APN Switching via SIM Use State Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing connection control systems for mobile communication networks lack flexibility in switching Access Point Names (APN) as the connection destination, especially for prepaid SIMs, requiring users to manually configure APN information frequently, which is inconvenient and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A connection control system that automatically switches the APN of a terminal based on changes in the SIM's use state by utilizing a network-side management system, including user management, SIM-ID management, and line-opening processing servers, which detect changes in SIM use states and update APN settings accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually configure APN information in the terminal every time the connection destination changes, then the terminal can connect to the correct APN, but the operation becomes burdensome and inconvenient for users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal automatically obtains and configures APN information from the network side without user intervention. The terminal includes an APN acquisition unit that receives APN information from the base station and automatically configures it, eliminating the need for manual user configuration while ensuring accurate connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The base station acts as an intermediary that provides APN information to the terminal. Instead of users manually configuring APN or the terminal selecting it autonomously, the base station mediates by transmitting the appropriate APN information based on cell ID or other parameters, resolving the contradiction between automatic connection and user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If APN information is pre-configured in the terminal, then connection setup is simplified, but the system lacks flexibility when APN needs to change for different use states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection setup simplicityVSAvoidAPN switching flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The APN configuration changes dynamically based on the terminal's location and use state. The base station determines the appropriate APN based on cell ID and transmits it to the terminal, allowing the system to adapt flexibly to different scenarios while maintaining simple automatic configuration without pre-setting multiple APNs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the APN parameter automatically based on external conditions such as cell ID or service type. The base station receives the terminal's current cell information and provides the corresponding APN, enabling dynamic parameter adjustment without requiring users to manually change configurations or pre-configure multiple options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal autonomously selects APN without network-side control, then user privacy is protected, but the network cannot optimize connections for different service scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice scenario optimizationVSAvoidnetwork control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station serves as an intermediary that provides APN information without requiring complex network-side control systems. The base station uses simple criteria such as cell ID to determine and transmit the appropriate APN, achieving service optimization while keeping the network control mechanism relatively simple and avoiding direct user privacy concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If manual APN configuration is required for each use state change, then connection accuracy is maintained, but time is lost and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection accuracyVSAvoidconnection switching efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station prepares and provides APN information in advance based on the terminal's cell location before the terminal needs to connect. The terminal's APN acquisition unit automatically receives this pre-prepared information, eliminating the need for users to manually configure APN after use state changes and significantly improving connection switching efficiency while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3588923B1Connection control system and connection control method
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3588923B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3588923B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3588923B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to the present invention, when receiving a connection request including an SIM-ID from a terminal 20, a connection node 16 connects the terminal to a connection destination APN which is associated with the SIM-ID. A user management server 10 and an SIM-ID management server change the connection destination APN associated with the SIM-ID according to a change in a use state of a prepaid SIM, and distributes, to the connection node 16, an association relationship between the SIM-ID and the connection destination APN. By this process, the connection destination APN of a terminal connected to a network can be automatically switched according to a change in an identifier use state of the prepaid SIM.