Multi-mode Mobile Terminal Network Discovery and Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous network environments, there is a need for a method to discover multi-mode mobile terminals and facilitate interworking between different networks, particularly to enable seamless roaming and efficient radio resource management, as existing technologies struggle with identifying accessible foreign networks and managing group mobility scenarios effectively.
Innovation Solution
Multi-mode mobile terminals inform their home network about accessible foreign networks by listening, receiving, and transmitting foreign network indicators, allowing the home network to store mappings for interworking, and by reporting location data to manage handovers and resource allocation efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-mode mobile terminals use multiple interfaces to connect to different radio access networks, then the ability to access heterogeneous networks is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal discovery mechanism where mobile terminals can automatically detect and register with multiple types of networks (broadcast networks like DVB-H and packet-switched networks like UMTS/GPRS) using a single standardized procedure. The terminal maintains capability information about supported access technologies and uses this to selectively connect to appropriate networks, making the device adaptable to heterogeneous environments without requiring separate specialized mechanisms for each network type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the home network stores detailed mapping information about foreign networks, then the interworking capability is improved, but the information management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary registration where mobile terminals proactively inform their home network about accessible foreign networks before actual service usage. The terminal performs network listening, obtains foreign network indicators, and registers this information with the home network in advance. This preliminary action allows the home network to pre-establish mapping relationships and routing information, simplifying real-time interworking operations and reducing the complexity of dynamic information management during actual service delivery.
3Measurement precision
If the system performs individual handover management for each mobile terminal, then the handover precision is improved, but the processing overhead increases in group mobility scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements group handover management by identifying mobile terminals that share the same foreign network indicator and combining them into handover groups. Instead of performing individual handover procedures for each terminal, the system processes entire groups simultaneously, maintaining precise handover control through group-based management. This merging approach significantly reduces processing overhead in scenarios where multiple terminals are in the same location or moving together, while still maintaining accurate handover execution through the standardized discovery and registration mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of discovering multi-mode mobile terminals (13) in a heterogeneous network environment, each multi-mode mobile terminal (13) having at least one interface for sending packet data to and/or receiving packet data from a home radio communication network (11) and a foreign radio communication network (12), said home radio communication network having a different access technology from said foreign radio communication network, each multi-mode mobile terminal (13) performing the steps of:(a) listening to said foreign radio communication network (12);(b) receiving and storing a foreign network indicator for indicating presence of said foreign radio communication network (12); and(c) transmitting said foreign network indicator to said home radio communication network (11);whereby said home radio communication network (11) may store a database comprising a mapping between a multi-mode mobile terminal identity, a home network indicator and a foreign network indicator, to facilitate interworking of said home and foreign radio communication networks.