Terminal Registration Using Dual Machine IDs for CU-Separated Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies do not effectively prevent unauthorized use of terminals that are CU-separated, particularly when a user-plane function is handled by a publicly accessible device.

Innovation Solution

A terminal acquires and transmits machine identification numbers to a network node during registration, enabling the network to verify and authorize both the user-plane and control-plane functions, ensuring only authorized use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If CU separation is applied to the terminal to enable flexible HMI deployment, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to susceptibility to unauthorized use

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHMI deployment flexibilityVSAvoidterminal security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal is segmented into two separate entities: a control-plane terminal (handling authentication and control functions) and a user-plane terminal (handling data transmission). This segmentation allows flexible deployment where the user-plane terminal can be a public display or shared device, while the control-plane terminal remains with the user for security. The network node verifies both terminals through machine identification numbers, enabling secure CU separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the user-plane function is handled by a publicly accessible device, then ease of operation is improved, but security and reliability worsen due to unauthorized use risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepublic accessibilityVSAvoidauthorization security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control-plane terminal acts as an intermediary between the user and the public user-plane terminal. It establishes an association with the user-plane terminal and provides authentication credentials. The network node uses this intermediary relationship to verify that the public device is legitimately associated with an authorized user, enabling public accessibility while maintaining security through the mediating control-plane terminal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4679879A1Terminal, network node device, and communication method
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4679879A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4679879A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4679879A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal includes: a reception unit configured to receive, from another terminal, a second terminal machine identification number; and a transmission unit configured to, in a registration procedure, transmit a first terminal machine identification number and the second terminal machine identification number to a network node apparatus.