Methods and apparatus for communication

A method performed by a transport node of a communication network, the transport node configured to facilitate communication between a device and a server, the method comprising:

• receiving a Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) message from the device, the CoAP message targeting the server and using Object Security for end-to-end protection between the device and the server, the CoAP message comprising a message signature and a compression context identifier, and a payload context identifier;
• retrieving an encrypted message payload corresponding to the payload context identifier;
• replacing the payload context identifier in the CoAP message with the encrypted message payload, for forwarding of the CoAP message towards the server;
• retrieving a CoAP header corresponding to the compression context identifier, the CoAP header being partially encrypted, with the encryption of the CoAP header being separate from the encryption of the message payload;
• replacing the compression context identifier in the CoAP message with the CoAP header, for forwarding of the CoAP message towards the server;
• and
• forwarding the CoAP message to the server.

A device configured for communication with a server via a transport node of a communication network, the device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the device is operative to:
• assemble a Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) message for sending to the server via the transport node, the CoAP message using Object Security for end-to-end protection between the device and the server and comprising a message signature, a message payload that is encrypted, and a CoAP header that is partially encrypted separately from encryption of the message payload;
• retrieve a payload context identifier corresponding to the encrypted message payload;
• replace the encrypted message payload in the CoAP message with the payload context identifier, to impose payload compression on the CoAP message for forwarding of the CoAP message to the transport node;
• retrieve a compression context identifier corresponding to the CoAP header;
• replace the CoAP header in the CoAP message with the retrieved compression context identifier, to impose header compression on the CoAP message for forwarding of the CoAP message to the transport node;
• and
• forward the CoAP message to the transport node.

A transport node of a communication network, the transport node configured to facilitate communication between a device and a server, the transport node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the transport node is operative to:
• receive a Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) message from the device, the CoAP message targeting the server and using Object Security for end-to-end protection between the device and the server, the CoAP message comprising a message signature, a payload context identifier, and a compression context identifier;
• retrieve an encrypted message payload corresponding to the payload context identifier;
• replace the payload context identifier in the CoAP message with the encrypted message payload, for forwarding of the CoAP message towards the server;
• retrieve a CoAP header corresponding to the compression context identifier, the CoAP header being partially encrypted, with the encryption of the CoAP header being separate from encryption applied to the message payload;
• replace the compression context identifier in the CoAP message with the CoAP header, for forwarding of the CoAP message towards the server;
• and
• forward the CoAP message to the server.