Token Binding for Access Network Identifier Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies do not provide a clear method for the service provider network to acquire and utilize external identifiers for Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices connected through an access network, leading to challenges in interworking between the access network and the service provider network.
Innovation Solution
A method where a token is logically bound to an external identifier and sent to a wireless device through triggering signaling, allowing the service provider network to learn the association between the service provider network identifier and the external identifier assigned by the access network, enabling effective communication and registration processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the service provider network uses external identifiers for MTC devices, then interworking between access network and service provider network is enabled, but the service provider network cannot acquire or utilize these external identifiers effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The service provider network pre-generates and stores tokens bound to external identifiers before device registration. When a device connects, the service provider network can immediately match the returned token against pre-stored tokens to acquire the external identifier, eliminating acquisition delays and enabling immediate interworking.
Solution Approach 2:
A token is introduced as an intermediary element that bridges the service provider network and the external identifier system. The token contains or binds the external identifier information, allowing the service provider network to indirectly acquire external identifiers through the token returned by devices during registration, without direct access to the access network's identifier allocation mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the access network shares internal identifiers like IMSI with the service provider network, then device identification is simplified, but security is compromised as internal identifiers should remain private
Solution Approach 1:
The external identifier is extracted from the access network's internal identifier system and presented to the service provider network as a separate, secure entity. The service provider network uses this extracted external identifier for all service-layer identification needs, eliminating the requirement to handle or store sensitive internal identifiers like IMSI, thus maintaining security while enabling identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The external identifier acts as a disposable, non-sensitive identifier that can be freely shared between networks. Unlike permanent internal identifiers such as IMSI that require strict security protection, external identifiers can be allocated, shared, and revoked without compromising core network security, making them ideal for inter-network communication.
3Productivity
If the service provider network implements identifier association mechanisms, then communication efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The token serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an authentication credential for device registration, a carrier for external identifier information, and a matching key for association establishment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each purpose, reducing overall system complexity while improving communication efficiency through unified identifier management.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to one aspect of the teachings herein, a token is logically bound to an external identifier and provided to a wireless device via triggering signaling sent to the wireless device through an access network. The wireless device is configured to send registration signaling through the access network to a service provider network, in response to the triggering signaling and to return the token in such signaling. With this advantageous approach, the service provider network recognizes the token returned from the wireless device and thereby learns the association between a service provider network identifier that is received in the registration signaling for identifying the wireless device with respect to a service provided by the service provider network, and an external identifier assigned by the access network for use by the service provider network in identifying the wireless device to the access network.