Methods for certifying the occurrence of an event involving a user device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method implemented by at least one node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an immutable ledger, the method comprising: broadcasting at least one request to certify the occurrence of at least one event involving a user device of a telecommunications network; receiving, from a network entity, positioning data concerning the user device when the event occurred; recording these positioning data in the immutable ledger.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title of the invent ion: Processes for certifying the occurrence of an event involving a user device

[0003] Technical Field

[0004]

[0001] The invention belongs to the general field of telecommunications.

[0005] [2] It has a privileged but not restrictive application in the context of the fight against the dissemination of false information or “fake news” in the English language.

[0006] [3] The invention also makes it possible to guarantee the traceability of certain actions, particularly, but not exclusively, in the field of transport of goods or people.

[0007] Prior art

[0008] [4] The emergence and development of generative artificial intelligence (or AI) models raise major questions regarding trust in data made available to the public, particularly through social networks.

[0009] [5] In particular, some generative AIs, such as Midjourney for example, are now capable of creating visual content of disturbing realism, making it difficult to distinguish between an image or video captured by a photographer using an image acquisition device and an image or video generated by an AI from a simple description.

[0010] [6] The same is true for the production of textual content such as press articles, academic articles or even school work. Thus, GPT models (for “Generative Fe-trained Transformer” or pre-trained generative transformer), such as ChatGPT, are capable of producing convincing content that is difficult to distinguish from human production.

[0011] [7] This increasing difficulty in discerning the origin of shared content exposes users to numerous risks, particularly in terms of intellectual property, data protection, damage to reputation, or deception of various types.

[0012] [8] In such a context, the fight against disinformation becomes an important issue for public authorities but also for creators and providers of content, such as players in the press world or social network operators, for whom trust in the information provided is essential.

[0013] [9] Solutions exist that allow the recognition of content generated by AI.

[0014]

[0010] Among these, we can notably cite digital watermarking. Although this mature and robust solution has already proven itself in the field of content protection and traceability, it does not allow artificially generated text to be detected if the watermark is not applied during content generation.

[0015]

[0011] Verdoliva's article "Media Forensics and DeepFakes: An Overview" (2020) lists techniques for detecting images and videos generated by AI. These techniques rely on the detection of residues from the manipulation or generation of an image, on the analysis of the entire image resulting in a classification similar to that encountered in adversarial networks (GANs), or on the analysis of facial features in the case of deepfakes. These methods seem promising but are still at a development stage. In addition, some of them require specific technical knowledge, so their use is restricted to a limited audience.

[0016]

[0012] Finally, the paper by Pegoraro et al., entitled “To ChatGPT, or not to ChatGPT: That is the question!”, 2023, provides a survey of existing methods for detecting AI-generated text. Unfortunately, these methods do not appear to be able to robustly detect artificial content.

[0017]

[0013] Since the detection and identification of AI-generated content is complex and sometimes lacking in robustness, there is therefore a need for solutions to restore confidence in the content being broadcast.

[0018]

[0014] More generally, there is a need for solutions to ensure the veracity of shared information.

[0019] Statement of the invention

[0020]

[0015] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method implemented by at least one node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register, said method comprising: the broadcasting of at least one request for certification of the occurrence of at least one event involving a user device of a telecommunications network; the reception, from an entity of the network, of positioning data of the user device when the event occurs; the recording of said positioning data in the unalterable register.

[0021]

[0016] Correlatively, the invention also relates to a node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register comprising: a broadcasting module configured to broadcast at least one request for certification of the occurrence of at least one event involving a user device of a telecommunications network; a receiving module configured to receive, from an entity of the network, positioning data of the user device when the event occurs; a registration module configured to register said positioning data in the unalterable register.

[0022]

[0017] The underlying idea on which the invention is based is to use a telecommunications network as a trusted third party in order to guarantee the veracity of certain information associated with a given content, such as information relating to the positioning of the user device when an event occurs.

[0023]

[0018] The use of the telecommunications network as a trusted third party to verify information relating to the positioning of the user device when an event occurs is made possible because the latter collects, in order to meet the needs and expectations of its users, various elements concerning data exchanges involving the user device, such as physical variables and / or signaling data. Conventionally, such physical variables make it possible to determine the use made of the network resources by all the equipment connected to it, in particular, but not exclusively, by making it possible to obtain signaling data relating to these different equipment.Signaling data means any type of variable that can be used in the network access protocol and that allows for the coordination of different network components; for example, a cell chosen by the network so that a user device such as a user terminal can transmit or receive data at a time t is signaling data. Such physical variables are, for example, measured by the user devices and reported to the network, and / or measured or evaluated by the network itself for the implementation of various mechanisms, such as cell selection mechanisms to ensure data transmission, handover, etc. These include, for example, signal levels measured by the user devices, time differences of arrival (or TDOA for "Time Difference of Arrival" in English), etc.

[0024]

[0019] In recent years, with the emergence of connected vehicles, signaling data has found additional utility in the field of estimating a mobility situation of a user device. It is thus possible to estimate a position of a user device by means of the signaling data associated with it, such as, for example, the identifiers of the base stations to which the user device has connected over a given time interval as well as the connection and disconnection times to these different base stations. Since the signaling data is collected and processed within the network, it is considered reliable and difficult to falsify.

[0025]

[0020] This information relating to the positioning of the user device when an event occurs, determined by the trusted third party that is the network, is then stored in an unalterable register which makes it possible to make this data public and unfalsifiable while guaranteeing its authenticity.

[0026]

[0021] An unalterable register is a memory register, such as one or more servers or a partition of a memory disk, etc., which can be decentralized to facilitate access. Such a register is said to be unalterable because once information has been entered into this register, it cannot be deleted by anyone. If information entered into this register must be modified, such a modification is the subject of a new entry in the unalterable register. Thus, such an unalterable register contains the history of all the exchanges that have been entered there since its creation.

[0027]

[0022] In order to guarantee the inalterability of such a register, it is for example possible to write-lock the memory areas containing information. It is also possible to limit write access to the register to a limited number of trusted nodes, etc. Read access to the alterable register can also be restricted to a limited number of nodes.

[0028]

[0023] Although the invention does not aim to guarantee the veracity of content or information shared by means of a user device, it makes it possible to certify that the sharing of this content or information occurred at a given time and place. By guaranteeing the authenticity of this additional data as well as its tamper-proof nature, the invention nevertheless contributes to the control of the veracity of shared information.

[0029]

[0024] It should be noted that the present solution does not exclude the recording of evidence making it possible to determine the veracity of content or information shared by means of a user device originating from third parties other than the telecommunications network in the unalterable register. Thus, by way of example, location information provided by a sensor of a camera embedded in the user device can also be recorded in the unalterable register in addition to the positioning data provided by the trusted third party.

[0030]

[0025] Let us take the following example: a first content showing a gathering on a large avenue A is published on a social network at a time I and a second content showing this same avenue A without demonstrators is also published on a social network at a time I ' close to time I . If these two publications have been the subject of a request for certification and the positioning data obtained by the method which is the subject of the invention are identical or close then there is every reason to question the veracity of these two contents.

[0031]

[0026] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the unalterable register is a chain of blocks.

[0032]

[0027] Blockchain is a technology for storing and transmitting information that is transparent, secure, and operates without a central control body. More specifically, a blockchain is a distributed database that contains the history of all exchanges made between its users since its creation: the information sent by users and the exchanges internal to the database are verified and grouped at regular time intervals into blocks, thus forming a chain. The whole is secured by cryptography.

[0033]

[0028] More specifically, transactions between users of the network of nodes contributing to a blockchain are grouped into blocks. In the field of blockchains, a transaction is an action recorded in a blockchain that changes the state of the latter. An example of a transaction could be the transfer of an amount in cryptocurrency from one account to another or the recording of positioning data of a user device. Each block is validated by the nodes of the network, according to cryptographic techniques that depend on the type of blockchain used. Once the block is validated, it is timestamped and added to the blockchain, to which all users have access. The transaction is then visible to all nodes of the network. Once added to the blockchain, a block can no longer be modified or deleted, which guarantees the authenticity and security of the network.

[0034]

[0029] There are public blockchains, open to all, and private or consortium blockchains, whose access and use are limited to a certain number of actors defined in advance.

[0035]

[0030] The first blockchains found applications in the field of digital currency, such as bitcoin, which is an example of programmable currency. However, the decentralized nature of the blockchain, coupled with its security and transparency, suggests applications much broader than just the monetary field.

[0036]

[0031] Blockchain infrastructures have thus been enriched with intelligent contracts, or "smart contracts", which can be defined as programs that automatically execute the conditions and terms of a contract, without requiring human intervention. In other words, a smart contract is a compiled computer program that includes a set of characteristics allowing it to automatically and autonomously execute at least some of the specific clauses of the contract it carries. Such a compiled computer program is encapsulated in a transaction. This transaction is then signed by a cryptographic key associated with the device that originated the request for registration in the blockchain and transmitted to a node belonging to a network contributing to a blockchain. The node then broadcasts this transaction in a network contributing to a blockchain so that it is registered in a block of the blockchain.

[0032] In a first implementation of the solution that is the subject of the invention, a single smart contract is executed to process all the certification requests. Thus, this single smart contract is executed by the node of the network of nodes contributing to a blockchain for each certification request to be processed. Such an implementation has the advantage of having a reduced operating cost. In return, the execution of a single smart contract makes the transactions carried out in connection with a given certification request more difficult to trace within the blockchain since all the transactions involving the smart contract share the same address in the blockchain although they do not all concern the same certification request.

[0037]

[0033] In a second implementation of the solution that is the subject of the invention, a smart contract is executed for each certification request. In this second implementation, the node of the network of nodes contributing to a blockchain executes as many smart contracts as there are certification requests to be processed. These different smart contracts, although identical in terms of computer programming, are distinguished from each other in that they are assigned an address specific to them within the blockchain. Thus, this second implementation offers greater operational efficiency since a given smart contract, and therefore a set of transactions relating to a given certification request, corresponds to a specific address in the blockchain, which helps to facilitate access to information relating to a specific certification request within the blockchain.

[0038]

[0034] Finally, it should be noted that the user device may be, for example, user equipment such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet, or even a connected object, such as a connected vehicle. More generally, the user device is hardware equipment uniquely identified and secured with a telecommunications network, in particular but not exclusively by means of an SI M (for “Subscriber Identity Module”) card or an eSI M (for “embedded SI M”) card.

[0039]

[0035] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the certification request comprises at least one element from among: an identifier of the certification request; an identifier of the user device in the network; a timestamp data of the certification request.

[0040]

[0036] In the present patent application, the term "event" means any fact or set of facts giving rise to a transmission or reception of signaling data between the user device and an access point to a network, such as the establishment of a communication between the user device and the base station, for example in the event of an incoming or outgoing call or in the event of transmission or reception of a short message or SMS, the triggering of an attachment procedure to the base station, the transmission of a paging message to the user device requesting it to exit a standby state, etc. For example, an access point may be a network base station called gNB in ​​the context of a 5G network (Le. fifth generation) or called eNodeB in the context of a 4G network (Le. fourth generation) or a Wi-Fi access point.

[0041]

[0037] When the event is an event relating to a service offered by the network, to which the device is connected, the certification request further includes an identifier of the service.

[0038] In this particular case, an event relating to a service is understood to mean any event giving rise to a transmission, in addition to signaling data, of data between the user device and a server involved in the provision of the service. Such a transmission can cover both the sending of content, such as an image and / or text, from the user device to a server belonging to the service provider and the reception, by the user device, of content transmitted by this same server.

[0042]

[0039] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the certification request further comprises a digest (or “hash” in English) of content associated with the event.

[0043]

[0040] The aim of the invention is not to certify the veracity of the content but the fact that it is associated with an event for which a certification request has been broadcast.

[0044]

[0041] The transmission of this digest is additional information relating to the event to be certified. This digest can advantageously be used when the information stored in the unalterable register is used to determine the veracity of the event.

[0045]

[0042] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the node obtains, from an entity of the network, proof of the occurrence of the event.

[0046]

[0043] When the event is a transmission or reception of signaling data between the user device and a base station of the network, the proof of the occurrence of the event is for example provided by the base station concerned.

[0047]

[0044] When the event is a network event such as the transmission of data packets to a server, proof of the occurrence of this event is for example obtained by means of a probe. A probe is a hardware and / or software device placed at a given point in the network to listen to the traffic and collect information relating to it, such as the flow rate, latency, bandwidth usage, the origin and destination of the transmission, the volume of data transmitted, etc.

[0048]

[0045] Such a probe thus makes it possible to assert that a given user device has sent data to a given server.

[0049]

[0046] Such proof of occurrence of the event is also recorded in the unalterable register.

[0050]

[0047] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the positioning data are time-stamped and comprise at least one piece of data belonging to a group comprising: a set of geographical coordinates defining a location of the user device; a speed of movement of the user device; a direction of movement of the user device; a probability of passage of the user device over a section of an infrastructure of a transport network; a duration of presence of the user device at a given location.

[0051]

[0048] The set of geographical coordinates comprises for example a longitude, a latitude and / or an altitude.

[0049] It should be noted that a section of an infrastructure of a transport network can cover both a section of a motorway network or a railway network, as well as a station of an urban transport network such as a metro station, a railway station or a bus station, etc.

[0052]

[0050] Of course, this list is not exhaustive and other types of positioning data can be envisaged within the framework of the invention.

[0053]

[0051] Each of these positioning data may furthermore be accompanied by additional metadata such as: an identifier of the geolocation method, implemented in the telecommunications network, which made it possible to obtain these data, and / or an estimate of the uncertainty on the values ​​of the positioning data thus obtained such as for example a value of a position to the nearest number of meters or centimeters for a given percentage probability of presence.

[0054]

[0052] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the registration step is triggered by the conformity of the positioning data with at least one criterion.

[0055]

[0053] Compliance criteria can in particular be introduced into the smart contract which takes them into account during its execution.

[0056]

[0054] Such compliance criteria belong for example to a group comprising: exceeding a movement speed of the user device; exceeding a movement speed of the user device for a given duration; a duration of presence of the user device in a given location less than or greater than a given duration; and / or a deviation from a route of the user device.

[0057]

[0055] Of course, other types of conformity criteria are conceivable.

[0058]

[0056] As already mentioned above, each of the values ​​of these conformity criteria may also be accompanied by additional metadata such as: an identifier of the geolocation method, implemented in the telecommunications network, which made it possible to obtain these values, and / or an estimate of the uncertainty on the values ​​of the data thus obtained such as for example a value of a speed of movement to within a few kilometers per hour or a value of a duration to within a few minutes, for a given percentage probability of presence.

[0059]

[0057] As a non-limiting example, the case of a user device embedded in a school transport vehicle is presented. It may be specified in the smart contract when it is created that a condition for registration in the unalterable register concerns exceeding a given travel speed.

[0058] For example, if the average travel speed of the vehicle, determined by the network using the user device, exceeds 80 kilometers per hour, then the condition for registration in the unalterable register is met.

[0060]

[0059] This makes it possible to limit the volume of data stored in the unalterable register.

[0061]

[0060] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the proof of occurrence of the event recorded in the unalterable register further comprises information relating to the event obtained from a sensor embedded in the user device.

[0062]

[0061] As discussed above, it is possible to record evidence enabling the veracity of content or information shared by means of a user device originating from third parties other than the telecommunications network in the unalterable register. Thus, for example, location information provided by a sensor of a camera embedded in the user device can also be recorded in the unalterable register in addition to the positioning data provided by the trusted third party.

[0063]

[0062] According to embodiments of the method which is the subject of the invention, the latter comprises receiving the certification request from the user device.

[0064]

[0063] The implementation of the invention is conditioned by a voluntary action of the user of the user device. By this action, the user accepts that the signaling data associated with his user device are used, in compliance with the legislation in force, by the network in order to certify an activity.

[0065]

[0064] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for requesting certification of the occurrence of at least one event, implemented by a user device of a telecommunications network involved in said event, the method comprising: the transmission, to a node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register, of at least one request for certification of the occurrence of the event.

[0066]

[0065] Correlatively, the invention also relates to a user device of a communication network comprising: a transmission module configured to transmit, to a node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register, at least one request for certification of the occurrence of an event involving said user device.

[0067]

[0066] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a system for certifying the occurrence of at least one event involving a user device of a telecommunications network, said system comprising: at least one node belonging to a network contributing to an unalterable register according to the invention; and at least one user device according to the invention, attached to said at least one node belonging to said network of a blockchain.

[0068]

[0067] The method for requesting certification of the occurrence of at least one event, the user device, and the system for certifying the occurrence of at least one event according to the invention have the same advantages cited previously for the method and the node of a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register according to the invention.

[0069]

[0068] In a particular embodiment, the methods which are the subject of the invention are implemented by a computer.

[0070]

[0069] In this respect, the invention also relates to a computer program on a recording medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a computer or more generally in a node of a network of nodes contributing to a contributor to an unalterable register in accordance with the invention and comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of a method as described above.

[0071]

[0070] The invention also relates to a computer program on a recording medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a computer or more generally in a user device in accordance with the invention and comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of a method for requesting certification of the occurrence of at least one event as described above.

[0072]

[0071] Each of these programs may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0073]

[0072] The invention also relates to an information medium or a recording medium readable by a computer, and comprising instructions of a computer program as mentioned above.

[0074]

[0073] The information or recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the programs. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording means, for example a hard disk, or a flash memory.

[0075]

[0074] On the other hand, the information or recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio link, by wireless optical link or by other means.

[0076]

[0075] The programs according to the invention can in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0077]

[0076] Alternatively, the information or recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which a program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the methods according to the invention.

[0078]

[0077] It may also be envisaged, in other embodiments, that the methods according to the invention, the node of a network of nodes contributing to a contributor to an unalterable register, the user device and the system for certifying the occurrence of at least one event according to the invention have in combination all or part of the aforementioned characteristics.

[0079] Brief description of the drawings

[0080]

[0078] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment thereof without any limiting character. In the figures:

[0079] [Fig.1] Figure 1 represents a system for certifying an event based on a blockchain in which the methods according to the invention are implemented;

[0081]

[0080] [Fg.2] Figure 2 illustrates, in the form of a flowchart, the main steps of the methods implemented by a node Ni belonging to a blockchain network and by a user device according to an exemplary implementation of the invention.

[0082] Description of the embodiments

[0083]

[0081] The present invention is based on the use of an unalterable register such as a blockchain to design a system for certifying events involving user devices for which users wish the occurrence of these events to be certified. More particularly, the present solution is based on the use of a TelNet telecommunications network to which a user device is connected as a trusted third party to guarantee the authenticity and veracity of data relating to the occurrence of an event involving the user device, this data then being stored in the blockchain.

[0084]

[0082] As mentioned previously, for the purposes of the invention, an unalterable register is understood to mean a write-once memory register, which may rely on one or more servers, a partition of a memory disk, a database, etc. and which may be decentralized in order to facilitate access. Such a register is said to be unalterable in the sense that once information has been entered into this register, it cannot be deleted from the register by anyone. Thus, if information entered into this register must be modified, such a modification is the subject of a new entry in the unalterable register, so as to preserve the history of all the exchanges that have been entered into the register since its creation. Such a system for certifying the occurrence of an event involving a user device and an unalterable register consisting of a chain of blocks is described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0085]

[0083] Such a certification system 1 comprises a network 100 of nodes contributing to a blockchain BC, also referred to hereinafter as a blockchain network 100, comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected to each other, for example nodes N1 to N5. The structure of node N1 is illustrated in more detail in this figure 1 in order to enlighten the reader. Each node N2 to N5 has an architecture similar or identical to that of node N1, although this has not been detailed, for the sake of simplification, in figure 1. In this document, the term node refers exclusively to nodes N1-N5 belonging to the blockchain network 100. Of course, other blockchain network configurations can be envisaged (typically with a different number of nodes).

[0086]

[0084] It should be noted that the term node can correspond to a software component as well as to a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components, a software component itself corresponding to one or more computer programs or sub-programs or more generally to any element of a program capable of implementing a function or a set of functions.

[0087]

[0085] In the embodiment described here, a node Ni comprises a random access memory (for example a RAM memory for “Random-Access Memory”), a processing unit equipped for example with a processor and driven by a computer program, representative of the code instructions of one or more smart contracts SC&ti, SCÀiet, stored in a read-only memory (for example a ROM memory for “Read-Only Memory” or a hard disk). When the node Ni is initialized, the code instructions of the computer program are for example loaded into the random access memory before being executed by the processor of the processing unit. These smart contracts SC&ti, SCNet will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[0088]

[0086] In certain embodiments (such as that illustrated in FIG. 1), the node N1 may further comprise: an Ethereum EVM virtual machine 10, which is the execution environment for smart contracts in Ethereum. It is recalled that Ethereum is a decentralized exchange protocol allowing users to create smart contracts using a Turing-complete language. Other decentralized exchange protocols may be used, such as Polkadot, Solana or Cardano; a data storage area STOR 12; the bytecode of the smart contracts SC&ti, SCNet, i.e. the deterministic codes executable in the blockchain network 100, the variables of which may be stored in nodes belonging to the blockchain network 100, and the functions of which may be called.

[0089]

[0087] Finally, the node N1 comprises: a broadcast module 13 configured to issue a certification request CertRqti of the occurrence of at least one event Evti; a reception module 14 configured to receive, from a network device 102, positioning data DLoci of a user device 101 upon the occurrence of an event Evti; a registration module 15 configured to register the positioning data DLoci received in the block chain BC.

[0090]

[0088] It should be noted that the broadcast 13, reception 14 and registration 15 modules may be separate software and / or hardware modules. However, in certain implementations, these different modules may share some of their hardware components with the aim of reducing production costs or with the aim of reducing the size of the components embedded in the node N1.

[0091]

[0089] The backend system (or "backend") of the certification system 1 is thus decentralized since it resides in the SC&ti smart contracts, SCNet implementing a panel of functions necessary for certification of an Evti event.

[0092]

[0090] In this document, the term "event" means any fact or set of facts giving rise to a transmission or reception of signaling data between a user device and an access point of a TelNet telecommunications network to which the user device is connected, such as the establishment of a communication between the user device and the base station, for example in the event of an incoming or outgoing call or in the event of transmission or reception of a short message or SMS, the triggering of an attachment procedure to the base station, the transmission of a paging message to the user device requesting it to exit a standby state, etc. An access point means any equipment allowing access to the network, such as for example a base station of the network called gNB in ​​the context of a 5G network (i.e. fifth generation) or called eNodeB in the context of a 4G network (i.e.fourth generation) or a Wi-Fi access point in the context of a WLAN network.

[0093]

[0091] When, in addition, the event gives rise to a transmission of data between the user device and a server involved in the provision of a service, such an event is then referred to here as a “network event”. Such a transmission can cover both the sending of content, such as an image and / or text, from the user device to a server belonging to the service provider, and the reception, by the user device, of content sent by such a server.

[0094]

[0092] Such a certification system 1 interacts with at least one user device 101 and at least one network device 102 belonging to the TelNet telecommunications network to which the user device 101 is connected.

[0095]

[0093] By way of non-limiting examples, a user device 101 may be a user equipment (or UE for “User Equipment” in English) such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet, or even a connected object, such as a connected vehicle. More generally, the user device 101 is a piece of hardware identified in a unique and secure manner with the TelNet telecommunications network, in particular but not exclusively by means of a SI M card (for “Subscriber Identity Module”) or an eSI M card (for “embedded S! M”).

[0096]

[0094] A network device 102 may, for its part, be a device executing an access and mobility management function such as an AMF function for “Access and Mobility Management” for a 5G mobile network, or any other device of the network capable of determining and / or providing positioning data of the user device 101.

[0097]

[0095] The user device 101 comprises a transmission / reception module RX / TX 1010, configured to transmit certification requests CertRqti of the occurrence of an event Evti to the certification system 1. Such a user device 101 comprises in particular one or more processors, configured to execute program code instructions for the transmission of such certification requests.

[0098]

[0096] The network equipment 102, for its part, may comprise a transmission / reception module RX / TX 1020, configured to transmit positioning data DLoci relating to a given user device 101 to the certification system 1, for example following the reception of a request for determining positioning information LocRqti. The network equipment 102 may, for example, comprise one or more processors, configured to execute program code instructions to determine positioning data DLoci relating to a given user device 101. In the embodiment described here, this positioning data is determined by means of physical variables relating to data exchanges involving the user device 101, collected by the telecommunications network TelNet.In a particular implementation example, the physical variables thus collected make it possible to determine signaling data relating to the user device 101. Such physical variables are for example: the RSSI for “Received Signal Strength Indicator” which is a measurement of the power level in reception of a signal from an antenna of a base station or the RSRP for “Reference Signal Received Power” which is a measurement of the power level received in a 4G network. It is understood that the use of other metrics can be envisaged during the implementation of the present invention.

[0097] The transactions listed and validated between the user devices 101 and the network equipment 102 can be stored in the form of blocks in the nodes N1 to N5 of the blockchain 100.As is commonly known, a transaction is an action recorded in a blockchain that changes its state. Consensus rules or algorithms applied by the various nodes belonging to the blockchain network can help limit malicious nodes and identify invalidated transactions.

[0099]

[0098] In a known manner, consensus algorithms make it possible to ensure the integrity and security of the nodes N1 -N5 belonging to the blockchain network 100. A consensus algorithm is a means by which the different N1 -N5 belonging to the blockchain network 100 are likely to reach a consensus. In other words, the N1 -N5 belonging to the blockchain network 100 agree to validate or not a transaction. A consensus algorithm therefore has the role of ensuring that the management rules of a blockchain, defined during its creation, have been respected.

[0100]

[0099] There are different types of consensus algorithms. A first example of consensus algorithms is the "PoW" for "Proof of Work" in English which can be translated as "Proof of Work". Such a consensus algorithm is based on the execution of a hash function which calculates a unique fingerprint necessary for the validation of a block of the blockchain from the data provided.

[0101]

[0100] Another example of consensus algorithms is the “FbA” for “Proof of Authority”. This consensus algorithm makes it possible, for example, to validate transactions and other interactions with the blockchain network 100, but also to update the blockchain itself. Indeed, one or more nodes of the blockchain network 100 have the role of generating the different blocks of transactions and then entering them in the blockchain. Each block is accepted without verification, unanimously or by the majority of the nodes of the blockchain network 100 depending on the chosen configuration.

[0102]

[0101] Finally, cryptographic rules can help ensure pseudo-anonymity of transactions and users, and the authenticity of certification data generated in accordance with the solution that is the subject of the present invention.

[0103]

[0102] Figure 1 illustrates only one particular way, among several possible ones, of producing a node Ni so that it performs the steps of the methods detailed below, in relation to Figure 2. Indeed, these steps can be performed indifferently on a reprogrammable computing machine (a computer, a processor or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions, or on a dedicated computing machine (for example a set of logic gates such as an FPGA or an ASI C, or any other hardware module).

[0104]

[0103] In the case where the node Ni is produced with a reprogrammable computing machine, the corresponding programs (i.e. the sequences of instructions) may be stored in a removable storage medium (such as for example a floppy disk, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM) or not, this storage medium being partially or totally readable by a computer or a processor.

[0105]

[0104] Figure 2 illustrates, in the form of a flowchart, the main steps of the methods that are the subject of the invention for certifying the occurrence of an event Evti involving a user device 101 implemented by a node Ni belonging to a blockchain network 100 and by the user device 101 according to an exemplary implementation of the invention.

[0105] As illustrated by Figure 2, a first step E000 is implemented during which a user device 101 connected to a telecommunications network TelNet transmits a request for certification of an event CertRqti to a node Ni belonging to the blockchain network 100.

[0106]

[0106] Such a step E000 is optional. Indeed, in other examples of implementation of the methods that are the subject of the invention, the certification request CertRqti can be transmitted to the node Ni by a network device 102 of the network, such as for example a base station by means of which the user device 101 is connected to the network, having detected the occurrence of the event Evti to be certified.

[0107]

[0107] Such a certification request CertRqti comprises at least one identifier of the certification request IdCertRqti, an identifier of the user device Id101 involved in the event, and a time stamp TStpCertRqti corresponding for example to a time of issue of the certification request CertRqti or to a time of generation of the certification request CertRqti by the user device 101.

[0108]

[0108] In other implementations, the CertRqti certification request may also comprise a network address, such as a URL for “Uniform Resource Locator”, pointing to content associated with the Evti event to be certified, a digest or “hash” of this content, for example when this content is stored in a memory of the user device 101, or even an identifier of an IdServ service to which the user device 101 is connected when the Evti event is a network event relating to a service provided by the TelNet telecommunications network.

[0109]

[0109] In a step E010, the node Ni of the blockchain network 100 obtains a certification request CertRqti of the occurrence of an event Evti. This certification request CertRqti of the occurrence of an event Evti is for example received by the node Ni following its transmission by the user device 101 during the step E000. Regardless of the manner in which the node Ni obtains the certification request CertRqti, this obtaining is conditioned on a voluntary action by the user of the user device 101. By this action, the user accepts that the signaling data associated with the user device 101 be used, in compliance with the legislation in force, by the network in order to certify an event.

[0110]

[0110] Upon receipt of this certification request CertRqti, the node Ni creates (step E020) a smart contract SC&ti. In a first implementation of the methods that are the subject of the invention, the node Ni creates a single smart contract SC&ti intended to process certification requests associated with distinct events Evti that may, or may not, involve distinct user devices 101.

[0111]

[0111] In a second implementation, the Ni node creates an SC&ti smart contract for each CertRqti certification request received. Thus, each SC&ti certification request is processed by its own SC&ti smart contract. It is then easier to find the transactions relating to this CertRqti certification request in the blockchain.

[0112]

[0112] Once the smart contract SC&ti has been created, it is executed by the node Ni. During this execution, a notification message NotMsgi is sent (E030) by the node Ni to a second smart contract SCNet. Such a smart contract SCÀiet can be executed by the node Ni or by another node belonging to the blockchain network 100. It is thus easier to find the transactions relating to this CertRqti certification request in the blockchain. Of course, a single smart contract SG can be created instead of the smart contracts SC&t and SOiet. Such an implementation based on the creation of a single contract has little impact on the execution of the methods that are the subject of the present invention.

[0113]

[0113] In the remainder of this document, it is considered for simplification purposes that the smart contracts SC&ti and SCÀiet are executed by the same node Ni of the blockchain network 100. Such a notification message NotMsgi includes, among other things, the identifier of the certification request IdCertRqti, the identifier of the user device ld101, and the timestamp data TStpCertRqti.

[0114]

[0114] During the execution of the SC&ti smart contract, it also authorizes (E040) the S iet smart contract to transmit data to it. Such authorization can be issued at the same time as the NotMsgi notification message is issued or after the latter has been issued. This is an implementation choice.

[0115]

[0115] Following receipt of the notification message NotMsgi, the smart contract SCÀiet generates (E050) a certification request CertRqti' which is then broadcast (E060) in the telecommunications network TelNet. Such a certification request CertRqti' includes, among other things, the identifier of the user device Id101 and the timestamp data TStpCertRqti.

[0116]

[0116] All transactions carried out in steps E010 to E060 are recorded in the blockchain.

[0117]

[0117] Some network equipment 102 of the network includes a module 103, called a “blockchain listener” whose function is to intercept the messages broadcast by the nodes Ni of a blockchain network 100. Such a module 103 is also known per se. When the module 103 intercepts (E070) the certification request CertRqti', it identifies one or more network equipment 102 capable of providing positioning information DLoci'. Once the suitable network equipment 102 has been identified, the module 103 transmits to them (E080) a request for determining positioning information LocRqti comprising the identifier of the user device I d101, and the timestamp data TStpCertRqti.

[0118]

[0118] Upon receipt of the request for determining positioning information LocRqti, the network equipment 102 proceeds to determine positioning data DLoci (E090) of the user device 101 identified in the certification request CertRqti' corresponding to the timestamp data TStpCertRqti.

[0119]

[0119] In the embodiment described here, the network equipment 102 determines the positioning data DLoci by means of signaling data relating to the user device 101 collected by the network. As mentioned previously, signaling data is understood here to mean any type of variable likely to be used in the network access protocol and making it possible to ensure the coordination of different components of the network. Thanks to this signaling data, such as for example the identifiers of the base stations to which the user device 101 has connected over a given time interval as well as the connection and disconnection times to these different base stations, it is possible to estimate a position of the user device 101. Since the signaling data is collected and processed within the TelNet telecommunications network, it is deemed reliable and difficult to falsify.

[0120]

[0120] Examples of methods for determining DLoci positioning data using signaling data are described in particular in patent applications FR FR3129806 and FR3129807. Such an approach goes against the conventional approach of determining a value of a distance actually traveled by a user device such as a mobile terminal from two precise positions of the mobile terminal which first requires estimating the two positions of the mobile terminal.

[0121]

[0121] These methods are based on the use of likelihood maps of support for a user device 101 by a base station to determine a position, a distance traveled or even a direction of movement of the latter. Such a likelihood map of support by a base station represents the probability that a user device has of connecting to a base station at a location in the coverage area of ​​the base station.

[0122]

[0122] In other embodiments, the network equipment 102 determines the positioning data DLoci by means of physical variables relating to data exchanges involving the user device 101 making it possible to locate the latter. These physical variables are measured by other equipment belonging to the TelNet telecommunications network.

[0123]

[0123] The determined DLoci positioning data are time-stamped and may consist of at least one of the following elements: a set of geographic coordinates defining a location of the user device; a speed of movement of the user device; a direction of movement of the user device; a probability of passage of the user device on a section of an infrastructure of a transport network; or a duration of presence of the user device at a given location.

[0124]

[0124] When the event to be certified Evti is a network event relating to a service provided by the TelNet telecommunications network, in addition to determining positioning data of the user device 101, the network equipment 102 determines, or obtains, proof of the occurrence of the event.

[0125]

[0125] When the event is a transmission or reception of signaling data between the user device 101 and a base station of the network, the proof of the occurrence of the event is for example provided by the base station concerned.

[0126]

[0126] When the event is a network event, the proof of the occurrence of this event is for example obtained by means of a probe. Such a probe is capable of identifying the user device 101, a server relating to the service to which the user device 101 is connected and is capable of determining that a data transmission, the volume of which it can specify, has taken place between these two entities.

[0127]

[0127] Once in possession of the positioning data DLoci and, where applicable, proof of occurrence of the event Evti, the network equipment 102 transmits all of this information (E100) to the smart contract SCÀiet.

[0128]

[0128] The smart contract S iet then transmits (E110) the positioning information DLoci received to the smart contract SC&ti at the origin of the broadcast of the CertRqti certification request. The contract SC&ti is for example identified by means of the identifier I dCert Rqti of the CertRqti certification request.

[0129]

[0129] Once in possession of the DLoci positioning information, the SC&ti smart contract writes it (E120) in at least one block of the blockchain.

[0130]

[0130] This transmission can be triggered when the DLoci positioning data is in compliance with at least one compliance criterion.

[0131] Such compliance criteria can be introduced into the SC&ti smart contract which takes them into account during its execution. It may be, for example, exceeding a travel speed of the user device 101; exceeding a travel speed of the user device 101 for a given duration; a duration of presence of the user device 101 in a given location less than or greater than a given duration; or a deviation from a route that the user device 101 is supposed to take, for example when it is on board a delivery vehicle.

[0131]

[0132] The present invention finds a particular application for validating a presence in a given place at a given time of a user device 101.

[0132]

[0133] The invention allows, for example, a person posting content on a social network claiming to be in a given place at a given time to certify this statement. This person uses the network as a trusted third party to certify their location at a given time, thus confirming the veracity of this information.

[0133]

[0134] The invention also allows a delivery company to certify to its customers that a delivery person has arrived at the delivery location at a given time, the position and time of the delivery person being certified by the network. Proof of arrival can be associated with the DLoci positioning data determined by the network.

Claims

Claims

1. Method implemented by at least one node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register, said method comprising: broadcasting at least one request for certification of the occurrence of at least one event involving a user device of a telecommunications network; receiving, from an entity of the network, positioning data of the user device when the event occurs; recording said positioning data in the unalterable register.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the unalterable ledger is a blockchain.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the certification request comprises at least one element among: an identifier of the certification request; an identifier of the user device in the network; a timestamp data of the certification request.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein when the event is an event relating to a service, offered by the network, to which the device is connected, the certification request further comprises an identifier of the service.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the certification request further comprises a digest, or "hash", of content associated with the event.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the node obtains, from an entity of the network, proof of the occurrence of the event.

7. Method according to claim 6 in which the proof of occurrence of the event is recorded in the unalterable register.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the positioning data are time-stamped and comprise at least one item of data belonging to a group comprising: a set of geographical coordinates defining a location of the user device; a speed of movement of the user device; a direction of movement of the user device; a probability of passage of the user device on a section of an infrastructure of a transport network; a duration of presence of the user device in a given location.

9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the registration step is triggered by the conformity of the positioning data with at least one criterion.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the conformity criterion belongs to a group comprising: exceeding a movement speed of the user device; exceeding a movement speed of the user device for a given duration; a duration of presence of the user device in a given location less than or greater than a given duration; a deviation from a route of the user device. [Claim 1 1] Method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 when they depend on claim 6 in which the proof of occurrence of the event recorded in the unalterable register further comprises information relating to the event obtained from a sensor embedded in the user device.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 comprising receiving the certification request from the user device.

13. Method for requesting certification of the occurrence of at least one event implemented by a user device of a telecommunications network involved in said event, the method comprising: the transmission, to a node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register, of at least one request for certification of the occurrence of the event.

14. Method for requesting certification of the occurrence of at least one event according to claim 13 in which the certification request comprises: an identifier of the certification request; an identifier of the user device in the network; a timestamp of the certification request.

15. Node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register comprising: a broadcast module configured to broadcast at least one request for certification of the occurrence of at least one event involving a user device of a telecommunications network; a reception module configured to receive, from an entity of the network, positioning data of the user device when the event occurs; a registration module configured to register said positioning data in the unalterable register.

16. User device of a communication network comprising: a transmission module configured to transmit, to a node belonging to a network of nodes contributing to an unalterable register, at least one request for certification of the occurrence of an event involving said user device.

17. System for certifying the occurrence of at least one event involving a user device of a telecommunications network comprising: at least one node belonging to a network contributing to an unalterable register according to the invention according to claim 15; and at least one user device according to claim 16, attached to said at least one node belonging to a network contributing to an unalterable register.

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