Dynamic APN Selection for Mobile Application Service Differentiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile communication systems require lengthy and expensive network changes to associate mobile applications with different communication treatments, such as billing or premium quality of service, which hinders the rapid deployment of new mobile applications and services.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic customization system on user equipment (UE) that associates mobile applications with different access point names (APNs) and treatments, allowing for centralized updates without modifying the applications themselves, using a dynamic customization client and server to index application package names to APNs and on-device treatments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network changes are used to associate mobile applications with different communication treatments, then differentiated network treatments can be achieved, but the time and cost for rolling out changes increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifferentiated network treatmentsVSAvoidtime for rolling out changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically associates mobile applications with different APNs based on application type, allowing network treatments to be changed without physical network modifications. The dynamic customization application on UE side enables real-time APN selection based on stored indexes, reducing rollout time from months to minutes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of modifying the actual network infrastructure, the patent creates a virtual copy of network configuration through the dynamic customization application that stores indexes mapping applications to APNs. This software-based copy allows rapid deployment of network treatment changes without touching the physical network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If network changes are used to associate mobile applications with different communication treatments, then differentiated network treatments can be achieved, but the cost of rolling out changes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifferentiated network treatmentsVSAvoidcost of rolling out changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses software-based indexing and configuration storage on UE devices to replace expensive network infrastructure modifications. The dynamic customization application stores application-to-APN mappings in local memory, eliminating the need for costly network engineering changes while achieving differentiated treatments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical network reconfiguration processes with software-based index lookup and APN selection mechanisms. The dynamic customization application uses memory storage and processing to determine APNs, substituting physical network changes with computational operations that are significantly cheaper.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile applications are modified to support different network treatments, then service differentiation is achieved, but application deployment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice differentiationVSAvoidapplication deployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the network treatment configuration from the mobile applications themselves. Instead of modifying applications, the patent creates a separate configuration layer through the dynamic customization application that stores indexes mapping applications to APNs. This segmentation keeps applications simple while enabling service differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic customization application acts as an intermediary between applications and the network. It receives application identification information, looks up corresponding APNs from stored indexes, and automatically selects appropriate network treatments without requiring application modifications or user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10149300B1Dynamic customization of mobile communication device access point name (APN) selection

Publication Date: 2018.12.04 T MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A user equipment (UE) comprising a processor, a non-transitory memory, wherein the non-transitory memory comprises a default access point name (APN), a cellular radio transceiver, a first mobile application, stored in the non-transitory memory, and a dynamic customization application, stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the dynamic customization application receives an index that associates a plurality of mobile applications to APNs via the cellular radio transceiver, wherein the index associates the first mobile application to a first APN that is different from the default APN, stores the index in the non-transitory memory, receives a request to establish a data communication session from the first mobile application, looks up the first APN in the index based on a name of the first mobile application, and establishes a data communication session over a communication channel defined by the first APN via the cellular radio transceiver.