MDT Report Routing via TCE Identifier Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) technologies face security risks due to direct configuration of Trace Control Entity (TCE) IP addresses to User Equipment (UE), which can lead to safety hazards if intercepted, and increase network complexity by requiring the eNB or RNC to locally search for TCE IP addresses.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where access network equipment receives an MDT report with a TCE identifier, obtains the corresponding TCE address through a mapping relationship or algorithm, and sends the report to the TCE, thereby avoiding the transmission of actual TCE IP addresses to the UE, enhancing security and simplifying network signaling interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the TCE IP address is directly configured to the UE, then the UE can report MDT data to the correct TCE, but security risks increase and network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMDT data reporting accuracyVSAvoidsecurity risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism where the UE is configured with a TCE identifier (not the actual IP address), and the eNB/RNC acts as the mediator that translates this identifier to the real TCE address. This intermediary layer protects the actual TCE IP address from being exposed to the UE, thereby eliminating security risks while maintaining accurate data routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a TCE identifier as a simplified copy or representation of the actual TCE IP address. Instead of transmitting the real address, a surrogate identifier is used that contains sufficient information for the network to route data correctly, reducing security exposure while preserving functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If the TCE IP address is directly configured to the UE, then the UE can report MDT data to the correct TCE, but network complexity increases due to local search requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMDT data reporting accuracyVSAvoidnetwork complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mapping mechanism serves as an intermediary that simplifies the network architecture. Instead of requiring eNB/RNC to perform complex local searches for TCE IP addresses, the system establishes a pre-configured mapping relationship between TCE identifiers and addresses, reducing the computational burden and simplifying the data flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the TCE IP address is not transmitted to the UE, then security is improved, but the UE cannot directly identify the TCE for data reporting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity risksVSAvoidTCE identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a TCE identifier as a functional copy that enables the UE to identify and report data to the correct TCE without exposing the actual IP address. This identifier contains enough information for proper routing while maintaining security, effectively decoupling identification functionality from address exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2966894B1Computer readable storage medium comprising programs for minimization of drive tests
Publication Date: 2019.05.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2966894B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2966894B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2966894B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention discloses a computer readable medium comprising programs for minimization of drive tests, and relates to the field of communications technologies. The programs when run on a computer effect the steps of a method which includes: receiving, by an access network equipment, a minimization of drive tests MDT report reported by a user equipment, wherein the MDT report includes a trace control entity TCE identifier; obtaining, by the access network equipment, a TCE address corresponding to the TCE identifier according to a mapping relationship between the TCE address and the TCE identifier or a mapping algorithm between the TCE addresses and the TCE identifier; and sending, by the access network equipment, the MDT report to a TCE corresponding to the TCE address. Through the present invention, during MDT measurement, it is unnecessary to send an actual TCE network address to the user equipment, which improves security and solves the insecurity problem of the MDT measurement. The present invention is simple, convenient and easy to implement, and reduces the complexity of network signaling interaction and network processing.