AMF User Consent Information Element for Cellular Privacy

The patent segments the location information handling process by introducing separate consent indicators for different types of information sharing (RLF report sharing consent and CEF report sharing consent). This allows the system to selectively share specific types of location information based on user consent, rather than treating all location data uniformly, thus enabling network optimization while protecting user privacy.

The patent implements preliminary action by obtaining user consent before collecting or sharing location information. The consent indicators are established in advance in the user profile database and accessed before RLF or CEF reports are generated and shared, ensuring that user privacy is protected from the outset rather than addressing consent issues after data collection.

The patent merges user consent information into existing 3GPP signaling messages such as Initial Context Setup Request, Handover Request, and Retrieve UE Context Request messages. By integrating consent indicators into these established message formats rather than creating separate signaling protocols, the system maintains information completeness while avoiding additional system complexity.

The patent makes existing signaling messages universal by enabling them to carry both traditional network control functions and user consent verification functions. The same messages used for routine network operations also transport consent indicators, allowing a single message structure to serve multiple purposes including authorization, tracking, and privacy compliance.