PLMN Selection for Mission Critical Device Migration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

User Equipment (UE) connected to a Primary MC system may need to migrate to a Partner MC system, but the default mechanism for connecting to a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) can cause the UE to select a PLMN that cannot provide connectivity to the Partner MC system.

Innovation Solution

A method where the UE sends an indication to a network element about its intention to migrate to a partner MC system, receives a list of PLMN identifiers from the network element that can facilitate this migration, and then registers with one of the selected PLMNs to establish connectivity to the partner MC system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the UE uses the default mechanism for connecting to a PLMN, then the UE can automatically select a PLMN, but the selected PLMN may not provide connectivity to the Partner MC system

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic PLMN selectionVSAvoidconnectivity to Partner MC system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network element provides a list of suitable PLMN identifiers to the UE before the UE needs to establish connectivity to the Partner MC system. This preliminary provision of information allows the UE to make an informed selection that guarantees Partner MC system connectivity while maintaining automatic selection operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network element receives feedback from the UE about its PLMN selection intent and uses this information to determine which PLMNs to include in the list. This feedback mechanism ensures that the provided PLMN list is tailored to the UE's specific needs and connectivity requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the UE manually selects from a list of PLMNs, then the UE can ensure connectivity to the Partner MC system, but the process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity to Partner MC systemVSAvoidPLMN selection process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously selects from the provided list of PLMN identifiers without requiring manual user intervention. The UE's selection logic automatically determines which PLMN to register with, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable connectivity to the Partner MC system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the UE provides location information to the network element, then the network element can determine appropriate PLMNs for migration, but the UE must disclose more information

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePLMN selection based on locationVSAvoidlocation information disclosure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network element uses location information as a parameter to filter and select appropriate PLMNs from the available list. By changing the selection criteria based on location, the system achieves adaptive PLMN selection that optimizes connectivity while using minimal necessary information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3711391B1PLMN selection for mission critical devices

Publication Date: 2025.04.02 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A method for selecting a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) at a user equipment (UE), comprising receiving, from a network entity, a list of PLMN identifiers, attempting to register the UE with a network using at least one PLMN identifier from the list of PLMN identifiers, and if the attempt to register with the network is successful, performing a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) registration to an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Sub-system (IMS) associated to the PLMN identifier.