Cross-PLMN MDT Measurement via HSS Pre-Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

User Equipment (UE) in existing communication systems can only perform Minimization of Drive-Tests (MDT) measurements within its home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and cannot conduct MDT measurements after moving to another PLMN.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allow UE to perform MDT measurements by acquiring an intention to permit MDT from a Home Subscriber Server, determining if the UE's PLMN list includes its home or equivalent home PLMN identity, and sending an activation command to the radio network controller or base station to configure and deliver a configuration message for MDT, enabling MDT across multiple PLMNs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UE performs MDT measurements only in home PLMN, then measurement accuracy and reliability are ensured, but adaptability and versatility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMDT measurement capability across PLMNsVSAvoidMDT measurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring MDT measurement parameters, collecting entity addresses, and trace references in the HSS before UE roams to visited PLMNs. When UE attaches to a visited PLMN, the network proactively retrieves these pre-configured parameters and activates MDT measurements without requiring real-time configuration, thus enabling cross-PLMN measurements while maintaining reliability through pre-validated measurement settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If MDT configuration is sent through HSS for local UE, then user permission and privacy control are ensured, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser permission controlVSAvoidsignaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The HSS acts as an intermediary that stores user MDT permission preferences and provides them to the serving network during UE attachment. Instead of direct complex authentication and permission verification between multiple network elements, the HSS mediates by pre-storing user consent information and efficiently providing it to the appropriate network nodes, thus ensuring user permission control while reducing overall signaling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2763447B1Method and system for controlling the minimization of drive-test, mdt
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2763447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2763447B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2763447B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a minimization of drive-tests control method, system, and network element device. The network element device acquires an MDT PLMN list, where the MDT PLMN List includes at least two PLMN identities, and UEs in at least two PLMNs corresponding to the at least two PLMN identities can perform MDT in the at least two PLMNs; when a first UE accesses a current PLMN, the network element device acquires and determines that a user intention of the first UE is to permit performing the MDT; the network element device judges whether the MDT PLMN List includes an HPLMN identity or an EHPLMN identity of the first UE; and when the MDT PLMN List includes the HPLMN identity or EPLMN identity of the first UE, the network element device instructs the first UE to perform the MDT measurements. According to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the UE can perform the MDT measurements after moving to another PLMN.