# US 12,010,752 B2 · Separation of data and control packets over non-access stratum links in communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,752 B2 - Document ID: US12010752B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/602,326 - Filed: 2019-04-18 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-18 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy - Inventors: Suresh Nair - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010752B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/20: Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel - H04L 45/24: Multipath - H04W 8/04: Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server] - H04W 12/03: Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption - H04W 12/04: Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA] - H04W 12/041: Key generation or derivation - H04W 28/082: among bearers or channels - H04W 76/25: Maintenance of established connections - H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD] - H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - H04W 28/0215: {based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices (services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51)} - H04W 60/005: {Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming} - H04W 88/02: Terminal devices - H04W 88/14: Backbone network devices - H04W 88/16: Gateway arrangements - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Improved techniques for control plane message management in a communication system are provided. For example, a method comprises transmitting control data over a control plane associated with a communication system using a first access identifier value, and transmitting user data over the control plane using a second access identifier value. The first access identifier value is distinct from the second access identifier value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit control data, over a control plane associated with a communication system via a first link, using a first access identifier value; and transmit user data, over the control plane via the first link, using a second access identifier value; wherein the first access identifier value is distinct from the second access identifier value, wherein the first access identifier value and the second access identifier value are used for key stream separation, and wherein the first access identifier value is associated with a non-access stratum (NAS) bearer identifier value for key stream separation over a 3GPP access network and wherein the second access access identifier value is associated with an NAS bearer identifier value for key stream separation over a non-3GPP access network, and wherein a different quality of service (QoS) profile, buffer and data characteristics are utilized for a first NAS bearer associated with the first access identifier than the QoS profile, buffer and data characteristics for a second NAS bearer associated with the second access identifier, and wherein the transmission of data over the first NAS bearer is not delayed by transmission of data over the second NAS bearer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit the control data over the control plane using the first access identifier value for one of a first access type and a second access type; transmit the control data over the control plane using a third access identifier value for the other of the first access type and the second access type; transmit the user data over the control plane using the second access identifier value for one of the first access type and the second access type; and transmit the user data over the control plane using a fourth access identifier value for the other of the first access type and the second access type; wherein the first, second, third and fourth access identifier values are distinct with respect to one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first access type comprises 3GPP access and the second access type comprises non 3GPP access. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the non 3GPP access is untrusted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control plane comprises a (NAS) nonaccess stratum link. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first access identifier value and the second access identifier are unique NAS bearer identifier values. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is part of user equipment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the user equipment is part of an Internet of Things (IoT) device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transmit steps are part of an uplink from the user equipment to a network entity of the communication system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is part of a network entity of the communication system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transmit steps are part of a downlink from the network entity to user equipment accessing the communication system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each transmit step further comprises using the corresponding access identifier to generate a unique cryptographic stream to secure the data being transmitted. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit steps are part of a control plane optimization feature associated with the communication system. ### Claim 14 A method comprising: transmitting control data, over a control plane associated with a communication system via a first link, using a first access identifier value; and transmitting user data, over the control plane via the first link, using a second access identifier value; wherein the first access identifier value is distinct from the second access identifier value, wherein the first access identifier value and the second access identifier value are used for key stream separation, and wherein the first access identifier value is associated with a non-access stratum (NAS) bearer identifier value for key stream separation over a 3GPP access network and wherein the second access access identifier value is associated with an NAS bearer identifier value for key stream separation over a non-3GPP access network, and wherein a different quality of service (QoS) profile, buffer and data characteristics are utilized for a first NAS bearer associated with the first access identifier than the QoS profile, buffer and data characteristics for a second NAS bearer associated with the second access identifier, and wherein the transmission of data over the first NAS bearer is not delayed by transmission of data over the second NAS bearer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: transmitting the control data over the control plane using the first access identifier value for one of a first access type and a second access type; transmitting the control data over the control plane using a third access identifier value for the other of the first access type and the second access type; transmitting the user data over the control plane using the second access identifier value for one of the first access type and the second access type; and transmitting the user data over the control plane using a fourth access identifier value for the other of the first access type and the second access type; wherein the first, second, third and fourth access identifier values are distinct with respect to one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first access type comprises 3GPP access and the second access type comprises non 3GPP access. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the non 3GPP access is untrusted. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the control plane comprises a (NAS) non-access stratum link. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first access identifier value and the second access identifier are unique NAS bearer identifier values. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is part of user equipment. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the user equipment is part of an Internet of Things (IoT) device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the transmit steps are part of an uplink from the user equipment to a network entity of the communication system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is part of a network entity of the communication system. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the transmit steps are part of a downlink from the network entity to user equipment accessing the communication system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein each transmit step further comprises using the corresponding access identifier to generate a unique cryptographic stream to secure the data being transmitted. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the transmit steps are part of a control plane optimization feature associated with the communication system. ### Claim 27 An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied therein executable program code that when executed by a processor operatively coupled to the computer-readable storage medium cause the processor to perform steps of: transmitting control data, over a control plane associated with a communication system via a first link, using a first access identifier value; and transmitting user data, over the control plane via the first link, using a second access identifier value; wherein the first access identifier value is distinct from the second access identifier value, wherein the first access identifier value and the second access identifier value are used for key stream separation, and wherein the first access identifier value is associated with a non-access stratum (NAS) bearer identifier value for key stream separation over a 3GPP access network and wherein the second access access identifier value is associated with an NAS bearer identifier value for key stream separation over a non-3GPP access network, and wherein a different quality of service (QoS) profile, buffer and data characteristics are utilized for a first NAS bearer associated with the first access identifier than the QoS profile, buffer and data characteristics for a second NAS bearer associated with the second access identifier, and wherein the transmission of data over the first NAS bearer is not delayed by transmission of data over the second NAS bearer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The article of claim 27, wherein the steps further comprise: transmitting the control data over the control plane using the first access identifier value for one of a first access type and a second access type; transmitting the control data over the control plane using a third access identifier value for the other of the first access type and the second access type; transmitting the user data over the control plane using the second access identifier value for one of the first access type and the second access type; and transmitting the user data over the control plane using a fourth access identifier value for the other of the first access type and the second access type; wherein the first, second, third and fourth access identifier values are distinct with respect to one another. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The article of claim 27, wherein the first access type comprises 3GPP access and the second access type comprises non 3GPP access. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The article of claim 27, wherein the control plane comprises a (NAS) nonaccess stratum link.