PLMN Selection for Shared MCC Access in International Areas
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems lack effective methods for public land mobile network (PLMN) selection in international areas and when served by a PLMN with a shared identity, particularly in non-terrestrial network (NTN) access scenarios, such as satellite coverage spanning multiple countries.
Innovation Solution
Introduce a modified PLMN selection procedure for UEs in international areas, including triggering selection upon entering or leaving these areas, prioritizing the home PLMN or equivalent home PLMN list, using a separate international PLMN selector list, and not limiting searches based on mobile country code (MCC) for shared PLMNs, and implementing new indications for international access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional PLMN selection procedures are used in international areas, then UEs can connect to available networks, but the selection efficiency and accuracy deteriorate due to lack of specific international area handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PLMN selection procedure into distinct paths: one for national areas and another for international areas. When a UE determines it is in an international area (based on location information or network indications), it follows the international area-specific selection procedure which includes using a separate international PLMN selector list and not limiting searches by MCC, thereby improving selection efficiency and accuracy for international scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by triggering PLMN selection upon entering or leaving international areas, and by pre-configuring separate international PLMN selector lists in UEs. These preliminary measures ensure that UEs are ready to perform efficient PLMN selection immediately when in international areas, avoiding delays and improving overall selection efficiency.
2Reliability
If PLMN selection is limited by mobile country code (MCC) for shared PLMNs, then national network security is maintained, but the ability to access international networks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the MCC limitation rule conditional on the geographic area type. In national areas, UEs limit PLMN searches to their home MCC for security. In international areas, UEs remove this limitation and search for PLMNs with any MCC, allowing them to access international networks while maintaining national security policies in domestic contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the PLMN selection criteria adaptive to the UE's current location context. The system dynamically adjusts whether to apply MCC limitations based on whether the UE is in a national or international area, enabling flexible adaptation to different operational environments while maintaining appropriate security and access policies.
3Measurement precision
If a separate international PLMN selector list is implemented, then PLMN selection accuracy in international areas improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PLMN selector list into two distinct components: a national PLMN selector list for domestic use and an international PLMN selector list for international area use. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high selection accuracy by using the appropriate list for the current context, while the modular structure helps manage complexity through clear separation of functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) performs a public land mobile network (PLMN) scan for a higher priority PLMN, and reports a list of candidates PLMNs based on the scan. An identity of a first one of the candidate PLMNs includes a shared mobile country code (MCC). The shared MCC has a value between 900 and 999 and is also used for performing access with satellite technology. The UE selects the first one of the candidate PLMNs from among the list of candidate PLMNs. Each of the candidate PLMNs has either a mobile country code (MCC) the same as an identity of a serving PLMN or the shared MCC, when the identity of the serving PLMN does not comprise the shared MCC. The selecting is based on the first one of the candidate PLMNs having a higher priority than the serving PLMN.