CPC H04W 36/0038 (2013.01) [H01P 1/2005 (2013.01); H01P 3/12 (2013.01); H01P 5/107 (2013.01); H04W 12/041 (2021.01); H04W 36/08 (2013.01); H04W 88/02 (2013.01); H04W 88/08 (2013.01); H04W 92/20 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
1. A method of operating a first radio access node in a communication network, the method comprising:
determining, by the first radio access node, whether a first base key that is used to determine a first encryption key for encrypting communications between a communication device and the first radio access node can be used by a second radio access node for determining a second encryption key for encrypting communications between the communication device and the second radio access node wherein the determination comprises:
sending a request for information on the second radio access node from the first radio access node to another node in the communication network; and
receiving, at the first radio access node, information on the second radio access node from said another node, the information indicating whether the first base key can be used by the second radio access node; and
if the first base key can be used by the second radio access node, sending the first base key from the first radio access node to the second radio access node during handover of the communication device from the first radio access node to the second radio access node; and
if the first base key cannot be used by the second radio access node:
determining by the first radio access node a second base key from the first base key; and
sending the second base key from the first radio access node to the second radio access node during handover of the communication device from the first radio access node to the second radio access node.
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