Mobile Node Network Selection via WLAN Home Connection Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems fail to allow user selection of cellular networks when a wireless local area network is directly connected to a mobile node's home public land mobile network, resulting in automatic communication with the home network without user choice.
Innovation Solution
The mobile node determines if the connected wireless local area network is directly connected to its home network, causing authentication to fail, which prompts the network to send information about available public land mobile networks, allowing the user to select from these options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile node automatically authenticates with the home network when directly connected, then communication reliability is improved, but user selection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection to determine whether the WLAN is directly connected to the HPLMN before authentication. Based on this detection result, the mobile node either performs automatic authentication (when not directly connected) or triggers PLMN information display (when directly connected), allowing user selection. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by conditionally applying different authentication behaviors.
2Ease of operation
If the mobile node performs automatic authentication with the home network, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication mechanism is made dynamic by detecting the direct connection status between WLAN and HPLMN. When directly connected, the system dynamically switches from automatic authentication to a mode that displays available PLMNs and requires user selection. This dynamic adjustment maintains ease of operation for direct connections while providing adaptability when users need to select alternative networks.
3Productivity
If the system provides automatic communication with home network, then productivity is improved, but adaptability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of direct connection status before initiating authentication. This preliminary action enables the system to efficiently automatically authenticate when appropriate (improving productivity) while also preparing and displaying PLMN information when user selection is needed (maintaining adaptability). The preliminary detection resolves the contradiction by enabling both efficient automatic operation and user choice capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to permit selection by a user of a mobile node of with which cellular communication system network that the mobile node shall communicate by way of an interworking wireless local area network. User selection is provided even when the interworking wireless local area network is directly connected to the home network of the mobile node. A determiner determines whether the interworking wireless local area network is directly connected to the home network. And, responsive to the determinations, an identifier identifies the cellular communication system network associated with the interworking wireless local area network.