Forbidden RAN List Management for Wireless Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile users face restrictions in accessing certain radio access technologies within a network, leading to rejection messages due to unauthorized access, which existing systems struggle to manage effectively, especially when users roam between networks.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that receive and store forbidden radio access technology codes, allowing for attach, tracking area updates, or routing area updates in suitable cells within the same network, or network re-selection if forbidden technologies are detected, ensuring access is restricted to allowed technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network controls user access to different areas individually, then user access rights are properly managed, but the complexity of network management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network divides the user base into different groups based on access rights, with each group having a specific list of forbidden radio access technologies. This segmentation allows individualized control without requiring complex centralized management of every user's access rights, as each user group has its own predefined forbidden list.
Solution Approach 2:
The network pre-configures forbidden lists of radio access technologies for different user groups before users attempt to access the network. These forbidden lists are stored in advance in the network elements, allowing rapid determination of access rights without real-time complex calculations when users try to attach or update their registration.
2Reliability
If the network sends rejection messages to guide users to allowed areas, then unauthorized access is prevented, but user mobility and access efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of waiting for rejection and then guiding users, the network pre-provides users with forbidden lists indicating which radio access technologies to avoid. Users can proactively select allowed technologies, eliminating the need for rejection messages and repeated attachment attempts, thus improving access efficiency while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The network provides feedback to users in the form of forbidden lists that indicate which radio access technologies are not allowed. This feedback enables users to make informed decisions about which networks to access, reducing failed attachment attempts and improving overall access efficiency while preventing unauthorized access.
3Reliability
If users perform attach and update requests frequently, then network registration is maintained, but network congestion and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures forbidden lists of radio access technologies that users should avoid. By having users proactively select from allowed technologies based on these pre-provided lists, the system reduces failed attachment attempts and subsequent update requests, thereby decreasing signaling overhead and energy consumption while maintaining proper network registration.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive at least one of forbidden radio access technology code and indication that a radio access technology of a cell is forbidden, wherein the at least one of forbidden radio access technology code and indication indicates a radio access technology not allowed for access; store the received at least one of forbidden radio access technology code and indication in a forbidden list; and perform an attach, tracking area update or routing area update in a suitable cell if a suitable cell can be found within the same network not using the radio access technologies in the forbidden list; or perform a network re-selection if a suitable cell cannot be found within the same network.