Patent ID: 8582771
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of selectively protecting a medium access control (MAC) control message, the method comprising: receiving, via a reception unit of a reception end, a medium access control protocol data unit (MAC PDU) from a transmission end, the MAC PDU comprising a header and a payload, wherein the header comprises a flow identifier (FID) indicating whether or not the payload carrying the MAC control message is selectively encrypted; and performing, at the reception end, a decryption of the payload of the MAC PDU when the FID indicates that the payload is selectively encrypted, wherein the payload of the MAC PDU is selectively encrypted using one of a plurality of schemes for protecting the MAC control message, wherein the plurality of schemes for protecting the MAC control message comprises wherein the MAC control message is related to a control connection, and wherein the MAC control message in the MAC PDU is unencrypted when the FID indicates no protection is provided.