Mobile Network Steering via OTA Command and FPLMN Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices often fail to attach to preferred Private LTE or 5G networks during automatic network selection due to higher priority Public Land Mobile Networks, such as HPLMN, even when the preferred network has coverage in the area.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a steering command sent as an Over-The-Air (OTA) SMS message to detach from non-preferred networks, add them to a list of Forbidden Public Land Mobile Networks (FPLMN), and initiate a network selection procedure to attach to the preferred network, using a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or Unified Data Management (UDM) node to manage the process, ensuring the device attaches to the preferred network by rejecting non-preferred network requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE follows the standard network selection procedure prioritizing HPLMN, then the device can reliably connect to its home network, but it fails to attach to the preferred Private LTE or 5G network when both networks are available
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending a steering command via OTA message before the UE executes network selection. This command pre-configures the UE with a modified PLMN list that prioritizes the preferred Private LTE or 5G network, ensuring the device will select the desired network when both HPLMN and preferred network are available, while maintaining reliable attachment through controlled rejection of non-preferred networks
2Productivity
If the system forces the UE to attach to the preferred Private LTE or 5G network, then network steering efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional steering commands and FPLMN management
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary steering command sent via OTA message that acts as a mediator between the network operator's steering policy and the UE's automatic network selection procedure. This command modifies the UE's behavior by providing a customized PLMN list without requiring changes to the UE's fundamental network selection logic, thereby improving steering efficiency while minimizing added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by dynamically modifying the PLMN list presented to the UE through the steering command. By adjusting the order and content of networks in this list based on location and coverage conditions, the system achieves efficient network steering while keeping the implementation simple, as it leverages existing UE functionality with modified input parameters
3Reliability
If the system rejects attachment requests from non-preferred networks, then the UE is steered to the preferred network, but loss of time occurs during the attachment rejection and re-selection process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by sending the steering command with the modified PLMN list before the UE attempts network attachment. This pre-configuration ensures that when the UE performs automatic network selection, it will naturally select the preferred network from the modified list without requiring rejection and re-selection cycles, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining reliable attachment to the preferred network
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for steering a mobile device to a preferred network, such as a Private LTE network or a 5G network, in a scenario in which the coverage area of the preferred network overlaps the coverage area of a non-preferred network. If a network function detects that the mobile device is located within the coverage area of the preferred network, the network steering procedure will be triggered. The mobile device will detach from its current network, place that network on a temporary forbidden list, and perform an automatic network selection. If mobile device selects another non-preferred network, the attachment request will be denied, and the mobile device will add that non-preferred network to the temporary forbidden list. This procedure is repeated until the mobile device attaches to the preferred network or a predefined duration expires.