Dummy MAC Address Conflict Detection for Privacy Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies fail to effectively prevent user tracking based on MAC addresses, leading to security and privacy risks, as MAC addresses can be used to identify and trace terminal devices, especially in wireless local area networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for MAC address conflict detection, where a dummy MAC address is generated and used instead of the real MAC address when accessing a wireless local area network, with a conflict detection process using DHCP protocol messages to ensure the dummy MAC address does not conflict with existing addresses, thereby preventing real MAC address leakage and ensuring privacy protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the real MAC address is transmitted to access the wireless local area network, then the terminal device can be uniquely identified and connected to the network, but the user privacy and security are compromised due to tracking risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dummy MAC address as a copy of the real MAC address to use in wireless network access. This copy contains the same organizational identifier (OUI) portion but has randomized individual identifier portion, allowing network connection while protecting the real identifying information
Solution Approach 2:
The dummy MAC address serves as an intermediary between the terminal device and the wireless network. It mediates the identification process by providing a pseudo-unique identifier that allows network access without exposing the real MAC address, thus protecting user privacy while maintaining connection functionality
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a dummy MAC address is generated and used for network access, then privacy protection is improved, but address conflict may occur with existing devices in the network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary conflict detection by sending a DHCP Discover message with the dummy MAC address before actual network access. This preliminary action checks whether the dummy address conflicts with existing network devices, allowing the system to generate a new dummy address if needed, thus ensuring both privacy protection and connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from DHCP server responses to determine whether the generated dummy MAC address is valid or conflicts with existing devices. If a conflict is detected through DHCP responses, the system generates a new dummy address and repeats the detection process, ensuring no conflicts exist before final network access
3Reliability
If conflict detection is performed using DHCP protocol messages, then address uniqueness is ensured, but additional communication overhead and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conflict detection process with the standard DHCP network access procedure. The DHCP Discover and DHCP Offer messages serve dual purposes: they both provide network configuration information and simultaneously verify whether the dummy MAC address conflicts with existing devices, eliminating the need for separate detection messages and reducing overall access time
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, a device, an apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium for MAC address conflict detection. The method includes: in response to detecting a wireless local area network, transmitting, at a first device, a dummy MAC address of the first device to a second device in the wireless local area network, the dummy MAC address being different from a real MAC address of the first device; transmitting an address conflict detection request for the dummy MAC address to the second device; and in response to an address conflict detection response from the second device indicating that there is no conflict for the dummy MAC address, establishing a connection with the wireless local area network. The method may effectively protect privacy information for a user of a terminal device, while avoiding a MAC address conflict, such that the user can communicate in a secure network environment.