IP Library › Granted Patent US 12677127
Granted Patent B2
US 12677127 · App. 18/271,765 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Discovery key handling for UE-to-network relay discovery

Inventors: Monica Wifvesson (Lund, SE); Zhang Fu (Stockholm, SE)
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
H04W8/005H04W12/041H04W12/0431H04W84/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12677127
App. No.
18/271,765
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a wireless device is provided. The method comprises transmitting ( 1002 ), to a network function within a home network of the wireless device, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery within a visited network in which the wireless device is roaming, receiving ( 1004 ), from the network function within the home network of the wireless device, a key response including the discovery key for network relay discovery within the visited network, and securing ( 1006 ) communications with a network relay in the visited network using the discovery key.

Claims (76)

1 . A method of operating a wireless device, comprising:

transmitting, to a network function within a home network of the wireless device, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery within a visited network in which the wireless device is roaming, wherein the key request comprises a list of networks for which a discovery key is desired;

receiving, from the network function within the home network of the wireless device, a key response including the discovery key for network relay discovery within the visited network, wherein the key response comprises a list of networks for which discovery keys are provided and their associated discovery keys; and

securing communications with a network relay in the visited network using the discovery key.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network function comprises a Direct Discovery Name Management Function, DDNMF, in the home network of the wireless device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of networks in which network discovery is desired and the list of networks for which discovery service is provided comprise lists of public land mobile radio, PLMN, identities.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the key request comprises a relay service code that identifies a connectivity service for which network relay discovery is desired.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the key request comprises a proximity services, ProSe, application identifier that identifies an application for which network relay discovery is desired.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the key response comprises a relay service code.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the key response comprises a ProSe application identity.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visited network is the same as the home network of the wireless device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the key request and the key response each include an identity of the wireless device.

10 . A method of operating a network relay, comprising:

transmitting, to a network function within a home network of the network relay, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery, wherein the key request comprises a list of networks for which a network discovery key is desired;

receiving, from the network function within the home network of the network relay, a key response including the discovery key for network relay discovery, wherein the key response comprises a list of networks for which a discovery key is provided and their associated discovery keys; and

securing communications with a remote wireless device using the discovery key.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the network function comprises a Direct Discovery Name Management Function, DDNMF, in the home network of the network relay.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the list of networks in which network discovery is desired and the list of networks for which discovery service is provided comprise lists of public land mobile radio, PLMN, identities.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the key request comprises a relay service code that identifies a connectivity service for which network relay discovery is desired.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the key request comprises a proximity services, ProSe, application identifier that identifies an application for which network relay discovery is desired.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the key response comprises a relay service code.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the key response comprises a ProSe application identity.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the key request and the key response each include an identity of the network relay.

18 . A method of operating a first network function of a first wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a wireless device that is visiting a second wireless communication system, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery in the second wireless communication system, wherein the key request comprises a list of networks for which a discovery key is desired;

transmitting a key request to a second network function in the second wireless communication system for the discovery key;

receiving the discovery key from the second network function;

generating a key response including the discovery key, wherein the key response comprises a list of networks for which discovery keys are provided and their associated discovery keys; and

transmitting the key response to the wireless device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first network function comprises a Direct Discovery Name Management Function, DDNMF, in the first wireless communication system.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second network function comprises a DDNMF in the second wireless communication system.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the key request comprises a relay service code that identifies a connectivity service for which network relay discovery is desired.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the key request comprises a proximity services, ProSe, application identifier that identifies an application for which network relay discovery is desired.

23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the key response comprises a relay service code.

24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the key response comprises a ProSe application identity.

25 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the key request and the key response each include an identity of the wireless device.

26 . A method of operating a second network function of a second wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first network function in a first wireless communication system, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery by a wireless device that is visiting the second wireless communication system, wherein the key request comprises a list of networks for which a discovery key is desired;

obtaining the discovery key;

generating a key response including the discovery key, wherein the key response comprises a list of networks for which discovery keys are provided and their associated discovery keys; and

transmitting the key response to the first network function.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein obtaining the discovery key comprises generating the discovery key at the second network function.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein obtaining the discovery key comprises obtaining the discovery key from an application function in the second wireless communication system.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the first network function comprises a Direct Discovery Name Management Function, DDNMF, in the first wireless communication system.

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the second network function comprises a DDNMF in the second wireless communication system.

31 . A method of operating a network function of a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network relay that is visiting a second wireless communication system, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery in the second wireless communication system, wherein the key request comprises a list of networks for which a discovery key is desired;

obtaining the discovery key;

generating a key response including the discovery key, wherein the key response comprises a list of networks for which discovery keys are provided and their associated discovery keys; and

transmitting the key response to the network relay.

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein obtaining the discovery key comprises generating the discovery key at the network function.

33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein obtaining the discovery key comprises obtaining the discovery key from an application function in the wireless communication system.

34 . A wireless device, comprising processing circuitry, memory and transceiver circuitry collectively configured to perform operations comprising:

transmitting, to a network function within a home network of the wireless device, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery within a visited network in which the wireless device is roaming, wherein the key request comprises a list of networks for which a discovery key is desired;

receiving, from the network function within the home network of the wireless device, a key response including the discovery key for network relay discovery within the visited network, wherein the key response comprises a list of networks for which discovery keys are provided and their associated discovery keys; and

securing communications with a network relay in the visited network using the discovery key.

35 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the network function comprises a Direct Discovery Name Management Function, DDNMF, in the home network of the wireless device.

36 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the list of networks in which network discovery is desired and the list of networks for which discovery service is provided comprise lists of public land mobile radio, PLMN, identities.

37 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the key request comprises a relay service code that identifies a connectivity service for which network relay discovery is desired.

38 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the key request comprises a proximity services, ProSe, application identifier that identifies an application for which network relay discovery is desired.

39 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the key response comprises a relay service code.

40 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the key response comprises a ProSe application identity.

41 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the visited network is the same as the home network of the wireless device.

42 . The wireless device of claim 34 , wherein the key request and the key response each include an identity of the wireless device.

43 . A network relay comprising:

processing circuitry, memory and transceiver circuitry collectively configured to perform operations comprising:

transmitting, to a network function within a home network of the network relay, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery, wherein the key request comprises a list of networks for which a network discovery key is desired;

receiving, from the network function within the home network of the network relay, a key response including the discovery key for network relay discovery, wherein the key response comprises a list of networks for which a discovery key is provided and their associated discovery keys; and

securing communications with a remote wireless device using the discovery key.

44 . The network relay of claim 43 , wherein the network function comprises a Direct Discovery Name Management Function, DDNMF, in the home network of the network relay.

45 . The network relay of claim 43 , wherein the list of networks in which network discovery is desired and the list of networks for which discovery service is provided comprise lists of public land mobile radio, PLMN, identities.

46 . The network relay of claim 43 , wherein the key request comprises a relay service code that identifies a connectivity service for which network relay discovery is desired.

47 . The network relay of claim 43 , wherein the key request comprises a proximity services, ProSe, application identifier that identifies an application for which network relay discovery is desired.

48 . The network relay of claim 43 , wherein the key response comprises a relay service code.

49 . The network relay of claim 43 , wherein the key response comprises a ProSe application identity.

50 . The network relay of claim 43 , wherein the key request and the key response each include an identity of the network relay.