PLMN Roaming Identity Register for Private Network Subscribers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Private mobile network subscribers lack a unique Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ID, preventing them from seamlessly roaming into Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) due to the limited global unique PLMN ID codes available.
Innovation Solution
The system analyzes the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) digits beyond the leading MCC+MNC of the roaming subscriber to determine if roaming is allowed and applies appropriate policies, using a Roaming Identity Register (RIR) to map IMSI to a unique pointer for routing signaling correctly between the visited PLMN and the private network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If private mobile networks use similar wireless technologies to PLMNs, then they can achieve better local coverage and security, but they cannot support seamless roaming due to lack of unique PLMN ID
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a PLMN ID mapping mechanism that acts as an intermediary between private networks and public PLMNs. The mapping entity translates private network identifiers to PLMN identifiers, enabling roaming subscribers to access PLMN services without requiring unique PLMN IDs for private networks. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining private network identity protection while enabling interoperability through the mapping intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the identification system into two layers: private network identification (for security and coverage) and PLMN identification (for roaming). By separating these functions, private networks can maintain their unique identifiers for security purposes while the mapping mechanism provides PLMN-level identification for roaming compatibility, thus resolving the contradiction between security and roaming capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If private networks are constrained to smaller geographic areas, then they can ensure privacy and security, but subscribers cannot access services outside private network coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The PLMN ID mapping mechanism serves as an intermediary that allows private network subscribers to extend their service coverage to PLMN areas without exposing private network identifiers. The mapping entity enables service availability expansion while maintaining privacy and security by hiding the actual private network identifiers behind a PLMN identifier layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation of private network identifiers through PLMN identifier mapping. Instead of exposing actual private network IDs, the system creates a copied identifier layer (PLMN ID) that represents private networks for roaming purposes, thereby expanding service range while protecting original identifier privacy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If unique PLMN ID codes are allocated to each private network, then roaming would be enabled, but the limited global unique PLMN ID codes would be exhausted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the PLMN identifier system universal by allowing it to represent multiple private networks through mapping. Instead of requiring one unique PLMN ID per private network, the PLMN identifier becomes a multi-functional resource that can map to numerous private networks, thereby supporting roaming for all private networks without exhausting the limited PLMN ID code space.
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping entity acts as an intermediary that decouples the relationship between private networks and PLMN identifiers. It allows multiple private networks to share PLMN identifier resources by translating their unique identifiers to shared PLMN identifiers, enabling roaming support without requiring unique PLMN ID allocation for each private network.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein enable private telecommunications network subscribers that do not have a distinctive Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ID to access visited PLMN services. A device in a visited wireless network receives an attach request for a user equipment (UE) device; detects, based on the attach request, that the UE device is subscribed to a private network; provides, to a roaming identity register (RIR), a roaming authorization request for the UE device; receives a roaming authorization response that includes a network pointer to the private network; and applies, based on the roaming authorization response, a roaming policy for the UE device.