CPE Device Identity Mapping for MAC Randomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The obfuscation of connected device identifiers, such as MAC addresses, due to privacy-enhancing techniques in operating systems, hinders the reliable delivery of CPE-based services by network service providers, leading to limitations in transmission, provisioning, configuration, control, and troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A novel device identifier is generated and associated with the active MAC address of a connected device, enabling its identification within a network service provider's platform, and is passed to services in the CPE using a communication mechanism, ensuring consistent service delivery despite MAC randomization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If MAC address randomization is implemented for privacy protection, then device privacy is improved, but device identification reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a CPE-based identifier as an intermediary between the randomized MAC address and the service requiring device identification. This intermediary identifier remains consistent across MAC address changes, allowing services to reliably identify devices without exposing actual MAC addresses, thus maintaining both privacy and identification reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the device identifier function by implementing a CPE-managed identifier system that replicates the identification purpose of MAC addresses without using the actual MAC address. This copy serves the same identification function while being independent of MAC address randomization
2Object-affected harmful factors
If MAC address obfuscation is used to protect user privacy, then privacy security is improved, but service delivery capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The CPE-based identifier acts as a mediator that enables service delivery operations without requiring access to the actual MAC address. Services can perform provisioning, configuration, control, and troubleshooting using this intermediary identifier, maintaining full service delivery capability while preserving privacy security
3Object-affected harmful factors
If standardized device identifiers are replaced with randomized values, then privacy protection is improved, but service configuration and control reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the CPE-based identifier as a stable intermediary that replaces the role of standardized identifiers like MAC addresses in service configuration and control operations. This intermediary provides the consistency needed for reliable service management without exposing privacy-sensitive information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the identification function from the MAC address itself and places it in the CPE-based identifier system. This separation allows the MAC address to be randomized for privacy while the extracted identification function is maintained through the CPE-managed identifier
Data Source
AI summary
A device identifier is associated with an active medium access control (MAC) address of a connected device connected to a customer-premises equipment (CPE). The CPE is configured to implement a local area network (LAN) for a data communication of the connected device. The device identifier is passed to a service in the CPE using a communication mechanism. The CPE is configured to implement a platform for the service. The communication mechanism is configured to operate in the CPE.