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Apple patents secure keys for group location sharing in wireless networks

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Apple describes a system where a network server assigns a unique security key to a device when it joins a group for location tracking. This key allows the device to securely send and receive location data with other members of that specific group. The process ensures that only authorized devices in the group can access the positioning information.

Why it mattersThis filing outlines a technical method for securing group-based location services, which could be relevant for future vehicle-to-vehicle communication or coordinated device features.

In the filing’s own words

A core network element for key management functionality for sidelink (SL) positioning for groupcast or multicast in a radio communications system, the core network element including a hardware processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing key management function instructions that when executed cause the hardware processor to perform key management function operations, the key management function operations including, for a user equipment (UE) requesting registration or access to a group for SL positioning, allocating a key credential for the UE to join the group, the key credential comprising a session key comprising an integrity protection field and an encryption field, the key credential associated with a group identifier for the group corresponding to the UE.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1 - 40. (canceled)

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
SECURITY FOR GROUPCAST SIDELINK POSITIONING
Publication number
US20260313380A1
Application number
19483120
Filed
May 11, 2023
Published
Oct 8, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
21

Classified under

H04W 12/106 Electricity & electronicsH04W 12/76 Electricity & electronicsH04W 64/00 Electricity & electronicsH04W 92/18 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.