Home Carrier Server Redirects Roaming Devices to Home Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular wireless communications, subscriber devices may inadvertently register with roaming carrier networks instead of home carrier networks due to interference or during ongoing calls, leading to suboptimal user experience and revenue loss for home carriers, as existing solutions interfere with conventional registration processes or rely on cooperation from roaming carriers.
Innovation Solution
A method where a wireless communication device registered with a roaming carrier network engages in peer-to-peer communication with a home carrier server to report its location and receive directives to transition to a nearby home carrier base station, allowing seamless registration without disrupting the normal registration process and potentially dynamically reconfiguring the home base station to provide coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device uses Preferred Roaming List (PRL) to scan for home carrier network first, then home carrier service preference is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional scanning and registration logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a redirection server as an intermediary between the device and the network registration process. The server receives registration requests from devices, determines whether the device should register with the home carrier or roaming carrier based on location and PRL, and returns redirection instructions to the device. This mediator approach simplifies device logic while maintaining home carrier service preference.
2Ease of operation
If the home carrier network provides coverage in areas where roaming carriers also operate, then subscriber service quality is improved, but network coverage complexity increases due to overlapping coverage areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the redirection server continuously monitors device location and network conditions. When a device enters an area with overlapping home and roaming carrier coverage, the server receives location information, determines the appropriate carrier based on PRL and coverage availability, and provides feedback redirection instructions to the device. This dynamic feedback approach maintains service quality without requiring complex static network configuration.
3Reliability
If a device registers with a roaming carrier network due to interference preventing home carrier signal reception, then device connectivity is maintained, but revenue is lost for the home carrier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the redirection server proactively intercept and process registration requests before the device completes registration with the roaming carrier. The server receives the registration request, determines that the device should be redirected to the home carrier based on location and signal conditions, and returns redirection instructions to the device before the roaming carrier registration is finalized. This preliminary intervention prevents revenue loss while maintaining connectivity.
4Reliability
If existing redirection solutions interfere with conventional registration processes, then home carrier service preference is improved, but system stability deteriorates due to registration process disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The redirection server acts as an intermediary that processes registration requests outside the conventional registration flow. Instead of interfering with the registration process directly, the server receives requests, makes determination based on location and PRL, and returns redirection instructions. This approach maintains home carrier service preference while preserving the stability of the conventional registration process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system in which a wireless communication device that is registered for service with a roaming carrier network engages in peer-to-peer communication, via the roaming carrier network, with a home carrier server to notify the home carrier server of the device's roaming status and location. The home carrier server then determines that no home carrier base station provides coverage at the reported location, and the home carrier server responsively reconfigures (e.g., directs or causes one or more entities to reconfigure) a nearby home carrier base station so as to provide coverage at the reported location. And the device then receives in response from the home carrier server a directive to register with and be served by the nearby home carrier base station instead and transitions to be served by the nearby home carrier base station.