UAV IMEI Authentication via MME and EIR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular networks lack a technical solution to control and manage access for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), leading to potential interference and unreliable access due to unauthenticated UAVs.
Innovation Solution
An access method and device for UAVs that utilize International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) authentication, where the Mobility Management Entity (MME) verifies the IMEI of UAVs through identity requests and checks with an Equipment Identity Register (EIR), allowing only registered UAVs to access the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If any type of UAV is allowed to access the cellular network without authentication, then the application range of UAVs is expanded, but great interference is caused to the cellular network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary identity authentication through IMEI verification before allowing UAVs to access the cellular network. The MME performs identity checks by querying the EIR database with the UAV's IMEI to determine whether to permit network access, thereby preventing unauthorized devices from causing interference while still allowing legitimate UAVs to connect.
2Reliability
If identity authentication is performed on all UAVs through IMEI verification, then network security is improved, but the access process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the EIR (Equipment Identity Register) as an intermediary component that stores and verifies IMEI information. The MME queries the EIR database to authenticate UAV identities, thereby distributing the authentication complexity to a dedicated database system rather than requiring complex verification logic in every network element, simplifying the overall access process while maintaining security.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aerial vehicle access method includes: when an access request message sent by an unmanned aerial vehicle is received, acquiring an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of the unmanned aerial vehicle; performing identity authentication on the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the IMEI of the unmanned aerial vehicle so as to obtain an identity authentication result; if the identity authentication result is authentication success, determining to accept the access of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and sending, to the unmanned aerial vehicle, a first access response message for indicating that the access is accepted. Therefore, an unmanned aerial vehicle without passing the identity authentication can be prevented from accessing a cellular network, thereby reducing interference to the cellular network, improving the reliability of the access of the unmanned aerial vehicle.