Network Mediation Device POI Identification via Intercepted Data Labeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lawful interception systems face challenges in reliably informing law enforcement monitoring facilities about the identity of the point of interception (POI) that intercepted data, as the POI may not always send its identifier.

Innovation Solution

A network mediation device is equipped to determine the identity of the POI based on network topology information and label the intercepted data with a header field that identifies the POI, ensuring reliable identification even if the POI does not send its identifier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the POI sends its identifier to the network mediation device, then the law enforcement monitoring facility can identify the POI, but the POI may not always send its identifier making the identification unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePOI identification reliabilityVSAvoidPOI identifier information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network mediation device acts as an intermediary that receives data from the POI and adds POI identification information to the data before forwarding it to the law enforcement monitoring facility. This mediator approach ensures that even if the POI does not send its identifier, the network mediation device can still provide accurate POI identification through the added header field.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The network mediation device performs preliminary action by proactively adding the POI identification header field to the intercepted data before forwarding it to the law enforcement monitoring facility. This preliminary addition of identification information ensures that the POI is reliably identified regardless of whether the POI itself sends its identifier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the POI identifier is made optional and only supported for certain services, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to reliably inform law enforcement about POI identity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePOI identifier support complexityVSAvoidPOI identity information delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network mediation device implements a universal solution that works for all services and POIs regardless of whether they support identifier sending. By adding the POI identification capability to the network mediation device's standard operation, the system achieves universal POI identification across all services without requiring each POI to have identifier support.

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

3Reliability

If the network mediation device determines POI identity based on network topology information and labels data accordingly, then POI identification reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePOI identification accuracyVSAvoidnetwork mediation device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network mediation device performs self-service by automatically determining POI identity from network topology information and adding the appropriate identification header to intercepted data. This self-service capability allows the device to autonomously provide accurate POI identification without requiring external intervention or complex manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4466825B1Sending labeled data over a handover interface
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4466825B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4466825B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4466825B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A network mediation device (22) receives data (18) intercepted at a point of interception (20) in the communication network (10) as part of a lawful interception service. The network mediation device (22) labels the data (18) with a field (24) that has a value set to identify the point of interception (20) at which the data (18) was intercepted. The network mediation device (22) in this regard determines the value to which to set the field (24) based on information (28) stored in the network mediation device (22) indicating different values to which to respectively set the field (24) for different possible points of interception in the communication network (10). The network mediation device (22) sends the labeled data (18L) over a handover interface (26) from the network mediation device (22) towards a law enforcement monitoring facility (16).