Apple Inc.
Initialization Vector Generation when Performing Encryption and Authentication in Wireless Communications

Abstract:

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for generating and utilizing improved initialization vectors (IVs) when performing encryption and authentication in wireless communications. In some scenarios, a wireless communication device may generate one or more pseudorandom multi-bit values, e.g., using a respective plurality of key derivation functions (KDFs). A first portion of each value may be used as a respective key for encryption or authentication of traffic on the user plane or the control plane. A second portion of each value may be used as a nonce value in a respective IV for use with a respective key for encryption or authentication of traffic on the user plane or the control plane. In some scenarios, the nonce values may instead be generated as part of an additional pseudorandom value (e.g., by executing an additional KDF), from which all of the IVs may be drawn.