Mobility Management Network Element Location Update for Network Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In network sharing scenarios, user equipment that does not support network sharing causes message inconsistencies between the user equipment and the MSC/VLR, leading to re-authorization delays and unnecessary signaling, resulting in network resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

A mobility management network element determines if a user equipment supports network sharing and sends a location update request message to the MSC/VLR with a common PLMN ID and CS domain PLMN ID, ensuring consistent LAI storage and authentication processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the MSC/VLR stores the LAI sent by the mobility management network element for all user equipment, then the location update process is simplified, but user equipment that does not support network sharing causes message inconsistencies leading to re-authorization delays and unnecessary signaling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation update processing efficiencyVSAvoidre-authorization delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of LAI based on user equipment capabilities. The mobility management network element determines whether the user equipment supports network sharing, and accordingly selects different PLMN ID types (common PLMN ID for non-sharing equipment, CS domain PLMN ID for sharing equipment) when constructing the LAI. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by ensuring each user equipment receives the appropriate LAI format, preventing message inconsistencies and re-authorization delays while maintaining efficient processing for all users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the MSC/VLR uses a common PLMN ID in the LAI for user equipment not supporting network sharing, then compatibility is improved, but the CS domain PLMN ID required for billing and subscription data retrieval becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with non-sharing user equipmentVSAvoidCS domain PLMN ID consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PLMN ID selection process based on user equipment capabilities. The mobility management network element divides user equipment into two categories: those supporting network sharing and those not supporting it. For non-sharing equipment, a common PLMN ID is used in the LAI to ensure compatibility, while for sharing equipment, the CS domain PLMN ID is used to maintain billing and subscription data consistency. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each category to use the appropriate PLMN ID type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter type of PLMN ID in the LAI based on user equipment capabilities. The mobility management network element dynamically selects between common PLMN ID and CS domain PLMN ID as the PLMN ID parameter in the LAI, depending on whether the user equipment supports network sharing. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by ensuring the correct PLMN ID type is used for each user equipment category, maintaining both compatibility and information consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the mobility management network element sends the LAI to the user equipment without indicating network sharing support, then the signaling protocol is simplified, but the user equipment cannot properly distinguish between common PLMN ID and CS domain PLMN ID

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling protocol complexityVSAvoidPLMN ID type distinction

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the approach by having the network proactively provide capability indication information to the user equipment along with the LAI, rather than expecting the user equipment to infer its capabilities. The mobility management network element sends both the LAI and the capability indication information (whether the user equipment supports network sharing) to the access network element, which then forwards it to the user equipment. This inversion resolves the contradiction by ensuring the user equipment receives explicit information about PLMN ID type without complicating the core signaling protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2852197B1Location update for network sharing

Publication Date: 2018.08.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for sharing a core network, where the method includes: first, determining, by a mobility management network element, that a user equipment does not support network sharing; and then, sending, by the mobility management network element, a location update request message to a mobile switching center or visitor location register MSC/VLR, where the location update request message includes indication information that the user equipment does not support network sharing, or the location update request message includes a location area identity LAI including a common public land mobile network identifier common PLMN ID, or the location update request message includes an LAI including a common PLMN ID and includes a circuit switched domain public land mobile network identifier CS domain PLMN ID. The present invention is applicable to the field of communications systems.