Roaming Access Entity Consolidating Subscriber Data and Network Capabilities
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current process for establishing a roaming connection in 5G communication networks is complex and inefficient, particularly when a communication terminal (UE) is in a visited network, as it requires fetching subscriber data from the home network and querying multiple network elements, which can lead to connection failures and slow performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a dedicated communication interface (N1) between the communication terminal and the network access entity (AMF) to transmit a registration request, query subscriber-specific registration data from the home network, and provide network access data indicating the visited network's capabilities, allowing the UE to determine if it can establish a roaming connection based on supported services and technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the current roaming connection establishment procedure is used, then the UE can register in the visited network, but the procedure is complex and time-consuming due to querying multiple network elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple network access entities into a single roaming access entity that consolidates the functions of querying subscriber data from the home network and providing network capability information. This merging eliminates the need for the UE to query multiple separate network elements, thereby reducing connection establishment time while maintaining reliability.
2Loss of information
If the UE queries multiple network elements to establish a roaming connection, then comprehensive network information can be obtained, but the device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The roaming access entity is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the initial access point for the UE and as the consolidated source for both subscriber data retrieval and network capability information. This universal entity performs multiple functions that previously required separate network elements, simplifying the access procedure while providing comprehensive network information.
3Measurement precision
If subscriber data is fetched from the home network during roaming registration, then accurate subscriber information is obtained, but the signaling load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The roaming access entity performs preliminary actions by proactively querying subscriber data from the home network's database before the UE needs to use it. This advance retrieval of subscriber information eliminates the need for repeated queries during the registration process, improving registration efficiency while ensuring accurate subscriber data is available when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for establishing a roaming connection via a network access entity (251) of a visited communication network (240) comprising the following steps: transmitting a registration request (203) by a communication terminal (202) to a network access entity (251) of the visited communication network (240) via a dedicated communication interface (N1) between the communication terminal (202) and the network access entity (251), wherein the registration request (203) includes an identification (UE ID) of the communication terminal (202); querying subscriber-specific registration data (206) of the communication terminal (202) by the network access entity (251) from a database (230) of a home communication network (210) of the communication terminal (202) or from an external database based on the UE ID of the communication terminal (202);Transmission of network access data (205) for access of the communication terminal (202) to the visited communication network (240) by the network access entity (251) to the communication terminal via the dedicated communication interface (N1) based on the subscriber-specific registration data (206) of the communication terminal (202), wherein the network access data (205) indicate capabilities of the visited communication network (240); and establishment of the roaming connection by the communication terminal (202) via the visited communication network (240) based on the network access data (205).