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Apple patents method to secure secondary connections in 5G networks

Apple describes a way for phones to manage security keys when connecting to extra cell towers in a 5G network. The device uses a specific counter number from a list provided by the main tower to generate a unique key for each new connection.

Why it mattersThis improves the security of how devices switch between multiple cell towers, ensuring that each connection uses a distinct encryption key.

In the filing’s own words

Some aspects relate to apparatuses and methods to update secondary cell group (SCG) security key. A user equipment (UE) can receive a master node configuration from a master node (MN), where the master node configuration can include an ordered list of counter numbers, and a list of candidate SCGs. The UE can maintain an activation record including a total number of SCG activations. The UE can select a candidate SCG to be activated to become an active SCG served by an active secondary node based on a determination that an activation condition for the candidate SCG is met. The UE can select a counter number from the ordered list of counter numbers determined based on the total number of SCG activations and a predetermined selection rule applicable by the UE and the MN. The UE can generate a security key for the active SCG based on the selected counter number.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a transceiver configured to enable communication in a wireless system, wherein the wireless system includes a master node (MN) of a master cell groups (MCG) and a plurality of secondary nodes (SNs) of a plurality of second cell groups (SCGs); and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to: receive a master node configuration provided from the MN, wherein the master node configuration includes an ordered list of counter numbers, and a list of candidate SCGs configuration of the plurality of SCGs served by respective candidate SNs, wherein a candidate SCG served by a candidate SN has an associated activation condition; maintain an activation record indicating a total number of SCG activations by the UE, wherein the total number of SCG activations has an initial value; select the candidate SCG and the candidate SN to be activated to become an active SCG based on a determination that the associated activation condition for the candidate SCG is met; update, based on the activation of the candidate SCG, the total number of SCG activations to increase the initial value by 1 to calculate a current value of the total number of SCG activations; select a counter number from the ordered list of counter numbers, wherein the counter number has an index within the ordered list, and the index is determined based on the current value of the total number of SCG activations and a predetermined selection rule applicable by the UE and the MN; and generate a security key for the active SCG served by the active SN based on the selected counter number and a security key of the MN.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
SECONDARY CELL GROUP (SCG) SECURITY KEY UPDATE FOR SELECTIVE SCG ACTIVATION IN WIRELESS SYSTEMS
Publication number
US20260292674A1
Application number
19472560
Filed
Apr 4, 2023
Published
Sep 24, 2026
Inventors
5
Claims
20

Classified under

H04W 48/20 Electricity & electronicsH04W 12/041 Electricity & electronicsH04W 12/0431 Electricity & electronicsH04W 76/20 Electricity & electronicsH04W 80/02 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.