Local Mobility Management Entity for Degraded Network Registration

Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication networks fail to provide network access services to users under the coverage of a base station with a degraded or limited access link, as existing solutions require pre-configuration of user credentials and cannot handle unknown users, limiting communication services during incidents like natural disasters or attacks.

Innovation Solution

A method for registering mobile terminals via a base station with a local mobility management entity, using a proxy entity to authenticate and authorize users over a degraded link, allowing local communication without prior registration and enabling communication between users and access to essential services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a base station operates with a degraded or limited access link to the core network, then local communication services can be provided to users, but the ability to authenticate and authorize unknown users is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of local communication servicesVSAvoidability to handle unknown users

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring authentication vectors and subscription data in the base station's local memory before the degraded link occurs. This allows the base station to authenticate users and establish local communication services without requiring real-time communication with the core network during incidents like natural disasters or attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station acts as an intermediary by caching authentication vectors and subscription data locally, enabling it to perform authentication and authorization functions independently. This intermediary capability allows unknown users to be authenticated and authorized for local communication services even when the access link to the core network is degraded or limited.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If pre-configuration of user credentials is required for isolated mode operation, then authentication can be performed locally, but the service is limited to pre-defined user groups

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal authentication capabilityVSAvoidservice coverage for unknown users

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring authentication vectors and subscription data in the base station's local memory before the degraded link occurs. This allows the base station to authenticate users and establish local communication services without requiring real-time communication with the core network during incidents like natural disasters or attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station acts as an intermediary by caching authentication vectors and subscription data locally, enabling it to perform authentication and authorization functions independently. This intermediary capability allows unknown users to be authenticated and authorized for local communication services even when the access link to the core network is degraded or limited.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the collection link is significantly degraded in terms of throughput, then network resilience is improved, but the ability to provide network access services to arriving users is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resilienceVSAvoidnetwork access service capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring authentication vectors and subscription data in the base station's local memory before the degraded link occurs. This allows the base station to authenticate users and establish local communication services without requiring real-time communication with the core network during incidents like natural disasters or attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station acts as an intermediary by caching authentication vectors and subscription data locally, enabling it to perform authentication and authorization functions independently. This intermediary capability allows unknown users to be authenticated and authorized for local communication services even when the access link to the core network is degraded or limited.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3440859B1Method of registering a mobile terminal in a mobile communication network

Publication Date: 2022.03.16 ORANGE SA

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AI summary

Method of registering a mobile terminal (UE) in a mobile communication network via a base station (eNB), an access link between the base station and the core of the network being switched from a normal mode of operation to a degraded mode of operation, the method, implemented by a local mobility management entity (L-MME), comprising: - a step (E1) of receiving an attachment request, retransmitted by the base station and originating from the mobile terminal, said request comprising an identifier of the mobile terminal, -a step (E2) of dispatching, to an agent mobility management item (P-MME), a request for security information specific to the mobile terminal, said request comprising the identifier of the mobile terminal, - a step (E11) of receiving a response to the request for security information, said response comprising security information specific to said mobile terminal, said security information originating from a server of subscribers of the network (HSS), - a step (E12) of authenticating said terminal by means of the security information received. (Figure 1)