Communications Session Preclusion for Emergency Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods to handle emergency situations in communications networks, such as suspected terrorist attacks, are ineffective and can disrupt authorized services due to the use of frequency inhibitors or jammers, which cause harmful emissions and interfere with other radio services.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method in a communications system that allows a first node to receive a request from an external node to preclude data sessions meeting specific conditions, initiating the preclusion by sending an indication to a second node, enabling the external party to request termination or blocking of data sessions for certain users or devices based on conditions like location or device type, without using frequency inhibitors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequency inhibitors or jammers are used to handle emergency situations, then the ability to preclude data sessions in emergency scenarios is improved, but harmful emissions and interference with other radio services increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful frequency inhibition function from the system. Instead of using jammers that emit harmful radio waves, the solution uses network-level session management functions (SMF, UPF) to selectively terminate or block data sessions at the protocol layer, eliminating the need for harmful electromagnetic emissions while maintaining emergency response capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF) as mediators between the emergency response requirement and the data traffic flow. These network functions act as intermediaries that can selectively preclude specific data sessions based on emergency criteria without affecting other radio services, replacing the direct harmful interference method with a controlled network-level intervention
2Reliability
If frequency inhibitors or jammers are used to preclude data sessions, then the preclusion capability is improved, but disruption to authorized services increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling selective and targeted preclusion of data sessions based on specific criteria such as location, device type, or service category. The Session Management Function can identify and preclude only the specific data sessions relevant to the emergency situation while leaving other authorized services unaffected, replacing the blanket interference approach with precision targeting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data session management into distinct controllable units. By using network-level session identification and control mechanisms, the system can individually target and preclude specific data sessions rather than affecting all radio communications. This segmentation allows emergency response while preserving authorized services that are not part of the targeted sessions
3Reliability
If blanket frequency inhibition is used to handle emergencies, then the emergency response effectiveness is improved, but loss of authorized communications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control by enabling the Session Management Function to adaptively manage data sessions based on real-time emergency conditions. The system can dynamically identify, target, and preclude only the specific sessions relevant to the emergency while maintaining flexibility to restore or modify control as the situation evolves, replacing static blanket inhibition with adaptive selective management
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, performed by a first node (111), for handling one or more data sessions. The first node (111) operates in the communications system (100). The first node (111) receives (301) a first indication originating from an external node (113) operating outside the communications system (100). The first indication indicates a request to preclude one or more data sessions meeting one or more conditions indicated by the external node (113). The first node (111) also initiates (305) the preclusion of the one or more data sessions by sending another indication to a second node (112) operating in the communications system (100). The another indication indicates the received request.