5G Disaster Roaming Confinement to Prevent Network Congestion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems lack a reliable method to confine User Equipments (UEs) to a specific area during a disaster condition, ensuring they access services only within the affected region and avoid congestion in other networks.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus where UEs do not indicate support for S1 mode upon registration with a target network, or the network prevents handovers to S1 mode, using service area lists and mobility restrictions to confine service to the disaster area, and enable emergency service access followed by a return to the original network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UEs are allowed to register with another network during disaster condition, then service continuity is maintained, but network congestion and service quality degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidnetwork performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The service area is segmented into disaster-affected and non-affected regions using service area lists. UEs are confined to register only with networks in disaster-affected areas, while non-affected networks remain exclusive to local UEs. This segmentation prevents congestion in non-affected networks while maintaining service continuity in affected areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different registration policies are applied to different geographic areas. In disaster-affected areas, UEs from other networks are allowed to register with restricted service areas. In non-affected areas, only local UEs can register. This local differentiation ensures service continuity where needed while preventing congestion where not needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If UEs can access services in any network area, then service availability is maximized, but congestion in non-affected networks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidnetwork congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Service area lists are pre-configured and provided to UEs during registration, specifying which geographic areas the UE is permitted to access. This preliminary constraint prevents UEs from roaming into non-affected areas, thereby avoiding congestion while maintaining service availability in authorized disaster-affected regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The service area list acts as an intermediary mechanism between the UE and the network, mediating access rights. It allows the network to control which UEs can access which areas, enabling service availability in disaster zones while preventing harmful congestion in non-affected networks through this intermediate control layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If mobility restrictions are imposed on UEs during disaster roaming, then network congestion is reduced, but UE mobility freedom is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidUE mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Mobility restrictions are dynamically applied based on the UE's current location and the service area list. UEs are freely mobile within their authorized disaster-affected areas but automatically restricted when attempting to access non-affected areas. This dynamic approach maintains network efficiency while preserving UE mobility freedom within permitted boundaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the mobility parameter from unrestricted to restricted based on the disaster condition and service area list. By dynamically adjusting this parameter, the network achieves efficient resource utilization during disaster roaming while maintaining ease of operation for UEs within their authorized service areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If S1 mode is allowed for disaster roaming UEs, then service flexibility is improved, but handover complexity and network load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice flexibilityVSAvoidhandover management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The S1 mode handover capability is extracted or removed for disaster roaming UEs. Instead of allowing full S1 mode functionality with its complex handover procedures, the system disables S1 mode for these UEs, simplifying the network architecture and reducing handover management complexity while maintaining adequate service flexibility through alternative mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12375987B2Method and apparatus for improvements in and relating to management of a disaster condition in a mobile communication system

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. A method performed by a terminal in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting, to a network entity associated with a first network system, a registration request message for a disaster roaming service, the registration request message including capability information of the terminal, transmitting, to the network entity, a service request message for an emergency service using a second network system, and after the emergency service ends, performing a cell reselection to return to the first network system providing the disaster roaming service.