Security Key Usage Across Handover That Keeps The Same Wireless Termination

An apparatus for communicating, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory storing computer program instructions;
• and
• at least one processor;
• wherein the at least one memory with the computer program instructions is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to at least:
• send to a user equipment (UE) a first indication to maintain using a first set of security keys generated from a parameter specific to a source access node after the UE hands over a cellular link to a target access node without changing a wireless termination (WT) with which the UE is connected via a non-cellular link;
• and
• use at least one key of the first set of security keys to maintain the non-cellular link with the UE after the UE hands over the cellular link to the target access node without changing the WT.

A method for operating a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• using at least one key of a first set of security keys generated from a parameter specific to a source access node to authenticate a non-cellular link prior to the UE handing over a cellular link to a target access node;
• handing over the cellular link from the source access node to the target access node without changing a wireless termination (WT) in communication with the UE via the non-cellular link;
• and
• only in response to the UE receiving a first indication associated with the hand over, the UE using the at least one key of the first set of security keys to maintain the non-cellular link after the UE hands over to the target access node without changing the WT.

An apparatus for communicating, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory storing computer program instructions;
• and
• at least one processor;
• wherein the at least one memory with the computer program instructions is configured with the at least one processor to cause a user equipment (UE) to at least:
• use at least one key of a first set of security keys generated from a parameter specific to a source access node to authenticate a non-cellular link prior to the UE handing over a cellular link to a target access node;
• hand over the cellular link from the source access node to the target access node without changing a wireless termination (WT) in communication with the UE via the non-cellular link;
• and
• only in response to the UE receiving a first indication associated with the hand over, use the at least one key of the first set of security keys to maintain the non-cellular link after the UE hands over to the target access node without changing the WT.