Random Access Contention Resolution Using Hashed UE Identity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing contention based random access procedures in 4G and 5G networks are vulnerable to fraud and resource misuse due to malicious UEs intercepting and mimicking the UE contention resolution identity, leading to unresolved contention and resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a hash-based approach where the base station calculates a defined part of the hash value of the UE contention resolution identity and includes it in the contention resolution message, while the mobile terminal verifies the identity using the same hash algorithm, ensuring a secure and reliable contention resolution process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the base station echoes the UE contention resolution identity in the contention resolution message, then the mobile terminal can verify successful contention resolution, but malicious UEs can intercept and mimic the identity leading to fraud and resource misuse

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontention resolution verificationVSAvoidfraud and resource misuse
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the contention resolution identity from a directly echoed value to a hashed value. The base station calculates a hash of the UE contention resolution identity and includes only the defined part of the hash value in the contention resolution message. This parameter transformation ensures that while legitimate UEs can verify contention resolution by comparing their own hash with the received hash, malicious UEs cannot reverse-engineer the original identity or forge valid hash values, thus preventing fraud and resource misuse while maintaining verification reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hash function as an intermediary between the UE contention resolution identity and the contention resolution message. Instead of directly transmitting the identity, the system uses the hash function to transform it into a defined part of the hash value. This intermediary mechanism allows verification of contention resolution while preventing malicious UEs from intercepting and mimicking identities, as the hash function provides one-way transformation that protects the original identity information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4040910B1Contention based random access procedure for mobile communications
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP4040910B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4040910B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4040910B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to a contention resolution message for transmission from a base station (eNodeB, gNodeB) to a mobile terminal (UE_A) in a contention based random access procedure, wherein the contention resolution message (305) is setup in response to receiving a first scheduled transmission message (303) of the mobile terminal (UE_A) and comprises a defined part of a hash value of a mobile terminal contention resolution identity. The present invention also refers to a respective base station, a respective mobile terminal and a respective contention based random access procedure.