Implicit rekeying mechanism

摘要

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for secure transmission of packets with short headers. The methods may include temporarily suspending the use of packets that use a short MAC header (that lack a Key ID field) during re-keying procedures and resuming the use of such packets after a new default Key ID is established via the re-keying procedures.

主权项

1. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
a receiver configured to receive first packets from a device, said first packets lacking a key ID field identifying a first key ID agreed upon between the apparatus and the device and said first packets comprising at least a portion that is encoded using the agreed first key ID; and a processing system configured to:
decode, using the agreed first key ID, at least one of the received first packets;participate in a re-keying procedure with the device to agree upon a second key ID, wherein participating in the re-keying procedure comprises:
halting decoding the first packets;after halting the decoding the first packets:
receiving, via the receiver, second packets from the device that include a key ID field that identifies the agreed first key ID, wherein the second packets comprise at least a portion that is encoded using the agreed first key ID;decoding, using the agreed first key ID, at least one of the received second packets; andexchanging handshaking messages with the device to establish the second key ID; andafter establishing the second key ID, halting the decoding of the second packets;decode, using the established second key ID, at least another of the received first packets after the re-keying procedure; andprocess data associated with the decoded first packets.