RAN Resource Allocation for Wireless Roaming Fee Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless service providers face high roaming fees and reduced service access when their subscribers hand off to non-preferred wireless coverage areas, as they are charged per unit of time, data, or transaction by roaming partners, and users may not have access to the provider's applications and services.
Innovation Solution
A Radio Access Network (RAN) determines which subscribed wireless communication devices are likely to roam to non-preferred areas and allocates resources to minimize roaming fees by comparing costs and historical call length data, prioritizing devices that will incur lower fees and ensuring they use preferred coverage areas, thereby reducing the need for handoffs to non-preferred areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wireless service provider allows WCDs to roam to non-preferred coverage areas, then wireless coverage availability is improved, but roaming fees increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN proactively identifies WCDs that are likely to roam to non-preferred coverage areas before the handoff occurs. By comparing historical call length data and predicting future roaming behavior, the system takes preliminary action to allocate resources that prevent costly roaming handoffs, thereby reducing roaming fees while maintaining coverage availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses historical call length data as feedback to predict future roaming behavior. By analyzing past patterns of which WCDs roam and for how long, the RAN creates a feedback loop that informs resource allocation decisions, allowing the system to anticipate and prevent high-cost roaming events
2Loss of energy
If the wireless service provider allocates resources to prevent roaming, then roaming fees are reduced, but network resource utilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN changes the parameter of resource allocation by prioritizing WCDs based on their predicted roaming cost rather than treating all WCDs equally. By adjusting resource allocation parameters according to predicted roaming behavior and historical data, the system prevents high-cost roaming events without uniformly increasing resource utilization across all WCDs
3Loss of energy
If the RAN prioritizes WCDs likely to incur high roaming fees, then roaming fees are reduced, but device discrimination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN applies local quality by treating different WCDs differently based on their individual roaming patterns and predicted behavior. Instead of uniform resource allocation, the system applies differentiated resource allocation strategies to specific WCDs based on their local characteristics (historical call length data and predicted roaming likelihood), thereby reducing overall roaming fees through targeted management
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for mitigating the impact of handoffs to non-preferred wireless coverage areas are presented. In particular, a RAN may determine that a first wireless communication device (WCD) and a second WCD are contending for a resource of a preferred wireless coverage area, and that both of the WCDs are likely to be handed off to different non-preferred wireless coverage areas if they are not granted the resource. Both WCDs may be subscribed to a home wireless service provider that also controls and/or operates the preferred wireless coverage area. The RAN may compare the roaming fees of a first non-preferred wireless coverage area with the roaming fees of a second non-preferred wireless coverage area. Based on the outcome of this comparison, the RAN may allocate the resource to the WCD that would likely incur higher roaming fees to the home wireless service provider if that WCD were to roam to a non-preferred wireless coverage area.