Multi-mode Mobile Station Network Configuration
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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 encountering networks that support 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 information to determine network capabilities, receiving configuration profiles for each data session, and automatically configuring based on the received information to manage PDP contexts, ensuring no more than the supported number of concurrent sessions are enabled, thereby prioritizing service availability.
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 context support, 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 sends capability information before actually entering the new network or changing RAT, allowing the network to pre-configure the appropriate number of PDP contexts and service profiles in advance, preventing service disruptions when the network is joined
Solution Approach 2:
A configuration server acts as an intermediary between the mobile station and the network, receiving capability information from the mobile station, determining the appropriate PDP context configuration based on network capabilities, and providing configuration profiles that bridge the mobile station's service requirements with the network's limitations
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 system pre-configures service profiles that identify which services should use PDP contexts and their priority levels before the mobile station actually needs to access the network, allowing the always-on service to be re-established immediately without time loss when connectivity is restored
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration server receives capability information from the mobile station and provides feedback in the form of configuration profiles that specify the appropriate number of PDP contexts and which services should prioritize access, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to network conditions while maintaining service quality
3Ease of manufacture
If the mobile station configures itself without network capability information, then the configuration process is simple, but the mobile station cannot optimize service access according to network limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile station autonomously sends its capability information to the configuration server and automatically receives and applies the appropriate configuration profiles without manual intervention, maintaining simplicity while enabling optimized service access through automated network-aware configuration
Data Source
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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 networkcontrollers 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.