Multi-mode Mobile Station Network Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-mode mobile stations face issues when transitioning between networks or radio access technologies (RATs) with different capabilities, particularly when the new network or RAT supports fewer packet data protocol (PDP) contexts, leading to disruptions in always-on services and delayed service availability due to limitations in concurrent data sessions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for configuring multi-mode mobile stations over-the-air by sending identification information to a configuration server, which generates and sends configuration profiles to manage PDP contexts, ensuring the mobile station adapts to the available number of data sessions in the new network or RAT, thereby enabling seamless service continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the multi-mode mobile station enters a new network or changes to an alternate RAT with limited PDP contexts, then the mobile station can access the network, but the number of concurrent data sessions is reduced, causing service disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile station performs preliminary actions by detecting the maximum number of PDP contexts supported by the new network or RAT before actually entering the network or changing RATs. This detection is performed in advance, allowing the station to pre-configure its data session management strategy. By knowing the PDP context limitation beforehand, the mobile station can proactively adjust its behavior to avoid service disruptions when entering the new network, thus maintaining service continuity while adapting to network constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile station disconnects the PDP context of the always-on application to allow other services access, then other services can access the network, but the always-on application experiences delays
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile station performs preliminary detection of the maximum number of PDP contexts supported by the new network before entering it. This advance knowledge allows the station to pre-determine which applications should have priority access to PDP contexts and configure its data session management accordingly. By preparing this configuration in advance, the mobile station avoids the need to disconnect always-on applications to make room for other services, thereby preventing service delays while ensuring all services can access the network.
3Productivity
If the mobile station maintains multiple PDP contexts for multiple services, then service functionality is improved, but the mobile station cannot adapt to networks with fewer PDP context supports
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile station implements dynamic adaptation by adjusting its PDP context configuration based on the detected maximum number of PDP contexts supported by the current network or RAT. Instead of maintaining a fixed configuration for multiple services, the station dynamically reconfigures its data session management to match the network's capabilities. This dynamic approach allows the mobile station to optimize service functionality for each specific network environment, ensuring both high productivity and broad network compatibility across different PDP context limitations.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods are provided for configuring multi-mode mobile stations. When the number of data sessions available to a multi-mode mobile station changes, the multi-mode mobile station sends information to configuration server sufficient to determine the capability of the network and identify the multi-mode mobile station. The number of data sessions available to a multi-mode mobile station may change for example due to the multi-mode mobile entering a network, changing radio access technologies (RAT) used in the network or changing radio network controllers having the same or a different respective number of data sessions. A configuration server receives the information sent by the multi-mode mobile station and selects configuration information for configuring the multi-mode mobile station to support services/applications that are subscribed to by a user of the multi-mode mobile station. In some embodiments the selection of configuration information is made at least in part based on the information received by the configuration server from the multi-mode mobile station. Once the configuration information has been selected, the configuration server sends the configuration information to the multi-mode mobile station. The multi-mode mobile station receives the multi-mode mobile station specific configuration information and automatically configures itself according to the configuration information.