Messaging Gateway Lawful Interception Data Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Lawful Interception systems lose richer information from original messages when converting them for delivery to recipients with different capabilities, which can be crucial for law enforcement purposes.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a messaging gateway configures as an Intercepting Control Element or Data Retention source, converting and generating interception information data including details from both the original and converted messages, ensuring law enforcement agencies receive comprehensive data without affecting network performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If message conversion is performed to deliver messages to recipients with different capabilities, then message delivery compatibility is improved, but information completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage delivery compatibilityVSAvoidinformation completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the message handling process into two distinct paths: one for message delivery (converted format) and one for lawful interception (original format). The messaging gateway separates the conversion function from the interception function, allowing the original message to be preserved in a buffer while a converted version is sent to the recipient. This segmentation enables both compatibility for the recipient and information completeness for law enforcement agencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The messaging gateway acts as an intermediary between the sender, recipient, and law enforcement agencies. It receives the original message, performs conversion for the recipient, and simultaneously provides access to the original unconverted message for lawful interception purposes. This intermediary role resolves the contradiction by mediating between the need for format conversion and the need to preserve original information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive interception data is generated from both original and converted messages, then law enforcement information quality is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterception data qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The messaging gateway is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a message conversion device and a lawful interception point. It performs routing, format conversion, and simultaneously generates interception data in standardized formats (SMPP, SIP, CDR). This universal device approach improves interception data quality without requiring separate dedicated systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of interception data generation by creating multiple versions of the same message data in different formats (original and converted). The messaging gateway generates both the original message parameters and the converted message parameters, allowing law enforcement agencies to access comprehensive information. This parameter transformation approach enables high-quality interception data while using existing gateway infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If message conversion is performed, then recipient capability compatibility is improved, but original message content is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecipient capability compatibilityVSAvoidoriginal message content
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by preserving the original message content in a buffer or storage mechanism within the messaging gateway before conversion takes place. This preliminary preservation ensures that the original message content is captured and stored, preventing any loss that would occur during the conversion process. The converted message is then generated for the recipient while the original remains intact for interception purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2394408B1Lawful interception and data retention of messages
Publication Date: 2015.07.01 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2394408B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2394408B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2394408B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of configuring a messaging gateway to operate as an Intercepting Control Element or a Data Retention source. The method comprises the steps of receiving, at the messaging gateway, a source message addressed to a recipient and coded in a first format, converting the source message into a destination message, coded in a second format, and generating interception information data including information referred to both the source message and the destination message.