Passive Terminal Roaming Operation Through Network-Side Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Passive terminals without a SIM card cannot actively access networks in roaming scenarios, limiting their operation and communication across different networks.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and apparatus that enables a first network element in the home network to actively search for and establish a connection with a visited network, using mapping relationships between geographical locations and network identifiers to facilitate cross-network operations for passive terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a passive terminal uses lightweight design without SIM card, then device complexity is reduced, but network access capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal structureVSAvoidnetwork access capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network-side identification mechanism as an intermediary between the passive terminal and the network. The terminal carries a lightweight identifier (without SIM card), and the network uses this identifier to recognize and authenticate the terminal, enabling network access without adding complexity to the terminal structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the terminal actively selecting networks (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by having the network actively search for and identify the terminal using the lightweight identifier. This allows the terminal to maintain simplicity while the network handles the complexity of network selection and access management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If passive terminal cannot actively access network, then terminal operation is simplified, but cross-network operation capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal operationVSAvoidcross-network operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic network searching and identification mechanisms where network elements can dynamically search for terminals based on lightweight identifiers and dynamically adjust network selection based on terminal location and network conditions, enabling cross-network operation without complicating the terminal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If network element actively searches for visited network, then cross-network access is enabled, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-network access capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring lightweight identifiers in terminals and pre-establishing identification mechanisms in the network. This allows network elements to efficiently search for and identify terminals without extensive signaling, as the identification framework is already in place before actual network access is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the identification parameter from traditional SIM-based identifiers to lightweight identifiers that can be efficiently transmitted and processed. This parameter change reduces signaling overhead while maintaining cross-network access capability, as the lightweight identifiers require less bandwidth and processing compared to traditional authentication mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4712521A1Communication method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.03.18 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3A~3D
Figure 4~5A

AI summary

This application discloses a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: A first network element receives an operation request for a passive terminal sent by a requester, where the first network element is in a home network of the passive terminal. The first network element determines, based on the operation request or a network accessed by the passive terminal last time, a first network that the requester requests to access. The first network element sends a request message to a second network element in the first network, where the request message is generated based on the operation request, and the request message indicates the second network element to operate the passive terminal. According to this application, the requester (an enterprise or an individual user) can operate the passive terminal across networks (that is, in a roaming scenario).