Cellular Signaling Forwarding via Packet-Switched Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to provide comprehensive cellular services to mobile devices when they are outside the coverage area of their home network, due to issues like expensive roaming fees, service unavailability, and incompatibility with roaming networks, and existing solutions have limitations such as restricted range and legal constraints when using licensed bands.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device enhances its capabilities by forwarding cellular signaling via a packet-switched network, using a signaling manager and control system to encapsulate and transmit signaling to a virtual base station, which unpackages and forwards it to the home network, allowing seamless service provision without requiring packet-switching protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile device roams to a different network, then the device can maintain network coverage and basic connectivity, but the device loses access to home network services and incurs expensive roaming fees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a roaming network as an intermediary that relays signaling between the mobile device and the home network. The device communicates with the roaming network using standard protocols, while the roaming network forwards encapsulated signaling to the home network, enabling the device to access home network services while physically connected to a different network infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of signaling transmission by encapsulating home network signaling within roaming network signaling protocols. This parameter transformation allows the signaling to be compatible with both the roaming network's protocol requirements and the home network's service requirements, resolving the incompatibility issue
2Ease of operation
If a mobile device uses VoIP applications to access services while roaming, then the device can maintain internet connectivity, but the device cannot use standard cellular services like text messaging and location-based services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the signaling manager universal by enabling it to handle both standard cellular signaling and encapsulated home network signaling through a single interface. This allows the device to maintain full cellular service functionality while roaming, eliminating the need to rely solely on VoIP applications for basic services
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate device signals over licensed bands to provide home network services, then the device can maintain service availability, but the range is limited and it may be illegal during roaming travel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the roaming network as a legal intermediary that is authorized to provide network services in the roaming area. This eliminates the legal issues associated with unauthorized licensed band usage while maintaining service availability through the roaming network's infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using licensed bands in the radio frequency dimension to using packet-switched networks in the data communication dimension. This dimensional shift allows service provision through internet-based protocols while avoiding the legal and range limitations of licensed band restrictions
4Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile device encapsulates cellular signaling in a packet wrapper, then the device can forward signaling across a packet-switched network, but the device requires additional processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the mobile device's signaling manager automatically perform encapsulation and decapsulation operations without requiring external assistance. The device independently handles the protocol transformation, reducing the need for complex network infrastructure while maintaining signaling compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for forwarding cellular signaling across a packet-switched network. The system generates signaling according to a cellular protocol for a mobile device and exchanges the cellular signaling with a base station of a home mobile network of the mobile device. The system further detects a triggering condition, encapsulates the cellular signaling in a packet wrapper, and forwards the encapsulated signaling to a virtual base station for the home network via a packet-switched network.