Terminal Registration Management via Solicitation Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication networks allow only single registration of a terminal with a network, leading to security vulnerabilities like identity theft and resource inefficiencies due to unauthorized multiple attachments, which are not addressed by current standards.

Innovation Solution

A method for managing multiple simultaneous registrations by verifying the validity of existing records and limiting the number of active registrations, using a management entity to ensure secure and efficient network resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal is authorized to register multiple times simultaneously to a communication network, then network resource utilization and terminal connectivity are improved, but security risks such as identity theft and unauthorized access increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal connectivityVSAvoidnetwork security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation by sending solicitation messages to verify the authenticity of each registration request before authorizing multiple attachments. This advance verification prevents unauthorized registrations while allowing legitimate multiple connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The management entity implements a feedback mechanism where it sends solicitation messages to registered terminals and processes their responses. This continuous verification ensures that all active registrations remain authentic and prevents identity theft by detecting unauthorized registrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the network terminates previous registrations when a new terminal registers with the same IMSI, then authentication security is improved, but legitimate multiple simultaneous connections are blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidmultiple attachment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Before terminating any existing registration, the system sends a solicitation message to verify the authenticity of the new registration request. This preliminary verification allows the network to distinguish between legitimate multiple attachments and unauthorized cloning, enabling both security and multiple connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of automatically terminating previous registrations upon new registration (the conventional approach), the system inverts the logic by verifying the new request's authenticity first through solicitation messages. Only authenticated requests are allowed to proceed, transforming the automatic termination mechanism into a selective verification process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the network verifies authenticity of each registration request through solicitation messages, then security against identity theft is improved, but network signaling overhead and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentity theft preventionVSAvoidregistration processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies verification selectively rather than universally. Solicitation messages are sent only when needed to verify authenticity, not for every single registration attempt. This partial verification approach maintains security against identity theft while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4413793B1Method, device and system for registering a terminal to a communication network
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 ORANGE SA
  • EP4413793B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4413793B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4413793B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for registering a terminal (1a) with a communication network (Res), the method being implemented in a management entity (UDM) following the receiving (101) of a message requesting registration of the terminal (1a) with said network (Res), the management entity (UDM) comprising at least one prior registration of said terminal (1a) with said communication network (Res). The method comprises determining (102) a number of active registrations, from among the at least one prior registration, according to at least one received response message (104b) in response to at least one sent request message (103) which comprises at least one datum associated with the at least one prior registration, and updating (105) the at least one prior registration according to the received message (101) requesting registration in the case that the determined number of active registrations is smaller than a maximum number of registrations for said terminal.