Secure Location Session Manager for SUPL Message Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IP-based location services systems in distributed server environments lack a secure and consistent method to route messages belonging to the same location session to the correct server, leading to failed location requests and potential privacy compromises.
Innovation Solution
A location session manager comprising a SUPL session router and a session record manager that captures and routes network-initiated SUPL location requests among multiple SUPL servers, ensuring messages are directed to the correct server through intelligent routing and session record management, using techniques such as standalone session routers and embedded session correlation keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If broadcast to all servers in distributed server network is used to route unsolicited messages, then message delivery reliability is improved, but communication resource consumption increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a session router as an intermediary component that maintains session state information and routing tables. Instead of broadcasting to all servers, the session router intelligently forwards messages only to the specific server that initiated the location session, based on stored session correlation data. This mediator approach ensures reliable message delivery while minimizing communication overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The session router performs preliminary routing decisions by maintaining session state information and correlation keys before messages arrive. When a location session is initiated, the session router pre-establishes the routing path and stores session correlation data, enabling subsequent messages to be routed efficiently without requiring broadcast or exponential searching through the server network.
2Reliability
If multiple SUPL servers are deployed for redundancy, then system availability is improved, but message routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The session router serves as a central intermediary that manages routing to multiple SUPL servers. It maintains session state information that correlates location requests with the specific server that initiated them. This intermediary approach allows multiple servers to operate in parallel for redundancy while the session router handles the complexity of routing decisions, keeping individual server complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses session correlation keys and state information as parameters to simplify routing decisions. By changing the routing parameter from broadcast-address-based to session-state-based routing, the system can efficiently route messages to the correct server among multiple redundant servers without increasing operational complexity at each server node.
3Reliability
If session state information is maintained for routing decisions, then message routing accuracy is improved, but memory resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The session router extracts only the essential session correlation information needed for routing decisions, rather than maintaining complete session state data. It stores minimal routing parameters such as session correlation keys and server identifiers that are sufficient for accurate message routing, reducing memory consumption while maintaining routing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The session router maintains session state information locally at the routing decision point rather than distributing it across all servers. This localized storage approach ensures routing accuracy by keeping session correlation data centralized where routing decisions are made, while minimizing total memory consumption by avoiding redundant storage across multiple server nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
A Secure Location Session Manager (SLSM) is an intelligent router for open mobile alliance (OMA) Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Version 1.0 (and later) messages best implemented when multiple, geo-diverse SUPL servers are deployed in a distributed environment, such as an active-active redundant configuration within a wireless carrier's network. In a standalone option, the SLSM acts as a “middleman” for all SUPL positioning messages between a mobile device and a responsible SUPL server. In an embedded option, the SLSM resides within an existing server. The SLSM manages and stores session information for all pending and ongoing SUPL positioning sessions in internal tables for routing and load balancing purposes. The external interfaces of the SLSM consist of OMA ULP messages.