Location Server Intermediary for OTT Geographic Data Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
OTT service providers lack the ability to retrieve accurate geographic location information of communication devices, especially in emergency situations where timely and precise location data is crucial, due to the anonymization of IP addresses and lack of awareness of location servers in communication networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and arrangement that enables an OTT service providing node to retrieve geographic location information by using a second location server to determine the first location server storing this information, through identifiers and communication modules, and sending the retrieved data to an Operator Location Service node for forwarding to the OTT service provider.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IP addresses are anonymized through NAT nodes to protect user privacy and enable flexible network architecture, then network security and flexibility are improved, but the ability to retrieve geographic location information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces location servers as intermediary components that mediate between the anonymized network layer and the location information requirement. The location server receives anonymized traffic flow identifiers from the OTT service provider, queries the demarcation node for the corresponding real IP address, and retrieves geographic location information without exposing the OTT service provider to actual IP addresses, thus maintaining both privacy and location accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the location retrieval function into separate components: the demarcation node maintains the mapping between anonymized identifiers and real IP addresses, while the location server handles the actual location information retrieval. This segmentation allows the OTT service provider to remain unaware of IP addresses while still obtaining location data through the coordinated interaction of these segmented components
2Device complexity
If OTT service providers do not have access to real IP addresses to maintain network architecture simplicity, then system complexity is reduced, but location retrieval capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The location server acts as an intermediary that the OTT service provider interacts with using simplified identifiers rather than real IP addresses. The intermediary translates these simplified identifiers into location information through backend coordination with the demarcation node, maintaining system simplicity for the OTT provider while enabling location retrieval
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses traffic flow identifiers as copies or proxies for real IP addresses. These identifiers contain sufficient information to route location requests through the demarcation node to the correct host without requiring the OTT service provider to handle actual IP addresses, thus reducing complexity while preserving location retrieval capability
3Measurement precision
If location information is retrieved through multiple server hops to preserve privacy, then accuracy is improved, but retrieval time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The demarcation node pre-establishes and maintains mappings between traffic flow identifiers and real IP addresses. When a location request arrives, the identifier is already resolved to the correct host, eliminating the need for time-consuming reverse DNS lookups or multiple sequential queries, thus reducing retrieval time while maintaining accurate location data
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods in location servers. A second location server is arranged to obtain geographic location of a communication device which performs an OTT (Over The Top) service and is connected via a demarcation node of an organisation. An identifier of a first location server is received 500 together with information regarding which communication devices 208, 208m that the first location server 270 stores geographic location information for. A location request is received from an OLS (Operator Location Service node 202 for requesting the geographic location information of the communication device 208, 208m. The location request originates from the OTT service providing node 200 and comprises an identifier of the communication device 208, 208m. The first location server 270 is determined 504 by utilising the received identifier of the communication device 208, 208m and the received identifier of a first location server 270. The geographic location information of the communication device 208, 208m is obtained 506 from the determined first location server 270 by utilising the received identifier of the first location server 270. The retrieved geographic location information of the communication device 208, 208m is sent 508 to the OLS node 202, such that the OLS node 202 can forward the received geographic location information to the OTT service providing node 200. By implementing functionality in a second location server to receive an identifier of a first location server, and information of which communication devices that are connected to a demarcation node, the second location server is enabled to obtain the geographic location information of the communication devices and present to an OTT service providing node. Thereby the OTT service providing node may fast retrieve accurate geographic location information of communication devices from appropriate location servers.