Emergency PDN for SUPL Positioning Without SIM Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in rapidly determining the location of communication devices during emergency situations, particularly when they lack a valid Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) or Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for authentication, as they cannot establish secure connections with position assistance servers to provide SUPL messages.
Innovation Solution
A modem with an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) stack is configured to establish an emergency packet data network (PDN) for secure SUPL message transmission to a position assistance server, independent of UICC or SIM card authentication, using an IMS stack to activate an emergency PDN and facilitate SUPL communication sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a communication device uses standard authentication protocols requiring UICC or SIM card for network access, then network security and authentication are ensured, but emergency positioning services cannot be provided to devices without valid authentication credentials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an emergency positioning server as an intermediary that mediates between the communication device and the position assistance server. This intermediary enables authenticated communication for emergency positioning by handling the authentication process separately from standard network access, allowing devices without valid UICC/SIM cards to receive positioning assistance data during emergency calls
2Measurement precision
If a device establishes a secure connection with a position assistance server during emergency calls, then accurate location determination is achieved, but the time required to establish the connection and determine location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the emergency PDN connection and pre-configuring the SUPL socket infrastructure before the emergency call is initiated. The modem is pre-configured with emergency positioning parameters and the connection framework is ready, allowing rapid establishment of secure SUPL sessions once an emergency call is detected, significantly reducing the time-to-first-fix
3Adaptability or versatility
If the modem establishes an emergency PDN connection independent of UICC/SIM authentication, then emergency positioning services become accessible to all devices, but standard network authentication security protocols are bypassed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the emergency positioning data channel from the standard network authentication channel. The emergency PDN creates a dedicated, isolated data connection for SUPL messaging that operates independently from the voice call authentication mechanism. This segmentation allows emergency positioning traffic to flow through a separate authenticated pathway that does not require traditional UICC/SIM validation, while standard network security protocols remain intact for other services
Data Source
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AI summary
In a modem and a communication method, an emergency packet data network (PDN) is established by an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) stack during Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Emergency Call. A secure connection can be established with a position assistance server based on the emergency PDN using a secure user plane location (SUPL) socket. Further, SUPL messages can be exchanged with the position assistance server (e.g., a SUPL Server) via the secure connection using the SUPL socket.