PLMN Selection for Disaster Roaming in 5G
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, such as 5G New Radio, face challenges in minimizing service interruptions during disasters, as they struggle to efficiently manage communication disruptions and impact on neighboring networks, particularly in selecting alternative Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) for disaster roaming.
Innovation Solution
User Equipment (UE) devices are equipped with a transceiver and processor to receive messages from forbidden PLMNs, prioritize and select PLMNs based on priority lists, and establish communication with the highest priority PLMN, even if it's normally inaccessible, using Receive Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) or random selection, to provide disaster roaming services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE strictly follows the forbidden PLMN list to avoid connecting to inaccessible networks, then network security and protocol compliance are maintained, but communication service availability deteriorates during disaster conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The PLMN selection mechanism dynamically adjusts the forbidden PLMN list based on disaster condition detection. When a disaster is detected in the home network, the UE temporarily removes PLMNs from the forbidden list that are offering disaster roaming services, allowing connection to previously inaccessible networks. This dynamic modification resolves the contradiction by making the selection mechanism adaptive to emergency conditions while maintaining protocol compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the status parameter of PLMNs in the forbidden list from 'forbidden' to 'available for disaster roaming' when disaster conditions are detected. This parameter change allows the UE to connect to PLMNs that would normally be inaccessible, thereby improving communication service availability during disasters without compromising overall network security.
2Productivity
If the UE automatically selects PLMN based on priority lists during disasters, then service continuity is improved, but user control and operator policy enforcement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The UE pre-configures priority lists of PLMNs before disasters occur, including both preferred PLMNs and PLMNs from the previously forbidden list that may offer disaster roaming. When a disaster is detected, the UE automatically selects from these pre-configured lists, enabling rapid service restoration while maintaining user-defined preferences and operator policies that were established in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors disaster condition indicators and automatically adjusts PLMN selection based on received disaster roaming service offers. This feedback loop allows automatic service restoration while still respecting user control options, as users can configure their preferred PLMN priorities in advance and the system provides status information about disaster conditions and available networks.
3Reliability
If the UE connects to any available PLMN during disaster roaming, then service availability is improved, but impact on neighboring networks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UE applies different selection criteria to different PLMNs based on their specific characteristics and the disaster condition. Instead of uniformly connecting to any available PLMN, the system evaluates each PLMN's disaster roaming service offer and selects from preferred PLMNs that have agreed to provide disaster roaming, thereby distributing load appropriately and minimizing negative impact on neighboring networks while maintaining service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
Operator preferred PLMN lists are pre-configured with networks that have established disaster roaming agreements, ensuring that during disasters the UE automatically selects from these pre-authorized networks. This preliminary configuration ensures service availability while preventing unauthorized or excessive impact on neighboring networks that have not agreed to provide disaster roaming services.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for public land mobile network (PLMN) selection for disaster roaming in a 5G wireless communications system. A user equipment (UE) can receive two or more messages that disaster roaming service is offered by two or more forbidden public land mobile networks (PLMNs) of a forbidden PLMN list of the UE. The UE can select a first forbidden PLMN of the two or more forbidden PLMNs, where the first forbidden PLMN corresponds to a highest priority PLMN of a preferred PLMN list of the UE, and establish communications, via the transceiver, with the first forbidden PLMN. Some embodiments include designating a forbidden PLMN as offering a disaster roaming PLMN for manual selection. Some embodiments include enabling a Closed Access Group (CAG)-capable UE to access disaster roaming services from a forbidden PLMN of a CAG-only cell or a 5G cell.