Mobile Radio Network Access Control via Virtual Cell Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing mobile communication in restricted areas, such as prisons, often disrupt legitimate communications and cannot selectively allow only authorized users to access mobile networks, causing interference with both unauthorized and permitted communications.

Innovation Solution

A cellular mobile radio network system with multiple radio cells that compares subscriber identities against a list of approved identities, using unique mobile network codes and access classes to enable or block service, ensuring only authorized users can communicate within the designated area without affecting external networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If jammers are used to disrupt mobile communication frequencies in restricted areas, then unauthorized mobile communication is prevented, but legitimate mobile communication by authorized users and third parties is also interfered with or prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized mobile communicationVSAvoidinterference with legitimate communication
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the mobile communication service by creating separate virtual radio cells for different user groups. Authorized users are assigned to specific virtual cells with appropriate access rights, while unauthorized users are blocked. This segmentation allows differential access control without blanket jamming, thus preventing unauthorized communication while preserving legitimate communication channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary access management layer between the mobile terminals and the physical radio infrastructure. This intermediary layer (the virtual cell management system) intercepts and evaluates subscriber identities, making authorization decisions before allowing access to the physical communication channels. This mediator enables selective blocking of unauthorized users while permitting authorized users to communicate freely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If IMSI catchers are deployed to block unauthorized terminals in restricted areas, then unauthorized communication is prevented, but communication by authorized users and third parties in the same area is also affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized mobile communicationVSAvoidaccess to mobile communication for authorized users
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the user population into authorized and unauthorized groups by creating separate virtual radio cells. Each virtual cell is configured with specific access control parameters that allow only designated user groups to access particular cells. This segmentation enables precise control where unauthorized users are blocked from all virtual cells, while authorized users can access their designated cells without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different access control qualities to different virtual cells and user groups. Each virtual radio cell has customized access parameters tailored to the specific authorization requirements of that area or user group. This local quality approach ensures that blocking actions are localized to specific unauthorized users or areas, rather than affecting all communication in the geographic region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a virtual radio cell is created to block specific subscriber identities, then unauthorized use is prevented, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized subscriber accessVSAvoidmobile radio system infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal virtual cell management framework that can handle multiple authorization scenarios through a single infrastructure. The access management system evaluates subscriber identities against stored lists of approved identities and applies blocking or permitting actions based on match results. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate jamming devices, IMSI catchers, and blocking systems into a unified virtual cell management platform.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2294775B1Special mobile radio telephone supply with inherent access management and blocking function
Publication Date: 2018.02.14 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP2294775B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2294775B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2294775B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cellular mobile radio telephone system and to a method for operating a cellular mobile radio network, in which mobile radio terminals can be checked in order to use the services of the mobile radio network. According to the invention, each mobile radio terminal that is checked into the mobile radio network can be uniquely identified by a subscriber identity, the subscriber identity of a checked-in mobile radio terminal is compared with a list of released subscriber identities and if there is a match, the use of services of the mobile radio network is released. If no match is found for the subscriber identity on the list of released subscriber identities, the use of the services of this mobile radio network is blocked and/or a general block is placed on the use of all mobile radio networks for said mobile radio terminal.