Optimized security key refresh procedure for 5G MC

1. A method for a multi-connectivity technology involving a master access node and a secondary access node, the method comprising:

receiving, by the secondary access node, a first security key from the master access node;

detecting, by the secondary access node, that a security key update is needed;

generating, by the secondary access node, a second security key after detecting that the security key update is needed;

informing, by the secondary access node, a user equipment of the second security key and when the secondary access node will start to use the second security key;

obtaining, by the secondary access node, when the user equipment will start to use the second security key; and

bringing, by the secondary access node, the second security key into use,

wherein the informing comprises sending, by the secondary access node, a radio resource control configuration message to the user equipment,

wherein the radio resource control configuration message comprises the second security key and an indication for indicating when the secondary access node will start to use the second security key,

wherein the obtaining comprises receiving, by the secondary access node, a radio resource control configuration complete message from the user equipment, and

wherein the radio resource control configuration complete message comprises an indication for indicating when the user equipment will start using the second security key.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating, by the secondary access node, the second security key comprises generating the second security key based on a set of parameters, wherein the set of parameters comprises an identifier of the secondary access node or an old security key.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein

the old security key is derived from a security key sent by the master access node.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bringing, by the secondary access node, the second security key into use comprises encrypting, by the secondary access node, protocol data units in a downlink with the second security key and decrypting, by the secondary access node, protocol data units in a uplink with the second security key.

5. An apparatus in a multi-connectivity technology involving a master access node and the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor, and

at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

receive a first security key from the master access node;

detect that a security key update is needed;

generate a second security key after detecting that the security key update is needed;

inform a user equipment of the second security key and when the apparatus will start to use the second security key;

obtain when the user equipment will start to use the second security key; and

bring the second security key into use,

wherein the informing is performed by sending a radio resource configuration message to the user equipment,

wherein the radio resource configuration message comprises the second security key and an indication for indicating when the apparatus will start to use the second security key,

wherein obtaining when the user equipment will start to use the second security key comprises receiving, by the apparatus, a radio resource configuration complete message from the user equipment, and

wherein the radio resource configuration complete message comprises an indication for indicating when the user equipment will start using the second security key.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein

the second security key is generated based on a set of parameters,

wherein the set of parameters comprise an identifier of the apparatus or an old security key.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein

the old security key is derived from a security key sent by the master access node.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein

the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform the bringing by encrypting protocol data units in a downlink with the second security key and decrypt protocol data units in an uplink with the second security key.

9. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising program instructions which, when loaded into the computer, execute a computer process for a multi-connectivity technology involving a master access node and a secondary access node, the process comprising:

receiving, by the secondary access node, a first security key from the master access node;

detecting, by the secondary access node, that a security key update is needed;

generating, by the secondary access node, a second security key after detecting that the security key update is needed;

informing, by the secondary access node, a user equipment of the second security key and when the secondary access node will start to use the second security key;

obtaining, by the secondary access node, when the user equipment will start to use the second security key; and

bringing, by the secondary access node, the second security key into use,

wherein the informing comprises sending, by the secondary access node, a radio resource control configuration message to the user equipment,

wherein the radio resource control configuration message comprises the second security key and an indication for indicating when the secondary access node will start to use the second security key,

wherein the obtaining comprises receiving, by the secondary access node, a radio resource control configuration complete message from the user equipment, and

wherein the radio resource control configuration complete message comprises an indication for indicating when the user equipment will start using the second security key.