Network Sharing Handover for Reverse SRVCC

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack defined network sharing behavior for handover from the circuit switched (CS) domain to LTE, leading to potential rSRVCC failures and unnecessary roaming charges due to incorrect selection of target LTE PLMNs during voice call continuity across multiple operators.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves passing the source LTE PLMN ID or CS PLMN ID between networks during handover to ensure seamless voice call continuity by selecting the appropriate target PLMN, thereby avoiding rSRVCC failures and optimizing roaming agreements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network sharing behavior is not defined for handover from CS domain to LTE, then devices can operate across multiple operators' covered areas, but rSRVCC failures occur and unnecessary roaming charges are incurred due to incorrect target PLMN selection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice operation across multiple operatorsVSAvoidvoice call continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The source network node performs preliminary actions by determining the target LTE PLMN ID before the handover execution. This pre-determination ensures that the correct target PLMN is identified in advance, preventing rSRVCC failures and unnecessary roaming charges while maintaining voice call continuity across multiple operators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If network sharing behavior is not defined for handover from CS domain to LTE, then devices can operate across multiple operators' covered areas, but unnecessary roaming charges are incurred due to incorrect target PLMN selection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice operation across multiple operatorsVSAvoidroaming charges

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The source network node performs preliminary actions by determining the target LTE PLMN ID before the handover execution. This pre-determination ensures that the correct target PLMN is identified in advance, preventing unnecessary roaming charges while maintaining device operation across multiple operators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2704486B1Network Sharing and Reverse Single Radio Voice Call Continuity

Publication Date: 2021.05.26 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

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AI summary

Certain networks can operate using circuit switched infrastructure, while other networks may operate using infrastructure for the long term evolution (LTE) of the third generation partnership project (3GPP). Devices can operate across the boundaries of these networks. Thus, such devices as well as the networks may benefit from network sharing in reverse single radio voice call continuity. For example, a method may include requesting handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network. The method may also include providing a network identification corresponding to the source network while requesting the handover. Alternatively, or in addition, a method may include requesting handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network. The method may also include determining the target network based on a network identification received previously.