Centralized Preferred Roaming List Update for Mobile Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for managing multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and their preferred roaming lists are inefficient, as they lack the capability to effectively update and prioritize wireless communication network usage based on collective usage data from multiple devices, leading to suboptimal network selection and slower connection setups.

Innovation Solution

A server apparatus and method that collect usage data from multiple mobile devices, update subscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists, and transmit these updates to optimize network selection, enabling faster, more reliable connections by prioritizing network usage based on collective data analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple subscriber identity modules are managed individually without centralized coordination, then each module can operate independently, but the overall system efficiency and network selection optimization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidmanagement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the management of multiple subscriber identity modules into a unified system where a server apparatus centrally coordinates PRL updates across all modules. The server collects usage data from multiple mobile devices, aggregates this information, and generates optimized PRL updates that consider collective usage patterns rather than treating each SIM independently. This combining approach improves system efficiency by enabling coordinated network selection while managing complexity through centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The server apparatus performs multiple functions: collecting usage data from numerous mobile devices, analyzing collective usage patterns, generating optimized PRL updates, and distributing these updates to multiple subscriber identity modules. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to handle the complex task of managing multiple SIMs efficiently, improving productivity while containing management complexity within a universal platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If preferred roaming lists are updated based on collective usage data from multiple devices, then network selection optimization improves, but data collection and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork selection reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server apparatus continuously collects and processes usage data in the background, preparing optimized PRL updates before they are needed. By performing preliminary data aggregation and analysis, the system can quickly deploy updated PRLs when network selection decisions are required, improving reliability without significantly increasing perceived processing time. The server proactively monitors usage patterns and pre-computes optimization recommendations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where usage data from multiple devices continuously informs PRL updates, which are then deployed and their effectiveness monitored. This closed-loop approach allows the server to learn from collective usage patterns and progressively improve network selection reliability. The feedback cycle enables the system to balance data collection time with update frequency, optimizing the trade-off between reliability improvement and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If centralized server coordination is implemented for PRL updates, then network utilization optimization improves, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork utilization adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server apparatus acts as an intermediary between mobile devices and the network infrastructure, coordinating PRL updates without requiring direct complex interactions between devices and network elements. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the adaptation logic in a dedicated component that can be independently managed and scaled, improving network utilization adaptability while containing system complexity within a well-defined intermediary layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2955947B1Processing of preferred roaming lists
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 UROS TECH S A R L
  • EP2955947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2955947B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2955947B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Processing of preferred roaming lists is disclosed. Usage data about wireless communication networks as utilized by a plurality of mobile apparatuses each associated with a set of subscriber identity modules performing subscriber identification and authentication in the wireless communication networks is gathered (802). Subscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists are updated (804) on the basis of the usage data. The updated preferred roaming lists are distributed (806) for use by the sets of the subscriber identity modules in the plurality of the mobile apparatuses.