Core Network Consent Handling for UE Analytics Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3GPP developments fail to address user privacy concerns in AI/ML model distribution and federated learning operations within cellular communication networks, particularly in selecting and managing user equipment units (UEs) for analytics and event monitoring without proper user consent mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing network functions (NFs) in the core network to manage and monitor user consent, including sending requests for user consent information and subscribing to notifications for consent changes, ensuring that operations involving analytics and event monitoring comply with user permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the network data analytics function collects data and generates analytics for group of UEs, then analytics and event monitoring operations can be performed, but user privacy is compromised without proper consent mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary user consent collection before analytics operations are performed. The network function requests and obtains user consent information in advance, ensuring that users have explicitly authorized data collection before any analytics processing occurs. This preliminary action prevents privacy violations while enabling legitimate analytics operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces user consent information as an intermediary element between the network function and the analytics operation. The consent information acts as a mediator that must be obtained and verified before the network function can proceed with data collection and analytics generation, thus protecting user privacy while maintaining operational capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If user consent information is collected and managed, then user privacy is protected, but network function complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the network data analytics function multi-functional by integrating consent management capabilities into its existing operations. The same network function that performs analytics also manages user consent, eliminating the need for separate dedicated consent management systems and reducing overall network complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network function performs self-service by autonomously managing user consent information as part of its standard operations. The function automatically requests, stores, and verifies consent information without requiring external intervention or separate management systems, thereby protecting privacy while avoiding additional complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If user consent is checked for each UE, then privacy compliance is ensured, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs user consent checking as a preliminary action before analytics operations begin. By verifying consent information in advance and storing it for later reference, the system ensures privacy compliance without repeatedly checking consent during the analytics processing time, thus minimizing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous availability of user consent information by storing it in the network function after initial verification. This allows the analytics operation to proceed continuously without repeated consent checks, ensuring both privacy compliance and operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
To configure analytics or event monitoring in a mobile communication system, a first network function (NF) of a core network (CN) sends (1002), to a second NF, a request related to an operation involving analytics and/or event monitoring, the request indicating that the operation requires user consent; and receives (1004), from the second NF, a response to the request, the response including user consent information for one or more user equipment units (UEs).