PLMN Selection via Route-Based Frequency Band Targeting

Solution Overview

Problem

IoT devices, such as trackers, face significant power drain due to frequent scanning of frequency bands for PLMN selection during transit, which is inefficient and reduces battery life.

Innovation Solution

A wireless node, such as an IoT device, uses a planned route to selectively search for service on specific frequency bands associated with expected mobile country codes, thereby reducing unnecessary scanning and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless node frequently scans all frequency bands for PLMN selection during transit, then the device can reliably acquire service in any location, but the power consumption increases significantly and battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the wireless node with route information including expected Mobile Country Codes (MCCs) and their associated frequency bands before the device begins transit. This allows the device to proactively prepare a targeted scan list of frequency bands that are likely to be encountered along the planned route, rather than performing exhaustive scans of all possible bands. The pre-configured route data enables the device to anticipate which frequency bands to scan next, reducing unnecessary scanning while maintaining reliable service acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the wireless node scans all frequency bands to ensure comprehensive service coverage, then service acquisition is more reliable, but the time required to acquire service increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidservice acquisition time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the wireless node with route information including expected Mobile Country Codes (MCCs) and their associated frequency bands before the device begins transit. This allows the device to proactively prepare a targeted scan list of frequency bands that are likely to be encountered along the planned route, rather than performing exhaustive scans of all possible bands. The pre-configured route data enables the device to anticipate which frequency bands to scan next, reducing unnecessary scanning while maintaining reliable service acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the frequency band scanning process into targeted segments based on geographic location and expected route. Instead of scanning all frequency bands uniformly, the device segments the scan list into specific bands associated with MCCs that are expected to be encountered along the planned route. This segmentation allows the device to focus scanning efforts on relevant frequency bands only, reducing overall scan time while maintaining comprehensive coverage of expected service areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the wireless node performs exhaustive frequency band scanning to cover all possible networks, then adaptability to different locations is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation adaptabilityVSAvoidscan management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the wireless node with route information including expected Mobile Country Codes (MCCs) and their associated frequency bands before the device begins transit. This allows the device to proactively prepare a targeted scan list of frequency bands that are likely to be encountered along the planned route, rather than performing exhaustive scans of all possible bands. The pre-configured route data enables the device to anticipate which frequency bands to scan next, reducing unnecessary scanning while maintaining reliable service acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the frequency band scanning process into targeted segments based on geographic location and expected route. Instead of scanning all frequency bands uniformly, the device segments the scan list into specific bands associated with MCCs that are expected to be encountered along the planned route. This segmentation allows the device to focus scanning efforts on relevant frequency bands only, reducing overall scan time while maintaining comprehensive coverage of expected service areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250133463A1Public land mobile network selection when route information is available

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for selecting a public land mobile network (PLMN) based on route information. A method that may be performed by a wireless node includes camping on a first cellular network on a first frequency band of one or more first frequency bands associated with a first mobile country code (MCC) of a planned route of the wireless node; detecting a condition with the first cellular network after the camping on the first cellular network; and searching, after detecting the condition, for service on the one or more first frequency bands and one or more second frequency bands associated with a second MCC, wherein the one or more second frequency bands are selected based on the first MCC and the planned route.