Data Validation in a Mobile Communication Network

Abstract

A virtualized network function included in a mobile communication network may be capable of performing validation of sensor data. The sensor data may be generated by one or more sensors monitoring a tangible asset that is being transported between geographical locations. The sensor data may be received by the virtualized network function from an Internet-enabled device in communication with the mobile communication network. In some cases, a contract management application included in the virtualized network function may validate the sensor data based on one or more compliance thresholds describing a shipment condition of the tangible asset. Based on determining whether the sensor data indicates a compliant shipment condition for the tangible asset, the contract management application may modify a contract associated with the tangible asset.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by network equipment comprising a processor, via a communication network, a communication comprising sensor data from a radio-enabled device that is associated with a tangible asset being transported;   determining, by the network equipment, based on contract data representative of a contract applicable to the tangible asset, whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract; and   in response to determining that the sensor data is not in compliance with the contract, sending, by the network equipment to a system associated with a party of the contract, updated contract data representative of at least one update to the contract.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor data indicates a weight of the tangible asset, and wherein the determining whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract comprises determining whether the weight meets at least one weight threshold specified by the contract. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , where the at least one weight threshold comprises a weight threshold indicating potential evaporation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , where the at least one weight threshold comprises a weight threshold indicating potential theft. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor data indicates a locking status of the tangible asset indicating whether a lock on the tangible asset is locked, and wherein the determining whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract comprises determining whether the locking status meets a security condition specified by the contract. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is encrypted according to a first encryption standard, and wherein the sensor data is encrypted according to a second encryption standard different from the first encryption standard. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first encryption standard is based on a communication standard of the communication network, and wherein the second encryption standard is based on encryption information specified by the contract. 
     
     
         8 . Network equipment, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 receiving, via a communication network, a message comprising sensor data from an Internet-enabled device that is associated with a tangible asset being transported; 
 determining, based on contract data corresponding to a contract associated with the tangible asset, whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract data; and 
 in response to determining that the sensor data is not in compliance with the contract data, sending, to a network device associated with a party of the contract, updated contract data corresponding to at least one update to the contract. 
   
     
     
         9 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor data indicates a weight of the tangible asset, and wherein the determining whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract data comprises determining whether the weight satisfies at least one weight threshold represented in the contract data. 
     
     
         10 . The network equipment of  claim 9 , where the at least one weight threshold comprises a weight threshold indicating potential evaporation. 
     
     
         11 . The network equipment of  claim 9 , where the at least one weight threshold comprises a weight threshold indicating potential theft. 
     
     
         12 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor data indicates a locking condition of the tangible asset indicating whether a lock on the tangible asset has been unlocked, and wherein the determining whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract data comprises determining whether the locking condition satisfies a security condition represented in the contract data. 
     
     
         13 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the message is encrypted according to a first encryption protocol, and wherein the sensor data is encrypted according to a second encryption protocol different from the first encryption protocol. 
     
     
         14 . The network equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the first encryption protocol is based on an encryption standard of the communication network, and wherein the second encryption protocol is based on encryption requirements represented in the contract data. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of network equipment, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 receiving a transmission comprising sensor data from a radio-enabled sensor that is attached to a tangible asset being transported;   determining, based on contract data associated with the tangible asset, whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract data; and   in response to determining that the sensor data is not in compliance with the contract data, sending updated contract data to a device associated with a party of the contract.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor data indicates a weight of the tangible asset, and wherein the determining whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract data comprises determining whether the weight meets at least one weight threshold in the contract data. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , where the at least one weight threshold comprises a weight threshold indicating potential evaporation. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , where the at least one weight threshold comprises a weight threshold indicating potential theft. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor data indicates a locking status of the tangible asset indicating whether a lock on the tangible asset has remained locked during the tangible asset being transported, and wherein the determining whether the sensor data is in compliance with the contract data comprises determining whether the locking status satisfies a security condition in the contract data. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the transmission is encrypted using to a first encryption mechanism, and wherein the sensor data is encrypted using a second encryption mechanism different from the first encryption mechanism.