Location Service Role Specification for Roaming Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
In location service systems, the ambiguity in role assignment between location servers during roaming scenarios can lead to security lapses and incorrect location information processing, as servers may incorrectly assume roles without clear instructions, resulting in bypassed privacy checks and unnecessary errors.
Innovation Solution
A method where the requesting location service entity explicitly informs the receiving location service entity of its expected role, ensuring that the entity processes the request only if it can fulfill that role, thereby preventing incorrect assumptions and ensuring proper role execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If location servers autonomously determine their roles during roaming scenarios, then the system operates with flexibility and autonomy, but security lapses and incorrect location information processing occur due to ambiguous role assignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the requesting location server explicitly specify the expected role of the receiving location server in advance, before the receiving server processes the location request. This is achieved by including a 'requested node role' indicator in the location request message, which tells the receiving server what role it should perform (e.g., home location server, visited location server, or serving mobile location center). This pre-specification eliminates ambiguous autonomous role determination and ensures security and correctness by preventing receiving servers from incorrectly assuming roles they are not equipped to handle.
2Device complexity
If location servers make assumptions about their roles without clear instructions, then the system can operate without explicit role specification, but privacy checks are bypassed and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a verification mechanism where the receiving location server checks whether it can actually perform the role specified in the request. The receiving server compares its capabilities with the 'requested node role' indicator and provides feedback by either accepting the request (if it can fulfill the role) or rejecting it (if it cannot). This feedback loop ensures that privacy checks are not bypassed and that location processing is performed only by servers with appropriate authorization and capability, thereby maintaining reliability without adding significant complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows roaming between location servers with flexible role assignment, then location services can be provided across different networks, but incorrect role execution leads to processing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by specifying the expected role in advance within the roaming request itself. When a location request is forwarded between networks during roaming, the requesting server includes the 'requested node role' indicator that precisely defines what role the receiving server should perform. This pre-specification maintains the adaptability and versatility of roaming operations while ensuring manufacturing precision in location processing, as each receiving server knows exactly what role it is expected to fulfill and can verify its capability to do so before processing the request.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method provides information associated with a location of a target user in a location service arrangement including a plurality of location service entities. The method includes the steps of sending a request for information associated with a location of a target user from a first location service entity to a second location service entity. The method includes the step of informing the second location service entity of a role performed by the second location service entity when processing the request. The method also includes the step of processing the request at the second location service entity.