Method, apparatus, and system for reestablishing radio communication links due to radio link failure

A network device comprising:

• a communication interface adapted to communicate with a wireless communication device and a core network node of a communication network;
• and
• a processing circuit communicatively coupled to the communication interface, the processing circuit adapted to:
• receive from the wireless communication device via the communication interface a message following a radio link failure (RLF) of a radio communication connection between the wireless communication device and a radio access node, the network device not having an access stratum security association established with the wireless communication device;
• wherein the message includes a message authentication code (MAC) based in part on one or more bits of a non-access stratum (NAS) COUNT value maintained at the wireless communication device, the MAC configured to enable the core network node communicatively coupled to the network device to authenticate the wireless communication device and allow or reject reestablishment of the radio communication connection with the network device.

A wireless communication device comprising:

• a communication interface adapted to communicate with a first radio access node and a second radio access node;
• and
• a processing circuit communicatively coupled to the communication interface, the processing circuit adapted to:
• establish a radio communication connection with the first radio access node;
• determine that the wireless communication device is experiencing a radio link failure (RLF) with the first radio access node and that the radio communication connection should be reestablished with the second radio access node that has not established an access stratum security association with the wireless communication device;
• obtain a message authentication code (MAC) based in part on one or more bits of a non-access stratum (NAS) COUNT value maintained at the wireless communication device;
• and
• send a reestablishment message including the MAC to the second radio access node, the MAC configured to enable a core network node communicatively coupled to the second radio access node to authenticate the wireless communication device and allow or reject reestablishment of the radio communication connection with the second radio access node.