CPE Localization via Modulated Beacon Signal Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Digital communication services face piracy and service theft as customer premises equipment (CPE) devices are often stolen or moved to unauthorized locations, leading to unpaid usage, as existing technologies lack effective localization methods to ensure devices operate only within authorized premises.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a localization device transmitting a digital beacon, which is modulated into the digital communication signal, and CPE devices configured to monitor for this beacon, disabling features if it is not detected within a specified time period, ensuring the device operates only at its intended location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If CPE devices are provided to subscribers for use at multiple locations, then service versatility is improved, but the risk of service theft and unauthorized usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice versatilityVSAvoidservice theft risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary localization verification by transmitting a beacon signal from the CPE device and receiving a response from the location verification server before allowing service access. This preliminary check ensures the device is at an authorized location prior to service activation, preventing service theft while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through the beacon transmission and response mechanism. The CPE device periodically transmits beacons, and the location verification server responds to confirm authorized locations. This real-time feedback loop detects unauthorized movement and can terminate service, effectively preventing service theft while allowing legitimate multi-location use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If localization verification systems are implemented to prevent service theft, then service security is improved, but device complexity and hardware cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice securityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a location verification server as an intermediary between the CPE device and the service network. This external server handles the complex verification logic, keeping the CPE device itself relatively simple. The device only needs to transmit beacons and receive responses, while the server performs the sophisticated location verification and authorization decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex physical security mechanisms with electronic signal-based verification. Instead of using hardware locks, physical seals, or complex authentication devices, the system uses beacon transmissions and server-side verification algorithms to achieve secure localization, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If beacon transmission and verification mechanisms are added to CPE devices, then localization accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocalization accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The CPE device transmits beacons periodically rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining localization accuracy. The periodic transmission interval can be optimized to balance between verification accuracy and power savings, allowing the device to conserve energy during normal operation while still enabling reliable location verification when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively localizes CPE devices to authorized premises, deterring piracy and service theft while maintaining a low hardware cost for CPE, providing a secure and cryptographically sound method to authenticate devices, ensuring only authorized users access the services.

Implementation Method 1

a variable forward gain stage configured to modulate an amplitude of an original signal received at a device input based on the digital sequence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAmplitude modulation: Phase Modulation

Implementation Method 2

a localization device transmitting a localization beacon, and a CPE device configured to monitor an input for presence of a localization beacon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic signal transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9420336B1Localization of customer premises equipment in a digital communication network

Publication Date: 2016.08.16 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a localization beacon is inserted into a digital communication signal by a localization device. The resulting modified signal is transmitted to customer premises equipment (CPE). One or more CPE devices monitor incoming signals to detect the presence of a localization beacon. If a localization beacon having certain characteristics is not received, the one or more CPE devices are configured to disable one or more CPE features.