Autonomous APN Selection for Mission Critical Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mission critical (MC) wireless communication systems, determining the appropriate access point name (APN) for MC services and user authentication is challenging due to the complexity of roaming scenarios and the need for different packet data networks, especially when a user's registered public land mobile network (RPLMN) changes, requiring an efficient method to autonomously determine APN information based on the MC organization and associated PLMNs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining APN information using the MC organization name, RPLMN identifier, and HPLMN identifier, either by automatic derivation or by referencing stored configuration data, allowing the user equipment (UE) to autonomously select the correct APN for connecting to packet data networks, even during roaming, and enabling flexible network arrangements by allowing different MC services and PLMNs to use different PDNs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the UE manually configures APN information, then the UE can access MC services, but the operation complexity increases and the UE cannot autonomously determine APN during roaming
Solution Approach 1:
The UE autonomously determines the APN by selecting the appropriate APN from a set of candidate APNs based on the MC organization and RPLMN/HPLMN identifiers without requiring manual configuration. The UE automatically filters and selects the correct APN using the identifiers provided in the authentication message, enabling self-service operation during roaming scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The network pre-provides a set of candidate APNs along with the MC organization identifier, RPLMN identifier, and HPLMN identifier in the authentication message. This preliminary provision of multiple APN options allows the UE to perform autonomous selection without requiring complex manual configuration, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the UE uses a single APN for all scenarios, then the configuration is simple, but the UE cannot adapt to different MC organizations and roaming situations
Solution Approach 1:
The UE dynamically selects the appropriate APN from multiple candidate APNs based on the MC organization identifier and the combination of RPLMN and HPLMN identifiers. The selection criteria change dynamically according to the specific roaming scenario and organization, allowing the system to adapt to different conditions without requiring complex manual configuration for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the APN selection process into distinct steps: receiving candidate APNs, identifying the MC organization, determining RPLMN and HPLMN identifiers, filtering APNs based on organization match, and selecting the appropriate APN based on network identifiers. This segmentation of the complex selection logic into manageable steps enables adaptability while controlling the complexity through structured decision-making.
3Extent of automation
If the network provides multiple APN options, then the UE can autonomously select the correct APN, but the network signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication message serves multiple functions: it authenticates the UE, identifies the MC organization, provides RPLMN and HPLMN identifiers, and includes a set of candidate APNs. By making the authentication message multi-functional, the network avoids additional separate signaling messages for APN provision, thereby achieving automation while minimizing the increase in network signaling overhead.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for determining an access point name (APN) for mission critical services includes determining, at a user equipment (UE), APN information of a packet data network (PDN) based on at least one of a mission critical organization name, a registered public land mobile network identifier, or a home public land mobile network identifier currently associated with the UE. The method comprises storing, at the UE, configured APN information for at least one mission critical organization name and public land mobile network (PLMN) identifiers associated with each of the at least one mission critical organization name; and identifying a match between the mission critical organization name and the PLMN identifier currently associated with the UE and a mission critical organization name and a PLMN identifier in the configured APN information; and connecting to the PDN based on the determined APN information.