QUALCOMM Incorporated
RELAY SIDELINK COMMUNICATIONS FOR SECURE LINK ESTABLISHMENT

Abstract:

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that enable establishment of secure communications and security keys for a remote user equipment (UE) and a relay UE to perform relayed sidelink communications in which the remote UE communicates with a network via the relay UE. To establish secure communications for the direct communications between the relay UE and the remote UE, one or more security keys may be established encryption and decryption of communications. To establish the security keys, the relay UE may forward a request for direct communications to a key management function (e.g., a ProSe key management function (PKMF)) in a control plane of a core network (e.g., in a control plane message to the PKMF via an access and mobility function (AMF)). The PKMF may derive relay keys and return information related to the relay keys to the relay UE the remote UE.