Passive Terminal Roaming Access via Network-Mediated Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive terminals lacking a SIM card and network identifier cannot actively access networks in roaming scenarios, preventing authorized users or enterprises from operating or communicating with them across networks.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a first network element in the home network actively searches for and establishes a connection with a visited network, using geographical location or terminal identifier mappings to operate the passive terminal across networks, and enhances the passive terminal's identifier to improve access capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive terminal uses lightweight design without SIM card, then device complexity is reduced, but network access capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network element as an intermediary that stores the terminal identifier and home network information. This intermediary enables the passive terminal to be identified and accessed across different networks without requiring a SIM card, thus maintaining lightweight design while restoring network access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the network identification function from the terminal side to the network side. Instead of the terminal carrying network identifiers (traditional approach), the network elements store and manage terminal identifiers and home network information, enabling cross-network access without modifying the terminal structure.
2Device complexity
If passive terminal lacks network identifier, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to respond to RAN device broadcasting is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A network element acts as an intermediary that stores the terminal identifier and home network information. When the terminal needs to access a network, the network element provides the necessary identification information, enabling the terminal to respond to RAN device broadcasting without carrying any network identifiers itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The network element performs preliminary actions by pre-storing terminal identifiers and home network information before the terminal needs to access a network. This allows the terminal to quickly respond to broadcasting without needing to search or generate identification information at the moment of access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If requester needs to operate terminal across networks, then adaptability is improved, but network connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network element as an intermediary that manages terminal identification and home network information. This intermediary simplifies cross-network operations by centralizing the management of terminal identifiers, allowing requesters to operate terminals across different networks without dealing with complex network connection structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The network element is designed with multi-functionality, serving as a universal repository for terminal identifiers and home network information that can be accessed by any network. This universal approach enables cross-network operations without requiring separate mechanisms for each network, thus reducing overall complexity.
Data Source
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).