Group Membership Authentication System for Network Usage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communications networks face challenges in authenticating group membership and allocating network usage fairly, especially when network services are sponsored by parties outside the group, leading to uncertainties about message delivery to intended group members.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects subscription data to verify group membership by accessing remotely accessible information sources using identification data, and modifies messages based on sender and recipient group membership, allocating network usage and charging accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If group membership authentication is performed by accessing remotely accessible information sources, then authentication accuracy is improved, but system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication of group membership before message delivery by accessing remotely accessible information sources. This advance verification ensures that only authenticated group members receive sponsored messages, resolving the contradiction by establishing authentication accuracy upfront while managing system complexity through structured information source access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that mediates between the messaging system and group membership verification. This intermediary layer accesses remotely accessible information sources to verify group membership, improving authentication accuracy while isolating the complexity of remote information access from the core messaging functionality.
2Measurement precision
If network usage is allocated based on verified group membership, then cost allocation accuracy is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of group membership and pre-allocates network usage rights before message transmission. This advance preparation ensures accurate cost allocation by establishing verified group membership status upfront, reducing processing time during actual message delivery while maintaining cost allocation accuracy.
3Reliability
If remote information sources are accessed to verify group membership, then authentication reliability is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes existing remotely accessible information sources that already contain group membership data. By leveraging these pre-existing information sources rather than creating new authentication infrastructure, the system improves authentication reliability while minimizing additional network resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for collecting subscription data for subscribers in a telecommunications system for use in metering usage of network resources includes a data storage device operatively arranged to store subscriber records, and a data processor. The subscriber records include a plurality of fields including a group field for storing data indicative of group membership of a subscriber. The data processor is operatively arranged to request access to a remotely accessible information source on the basis of identification data. Responsive to receipt of a response from the remotely accessible information source, the data processor performs a first storage action in respect of a response of a first type and performs a second storage action in respect of a response of a second type. Responsive to receipt of group membership data from the subscriber, the data processor is operatively arranged to identify a remotely accessible information source corresponding to the group and to request access thereto on the basis of identification data associated with the received group membership data. Also, responsive to a response of the first type received from the remotely accessible information source, the data processor is operatively arranged to update the group field in the subscriber record so as to indicate authenticated membership of the group identified in the received group membership data.