Core Network Barring Control for Mobile Data Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications systems, when PDN services are rejected due to operator determined barring, mobile devices cannot differentiate between barred services, bearers, or APNs, leading to unnecessary signaling attempts and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A network node generates control information indicating barred gateways and communicates this to mobile devices using NAS signaling protocols, preventing access to barred APNs while allowing access to subscribed ones, and a communications device configures itself to avoid attempting connections to barred APNs based on received control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the network rejects PDN services without providing specific barring information, then the control plane signaling is simplified, but mobile devices perform unnecessary signaling attempts and waste system resources
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides feedback to the mobile device about barred APNs through control information in rejection messages. This feedback mechanism allows the mobile device to understand which APNs are barred and avoid unnecessary connection attempts, resolving the contradiction by adding targeted information flow without significantly increasing overall signaling complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary action by identifying and marking specific APNs as barred before the mobile device attempts connection. The control information about barred APNs is prepared in advance and included in rejection messages, allowing the mobile device to proactively avoid barred APNs in future connection attempts, thereby preventing resource wastage
2Productivity
If the network provides detailed control information about barred gateways to mobile devices, then unnecessary signaling attempts are reduced, but the control information complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control information is segmented to include only relevant barred APN identifiers rather than providing complete network configuration details. This segmentation approach reduces the overall complexity of control information while still providing sufficient detail for mobile devices to avoid barred APNs, thereby improving connection efficiency without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control information provides local quality by specifying exactly which APNs are barred rather than applying blanket restrictions. This targeted approach allows mobile devices to maintain connection capabilities to non-barred APNs while avoiding only the specific barred ones, optimizing productivity without requiring complex global control structures
3Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices attempt connections to all APNs without barring information, then service availability is maximized, but signaling overhead and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides feedback about barred APNs through control information, enabling mobile devices to adapt their connection attempts. This feedback maintains service access flexibility for non-barred APNs while eliminating time-wasting attempts on barred APNs, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and time loss
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile devices perform self-service by using the received control information to autonomously avoid barred APNs without requiring network intervention for each connection attempt. This self-service approach reduces signaling time overhead while maintaining the ability to access available services, balancing adaptability with time efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A communications system is described in which a core network apparatus provides a configuration for accessing a packet data network by a mobile communications device when operator determined barring is in place. Also disclosed are signalling messages used to control the setting up of the packet data connection, which messages are sent between a device in the core network and the mobile communications device.