Geographic Service Restriction in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing multicast services and enforcing location-based service restrictions, leading to increased overhead and potential system performance degradation due to conventional signaling methods used in broadcast channels.
Innovation Solution
A method where a network communication entity determines the location of an access terminal and restricts its service based on defined location regions, allowing for first and second levels of service restrictions within and outside these regions, enabling the terminal to initiate handoffs or inform users of service limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional signaling methods are used in broadcast channels for multicast services, then service coverage is maintained, but overhead increases and system performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location-based service restriction functionality from the conventional broadcast channel signaling and implements it as a separate location management mechanism. This separates the service restriction function from the general broadcast signaling, reducing the overhead in broadcast channels while maintaining location-based control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a location management entity that acts as an intermediary between the access terminals and the broadcast channel. This intermediary handles location determination and service restriction decisions, reducing the signaling overhead required in broadcast channels while maintaining location-based service control.
2Productivity
If location-based service restrictions are enforced, then resource efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling access terminals to autonomously determine their locations and evaluate service restrictions based on pre-configured location region information. The terminals independently make service availability decisions without requiring continuous network intervention, reducing system complexity while improving resource efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring location region information and service restriction policies in the access terminals before service delivery. This allows terminals to autonomously enforce service restrictions based on their determined locations without real-time network signaling, simplifying the system while improving resource efficiency.
3Productivity
If service restrictions are dynamically adjusted based on location, then service management efficiency improves, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different levels of service restrictions for different geographic locations. Location regions are defined with specific service policies, allowing the system to provide differentiated service management efficiency for different areas while using location determination precision appropriate for each region's requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, a network communication entity obtains a location associated with an access terminal that is attempting to participate in a communication service, determines whether the obtained location satisfies a relationship with a defined location region, the defined location region establishing a first level of service restriction for the communication service within the defined location region and establishing at least a second level of service restriction for the communication service outside of the defined location region, and restricts the access terminal in accordance with the first or second level of service restriction for the communication service based on the determination. The network communication entity may correspond to the access terminal, an access network or an application server. If the access terminal detects a current, imminent or future service restriction, the given access terminal can initiate handoff to another service mechanism and/or inform the user of the service restriction.