Network Selection Policy Prioritization for Roaming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network selection mechanisms, such as ANDSF, face challenges in resolving conflicts between home and visited network policies when a mobile device roams, leading to suboptimal network choices due to lack of integration and prioritization of policies from both networks.
Innovation Solution
A method that selects and combines access network selection policies from both the visited and home networks, with user-defined policies having higher priority, and applies them in order until a successful connection is made, allowing for flexible network selection and overriding of visited network data by home network preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ANDSF mechanisms provide network selection policies from visited networks, then mobile devices can connect to available networks, but conflicts arise between home and visited network policies leading to suboptimal network choices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network selection policies into distinct categories: user-defined policies, home network policies, and visited network policies. Each segment operates with defined priority levels, allowing the device to systematically evaluate and select policies without conflict. User-defined policies are evaluated first, followed by home network policies, and then visited network policies, creating a hierarchical segmentation that resolves conflicts between network operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a policy evaluation function that mediates between home and visited network policies. This intermediary layer prioritizes user-defined policies and home network policies over visited network policies, acting as a mediator that prevents visited network policies from overriding more authoritative policies, thereby resolving conflicts and ensuring reliable network selection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices use multiple access technologies, then connectivity options increase, but complexity of network selection and policy management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network selection process into distinct phases: collecting policies from multiple sources (user-defined, home network, visited network), evaluating policies against validity conditions, and selecting the highest priority valid policy. This segmentation breaks down the complex task of managing multiple access technologies into manageable, systematic steps that reduce device complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of policy evaluation by introducing priority levels and validity conditions as key parameters. Instead of treating all policies equally, the system evaluates policies based on their priority (user-defined > home network > visited network) and validity conditions (location, time, network availability). This parameter-based approach simplifies the management of multiple access technologies by providing clear selection criteria.
3Ease of operation
If visited network policies are applied first, then local network preferences are honored, but user-defined and home network preferences may be overridden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by evaluating user-defined policies and home network policies before visited network policies, rather than applying visited network policies first. This inversion ensures that user preferences and home network authority are not overridden by visited network policies, while still allowing visited network policies to be considered when no higher-priority policies are available. The evaluation order is reversed to prioritize user control and home network authority.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation mechanism that mediates between visited network policies and user-defined/home network policies. The intermediary function checks whether visited network policies conflict with higher-priority policies before applying them, acting as a mediator that protects user-defined and home network preferences from being overridden while still allowing local network access when appropriate.
Data Source
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AI summary
When a user of a mobile communication device is roaming in a visited network, an active network selection policy is formed of one or more partial policies. The partial policies typically include the network selection rules of the visited network, but may also include user home network rules, global network selection rules of the home network and/or further network selection rules of the home network. At least some of the partial policies, such as the network selection policy of the visited network, may be in accordance with Automatic Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) mechanisms.