Personal Network Configuration Using Unique Device Names

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in configuring personal networks in mobile radio networks due to the need for private user identities, which are often not readily available and pose security risks when shared among multiple devices, leading to inefficient and insecure network management.

Innovation Solution

Assigning unique names to mobile devices within a personal network, allowing users to configure the network using these names instead of private user identities, which are stored securely on the devices and used only for configuration, eliminating the need for sharing private identities and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If private user identities are used for configuring personal networks, then network configuration can be performed, but security risks increase and user acceptance decreases due to unavailability and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidconfiguration process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a public user identity as an intermediary that mediates between the private user identity (which remains secure and device-bound) and the personal network configuration process. This intermediary allows users to configure networks without exposing or sharing sensitive private identities, thus maintaining security while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a public copy or representation of the user identity that can be safely shared and used for network configuration purposes. This public user identity serves as a functional copy that enables configuration operations without requiring access to the actual private identity, resolving the contradiction between security and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If private user identities are shared among multiple devices, then personal network configuration becomes possible, but security risks and potential misuse increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork configuration capabilityVSAvoidunauthorized access and misuse
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user identity functionality into two distinct parts: a private user identity that remains bound to a single device and cannot be shared, and a public user identity that can be safely shared across multiple devices. This segmentation allows multi-device configuration capability while preventing unauthorized access, as the private identity never leaves its host device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The public user identity acts as an intermediary that enables cross-device configuration capabilities without requiring the private identity to be shared. This intermediary mechanism provides the necessary adaptability for personal networks while eliminating the security risk of private identity exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If unique names are assigned to mobile devices, then user acceptance and ease of configuration improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser acceptanceVSAvoididentity management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The public user identity serves multiple functions: it acts as a unique identifier for devices in the personal network, enables configuration operations, and provides user-friendly naming capabilities. This universal identifier consolidates what would otherwise require separate complexity mechanisms, improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2056631B1Method for configuring a personal network in a mobile wireless network
Publication Date: 2015.01.28 VODAFONE HOLDING GMBH
  • EP2056631B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2056631B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2056631B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for configuring a personal network (40) consisting of at least two mobile terminal devices (24, 26, 28), each with a private user identity (32, 34, 36) and at least one public user identity (38) shared by the mobile terminal devices (24, 26, 28) in an IMS domain (14) of a public mobile network (10). After providing an application server (42) in the IMS domain (14) for the personal network (40), the private user identities (32, 34, 36) and at least one public user identity (38) shared by the mobile terminal devices (24, 26, 28) are registered and stored. Then, a unique name (106) is assigned to each mobile terminal device (24, 26, 28) with the same shared public user identity (38) in the application server (42).Subsequently, a configuration (100) of the personal network (42) is carried out by a user (22) using the unique names (106) of the respective mobile terminals (24, 26, 28) instead of the private user identities (32, 34, 36) of the mobile terminals (24, 26, 28).