SEAL Location Verification for Trusted User Equipment Position Checks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing user equipment lacks the capability to directly verify the actual location or position, as it relies on potentially unreliable location data provided by the operating system or global navigation satellite system, which can be spoofed or incorrect, necessitating a method to confirm the accuracy of the user equipment's location for various applications.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a service enabler architecture layer for verticals (SEAL) with a location management server to verify the actual location of user equipment by transmitting confirm location requests and receiving confirm location responses, ensuring accurate location data is provided to confirm location data consumer entities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If user equipment relies on location data provided by the operating system or global navigation satellite system, then the device can obtain location information, but the location data may be spoofed or incorrect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidlocation data trustworthiness
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a location management server as an intermediary between the user equipment and the location verification process. The server receives location data from the user equipment, verifies it against network-based location information, and provides confirmation to the application. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by adding a trusted verification layer that doesn't compromise the user equipment's ability to obtain location data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the location management server sends location check results back to the application layer. The server compares the user equipment's self-reported location with network-derived location data and provides verification feedback. This feedback loop enables the application to trust location data only when confirmed by the server, resolving the reliability issue while preserving measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the user equipment provides location data directly to applications, then the process is simple and fast, but there is no verification of the actual location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation service efficiencyVSAvoidlocation verification
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The location management server performs preliminary verification of location data before it is used by applications. The server proactively checks the authenticity of location information received from user equipment against network-based location sources, and only then provides confirmed location data to applications. This preliminary action ensures reliability without significantly impacting productivity, as the verification happens in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a location management server as an intermediary between the user equipment and the location verification process. The server receives location data from the user equipment, verifies it against network-based location information, and provides confirmation to the application. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by adding a trusted verification layer that doesn't compromise the user equipment's ability to obtain location data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a location verification system is implemented using the service enabler architecture layer, then location accuracy can be confirmed, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation confirmation accuracyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The location management server is designed as a universal component within the existing service enabler architecture layer that can handle multiple functions including location verification, location tracking, and position-based service management. By making the server multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving reliable location confirmation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a location management server as an intermediary between the user equipment and the location verification process. The server receives location data from the user equipment, verifies it against network-based location information, and provides confirmation to the application. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by adding a trusted verification layer that doesn't compromise the user equipment's ability to obtain location data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4648443B1Method for using a service enabler architecture layer for verticals, seal, in a vertical application layer, val, implementation, for providing communication services to a user equipment, especially for supporting and providing a location check functionality and/or verifying location-related data indicative of the actual location or position of the user equipment, user equipment, system or telecommunications network, program and computer-readable medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP4648443B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4648443B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for using a service enabler architecture layer for verticals, SEAL, in a vertical application layer implementation, VAL implementation, for providing communication services to a user equipment, using a vertical application layer server via a telecommunications network, especially for supporting and providing a location check functionality and/or verifying location-related data indicative of the actual location or position of the user equipment, wherein the user equipment is a vertical application layer user equipment comprising a vertical application layer client, VAL client, and an location management client, wherein the service enabler architecture layer for verticals comprises a location management server that is able to realize a location check functionality and/or verifying location-related data indicative of the actual location or position of the user equipment, wherein, in order for supporting and for providing, by the location management server, a location check functionality by means of confirming location data and/or verifying location-related data indicative of the actual location or position of the user equipment towards a confirm location data consumer entity, the method comprises the following steps: -- in a first step, the location management client transmits a confirm location request to the location management server in order for the location management server to perform a location check functionality and/or verifying location-related data indicative of the actual location or position of the user equipment, -- in a second step, the location management client receives, from the location management server, a confirm location response, wherein the confirm location response comprises a confirm location status information, and the confirm location data consumer entity receives, likewise from the location management server, a confirm location service usage notification.