Mobility Node Access Filtering for Roaming Handover Decisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to efficiently handle UE access to networks due to the inability to apply differentiated access restrictions per operator, leading to service interruptions and increased signaling and processing loads, especially in roaming scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A mobility node in the visited network includes information about all potential handover target networks in the update location request message, allowing the subscriber server to filter and provide a list of allowed network IDs and corresponding RATs, which are then used to prevent futile handover attempts and minimize signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the HSS provides common RAT restriction information for all PLMN IDs, then the configuration and signaling is simplified, but differentiated access restrictions per operator cannot be applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access restriction information by creating separate lists for each PLMN ID. The HSS maintains multiple access restriction lists, each associated with a specific PLMN ID, allowing differentiated restrictions to be applied per operator while maintaining manageable configuration through structured organization
Solution Approach 2:
The HSS pre-configures multiple access restriction lists for different PLMN IDs before roaming scenarios occur. When a UE registers with a V-PLMN, the HSS can immediately retrieve and apply the appropriate pre-configured restriction list for that PLMN, enabling differentiated access control without real-time configuration complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the HSS includes detailed access restriction information for multiple PLMN IDs, then differentiated access restrictions per operator can be applied, but signaling load and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary access restriction information for the specific V-PLMN where the UE is currently registered. The HSS retrieves and sends only the relevant access restriction list corresponding to the current V-PLMN ID, rather than transmitting all possible restriction data, thereby reducing signaling load while maintaining differentiated access control
Solution Approach 2:
The HSS applies local quality by providing access restriction information tailored to the specific local context (current V-PLMN). Each PLMN receives only its specific restriction list, ensuring that the information is locally optimized and relevant, reducing unnecessary data transmission while enabling precise per-operator control
3Productivity
If the V-PLMN attempts handover to E-UTRAN in PLMN-2 without checking access restrictions, then handover can proceed based on radio conditions, but the handover will fail when the UE is not allowed to access E-UTRAN at PLMN-2
Solution Approach 1:
The HSS provides access restriction lists to the V-PLMN in advance during UE registration. The V-PLMN uses this pre-provided information to perform preliminary checks before initiating handover, ensuring that handover attempts are made only to networks where the UE has access rights, thereby preventing futile handover attempts while maintaining efficient execution
Solution Approach 2:
The HSS provides feedback to the V-PLMN about which networks and RATs are allowed for the UE based on the current V-PLMN context. The V-PLMN uses this feedback information to make informed handover decisions, checking against the provided access restriction lists before attempting handover, thus ensuring both efficient execution and high success rate
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, devices, computer programs and carriers comprising computer programs for handling handling a User Equipments, UE, access to networks are provided. A method performed by a mobility node 105 comprises, when the UE 101 accesses the current visited network 100v, transmitting 302, 401, through the visited network to a subscriber server 108 in a home network 100h of the UE 101, a request for access information for the UE 101. The request comprises network information which indicates the current visited network 100v and at least one potential visited network which the UE 101 can access. The method further comprises receiving 304, 403, from the subscriber server 108, the requested access information for at least some of the networks indicated in the request. The access information comprises allowed network IDs and corresponding allowed RATs for at least some of the networks indicated in the request which the UE 101 is allowed to access. When the UE 101 should access one of the potential visited networks, the mobility node determines 405, based on the previously received access information, if the UE 101 is allowed to access the potential visited network.