Terminal Identifier Mapping for Secure Sidelink Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in determining the relative distance and direction between user equipments (UEs) due to the inability of core network functions to map unique identifiers, leading to incomplete ranging and sidelink positioning services, especially in scenarios requiring security and privacy protection.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that involve network equipment exchanging terminal identifiers through requests and responses to enable ranging and sidelink positioning services, utilizing a gateway mobile location center to obtain and send recognizable terminal identifiers to corresponding network elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If core network functions use unique identifiers for terminal recognition, then security and privacy protection is improved, but service completeness deteriorates due to inability to map identifiers between network elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity and privacy protectionVSAvoidservice completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway mobile location center as an intermediary component that maintains mapping relationships between different terminal identifiers (first identifier and second identifier). This mediator enables network elements to recognize terminals through appropriate identifier mapping without exposing unique identifiers, thus preserving security and privacy while ensuring service completeness across different network functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If network elements directly exchange terminal identifiers, then service provision speed is improved, but system security deteriorates due to exposure of unique identifiers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice provision speedVSAvoididentifier exposure risk
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the identifier system into two distinct parts: a first terminal identifier used for security-sensitive operations and a second terminal identifier used for service provisioning. This segmentation allows fast service provision using the second identifier while the first identifier remains protected and is not exposed during service exchanges, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If a centralized identifier mapping system is implemented, then identifier recognition accuracy is improved, but network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentifier recognition accuracyVSAvoidnetwork structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway mobile location center is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a location management entity and an identifier mapping repository. By consolidating these functions in a single network element, the system achieves accurate identifier recognition without proportionally increasing overall network complexity, as the same entity performs multiple related tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4697760A1Location service acquisition method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4697760A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
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  • EP4697760A1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

Embodiments of the present application disclose a location service acquisition method and apparatus. The method comprises: sending a second request to a second network device on the basis of a received first request, wherein the first request comprises a first identifier of at least one terminal device, the second request is used for requesting the second network device to provide a second identifier corresponding to the first identifier of each terminal device in the at least one terminal device, and the second identifier corresponds to the first identifier; receiving the second identifier of the at least one terminal device sent by the second network device; and sending the second identifier of the at least one terminal device to a third network device and/or a fourth network device, wherein the second identifier of the at least one terminal device is used by the third network device and/or the fourth network device to provide a ranging or sidelink positioning service. It can be ensured that a gateway mobile location center can obtain an identifier of a terminal device that can be identified by a network element function, and send the identifier to a corresponding network element function to provide a ranging or sidelink positioning service.