Disaster Data Connection Setup Through a Visitor Mobile Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment in a disaster area may be unable to access its primary mobile network due to a disaster condition, but can access a secondary network without established roaming agreements, necessitating methods to establish a data connection for emergency services.
Innovation Solution
A network function in the primary mobile network receives a data connection request from a remote unit indicating a disaster condition, determines destination addresses in the secondary network, configures a data connection, and sends an acceptance response to initiate registration with the secondary network, allowing restricted data traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a user equipment attempts to access its home network during a disaster condition, then normal authentication and registration procedures should be followed, but the connection fails due to network unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visitor network as an intermediary system that mediates between the user equipment and the inaccessible home network. When the home network is unavailable due to disaster conditions, the visitor network provides alternative authentication and registration services, allowing UEs to maintain connectivity through a intermediary pathway rather than direct home network access
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring visitor networks and establishing backup authentication mechanisms before disaster conditions occur. The visitor network is prepared in advance with necessary network functions and authorization rules, so that when the home network fails, the UE can immediately switch to the pre-prepared alternative without delay
2Reliability
If a visitor network allows full access to UEs from unavailable networks, then connectivity is restored, but network security and resource control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated access policies for different UEs in the visitor network. Instead of uniform access control, the system assigns specific authorization rules to each UE based on their home network subscription data, allowing only certain destinations, services, or time periods. This enables selective connectivity restoration while maintaining security through localized access restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes access parameters dynamically by modifying authorization rules based on UE identity, home network type, and service requirements. The visitor network adjusts connection parameters such as allowed destination addresses, data rates, and service types for each UE, transforming the rigid access control into a flexible parameter-based system that balances connectivity and security
3Productivity
If the visitor network establishes data connections without home network authentication, then immediate connectivity is provided, but proper network registration and roaming agreements are bypassed
Solution Approach 1:
The visitor network performs preliminary authentication by validating UE identities against pre-stored home network subscription data or centralized authentication databases before allowing connection. This preliminary action occurs during the initial registration phase, enabling fast connection establishment while maintaining authentication validity through advance verification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential authentication function from the home network context and implements it independently in the visitor network. By separating authentication validation from home network dependency, the system can perform authentication using extracted credential verification mechanisms, enabling connection establishment without actual home network involvement while maintaining authentication integrity
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for data connection establishment in response to a disaster condition. One method includes receiving, at a first network function in a first mobile communication network, a first message from a second network function in the first mobile communication network. The first message includes a data connection establishment request from a user equipment and a disaster indication indicating that the data connection establishment request is in response to a disaster condition in a second mobile communication network, and the disaster condition disables the user equipment from connecting to the second mobile communication network. The method includes determining destination addresses in the second mobile communication network. The method includes configuring a data connection corresponding to the data connection establishment request to accept data traffic between the user equipment and the destination addresses.