Meshed Network Terminal Attachment via Category Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Professional Mobile Radiocommunications (PMR) networks, based on TETRA or TETRAPOL technologies, face challenges in ensuring secure and confidential data transmission due to the limitations of load-balancing methods in high-speed public telecommunications networks, which compromise the security of data packets for public safety organizations.

Innovation Solution

A method for attaching user terminals to a packet network via a meshed radio communication infrastructure, where user terminals are securely managed by category through a dedicated packet network, using a unique user identification code that includes organization, service area, and user identifiers, ensuring secure data transmission across a large service area covered by the meshed network infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If load-balancing method is used to transfer data packets between network user terminals, then network load is distributed across different logical nodes, but data confidentiality is compromised for public safety organizations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork load distributionVSAvoiddata confidentiality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into multiple logical packet networks (11a-11c, 12a-12c) dedicated to specific categories of users (police, fire services, etc.). Each user terminal is assigned to a specific logical packet network based on its category, ensuring that data packets from the same organization are routed through the same network infrastructure rather than being distributed across multiple nodes. This segmentation maintains confidentiality while still allowing load distribution across different organizational networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different logical packet networks are assigned different security and confidentiality characteristics based on the category of users they serve. Each packet network is tailored to the specific needs of its user category, with appropriate security measures in place. This allows each local network to maintain the confidentiality required by its specific user group while the overall system handles load distribution across multiple specialized networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If user terminals are attached to packet networks without category-based management, then network infrastructure can be shared, but security and confidentiality cannot be ensured for specific organizations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork sharingVSAvoidorganizational security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The packet network infrastructure is segmented into multiple logical packet networks, each dedicated to a specific category of users (e.g., police, fire services). User terminals are attached to the appropriate logical packet network based on their organizational category, as determined by their identification codes. This allows the physical infrastructure to be shared while maintaining logical separation that ensures organizational security and confidentiality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The meshed network infrastructure acts as an intermediary that manages the attachment of user terminals to appropriate logical packet networks. The infrastructure uses user identification codes to determine which logical packet network a terminal should access, thereby mediating between the need for shared infrastructure and the requirement for organizational security. This intermediary function ensures that terminals are correctly routed to their designated networks without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If traditional PMR networks are used, then secure communication is maintained, but bandwidth and transmission speed are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidtransmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the security features of traditional PMR networks with the high-speed capabilities of modern packet networks. The meshed network infrastructure provides universal access to multiple logical packet networks, allowing terminals to benefit from both the security model of traditional systems and the performance of modern high-speed networks. This multi-functional approach enables secure communication at high transmission speeds.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the network parameters by transitioning from narrow-band traditional PMR networks to broadband packet networks while maintaining security through category-based logical segmentation. By changing the physical layer parameters (bandwidth, speed) while maintaining the logical layer security structure, the system achieves both high transmission speed and secure communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Area of stationary object

If user terminals move geographically within the service area, then network coverage is maintained, but maintaining attachment to the host packet network becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice area coverageVSAvoidattachment management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

User terminals automatically maintain attachment to their host packet network through the meshed infrastructure without requiring manual reconfiguration. The terminal's identification code contains category information that the meshed network uses to automatically route the terminal to the appropriate logical packet network regardless of geographic location. This self-service mechanism simplifies attachment management while maintaining coverage across the entire service area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The meshed network infrastructure acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of geographic routing automatically. When a terminal moves within the service area, the meshed infrastructure mediates the attachment process by using the terminal's identification code to determine the appropriate host packet network, eliminating the need for complex manual attachment management and ensuring continuous connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2666273B1Method for attaching a user terminal to a packet network
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE SAS
  • EP2666273B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (100) for attaching a user terminal to a packet network via a meshed radiocommunications network infrastructure (1). Said method (100) particularly comprises a step (104) of selecting a host packet network (12a) dedicated to at least a category of users to which a user terminal (2) belongs based on a second user identification code of the meshed network and/or access information pertaining to rights for attachment of user terminals to at least one packet network. The invention finds an application in all types of infrastructure of meshed radiocommunications networks and finds a particularly interesting application in the case of PMR type professional radiocommunications networks.