APN Synchronization via Feedback and Preliminary Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing network infrastructure faces issues when receiving access point name (APN) values that differ from the expected values in PDN connectivity requests, leading to potential rejections or excessive signaling overhead, and subsequent service issues if the requests are accepted.

Innovation Solution

The system synchronizes APN values by extracting the first APN value from a message, obtaining a corresponding default APN value from a storage device, and providing a second message that facilitates the connection using the default APN value, ensuring consistency between the client device and network infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network infrastructure rejects PDN connectivity requests with unexpected APN values, then the request rejection is handled correctly, but the UE may repeatedly transmit the request resulting in excessive signaling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverequest handling correctnessVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network infrastructure provides feedback to the UE about the expected APN value through the PDN connectivity accept/reject messages. When the UE receives a reject message indicating an unexpected APN, it can adjust its behavior by modifying the APN value in subsequent requests, preventing endless repetition of the same request and reducing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The network infrastructure performs preliminary validation of the APN value against expected values before finalizing the connectivity decision. This preliminary check allows the network to identify and correct APN mismatches early in the process, preventing the UE from repeatedly transmitting requests with incorrect APN values.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the network infrastructure accepts PDN connectivity requests with unexpected APN values, then service can be obtained, but host of other issues may occur including potential service misconfiguration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidservice configuration correctness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network infrastructure uses feedback mechanisms to communicate expected APN values to the UE. By providing this feedback in the PDN connectivity accept/reject messages, the network ensures that the UE understands which APN values are valid for its service, preventing service misconfiguration while maintaining service availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs preliminary verification of APN values against a set of expected values before establishing connectivity. This preliminary action ensures that only correctly configured APN values are accepted, preventing service misconfiguration issues while still allowing service to be obtained when the APN is correct.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the UE repeatedly transmits PDN connectivity requests with unexpected APN values, then the UE can eventually obtain correct connectivity, but excessive redundant overhead is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity acquisitionVSAvoidsignaling redundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network infrastructure provides feedback to the UE about the expected APN value through PDN connectivity accept/reject messages. This feedback mechanism allows the UE to learn from previous rejections and modify its subsequent requests accordingly, achieving reliable connectivity without endless repetition of the same incorrect requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs preliminary validation of APN values before final connectivity decisions. This preliminary check enables the UE to understand the expected APN configuration early on, allowing it to adjust its requests proactively and reduce redundant signaling while maintaining reliable connectivity acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11212661B2Apparatuses and methods for facilitating network connectivity via an access point name

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining a first access point name (APN) value from a storage device, transmitting a first message that includes the first APN value to a mobility management entity (MME), receiving a second message subsequent to the transmitting of the first message, wherein the second message includes a second APN value that is different from the first APN value, and causing the second APN value to be stored in the storage device. Other embodiments are disclosed.