X1 Status Querying for Faster 5G Lawful Interception Audits

Solution Overview

Problem

Current lawful interception (LI) systems in 5G networks face performance issues due to the lengthy and resource-intensive Audit&Synch procedures, which cannot ensure timely detection of discrepancies in large networks and impact overall system performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing modified X1 request messages that allow the LI administration function (ADMF) and network element (NE) to exchange only necessary status information, bypassing the full GetAllDetailsResponse, thereby reducing computational footprint and improving performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the current Audit procedure uses GetAllDetailsResponse to check consistency between LI target lists in NE and ADMF, then completeness of information is improved, but the time required for audit increases significantly and computational resources are heavily consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of informationVSAvoidtime required for audit

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary status information fields from the comprehensive GetAllDetailsResponse message. Instead of retrieving all task details, destination details, and NE status information, the system selectively requests and processes only the specific status fields required for audit purposes, thereby reducing data volume and processing time while maintaining audit effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the audit process into targeted queries for specific status information fields rather than a monolithic retrieval of all details. The Audit&Synch function is divided into modular operations that request individual status parameters separately, allowing parallel processing and reducing the overall audit time while preserving information completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the current Audit procedure retrieves all details through GetAllDetailsResponse, then information completeness is improved, but computational resources are heavily consumed impacting system performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary status information fields from the comprehensive GetAllDetailsResponse message. Instead of retrieving all task details, destination details, and NE status information, the system selectively requests and processes only the specific status fields required for audit purposes, thereby reducing data volume and processing time while maintaining audit effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by retrieving exactly the amount of information needed for audit purposes - no more, no less. The system requests only the specific status information fields required for consistency checking between NE and ADMF, avoiding the excessive computational burden of processing complete task and destination details while ensuring sufficient information is obtained for thorough audit verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If frequent audits are performed to ensure integrity of target list throughout the network, then reliability is improved, but the time and resources required become prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegrity of target listVSAvoidtime and resources required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables periodic audit operations at increased frequency by reducing the time and resource cost of each audit cycle. Through selective retrieval of status information, the system can perform audits at regular intervals that ensure target list integrity without the prohibitive time and resource costs of traditional comprehensive audits, thereby maintaining high reliability through frequent verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary status information fields from the comprehensive GetAllDetailsResponse message. Instead of retrieving all task details, destination details, and NE status information, the system selectively requests and processes only the specific status fields required for audit purposes, thereby reducing data volume and processing time while maintaining audit effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20260039702A1Communications Network Devices, Lawful Interception System and Method of Lawful Interception

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A communications network device (100) hosting a lawful interception. LI, administration function. ADMF, the communications network device comprising interface circuitry (102), a processor (104) and a memory (106), said memory containing instructions (110) executable by said processor whereby the communications network device (100) is operative to:—send an X1 request message to a network element, NE, the X1 request message configured to request the NE to send status information of a field of an X1 GetAllDetailsResponse message to the LI ADMF; and—receive an X1 response message from the NE including the requested status information.