Rotating Network Identifier for Anonymous Data Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications networks face challenges in securely and anonymously transmitting data between subscriber client devices and server entities, particularly in providing enhanced usability and reducing the need for user authentication across public networks.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an intermediate network device and a data broker within the service provider network, which uses a rotating network identifier and mapping to securely communicate data from the service provider network to server devices, enabling anonymous and secure data exchange without disclosing private information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional telecommunications networks transmit data directly between subscriber client devices and server entities, then data transmission is simple and direct, but user authentication is required and privacy is compromised due to tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate network device positioned between subscriber client devices and server entities. This intermediary modifies network requests by inserting rotating network identifiers and configuring data brokers, enabling anonymous data transmission without direct exposure of subscriber information to external servers while maintaining network operation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network architecture is segmented into distinct functional components: subscriber client devices, intermediate network devices, data brokers, and server entities. This segmentation allows each component to perform specialized functions (authentication, identifier rotation, data brokering, content delivery) independently, improving security through isolation while managing complexity through modular design.
2Ease of operation
If user authentication is required for data transmission, then network security is maintained, but usability is reduced due to frequent authentication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate network device acts as a mediator that handles authentication and identifier management, allowing subscribers to access services without repeated authentication at each server. The device rotates network identifiers to maintain security while enabling seamless user experience, and configures data brokers to provide authenticated data to servers without user involvement.
3Reliability
If network identifiers are static and directly identify subscribers, then data transmission is straightforward, but subscribers are vulnerable to malicious tracking and privacy breaches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network identifiers that rotate between different values for the same subscriber. The intermediate network device manages this rotation, selecting different identifiers from available pools and updating them periodically or per session. This dynamic approach prevents tracking while the system manages complexity through automated identifier selection and validation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The network identifier parameter is changed from static to rotating values. The intermediate network device controls this parameter change by selecting identifiers from available pools, ensuring each identifier is valid and not currently in use. This parameter transformation maintains compatibility with existing network infrastructure while providing privacy protection through identifier variability.
4Reliability
If data brokers are configured with mappings between network identifiers and subscriber data, then secure data provision is enabled, but the system becomes more complex and vulnerable to attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate network device performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring data brokers with mappings between rotating network identifiers and subscriber data before external servers need this information. This preliminary configuration enables servers to receive authenticated data without direct access to subscriber databases, reducing vulnerability to attacks while ensuring data availability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The data broker acts as an intermediary between the intermediate network device and external servers. It holds the mapping information securely and provides authenticated data to servers based on rotating network identifiers in requests. This intermediary layer protects subscriber data from direct exposure to external servers, reducing attack surface while enabling secure data provision for personalized services.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain examples described herein make use of an intermediate network device (110) in a service provider network (104) to enable the modification of network requests to provide enhanced functionality. These examples use a rotating network identifier that is inserted into a network request that is receivable by a server device (108) located outside of the service provider network (104). An association between the network identifier and data originating from the service provider network may be effected via a mapping that exists for the predefined time period. In certain examples, a data broker (114) is introduced within the telecommunications network (100). The data broker (114) may be configured based on the aforementioned mapping between the network identifier and data originating from the service provider network. The data broker is adapted to use the mapping to provide data to the server device (108). This may be considered network identification as a service as the data broker (114) is configured to supply data originating from within the service provider network as a computing service to the server device (108).