UE Role Authorization for Secure Ranging Discovery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In communication systems, user equipment (UE) may play inappropriate roles during ranging and sidelink positioning services, affecting accuracy and potentially causing information leakage due to unauthorized or unsupported role assignments.

Innovation Solution

A method for authorizing UE roles by a network device or UE, involving the exchange of discovery request and response messages that include identifiers and capabilities, with network elements determining and providing authorized roles and security material to ensure correct role assignment and security protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UE plays multiple roles without authorization, then service flexibility and adaptability improve, but system security and service accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUE role flexibilityVSAvoidservice accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authorization checks before assigning roles to UEs. The network device verifies UE capabilities and contract information in advance, determining authorized roles before the UE participates in ranging or positioning services, preventing unauthorized role assignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where UEs report their capabilities to the network device, which then responds with authorization decisions. The network device continuously monitors and updates role authorizations based on UE capability reports and service requirements, ensuring accurate role assignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If UE plays multiple roles without authorization, then service versatility improves, but information security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice versatilityVSAvoidinformation leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary security checks by verifying UE capabilities and contract information before authorizing roles. This prevents UEs from obtaining unauthorized access to sensitive information or performing unauthorized operations that could lead to information leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network device acts as an intermediary between UEs and service resources. It mediates role assignment by verifying UE credentials and determining appropriate roles, preventing direct unauthorized access to protected information and operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260107145A1Method and device for authorizing role of user equipment

Publication Date: 2026.04.16 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD

AI summary

A method for authorizing a role of a user equipment (UE) is performed by a network device, and includes: receiving a discovery request message sent by a first UE or a second UE, wherein the discovery request message includes at least one of a ranging application user identifier (RAUID), a service identifier, or a capability of the first UE or the second UE, wherein the capability of the first UE or the second UE indicates a role of the first UE or the second UE or indicates a role supported by the first UE or the second UE; and sending a discovery response message to the first UE or the second UE.