Controlling Device Automates Network Connection Security via Social Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for establishing secure and efficient connections between devices in a telecommunication network require manual configuration and reliance on user-initiated sharing of information, lacking automation and seamless interconnection capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a social network system to retrieve user profile data and apply policies based on social relationships to control connections between devices, enabling automated initiation, routing, and security of connections through a controlling device linked to the network entity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration and user-initiated information sharing are used to establish secure connections, then security and trust between users are improved, but automation and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically retrieving user profile data from social network systems and applying connection policies without requiring manual user intervention. The controlling device autonomously performs authentication and connection establishment based on social relationship data, eliminating the need for users to manually configure security settings while maintaining secure connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controlling device as an intermediary between users and network entities. This intermediary automatically manages connection policies by querying social network systems for user profile data and making authorization decisions based on social relationships, thereby maintaining security while eliminating manual configuration requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual port configuration and firewall rules are set up on each device, then connection security is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex security configuration tasks (port management, firewall rules) from individual devices and centralizes them in a controlling device. The controlling device automatically retrieves user profile data from social network systems and applies connection policies, eliminating the need for manual security configuration on each device while maintaining connection security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If users must share information like domain names, IP addresses, and public keys manually, then connection reliability is improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-retrieving user profile data from social network systems before connection establishment. The controlling device queries social networks for user information in advance and prepares connection policies based on social relationships, eliminating the need for manual information sharing during connection setup while ensuring connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If separate configuration is required for each device and network entity, then adaptability to different devices is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controlling device serves as a universal solution that can manage connections to multiple different network entities (femtocells, access points, gateways) through a single unified interface. It automatically adapts to different devices by retrieving user-specific profile data from social network systems and applying appropriate connection policies, eliminating the need for separate manual configuration for each device while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2466853B1Control of connection between devices for controlling the initiation, routing and security of connections between devices
Publication Date: 2014.10.08 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2466853B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2466853B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

For controlling connection between at least a user communicating device (UCD) and a network entity (NE) through a telecommunication network (TN), a controlling device (CD) linked to the network entity (NE) interrogates a social network system (SNS) to retrieve profile data of the user of the communicating device (UCD), and applies a policy to control the connection between the network entity (NE) and the user communicating device (UCD), the policy depending on the profile data including at least a social relationship between the user of the communicating device (UCD) and the user owning the network entity (NE).