Security Key Generation for Handling Data Transmissions from User Devices in an Inactive State

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• send a radio resource control (RRC) suspend message from the apparatus, to a first user device, the RRC suspend message including a first next hop (NH) chaining counter (NCC) value;
• release access stratum (AS) resources associated with the first user device;
• derive a first node key based on the first NCC value for use in the RRC inactive state;
• receive a first uplink message from the first user device without allocating AS resources to the first user device;
• and
• unscramble the first uplink message based on the first NCC value.

An integrated circuit, comprising circuitry configured to:

• cause a wireless device to send a radio resource control (RRC) suspend message from the apparatus, to a first user device, the RRC suspend message including a first next hop (NH) chaining counter (NCC) value;
• release access stratum (AS) resources associated with the first user device;
• derive a first node key based on the first NCC value for use in the RRC inactive state;
• receive a first uplink message from the first user device without allocating AS resources to the first user device;
• and
• unscramble the first uplink message based on the first NCC value.