Provisioning Gateway for Real-Time 4G to 5G Profile Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The migration of user profiles and policies in mobile communications networks, particularly during transitions from 4G to 5G SIM upgrades, results in significant network downtime and subscriber discontinuity due to traditional off-line migration methods.
Innovation Solution
A real-time migration system and method utilizing a provisioning gateway to transfer user profiles and policies between 4G and 5G databases using SOAP and REST/HTTP protocols, with optional protocol conversion, ensuring seamless transitions and minimal network disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If off-line migration model is used to migrate user profiles and policies, then migration can be completed within a predefined time window, but significant network downtime and subscriber discontinuity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a real-time synchronization mechanism between the legacy database and the new database before migration is needed. This allows user profile and policy data to be pre-loaded and kept synchronized, so that when migration occurs, there is no significant downtime or subscriber discontinuity because the new system is already prepared with the necessary data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining an ongoing real-time synchronization process between the old and new databases during the migration period. This continuous action ensures that subscriber data remains accessible and consistent across both systems, eliminating the interruptions and downtime characteristic of traditional off-line migration approaches.
2Productivity
If off-line migration of unified data repository database is conducted, then migration of subscriber base onto newer technology is achieved, but time for new SIM card to obtain permission to utilize new technology is considerably increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-synchronizing user profile and policy data to the new database before SIM card migration occurs. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a subscriber upgrades to a new SIM card, their data is already available in the new system, allowing immediate activation without the considerable delays associated with traditional off-line migration processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary synchronization mechanism that acts as a mediator between the legacy database and the new unified data repository. This intermediary real-time synchronization process ensures that data is continuously available during migration, allowing new SIM cards to obtain permission and activate quickly without waiting for batch migration processes to complete.
3Reliability
If real-time migration system is implemented, then network continuity is maintained and downtime is reduced, but system complexity increases due to protocol conversion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol conversion function as an intermediary component that mediates between different communication protocols (SOAP and RESTful/HTTP). This intermediary handles the complexity of protocol translation, allowing the rest of the system to maintain simplicity while still achieving real-time synchronization and network continuity. The intermediary absorbs the architectural complexity rather than distributing it throughout the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal gateway component that can handle multiple communication protocols (both SOAP and RESTful/HTTP) through a single interface. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity by consolidating protocol handling capabilities in one place rather than requiring separate specialized components for each protocol, thereby maintaining network continuity without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for supporting a migration of user profile and policy information includes receiving a 5G user profile addition request message associated with a subscriber entity, sending a user profile query message to a 4G subscription profile repository (SPR), determining that 4G user profile and policy information corresponding to the subscriber entity exists in the 4G SPR, and receiving 4G user profile and policy information corresponding to the subscriber entity from the 4G SPR and subsequently sending a 5G user profile creation message containing the 4G user profile and policy information to a 5G unified data repository (UDR) in response to determining that the 4G user profile and policy information is stored in the 4G SPR.