the network using the original security mode configuration.

Security mode configuration procedures in wireless devices

A method of handling messages at a user equipment received from a communications network during a procedure, the method implemented at the user equipment comprising: receiving a first message from the network while the user equipment is in a first operating state; processing the first message and entering a second operating state in response to receiving the first message; receiving a second message from the network while the user equipment is in the second operating state; detecting that the second message is a duplicate of the first message; and checking for an indication that the second message is a potential duplicate of the first message. If the indication is not present, the method further comprises transmitting a failure notification to the network. If the indication is present, the method further comprises discarding the second message and not transmitting a failure notification to the network to prevent failure of the procedure.

Message handling

A method, in a wireless communications device, comprising: receiving a new security mode configuration from a radio access network that is to replace an original security mode configuration as part of a security procedure; detecting, prior to completion of said security procedure, that a cell update message is to be sent to the network; transmitting a first cell update message to the network in accordance with the original security mode configuration; transmitting a second cell update message to the network in accordance with the new security mode configuration; receiving a cell update confirm message, the cell update confirm message sent by the network in accordance with a network determined security mode configuration; ascertaining if the network determined security mode configuration is either the original or new security mode configuration; and completing the cell update procedure in accordance with the ascertained security mode configuration.

Recovery from aborted integrity protection change

A method for handling error recovery at a user equipment is provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes: maintaining first and second communication channels between the user equipment and a radio access network; storing a plurality of control messages in a buffer for transmission over the first communication channel; detecting if the first communication channel is disabled; initiating a recovery procedure using the second communication channel that includes restoring the first communication channel using the second communication channel and sending a further message to one of the one or more buffers for transmission on the restored first communication channel; and in response to detecting that the first communication channel is disabled, moderating control messages stored in the one or more buffers.

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Tim Rogers