Patent ID: 12245027

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. One skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method which is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.

Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented with reference to various apparatuses and techniques. These apparatuses and techniques will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, or the like (collectively referred to as “elements”). These elements may be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

While aspects may be described herein using terminology commonly associated with a 5G or New Radio (NR) radio access technology (RAT), aspects of the present disclosure can be applied to other RATs, such as a 3G RAT, a 4G RAT, and/or a RAT subsequent to 5G (e.g., 6G).

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network100, in accordance with the present disclosure. The wireless network100may be or may include elements of a 5G (e.g., NR) network and/or a 4G (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE)) network, among other examples. The wireless network100may include one or more base stations110(shown as a BS110a, a BS110b, a BS110c, and a BS110d), a user equipment (UE)120or multiple UEs120(shown as a UE120a, a UE120b, a UE120c, a UE120d, and a UE120e), and/or other network entities. A base station110is an entity that communicates with UEs120. A base station110(sometimes referred to as a BS) may include, for example, an NR base station, an LTE base station, a Node B, an eNB (e.g., in 4G), a gNB (e.g., in 5G), an access point, and/or a transmission reception point (TRP). Each base station110may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the term “cell” can refer to a coverage area of a base station110and/or a base station subsystem serving this coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

A base station110may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, and/or another type of cell. A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs120with service subscriptions. A pico cell may cover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs120with service subscription. A femto cell may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) and may allow restricted access by UEs120having association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs120in a closed subscriber group (CSG)). A base station110for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro base station. A base station110for a pico cell may be referred to as a pico base station. A base station110for a femto cell may be referred to as a femto base station or an in-home base station. In the example shown inFIG.1, the BS110amay be a macro base station for a macro cell102a, the BS110bmay be a pico base station for a pico cell102b, and the BS110cmay be a femto base station for a femto cell102c. A base station may support one or multiple (e.g., three) cells.

In some examples, a cell may not necessarily be stationary, and the geographic area of the cell may move according to the location of a base station110that is mobile (e.g., a mobile base station). In some examples, the base stations110may be interconnected to one another and/or to one or more other base stations110or network nodes (not shown) in the wireless network100through various types of backhaul interfaces, such as a direct physical connection or a virtual network, using any suitable transport network.

The wireless network100may include one or more relay stations. A relay station is an entity that can receive a transmission of data from an upstream station (e.g., a base station110or a UE120) and send a transmission of the data to a downstream station (e.g., a UE120or a base station110). A relay station may be a UE120that can relay transmissions for other UEs120. In the example shown inFIG.1, the BS110d(e.g., a relay base station) may communicate with the BS110a(e.g., a macro base station) and the UE120din order to facilitate communication between the BS110aand the UE120d. A base station110that relays communications may be referred to as a relay station, a relay base station, a relay, or the like.

The wireless network100may be a heterogeneous network that includes base stations110of different types, such as macro base stations, pico base stations, femto base stations, relay base stations, or the like. These different types of base stations110may have different transmit power levels, different coverage areas, and/or different impacts on interference in the wireless network100. For example, macro base stations may have a high transmit power level (e.g., 5 to 40 watts) whereas pico base stations, femto base stations, and relay base stations may have lower transmit power levels (e.g., 0.1 to 2 watts).

A network controller130may couple to or communicate with a set of base stations110and may provide coordination and control for these base stations110. The network controller130may communicate with the base stations110via a backhaul communication link. The base stations110may communicate with one another directly or indirectly via a wireless or wireline backhaul communication link.

The UEs120may be dispersed throughout the wireless network100, and each UE120may be stationary or mobile. A UE120may include, for example, an access terminal, a terminal, a mobile station, and/or a subscriber unit. A UE120may be a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a tablet, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook, a medical device, a biometric device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch, smart clothing, smart glasses, a smart wristband, smart jewelry (e.g., a smart ring or a smart bracelet)), an entertainment device (e.g., a music device, a video device, and/or a satellite radio), a vehicular component or sensor, a smart meter/sensor, industrial manufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, and/or any other suitable device that is configured to communicate via a wireless medium.

Some UEs120may be considered machine-type communication (MTC) or evolved or enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) UEs. An MTC UE and/or an eMTC UE may include, for example, a robot, a drone, a remote device, a sensor, a meter, a monitor, and/or a location tag, that may communicate with a base station, another device (e.g., a remote device), or some other entity. Some UEs120may be considered Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, and/or may be implemented as NB-IoT (narrowband IoT) devices. Some UEs120may be considered a Customer Premises Equipment. A UE120may be included inside a housing that houses components of the UE120, such as processor components and/or memory components. In some examples, the processor components and the memory components may be coupled together. For example, the processor components (e.g., one or more processors) and the memory components (e.g., a memory) may be operatively coupled, communicatively coupled, electronically coupled, and/or electrically coupled.

In general, any number of wireless networks100may be deployed in a given geographic area. Each wireless network100may support a particular RAT and may operate on one or more frequencies. A RAT may be referred to as a radio technology, an air interface, or the like. A frequency may be referred to as a carrier, a frequency channel, or the like. Each frequency may support a single RAT in a given geographic area in order to avoid interference between wireless networks of different RATs. In some cases, NR or 5G RAT networks may be deployed.

In some examples, two or more UEs120(e.g., shown as UE120aand UE120e) may communicate directly using one or more sidelink channels (e.g., without using a base station110as an intermediary to communicate with one another). For example, the UEs120may communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) communications, device-to-device (D2D) communications, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocol (e.g., which may include a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocol, a vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocol, or a vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) protocol), and/or a mesh network. In such examples, a UE120may perform scheduling operations, resource selection operations, and/or other operations described elsewhere herein as being performed by the base station110.

Devices of the wireless network100may communicate using the electromagnetic spectrum, which may be subdivided by frequency or wavelength into various classes, bands, channels, or the like. For example, devices of the wireless network100may communicate using one or more operating bands. In 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz-7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz-52.6 GHz). It should be understood that although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “Sub-6 GHz” band in various documents and articles. A similar nomenclature issue sometimes occurs with regard to FR2, which is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “millimeter wave” band in documents and articles, despite being different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz-300 GHz) which is identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as a “millimeter wave” band.

The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as mid-band frequencies. Recent 5G NR studies have identified an operating band for these mid-band frequencies as frequency range designation FR3 (7.125 GHz-24.25 GHz). Frequency bands falling within FR3 may inherit FR1 characteristics and/or FR2 characteristics, and thus may effectively extend features of FR1 and/or FR2 into mid-band frequencies. In addition, higher frequency bands are currently being explored to extend 5G NR operation beyond 52.6 GHz. For example, three higher operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz-71 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz-114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz-300 GHz). Each of these higher frequency bands falls within the EHF band.

With the above examples in mind, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the term “sub-6 GHz” or the like, if used herein, may broadly represent frequencies that may be less than 6 GHz, may be within FR1, or may include mid-band frequencies. Further, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the term “millimeter wave” or the like, if used herein, may broadly represent frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, may be within FR2, FR4, FR4-a or FR4-1, and/or FR5, or may be within the EHF band. It is contemplated that the frequencies included in these operating bands (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4, FR4-a, FR4-1, and/or FR5) may be modified, and techniques described herein are applicable to those modified frequency ranges.

In some aspects, the UE120may include a communication manager140. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager140may identify a set of security levels for a set of physical uplink channels, wherein the set of physical uplink channels are overlapping in time; and transmit one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels. Additionally, or alternatively, the communication manager140may perform one or more other operations described herein.

As indicated above,FIG.1is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard toFIG.1.

FIG.2is a diagram illustrating an example200of a base station110in communication with a UE120in a wireless network100, in accordance with the present disclosure. The base station110may be equipped with a set of antennas234athrough234t, such as T antennas (T≥1). The UE120may be equipped with a set of antennas252athrough252r, such as R antennas (R≥1).

At the base station110, a transmit processor220may receive data, from a data source212, intended for the UE120(or a set of UEs120). The transmit processor220may select one or more modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) for the UE120based at least in part on one or more channel quality indicators (CQIs) received from that UE120. The base station110may process (e.g., encode and modulate) the data for the UE120based at least in part on the MCS(s) selected for the UE120and may provide data symbols for the UE120. The transmit processor220may process system information (e.g., for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI)) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, and/or upper layer signaling) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. The transmit processor220may generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS)) and synchronization signals (e.g., a primary synchronization signal (PSS) or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)). A transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor230may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, the control symbols, the overhead symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide a set of output symbol streams (e.g., T output symbol streams) to a corresponding set of modems232(e.g., T modems), shown as modems232athrough232t. For example, each output symbol stream may be provided to a modulator component (shown as MOD) of a modem232. Each modem232may use a respective modulator component to process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modem232may further use a respective modulator component to process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and/or upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. The modems232athrough232tmay transmit a set of downlink signals (e.g., T downlink signals) via a corresponding set of antennas234(e.g., T antennas), shown as antennas234athrough234t.

At the UE120, a set of antennas252(shown as antennas252athrough252r) may receive the downlink signals from the base station110and/or other base stations110and may provide a set of received signals (e.g., R received signals) to a set of modems254(e.g., R modems), shown as modems254athrough254r. For example, each received signal may be provided to a demodulator component (shown as DEMOD) of a modem254. Each modem254may use a respective demodulator component to condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and/or digitize) a received signal to obtain input samples. Each modem254may use a demodulator component to further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector256may obtain received symbols from the modems254, may perform MIMO detection on the received symbols if applicable, and may provide detected symbols. A receive processor258may process (e.g., demodulate and decode) the detected symbols, may provide decoded data for the UE120to a data sink260, and may provide decoded control information and system information to a controller/processor280. The term “controller/processor” may refer to one or more controllers, one or more processors, or a combination thereof. A channel processor may determine a reference signal received power (RSRP) parameter, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) parameter, a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) parameter, and/or a CQI parameter, among other examples. In some examples, one or more components of the UE120may be included in a housing284.

The network controller130may include a communication unit294, a controller/processor290, and a memory292. The network controller130may include, for example, one or more devices in a core network. The network controller130may communicate with the base station110via the communication unit294.

One or more antennas (e.g., antennas234athrough234tand/or antennas252athrough252r) may include, or may be included within, one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna groups, one or more sets of antenna elements, and/or one or more antenna arrays, among other examples. An antenna panel, an antenna group, a set of antenna elements, and/or an antenna array may include one or more antenna elements (within a single housing or multiple housings), a set of coplanar antenna elements, a set of non-coplanar antenna elements, and/or one or more antenna elements coupled to one or more transmission and/or reception components, such as one or more components ofFIG.2.

On the uplink, at the UE120, a transmit processor264may receive and process data from a data source262and control information (e.g., for reports that include RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, and/or CQI) from the controller/processor280. The transmit processor264may generate reference symbols for one or more reference signals. The symbols from the transmit processor264may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor266if applicable, further processed by the modems254(e.g., for DFT-s-OFDM or CP-OFDM), and transmitted to the base station110. In some examples, the modem254of the UE120may include a modulator and a demodulator. In some examples, the UE120includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of the antenna(s)252, the modem(s)254, the MIMO detector256, the receive processor258, the transmit processor264, and/or the TX MIMO processor266. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., the controller/processor280) and the memory282to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (e.g., with reference toFIGS.6-10).

At the base station110, the uplink signals from UE120and/or other UEs may be received by the antennas234, processed by the modem232(e.g., a demodulator component, shown as DEMOD, of the modem232), detected by a MIMO detector236if applicable, and further processed by a receive processor238to obtain decoded data and control information sent by the UE120. The receive processor238may provide the decoded data to a data sink239and provide the decoded control information to the controller/processor240. The base station110may include a communication unit244and may communicate with the network controller130via the communication unit244. The base station110may include a scheduler246to schedule one or more UEs120for downlink and/or uplink communications. In some examples, the modem232of the base station110may include a modulator and a demodulator. In some examples, the base station110includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of the antenna(s)234, the modem(s)232, the MIMO detector236, the receive processor238, the transmit processor220, and/or the TX MIMO processor230. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., the controller/processor240) and the memory242to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (e.g., with reference toFIGS.6-10).

The controller/processor240of the base station110, the controller/processor280of the UE120, and/or any other component(s) ofFIG.2may perform one or more techniques associated with physical uplink channel handling based on channel security, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, the controller/processor240of the base station110, the controller/processor280of the UE120, and/or any other component(s) ofFIG.2may perform or direct operations of, for example, process900ofFIG.9and/or other processes as described herein. The memory242and the memory282may store data and program codes for the base station110and the UE120, respectively. In some examples, the memory242and/or the memory282may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions (e.g., code and/or program code) for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed (e.g., directly, or after compiling, converting, and/or interpreting) by one or more processors of the base station110and/or the UE120, may cause the one or more processors, the UE120, and/or the base station110to perform or direct operations of, for example, process900ofFIG.9and/or other processes as described herein. In some examples, executing instructions may include running the instructions, converting the instructions, compiling the instructions, and/or interpreting the instructions, among other examples.

In some aspects, the UE120includes means for identifying a set of security levels for a set of physical uplink channels, wherein the set of physical uplink channels are overlapping in time; and/or means for transmitting one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels. The means for the UE120to perform operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of communication manager140, antenna252, modem254, MIMO detector256, receive processor258, transmit processor264, TX MIMO processor266, controller/processor280, or memory282.

While blocks inFIG.2are illustrated as distinct components, the functions described above with respect to the blocks may be implemented in a single hardware, software, or combination component or in various combinations of components. For example, the functions described with respect to the transmit processor264, the receive processor258, and/or the TX MIMO processor266may be performed by or under the control of the controller/processor280.

As indicated above,FIG.2is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard toFIG.2.

FIG.3is a diagram illustrating an example300of a user plane protocol stack and a control plane protocol stack for a base station110and a core network in communication with a UE120, in accordance with the present disclosure.

On the user plane, the UE120and the base station110may include respective physical (PHY) layers, medium access control (MAC) layers, radio link control (RLC) layers, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers, and service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layers. A user plane function may handle transport of user data between the UE120and the base station110. On the control plane, the UE120and the base station110may include respective radio resource control (RRC) layers. Furthermore, the UE120may include a non-access stratum (NAS) layer in communication with an NAS layer of an access and management mobility function (AMF). The AMF may be associated with a core network associated with the base station110, such as a 5G core network (5GC) or a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN). A control plane function may handle transport of control information between the UE and the core network. Generally, a first layer is referred to as higher than a second layer if the first layer is further from the PHY layer than the second layer. For example, the PHY layer may be referred to as a lowest layer, and the SDAP/PDCP/RLC/MAC layer may be referred to as higher than the PHY layer and lower than the RRC layer. An application (APP) layer, not shown inFIG.3, may be higher than the SDAP/PDCP/RLC/MAC layer. In some cases, an entity may handle the services and functions of a given layer (e.g., a PDCP entity may handle the services and functions of the PDCP layer), though the description herein refers to the layers themselves as handling the services and functions.

The RRC layer may handle communications related to configuring and operating the UE120, such as: broadcast of system information related to the access stratum (AS) and the NAS; paging initiated by the 5GC or the NG-RAN; establishment, maintenance, and release of an RRC connection between the UE and the NG-RAN, including addition, modification, and release of carrier aggregation, as well as addition, modification, and release of dual connectivity; security functions including key management; establishment, configuration, maintenance, and release of signaling radio bearers (SRBs) and data radio bearers (DRBs); mobility functions (e.g., handover and context transfer, UE cell selection and reselection and control of cell selection and reselection, inter-RAT mobility); quality of service (QoS) management functions; UE measurement reporting and control of the reporting; detection of and recovery from radio link failure; and NAS message transfer between the NAS layer and the lower layers of the UE120. The RRC layer is frequently referred to as Layer 3 (L3). In some wireless systems, information is encrypted at L3 and information generated below L3 is not encrypted.

The SDAP layer, PDCP layer, RLC layer, and MAC layer may be collectively referred to as Layer 2 (L2). Thus, in some cases, the SDAP, PDCP, RLC, and MAC layers are referred to as sublayers of Layer 2. On the transmitting side (e.g., if the UE120is transmitting an uplink communication or the base station110is transmitting a downlink communication), the SDAP layer may receive a data flow in the form of a QoS flow. A QoS flow is associated with a QoS identifier, which identifies a QoS parameter associated with the QoS flow, and a QoS flow identifier (QFI), which identifies the QoS flow. Policy and charging parameters are enforced at the QoS flow granularity. A QoS flow can include one or more service data flows (SDFs), so long as each SDF of a QoS flow is associated with the same policy and charging parameters. In some aspects, the RRC/NAS layer may generate control information to be transmitted and may map the control information to one or more radio bearers for provision to the PDCP layer.

The SDAP layer, or the RRC/NAS layer, may map QoS flows or control information to radio bearers. Thus, the SDAP layer may be said to handle QoS flows on the transmitting side. The SDAP layer may provide the QoS flows to the PDCP layer via the corresponding radio bearers. The PDCP layer may map radio bearers to RLC channels. The PDCP layer may handle various services and functions on the user plane, including sequence numbering, header compression and decompression (if robust header compression is enabled), transfer of user data, reordering and duplicate detection (if in-order delivery to layers above the PDCP layer is required), PDCP protocol data unit (PDU) routing (in case of split bearers), retransmission of PDCP service data units (SDUs), ciphering and deciphering, PDCP SDU discard (e.g., in accordance with a timer, as described elsewhere herein), PDCP re-establishment and data recovery for RLC acknowledged mode (AM), and duplication of PDCP PDUs. The PDCP layer may handle similar services and functions on the control plane, including sequence numbering, ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection, transfer of control plane data, duplicate detection, and duplication of PDCP PDUs.

The PDCP layer may provide data, in the form of PDCP PDUs, to the RLC layer via RLC channels. The RLC layer may handle transfer of upper layer PDUs to the MAC and/or PHY layers, sequence numbering independent of PDCP sequence numbering, error correction via automatic repeat requests (ARQ), segmentation and re-segmentation, reassembly of an SDU, RLC SDU discard, and RLC re-establishment.

The RLC layer may provide data, mapped to logical channels, to the MAC layer. The services and functions of the MAC layer include mapping between logical channels and transport channels (used by the PHY layer as described below), multiplexing/demultiplexing of MAC SDUs belonging to one or different logical channels into/from transport blocks (TBs) delivered to/from the physical layer on transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction through hybrid ARQ (HARQ), priority handling between UEs by means of dynamic scheduling, priority handling between logical channels of one UE by means of logical channel prioritization, and padding.

The MAC layer may package data from logical channels into TBs, and may provide the TBs on one or more transport channels to the PHY layer. The PHY layer may handle various operations relating to transmission of a data signal, as described in more detail in connection withFIG.2. The PHY layer is frequently referred to as Layer 1 (L1). To encrypt information at L1, a UE120or base station110may use a secret key generated based at least in part on a key provided to the PHY layer from an upper layer and/or based at least in part on one or more PHY layer parameters. Using the one or more PHY layer parameters may provide some randomness between the transmitter and the receiver. Alternatively, another source of randomness may be used in connection with transmitted information. Using randomness may reduce an effectiveness of attempts to intercept communications by an intercepting (e.g., eavesdropping) communication device

On the receiving side (e.g., if the UE120is receiving a downlink communication or the base station110is receiving an uplink communication), the operations may be similar to those described for the transmitting side, but reversed. For example, the PHY layer may receive TBs and may provide the TBs on one or more transport channels to the MAC layer. The MAC layer may map the transport channels to logical channels and may provide data to the RLC layer via the logical channels. The RLC layer may map the logical channels to RLC channels and may provide data to the PDCP layer via the RLC channels. The PDCP layer may map the RLC channels to radio bearers and may provide data to the SDAP layer or the RRC/NAS layer via the radio bearers.

Data may be passed between the layers in the form of PDUs and SDUs. An SDU is a unit of data that has been passed from a layer or sublayer to a lower layer. For example, the PDCP layer may receive a PDCP SDU. A given layer may then encapsulate the unit of data into a PDU and may pass the PDU to a lower layer. For example, the PDCP layer may encapsulate the PDCP SDU into a PDCP PDU and may pass the PDCP PDU to the RLC layer. The RLC layer may receive the PDCP PDU as an RLC SDU, may encapsulate the RLC SDU into an RLC PDU, and so on. In effect, the PDU carries the SDU as a payload.

As indicated above,FIG.3is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard toFIG.3.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating an example400of physical channels and reference signals in a wireless network, in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.4, downlink channels and downlink reference signals may carry information from a base station110to a UE120, and uplink channels and uplink reference signals may carry information from a UE120to a base station110.

As shown, a downlink channel may include a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that carries downlink control information (DCI), a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) that carries downlink data, or a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) that carries system information, among other examples. In some aspects, PDSCH communications may be scheduled by PDCCH communications. As further shown, an uplink channel may include a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) that carries uplink control information (UCI), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) that carries uplink data, or a physical random access channel (PRACH) used for initial network access, among other examples. In some aspects, the UE120may transmit acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback (e.g., ACK/NACK feedback or ACK/NACK information) in UCI on the PUCCH and/or the PUSCH.

Different physical uplink channels may have different security requirements. For example, a PUCCH that is conveying a HARQ-ACK may have a higher level of security than a PUCCH that is conveying a channel state information (CSI) report. Similarly, different physical uplink channels may have different levels of priority, and the security requirements may correspond to the levels of priority. For example, a high priority PUCCH communication may have a relatively high security level requirement in comparison with a low priority PUCCH communication that may have a relatively low security level requirement.

As further shown, a downlink reference signal may include a synchronization signal block (SSB), a CSI reference signal (CSI-RS), a DMRS, a positioning reference signal (PRS), or a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), among other examples. As also shown, an uplink reference signal may include a sounding reference signal (SRS), a DMRS, or a PTRS, among other examples.

An SSB may carry information used for initial network acquisition and synchronization, such as a PSS, an SSS, a PBCH, and a PBCH DMRS. An SSB is sometimes referred to as a synchronization signal/PBCH (SS/PBCH) block. In some aspects, the base station110may transmit multiple SSBs on multiple corresponding beams, and the SSBs may be used for beam selection.

A CSI-RS may carry information used for downlink channel estimation (e.g., downlink CSI acquisition), which may be used for scheduling, link adaptation, or beam management, among other examples. The base station110may configure a set of CSI-RSs for the UE120, and the UE120may measure the configured set of CSI-RSs. Based at least in part on the measurements, the UE120may perform channel estimation and may report channel estimation parameters to the base station110(e.g., in a CSI report), such as a CQI, a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), a layer indicator (LI), a rank indicator (RI), or an RSRP, among other examples. The base station110may use the CSI report to select transmission parameters for downlink communications to the UE120, such as a number of transmission layers (e.g., a rank), a precoding matrix (e.g., a precoder), an MCS, or a refined downlink beam (e.g., using a beam refinement procedure or a beam management procedure), among other examples.

A DMRS may carry information used to estimate a radio channel for demodulation of an associated physical channel (e.g., PDCCH, PDSCH, PBCH, PUCCH, or PUSCH). The design and mapping of a DMRS may be specific to a physical channel for which the DMRS is used for estimation. DMRSs are UE-specific, can be beamformed, can be confined in a scheduled resource (e.g., rather than transmitted on a wideband), and can be transmitted only when necessary. As shown, DMRSs are used for both downlink communications and uplink communications.

A PTRS may carry information used to compensate for oscillator phase noise. Typically, the phase noise increases as the oscillator carrier frequency increases. Thus, PTRS can be utilized at high carrier frequencies, such as millimeter wave frequencies, to mitigate phase noise. The PTRS may be used to track the phase of the local oscillator and to enable suppression of phase noise and common phase error (CPE). As shown, PTRSs are used for both downlink communications (e.g., on the PDSCH) and uplink communications (e.g., on the PUSCH).

A PRS may carry information used to enable timing or ranging measurements of the UE120based on signals transmitted by the base station110to improve observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) positioning performance. For example, a PRS may be a pseudo-random Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) sequence mapped in diagonal patterns with shifts in frequency and time to avoid collision with cell-specific reference signals and control channels (e.g., a PDCCH). In general, a PRS may be designed to improve detectability by the UE120, which may need to detect downlink signals from multiple neighboring base stations in order to perform OTDOA-based positioning. Accordingly, the UE120may receive a PRS from multiple cells (e.g., a reference cell and one or more neighbor cells), and may report a reference signal time difference (RSTD) based on OTDOA measurements associated with the PRSs received from the multiple cells. In some aspects, the base station110may then calculate a position of the UE120based on the RSTD measurements reported by the UE120.

An SRS may carry information used for uplink channel estimation, which may be used for scheduling, link adaptation, precoder selection, or beam management, among other examples. The base station110may configure one or more SRS resource sets for the UE120, and the UE120may transmit SRSs on the configured SRS resource sets. An SRS resource set may have a configured usage, such as uplink CSI acquisition, downlink CSI acquisition for reciprocity-based operations, uplink beam management, among other examples. The base station110may measure the SRSs, may perform channel estimation based at least in part on the measurements, and may use the SRS measurements to configure communications with the UE120.

As indicated above,FIG.4is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard toFIG.4.

FIG.5is a diagram illustrating an example500of sidelink communications, in accordance with the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.5, a first UE505-1may communicate with a second UE505-2(and one or more other UEs505) via one or more sidelink channels510. The UEs505-1and505-2may communicate using the one or more sidelink channels510for P2P communications, D2D communications, V2X communications (e.g., which may include V2V communications, V2I communications, and/or V2P communications) and/or mesh networking. In some aspects, the UEs505(e.g., UE505-1and/or UE505-2) may correspond to one or more other UEs described elsewhere herein, such as UE120. In some aspects, the one or more sidelink channels510may use a PC5 interface and/or may operate in a high frequency band (e.g., the 5.9 GHz band). Additionally, or alternatively, the UEs505may synchronize timing of transmission time intervals (TTIs) (e.g., frames, subframes, slots, or symbols) using global navigation satellite system (GNSS) timing.

As further shown inFIG.5, the one or more sidelink channels510may include a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH)515, a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH)520, and/or a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH)525. The PSCCH515may be used to communicate control information, similar to a PDCCH and/or a PUCCH used for cellular communications with a base station110via an access link or an access channel. The PSSCH520may be used to communicate data, similar to a PDSCH and/or a PUSCH used for cellular communications with a base station110via an access link or an access channel. For example, the PSCCH515may carry sidelink control information (SCI)530, which may indicate various control information used for sidelink communications, such as one or more resources (e.g., time resources, frequency resources, and/or spatial resources) where a TB535may be carried on the PSSCH520. The TB535may include data. The PSFCH525may be used to communicate sidelink feedback540, such as HARQ feedback (e.g., ACK/NACK information), transmit power control (TPC), and/or a scheduling request (SR).

Although shown on the PSCCH515, in some aspects, the SCI530may include multiple communications in different stages, such as a first stage SCI (SCI-1) and a second stage SCI (SCI-2). The SCI-1 may be transmitted on the PSCCH515. The SCI-2 may be transmitted on the PSSCH520. The SCI-1 may include, for example, an indication of one or more resources (e.g., time resources, frequency resources, and/or spatial resources) on the PSSCH520, information for decoding sidelink communications on the PSSCH, a QoS priority value, a resource reservation period, a PSSCH DMRS pattern, an SCI format for the SCI-2, a beta offset for the SCI-2, a quantity of PSSCH DMRS ports, and/or a MCS. The SCI-2 may include information associated with data transmissions on the PSSCH520, such as a HARQ process ID, a new data indicator (NDI), a source identifier, a destination identifier, and/or a CSI report trigger.

In some aspects, the one or more sidelink channels510may use resource pools. For example, a scheduling assignment (e.g., included in SCI530) may be transmitted in sub-channels using specific resource blocks (RBs) across time. In some aspects, data transmissions (e.g., on the PSSCH520) associated with a scheduling assignment may occupy adjacent RBs in the same subframe as the scheduling assignment (e.g., using frequency division multiplexing). In some aspects, a scheduling assignment and associated data transmissions are not transmitted on adjacent RBs.

In some aspects, a UE505may operate using a transmission mode where resource selection and/or scheduling is performed by the UE505(e.g., rather than a base station110). In some aspects, the UE505may perform resource selection and/or scheduling by sensing channel availability for transmissions. For example, the UE505may measure an RSSI parameter (e.g., a sidelink-RSSI (S-RSSI) parameter) associated with various sidelink channels, may measure an RSRP parameter (e.g., a PSSCH-RSRP parameter) associated with various sidelink channels, and/or may measure an RSRQ parameter (e.g., a PSSCH-RSRQ parameter) associated with various sidelink channels, and may select a channel for transmission of a sidelink communication based at least in part on the measurement(s).

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE505may perform resource selection and/or scheduling using SCI530received in the PSCCH515, which may indicate occupied resources and/or channel parameters. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE505may perform resource selection and/or scheduling by determining a channel busy rate (CBR) associated with various sidelink channels, which may be used for rate control (e.g., by indicating a maximum number of resource blocks that the UE505can use for a particular set of subframes).

In the transmission mode where resource selection and/or scheduling is performed by a UE505, the UE505may generate sidelink grants, and may transmit the grants in SCI530. A sidelink grant may indicate, for example, one or more parameters (e.g., transmission parameters) to be used for an upcoming sidelink transmission, such as one or more resource blocks to be used for the upcoming sidelink transmission on the PSSCH520(e.g., for TBs535), one or more subframes to be used for the upcoming sidelink transmission, and/or an MCS to be used for the upcoming sidelink transmission. In some aspects, a UE505may generate a sidelink grant that indicates one or more parameters for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), such as a periodicity of a sidelink transmission. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE505may generate a sidelink grant for event-driven scheduling, such as for an on-demand sidelink message.

As indicated above,FIG.5is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with respect toFIG.5.

FIG.6is a diagram illustrating an example600of sidelink communications and access link communications in the presence of an intercepting communication device, in accordance with the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.6, a transmitter (Tx)/receiver (Rx) UE605and an Rx/Tx UE610may communicate with one another via a sidelink, as described above in connection withFIG.5. As further shown, in some sidelink modes, a base station110may communicate with the Tx/Rx UE605via a first access link. Additionally, or alternatively, in some sidelink modes, the base station110may communicate with the Rx/Tx UE610via a second access link. The Tx/Rx UE605and/or the Rx/Tx UE610may correspond to one or more UEs described elsewhere herein, such as the UE120ofFIG.1. Thus, a direct link between UEs120(e.g., via a PC5 interface) may be referred to as a sidelink, and a direct link between a base station110and a UE120(e.g., via a Uu interface) may be referred to as an access link. Sidelink communications may be transmitted via the sidelink, and access link communications may be transmitted via the access link. An access link communication may be either a downlink communication (from a base station110to a UE120) or an uplink communication (from a UE120to a base station110).

As further shown inFIG.6, an intercepting wireless communication device615may be within a communication path between Tx/Rx UE605and Rx/Tx UE610or base station110. In other words, intercepting wireless communication device615may eavesdrop on communications between Tx/Rx UE605and Rx/Tx UE610or between Tx/Rx UE605and base station110. Although some aspects are described herein in terms of security handling for physical uplink channels, aspects described herein may apply to security handling for other types of channels or for sidelink channels, among other examples.

As indicated above,FIG.6is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with respect toFIG.6.

FIG.7is a diagram illustrating an example700of intercepted communications in different communication states, in accordance with the present disclosure.

A UE, such as the UE120, may, when communicating with a base station, such as the base station110, operate in one or more communication states. For example, the UE may operate in an idle or inactive mode or connected mode. Additionally, a transition mode may be defined when the UE is transitioning between the idle or inactive mode and the connected mode. The UE may facilitate secure communications with the base station (or when operating on a sidelink, with another UE) by encrypting data before transmission.

In some wireless communication systems, the UE may be configured to encrypt data at L3 (e.g., RRC data associated with a dedicated control channel (DCCH) or uplink data associated with a dedicated transport channel (DTCH)) when operating in a connected mode. Such data may be classified as protected by L3 level encryption. In contrast, the UE may not encrypt L3 system information or paging transmissions (e.g., when the UE is operating in an idle mode) and other DCCH transmissions (e.g., when the UE is transitioning between modes). Similarly, as shown, the UE may not encrypt L2 or L1 information (e.g., MAC CE data, MAC data, DCI, etc.) in the idle or inactive mode, the connected mode, or a transition mode therebetween. An intercepting wireless communication device may simulate operation of a base station, thereby gaining access to unencrypted L1 to L3 data and causing the UE to go out of service when the UE is operating in the idle or inactive mode or the transition mode. Similarly, the intercepting wireless communication device may gain access to unencrypted L2 to L1 data and cause degraded throughput when the UE is in a connected mode.

As indicated above,FIG.7is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with respect toFIG.7.

As described above, to add encryption at a PHY layer, a UE may use a security key (which may be termed a “secret key” or a “key”) and inject randomness into transmitted data. Additional detail regarding security keys is described in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 33.220, version 11.4.0, release 11. Different security keys may have different levels of security (e.g., robustness) and different communications may have different security requirements. A level of security of a security key may be based at least in part on a strength of a security key generation scheme (e.g., stronger security key generation scheme may result in a higher level of security of a security key). Additionally, or alternatively, the level of security of a security key may be based at least in part on a quantity of instances the security key has been used. In other words, the more a security key is used to encrypt data, the more likely it becomes that an intercepting wireless communication device may break the security key and gain access to data encrypted therewith.

Some UEs may use a multiplexing or dropping rule to manage overlapping resources between different channels. For example, when two PUCCH communications of different priorities fully or partially overlap, a UE may drop a low priority PUCCH communication, delay the low priority PUCCH communication, or multiplex the low priority PUCCH communication with a high priority PUCCH communication, among other examples. Similarly, when a PUSCH communication overlaps with a PUCCH communication, the UE may drop the PUCCH or multiplex the PUCCH and the PUSCH, among other examples. In this way, a UE may use relative priority to resolve collisions between different channels.

However, resolving collisions between different channels based only on priority may result in the UE transmitting an unsecure communication (e.g., a communication that is not encrypted or that is encrypted with less than a threshold level of security) rather than secure communication (e.g., a communication that is encrypted or that is encrypted with at least the threshold level of security). In this case, communication may be subject to an intercepting wireless communication device, which may cause poor communication performance.

Some aspects described herein enable security based channel handling. For example, a UE may prioritize a first physical uplink channel communication associated with a high security level over a second physical uplink channel associated with a low security level. In this way, the UE reduces a likelihood of the communication being negatively affected by a presence of an intercepting wireless communication device, thereby improving network performance. Furthermore, the UE may delay the second physical uplink channel associated with the low security level until, for example, a higher security level may be achieved for the second physical uplink channel (e.g., when another security key may be used or the UE may operate in a different mode), thereby improving information security for wireless communications.

FIG.8is a diagram illustrating an example800associated with physical uplink channel handling based on channel security, in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.8, example800includes communication between a base station110and a UE120. In some aspects, base station110and UE120may be included in a wireless network, such as wireless network100. Base station110and UE120may communicate via a wireless access link, which may include an uplink and a downlink.

As further shown inFIG.8, and by reference number810, UE120may identify a set of security levels for a set of physical uplink channels that are overlapping in time. For example, UE120may identify a first security level for a first physical uplink channel communication and a second security level for a second physical uplink channel communication.

In some aspects, UE120may determine a security level for a physical uplink channel based at least in part on a security level of a security key associated with the physical uplink channel. For example, UE120may determine a result of a security degradation function applied to the security key. A security degradation function may be, for example, applied each time a security is used or each time a time period ends, such that a security key degrades (e.g., is assigned a lower security level) over time. For example, a security degradation function may take a form of sk_dr=(α/t)+β, where sk_dr is a security level based on the security degradation function, α and β are configurable constants (e.g., defined in a specification for UE120, stored statically by UE120, received in signaling from base station110), and t is a time value (e.g., a quantity of instances in which the security key has been used for encryption, an amount of time periods that have elapsed). Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may determine the security level of the security key based at least in part on a timer. For example, UE120may assign a timer to a security key when the security key is generated and may derive the security level based at least in part on a value of the timer, whether the timer has expired, or a quantity of instances of expiration of the timer, among other examples.

In some aspects, UE120may determine respective security levels for security keys associated with the set of physical uplink channels. For example, UE120may determine that a first physical uplink channel communication has a low security level for a first security key and a second physical uplink channel communication has a high security level for a second security key. Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may determine that the first physical uplink channel communication has a low security level for the first security key and the second physical uplink channel communication has a low security level for the second security key. Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may determine that the first physical uplink channel communication has a high security level for the first security key and the second physical uplink channel communication has a low security level for the second security key. Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may determine that the first physical uplink channel communication has a high security level for the first security key and the second physical uplink channel communication has a high security level for the second security key. Although some aspects are described in terms of a particular quantity of channels, security keys, and/or security levels, other quantities of channels, security keys, and/or security levels are possible.

In some aspects, UE120may use a set order for evaluating a security level and a priority level with respect to whether to transmit or drop overlapping physical uplink channels. For example, UE120may first evaluate priority levels and second evaluate security levels. In this case, UE120may defer or delay any physical uplink channels with lower priority levels than a highest priority level physical uplink channel, than may defer or delay any remaining physical uplink channels with lower security levels than a remaining physical uplink channel with a highest security level. In other words, as shown, UE120may first defer channels C and D for having a lower priority and may then defer channel B for having a lower security level (and may transmit channel A). In contrast, in some aspects, UE120may first evaluate security levels and second evaluate priority levels. In this case, UE120may first defer channels A and B for having a lower security level and may then defer channel D for having a lower priority level (and may transmit channel C). In some aspects, UE120may receive, from base station110, signaling indicating or order, weighting system, or algorithm for evaluating a security level and one or more other factors (e.g., a priority level or another factor).

In some aspects, UE120may select a security key to use with a physical uplink channel from a set of available security keys. For example, when UE120determines to drop channel C and transmit channel D, UE120may select a stronger security key from among security keys sk3 and sk4 to use for transmission of channel D. Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may select a sequentially first security key (e.g., sk3) and may defer use of a sequentially second security key (e.g., sk4) (and may defer degrading the second security key until a next use of the second security key). Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may select a security key corresponding to the channel for transmission (e.g., UE120may select sk4, defer use of sk3, and defer degradation of sk3).

Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may derive a composite key based at least in part on sk3 and sk4. For example, UE120may apply an exclusive OR (XOR) operation or a random-like selection operation (that is deterministic for base station110) to sequences of sk3 and sk4 and derive a composite key of, for example, afgd, which UE120may apply a scrambling operation to (e.g., to generate a key sequence gfda). Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may apply a hashing operation to generate a composite key from sk3 and sk4 and may use the composite key for scrambling, in the aforementioned example, channel D. In these cases, when deriving a composite key, UE120may degrade both sk3 and sk4, but may use a different set of parameters (e.g., which may be defined or signaled by base station110) for degradation (e.g., resulting in sk3 and sk4 degrading less, when used for a composite key, then when used, alone, as the security key). Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may use a key derivation function, where sk3 and sk4 are input to the key derivation function, to generate the key. Additional details regarding a key derivation function are described with regard to 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 33.220 Release 17, version 17.1.0 Annex B.2.2.

In some aspects, UE120may alter a size of a security key. For example, when sk3 is shorter than sk4 (e.g., channel C is associated with a smaller payload size than channel D) and UE120determines to use sk3, UE120may extend sk3. In this case, UE120may use a key derivation function to extend sk3 with sk3 as an input to the key derivation function. Similarly, when sk3 is longer than sk4, UE120may contract sk3 for use. In this case, UE120may extend a security key (e.g., sk3) using a quantity of bits selected based at least in part on a payload size that the security key is to encode (e.g., sk3 is extended to match a payload size of channel D). In some aspects, UE120may generate the bits to extend sk3 based at least in part on a random-like procedure (that is deterministic for base station110), a segmental operation (e.g., dividing sk3 into segments and then using a bit level operation to select bits from different segments as extra bits to extend to sk3), or a scrambling operation, among other examples. Additionally, or alternatively, UE120may contract sk3 using a hashing function, a truncation function (e.g., truncated from a beginning or end of sk3), or another function.

As further shown inFIG.8, and by reference number820, UE120may transmit one or more of the set of physical uplink channels. For example, UE120may transmit the first physical uplink channel communication and drop the second physical uplink channel communication based at least in part on respective security levels of the first physical uplink channel and the second physical uplink channel. In some aspects, UE120may encrypt a transmitted physical uplink channel using a security key. For example, UE120may encrypt the first physical uplink channel using a first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel, a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel, a composite key derived from the first security key or the second security key, or another security key.

As indicated above,FIG.8is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with respect toFIG.8.

FIG.9is a diagram illustrating an example process900performed, for example, by a UE, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process900is an example where the UE (e.g., UE120) performs operations associated with physical uplink channel handling based on channel security.

As shown inFIG.9, in some aspects, process900may include identifying a set of security levels for a set of physical uplink channels, wherein the set of physical uplink channels are overlapping in time (block910). For example, the UE (e.g., using communication manager140and/or identification component1008, depicted inFIG.10) may identify a set of security levels for a set of physical uplink channels, wherein the set of physical uplink channels are overlapping in time, as described above.

As further shown inFIG.9, in some aspects, process900may include transmitting one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels (block920). For example, the UE (e.g., using communication manager140and/or transmission component1004, depicted inFIG.10) may transmit one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels, as described above.

Process900may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, process900includes identifying a set of channel priorities for the set of physical uplink channels, and transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of channel priorities for the set of physical uplink channels.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the UE is configured to evaluate the set of channel priorities before evaluating the set of security levels.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the UE is configured to evaluate the set of security levels before evaluating the set of channel priorities.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, process900includes receiving signaling indicating an order for evaluating the set of security levels relative to evaluating the set of channel priorities.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels comprises transmitting a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, and dropping a second physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, process900includes dropping a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, and encrypting a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, with a security key associated with the first physical uplink channel.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, process900includes storing another security key associated with the second physical uplink channel for use with another physical uplink channel for transmission, and maintaining a security level of the other security key when storing the other security key.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, process900includes dropping a first physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, associated with a first security key, and encrypting a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, with a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, process900includes storing the first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel for use with another physical uplink channel for transmission, and maintaining a security level of the first security key when storing the first security key.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels comprises transmitting a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, and dropping a second physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, wherein the first physical uplink channel is encrypted with a stronger security key of a first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel and a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels comprises transmitting a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, and dropping a second physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, wherein the first physical uplink channel is encrypted with a composite security key based on a first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel and a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the UE is configured to increment a degradation parameter associated with at least one of the first security key or the second security key based at least in part on encrypting the first physical uplink channel with the composite security key.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twelfth aspects, process900includes altering a length of a security key associated with a first physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, that is dropped to match a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, that is transmitted, and encrypting the second physical uplink channel using the security key.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirteenth aspects, the security key is extended with a set of bits corresponding to a payload size for the second physical uplink channel.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourteenth aspects, the security key is extended with a set of bits selected from the security key.

In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifteenth aspects, the security key is contracted using a hashing function.

In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixteenth aspects, the security key is contracted to a set of bits corresponding to a payload size for the second physical uplink channel.

In an eighteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventeenth aspects, the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels is based at least in part on a set of values for a set of degradation parameters for a set of security keys associated with the set of physical uplink channels.

In a nineteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighteenth aspects, the set of values is based at least in part on a timer or a degradation function.

In a twentieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through nineteenth aspects, the degradation function is associated with a quantity of communications transmitted using a security key.

AlthoughFIG.9shows example blocks of process900, in some aspects, process900may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted inFIG.9. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process900may be performed in parallel.

FIG.10is a diagram of an example apparatus1000for wireless communication. The apparatus1000may be a UE, or a UE may include the apparatus1000. In some aspects, the apparatus1000includes a reception component1002and a transmission component1004, which may be in communication with one another (for example, via one or more buses and/or one or more other components). As shown, the apparatus1000may communicate with another apparatus1006(such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using the reception component1002and the transmission component1004. As further shown, the apparatus1000may include the communication manager140. The communication manager140may include one or more of an identification component1008, an encryption component1010, a key storage component1012, or key management component1014, among other examples.

In some aspects, the apparatus1000may be configured to perform one or more operations described herein in connection withFIG.8. Additionally, or alternatively, the apparatus1000may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as process900ofFIG.9. In some aspects, the apparatus1000and/or one or more components shown inFIG.10may include one or more components of the UE described in connection withFIG.2. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components shown inFIG.10may be implemented within one or more components described in connection withFIG.2. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of the set of components may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) may be implemented as instructions or code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by a controller or a processor to perform the functions or operations of the component.

The reception component1002may receive communications, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or a combination thereof, from the apparatus1006. The reception component1002may provide received communications to one or more other components of the apparatus1000. In some aspects, the reception component1002may perform signal processing on the received communications (such as filtering, amplification, demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, demultiplexing, deinterleaving, de-mapping, equalization, interference cancellation, or decoding, among other examples), and may provide the processed signals to the one or more other components of the apparatus1000. In some aspects, the reception component1002may include one or more antennas, a modem, a demodulator, a MIMO detector, a receive processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the UE described in connection withFIG.2.

The transmission component1004may transmit communications, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or a combination thereof, to the apparatus1006. In some aspects, one or more other components of the apparatus1000may generate communications and may provide the generated communications to the transmission component1004for transmission to the apparatus1006. In some aspects, the transmission component1004may perform signal processing on the generated communications (such as filtering, amplification, modulation, digital-to-analog conversion, multiplexing, interleaving, mapping, or encoding, among other examples), and may transmit the processed signals to the apparatus1006. In some aspects, the transmission component1004may include one or more antennas, a modem, a modulator, a transmit MIMO processor, a transmit processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the UE described in connection withFIG.2. In some aspects, the transmission component1004may be co-located with the reception component1002in a transceiver.

The identification component1008may identify a set of security levels for a set of physical uplink channels, wherein the set of physical uplink channels are overlapping in time. The transmission component1004may transmit one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels.

The identification component1008may identify a set of channel priorities for the set of physical uplink channels. The transmission component1004may transmit the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of channel priorities for the set of physical uplink channels. The reception component1002may receive signaling indicating an order for evaluating the set of security levels relative to evaluating the set of channel priorities. The transmission component1004may drop a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels. The encryption component1010may encrypt a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, with a security key associated with the first physical uplink channel.

The key storage component1012may store another security key associated with the second physical uplink channel for use with another physical uplink channel for transmission. The key management component1014may maintain a security level of the other security key when storing the other security key. The transmission component1004may drop a first physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, associated with a first security key. The encryption component1010may encrypt a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, with a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel.

The key storage component1012may store the first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel for use with another physical uplink channel for transmission. The key management component1014may maintain a security level of the first security key when storing the first security key. The key management component1014may alter a length of a security key associated with a first physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, that is dropped to match a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, that is transmitted. The encryption component1010may encrypt the second physical uplink channel using the security key.

The number and arrangement of components shown inFIG.10are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown inFIG.10. Furthermore, two or more components shown inFIG.10may be implemented within a single component, or a single component shown inFIG.10may be implemented as multiple, distributed components. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of (one or more) components shown inFIG.10may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components shown inFIG.10.

The following provides an overview of some Aspects of the present disclosure:

Aspect 1: A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: identifying a set of security levels for a set of physical uplink channels, wherein the set of physical uplink channels are overlapping in time; and transmitting one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels.

Aspect 2: The method of Aspect 1, further comprising: identifying a set of channel priorities for the set of physical uplink channels; and transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels based at least in part on the set of channel priorities for the set of physical uplink channels.

Aspect 3: The method of Aspect 2, wherein the UE is configured to evaluate the set of channel priorities before evaluating the set of security levels.

Aspect 4: The method of Aspect 2, wherein the UE is configured to evaluate the set of security levels before evaluating the set of channel priorities.

Aspect 5: The method of any of Aspects 2 to 4, further comprising: receiving signaling indicating an order for evaluating the set of security levels relative to evaluating the set of channel priorities.

Aspect 6: The method of any of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels comprises: transmitting a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels; and dropping a second physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels.

Aspect 7: The method of any of Aspects 1 to 6, further comprising: dropping a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels; and encrypting a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, with a security key associated with the first physical uplink channel.

Aspect 8: The method of Aspect 7, further comprising: storing another security key associated with the second physical uplink channel for use with another physical uplink channel for transmission; and maintaining a security level of the other security key when storing the other security key.

Aspect 9: The method of any of Aspects 1 to 8, further comprising: dropping a first physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, associated with a first security key; and encrypting a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, with a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel.

Aspect 10: The method of Aspect 9, further comprising: storing the first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel for use with another physical uplink channel for transmission; and maintaining a security level of the first security key when storing the first security key.

Aspect 11: The method of any of Aspects 1 to 10, wherein transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels comprises: transmitting a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels; and dropping a second physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, wherein the first physical uplink channel is encrypted with a stronger security key of a first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel and a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel.

Aspect 12: The method of Aspect 1, wherein transmitting the one or more of the set of physical uplink channels comprises: transmitting a first physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels; and dropping a second physical uplink channel of the set of physical uplink channels, wherein the first physical uplink channel is encrypted with a composite security key based on a first security key associated with the first physical uplink channel and a second security key associated with the second physical uplink channel.

Aspect 13: The method of Aspect 12, wherein the UE is configured to increment a degradation parameter associated with at least one of the first security key or the second security key based at least in part on encrypting the first physical uplink channel with the composite security key.

Aspect 14: The method of any of Aspects 1 to 13, further comprising: altering a length of a security key associated with a first physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, that is dropped to match a second physical uplink channel, of the set of physical uplink channels, that is transmitted; and encrypting the second physical uplink channel using the security key.

Aspect 15: The method of Aspect 14, wherein the security key is extended with a set of bits corresponding to a payload size for the second physical uplink channel.

Aspect 16: The method of Aspect 14, wherein the security key is extended with a set of bits selected from the security key.

Aspect 17: The method of Aspect 14, wherein the security key is contracted using a hashing function.

Aspect 18: The method of Aspect 14, wherein the security key is contracted to a set of bits corresponding to a payload size for the second physical uplink channel.

Aspect 19: The method of any of Aspects 1 to 18, wherein the set of security levels for the set of physical uplink channels is based at least in part on a set of values for a set of degradation parameters for a set of security keys associated with the set of physical uplink channels.

Aspect 20: The method of Aspect 19, wherein the set of values is based at least in part on a timer or a degradation function.

Aspect 21: The method of Aspect 20, wherein the degradation function is associated with a quantity of communications transmitted using a security key.

Aspect 22: An apparatus for wireless communication at a device, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method of one or more of Aspects 1-21.

Aspect 23: A device for wireless communication, comprising a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to perform the method of one or more of Aspects 1-21.

Aspect 24: An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising at least one means for performing the method of one or more of Aspects 1-21.

Aspect 25: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of one or more of Aspects 1-21.

Aspect 26: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication, the set of instructions comprising one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform the method of one or more of Aspects 1-21.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the aspects to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the aspects.

As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construed as hardware and/or a combination of hardware and software. “Software” shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, and/or functions, among other examples, whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. As used herein, a “processor” is implemented in hardware and/or a combination of hardware and software. It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware and/or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the aspects. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code, since those skilled in the art will understand that software and hardware can be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based, at least in part, on the description herein.

As used herein, “satisfying a threshold” may, depending on the context, refer to a value being greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, or the like.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various aspects. Many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. The disclosure of various aspects includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a+b, a+c, b+c, and a+b+c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a+a, a+a+a, a+a+b, a+a+c, a+b+b, a+c+c, b+b, b+b+b, b+b+c, c+c, and c+c+c, or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “set” and “group” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms that do not limit an element that they modify (e.g., an element “having” A may also have B). Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”).