Dynamic APN Table Provisioning via PCO Messages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Providers of wireless communication services face challenges in managing Access Point Name (APN) tables for user equipment (UE) devices, particularly when customers bring their own devices (BYOD) and manufacturers use universal hardware and software solutions, making it difficult for providers to control or program APN tables before devices connect to their networks, leading to connection issues.
Innovation Solution
The wireless access network maintains and pushes an APN table to UE devices through Protocol Configuration Options (PCO) messages during the attachment procedure, including information such as available APNs, IP addresses, Quality of Service (QoS) classes, and preferred/default APNs, allowing UE devices to select appropriate APNs for connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If providers cannot control or program APN tables before devices connect to their networks, then device compatibility and ease of operation are improved, but connection reliability and service quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary configuration by maintaining an APN table and pushing it to UE devices during the attachment procedure, before the devices need to establish connections. This ensures devices have the correct APN information ready in advance, resolving the contradiction between device compatibility and connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the network-maintained APN table pushed via PCO messages) that bridges the gap between uncontrolled device configurations and reliable network connections. This intermediary provides the necessary APN information to devices that cannot be pre-programmed, ensuring both compatibility and reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If providers use universal hardware and software solutions in UE devices, then manufacturing ease and device versatility are improved, but network control and service quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides self-service by automatically maintaining and pushing APN tables to UE devices during attachment. This eliminates the need for manual pre-programming of universal devices while maintaining network control, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and network adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary configuration by pushing the APN table to devices before they establish connections. This allows universal devices to be manufactured without provider-specific customization while still enabling network control and service quality through dynamic APN provision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices are not pre-programmed with APN tables, then device versatility and ease of operation are improved, but connection establishment time and service availability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The network pushes the APN table to devices during the attachment procedure, performing the configuration action in advance before connection establishment is needed. This eliminates delays associated with manual APN configuration while maintaining device versatility, resolving the contradiction between device adaptability and connection speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The network maintains the APN table continuously and makes it available to devices during attachment. This ensures that devices can establish connections quickly without pre-programming, as the APN information is continuously provided by the network, resolving the time loss issue while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer device may include a memory configured to store instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to select to use an access point name (APN) table to be received from a wireless access network and attach to the wireless access network. The processor may be further configured to execute the instructions to receive a Protocol Configuration Options (PCO) message from the wireless access network; retrieve the APN table from the received PCO message; select an APN from the retrieved APN table; and connect to a packet data network associated with the selected APN via the wireless access network using the selected APN.