Mobile Equipment Location and Authentication via Short-Range Radio

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for locating and authenticating mobile equipment in a domestic area, such as those using cellular radiotelephone networks or GPS, lack precision, especially in urban environments like multi-story buildings, and are costly or impractical to implement effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing short-range radio technology, like Bluetooth, to locate and authenticate mobile equipment by combining GSM cellular network infrastructure with a wired or cable network, using a SIM card and interactive server to verify identities and authorize access to privileged services, ensuring accurate location and authentication within a domestic zone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional cellular radiotelephone network location methods are used, then the system is simple and成本低, but the location precision is insufficient to differentiate users on different floors or in the same building

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the location verification process into multiple layers: first using cellular network cell identification for coarse location, then using Wi-Fi access point detection for finer granularity, and finally using Bluetooth device detection for the most precise indoor location. This segmented approach achieves high precision without requiring a single complex system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate verification devices (Wi-Fi access points and Bluetooth devices) that act as mediators between the mobile terminal and the cellular network. These intermediaries provide additional location information that refines the precision without requiring direct modification of the cellular network infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If GPS equipment is added to the mobile terminal, then location precision improves, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the mobile terminal itself multi-functional by equipping it with both cellular communication capabilities and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth short-range communication capabilities. This allows the device to perform both telephony and precise location authentication functions without adding separate dedicated hardware systems

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

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal uses its own built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules to perform location authentication, rather than relying on external GPS equipment or infrastructure. The device serves its own location determination needs using resources already present in the terminal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If radio relays are installed at user locations to improve precision, then location accuracy improves, but the implementation becomes impracticable and very expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation precisionVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of installing infrastructure (radio relays) at user locations, the patent inverts the approach by having users carry the detection capability in their mobile terminals. The terminal actively detects Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals from the environment, reversing who needs to be equipped with special hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses existing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth infrastructure that is already deployed in buildings and homes, rather than installing new specialized radio relay equipment. By copying and utilizing these existing communication systems for location authentication, the solution avoids the cost and complexity of new infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Measurement precision

If short-range radio technology is used for location and authentication, then location precision and authentication accuracy improve, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cellular network authentication process with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth detection processes into a unified location verification system. The mobile terminal simultaneously uses all three communication technologies, and the network integrates their information to achieve precise location authentication without requiring separate independent systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1799007B1Method and system for locating and authenticating a mobile equipment in a domestic area
Publication Date: 2012.02.08 SOC FR DU RADIOTELEPHONE SFR
  • EP1799007B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1799007B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The device has a cellular radiotelephonic communication terminal (11) with a radio module using a Bluetooth type short range technology for performing wireless communication with a communication terminal (5) e.g. fixed telephone, in a preset domestic zone (14) e.g. apartment. The communication terminal (5) has a radio module using the technology. The terminal (5) has an interface detecting the presence of short range transmission of the terminal (11) and a request unit for verifying if the terminal (11) is authorized to establish a communication by a public switched telephone network. An independent claim is also included for a method of locating and authenticating a mobile equipment in a predetermined domestic zone.