NTN UE Network Selection via Geographical Restrictions

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Solution Overview

Problem

User equipment (UE) in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) face challenges in determining whether to attempt access to a public land mobile network (PLMN) due to legal or regulatory restrictions, leading to unnecessary network access attempts and potential service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

The network provides geographical indications or lists of unique beam/cell identifiers to the UE, indicating areas or access points where the PLMN is not allowed to operate, thereby preventing the UE from attempting registration in restricted regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE attempts to access the PLMN in restricted areas, then the UE may establish a connection to the network, but the network access attempts are rejected due to legal or regulatory restrictions, leading to unnecessary power consumption and service disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork access reliabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary actions by providing geographical indications and beam/cell identifier lists to the UE before the UE attempts access. This allows the UE to pre-know which areas and access points are restricted, preventing unnecessary access attempts and power consumption while maintaining reliable network access in permitted regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the UE continuously attempts to register with the PLMN in restricted regions, then the UE may maintain network access efforts, but the repeated rejections cause service disruptions and unnecessary signaling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork access efficiencyVSAvoidtime for registration attempts

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network provides feedback to the UE by transmitting geographical indications and beam/cell identifier lists that indicate restricted areas. This feedback mechanism allows the UE to adjust its network access behavior accordingly, avoiding continuous failed registration attempts in restricted regions and reducing time loss while maintaining efficient network access in permitted areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4090079B1Network selection in a non-terrestrial network

Publication Date: 2025.03.12 APPLE INC

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AI summary

A user equipment (UE) is configured to receive broadcast information from a public land mobile network (PLMN) including at least a PLMN identifier (ID), attempt a registration with the PLMN by sending a registration request to the PLMN, wherein the UE attempts the registration via a base station operated by the PLMN deployed in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) arrangement including a non-terrestrial component configured to provide services to the UE via a service link, receive a message including a cause code indicating the PLMN is not allowed to operate at a current UE location and further including a set of attributes indicating further conditions wherein the registration with the PLMN is not allowed and avoid further registration attempts with the PLMN when the further conditions are met.