5G Sidelink Positioning With NEF-Based Consent Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems lack efficient means to handle user consent for sharing location information, particularly in 5G communication systems, due to privacy protection concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method is proposed for performing sidelink positioning and ranging procedures in 5G communication systems that involves registering user equipment with a network system, evaluating user consent through a network exposure function (NEF) and unified data management function (UDM) to ensure that both users agree to share location information before initiating the procedure, and providing position estimation data based on area-specific and time-specific consent data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If user consent evaluation is performed before positioning procedure, then user privacy protection is improved, but system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent retrieves and evaluates user consent data before initiating the positioning procedure. The NEF function obtains privacy profile data from UDM, evaluates whether users have consented to location sharing, and only proceeds with positioning if consent is confirmed. This preliminary action ensures privacy protection is built into the system workflow rather than added as an afterthought.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the NEF (Network Exposure Function) as an intermediary component that mediates between the positioning system and user privacy data. The NEF retrieves consent information from UDM, evaluates it according to predefined rules, and makes the final decision on whether to proceed with positioning. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of privacy evaluation without burdening the core positioning functionality.
2Measurement precision
If privacy profile data retrieval is performed through NEF and UDM, then user consent accuracy is improved, but network system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages existing multi-functional network elements (NEF and UDM) that already serve multiple purposes in the 5G network. The UDM stores not only consent data but also other user subscription information, while the NEF provides both exposure services and data management functions. This universal use of existing components avoids adding dedicated privacy management hardware while maintaining accurate consent evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system retrieves and stores user consent preferences in advance in the UDM database before the positioning procedure is needed. When positioning is requested, the NEF simply queries pre-stored consent data rather than collecting it in real-time. This preliminary data preparation ensures accurate consent evaluation without adding complex real-time processing requirements during the actual positioning operation.
3Measurement precision
If area-specific and time-specific consent data are evaluated, then positioning accuracy and user control are improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective evaluation of consent data based on the specific positioning scenario. The NEF evaluates only the relevant portions of privacy profile data needed for the current request - for example, checking only area-specific constraints if the positioning is location-dependent, or only time-specific constraints if scheduling is involved. This partial evaluation approach maintains positioning accuracy while minimizing unnecessary processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing at least one of ranging or SL positioning in a communication system, where the communication system includes a network system, an application server (AS), a first User Equipment (UE1) and a second User Equipment (UE2), and where the network system includes a network exposure function (NEF), a unified data management function (UDM) and an access and mobility management function (AMF), the method including: registering the UE1 and UE2 with the network system; receiving a sidelink positioning request or a ranging service request from the AS; sending a data retrieval request to the UDM, evaluating the privacy profile data of the UE1 and UE2; performing at least one of ranging or SL positioning; and sending at least one of a ranging or SL positioning result to the AS.