PRL Verification via ANDSF Server for Mobile Channel Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack effective control over channel access for mobile devices, allowing unauthorized or fraudulent usage by allowing mismatched or altered Preferred Roaming Lists (PRLs), which can lead to communication disruptions and security issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that compares the PRL on a mobile device to a stored PRL database using an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) server, denying channel access if they do not match and updating the device's PRL to ensure compliance with authorized networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If channel access is controlled by comparing PRL on mobile device to stored PRL database, then network security and service integrity are improved, but device complexity and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an ANDSF server as an intermediary component that performs the PRL comparison and channel access control function. This mediator sits between the mobile device and the network, handling the complexity of PRL validation centrally rather than requiring complex local verification on the device. The server compares the PRL stored in the mobile device against the authorized PRL database and makes access decisions, thereby improving security while managing system complexity through centralized control.
2Reliability
If PRL comparison and channel access control is implemented, then unauthorized usage is prevented, but channel access time and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing authorized PRLs in the network database before the mobile device attempts to access the network. The ANDSF server has advance knowledge of which PRLs are authorized and can perform rapid comparison against these pre-established values. This eliminates the need for complex real-time authorization decisions, allowing the system to quickly verify whether a device's PRL matches any of the pre-approved entries, thus reducing access time while maintaining strong authorization control.
3Reliability
If PRL scanning and updating is performed, then service integrity is maintained, but energy consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the mobile device scan and update its PRL at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. The device performs PRL comparison and updates at scheduled periods when it registers with the network or at specified scan intervals. This periodic approach maintains service integrity by ensuring the PRL is current and authorized, while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring and processing. The device can enter low-power states between scan cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable storage media for controlling channel access to a mobile device are described. Based upon a configuration being initiated for the mobile device, a preferred roaming list (PRL) on the mobile device is compared to a stored PRL for the mobile device. A channel access to the mobile device is denied when the PRL on the mobile device does not match the stored PRL. A channel is assigned to the mobile device when the PRL on the mobile device matches the stored PRL.