GPRS Subscriber Record Correlation Across Network Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult to monitor and track related GPRS packets as they are communicated on different interfaces between various network nodes due to varying parameters, necessitating a system to correlate packets across multiple interfaces into a single subscriber record.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of monitoring probes across GPRS interfaces captures signaling units and data packets, correlating parameters such as IMSI, TLLI, NodeId, PTMSI, and authentication keys from different interfaces to create and update subscriber records, allowing for the decryption of encrypted messages and filtering by subscriber identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If monitoring probes capture messages from multiple GPRS interfaces, then comprehensive subscriber information is obtained, but the complexity of correlating and processing messages from different interfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex task of multi-interface message correlation by creating separate monitoring probes for each GPRS interface (Gb, Gr, Gn, Gp, Gi). Each probe independently captures and processes messages from its specific interface, then results are aggregated in a database. This division reduces the complexity of any single processing unit while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary correlation database that serves as a mediator between multiple interface monitors. This database collects subscriber information from different interfaces and enables cross-interface correlation through a unified access point. The intermediary database simplifies the correlation process by providing a centralized location where all interface data converges for analysis.
2Reliability
If all GPRS interface messages are captured and correlated, then complete subscriber tracking is achieved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-filtering and pre-processing messages at each interface monitor before they reach the central database. Each probe identifies and extracts only the relevant subscriber information parameters from raw messages, performing initial correlation checks locally. This preliminary processing reduces the volume of data requiring comprehensive analysis and speeds up overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms raw message data into standardized subscriber record parameters with consistent formatting and structure. By converting diverse interface-specific message formats into a unified parameter schema (including subscriber identity, location, service usage), the system enables faster processing and comparison operations while maintaining complete tracking information.
3Loss of information
If encrypted messages are decrypted using captured authentication keys, then message content becomes readable, but the security risk and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service by capturing authentication keys from legitimate network signaling messages and using them to decrypt corresponding encrypted subscriber messages. The decryption capability is embedded within the monitoring system itself, allowing it to autonomously process encrypted traffic without requiring external decryption services or manual key management.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed with multi-functionality, combining message capture, correlation, and decryption capabilities in a single integrated platform. The same infrastructure that collects subscriber information also handles decryption operations, eliminating the need for separate decryption systems and reducing overall system complexity despite the added cryptographic functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for subscriber tracking and creating subscriber records in a GPRS network is disclosed. First subscriber records are created using information from first data packets captured from a first GPRS network interface. The first subscriber record is compared with information in second data packets captured from a second GPRS network interface. If the second data packets are associated with the first subscriber record, then information from the second data packets is added to the first subscriber record. If the second data packets are not associated with the first subscriber record, then a second subscriber record is created using information in the second data packets.