Roaming Connection Setup in 5G Subnetworks

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Solution Overview

Problem

5G communication networks face challenges in providing seamless and consistent user experiences across diverse applications and environments, requiring enhanced performance, flexibility, and resource optimization while ensuring user trust, identity, and privacy, especially during roaming.

Innovation Solution

The method involves setting up a roaming connection in a 5G communication network with multiple subnetworks by identifying communication devices, managing subnetwork assignments, and configuring corresponding subnetworks to ensure efficient communication, utilizing network slicing and management entities to optimize resource allocation and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network slicing is implemented to support diverse applications and services in 5G networks, then adaptability and service customization are improved, but device complexity and network configuration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice customizationVSAvoidnetwork configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network is divided into multiple independent network slices, each optimized for specific services (e.g., enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communication, massive IoT). This segmentation allows customized configurations for different services while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A universal network slice management system is implemented that can handle multiple service types through standardized interfaces and procedures. The management entity provides multi-functional capabilities to configure, monitor, and control various network slices using unified methods.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple subnetworks are deployed to handle different communication requirements, then service diversity and adaptability are improved, but resource management complexity and overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice diversityVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A network slice management entity acts as an intermediary between the core network and individual network slices. This mediator handles resource allocation, configuration, and coordination across multiple subnetworks, reducing management overhead by centralizing control functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Network parameters such as bandwidth allocation, latency requirements, and connection density are dynamically adjusted based on service requirements and network conditions. This allows flexible resource management across multiple subnetworks without requiring complex static configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If network slicing is used to optimize specific applications, then communication performance for targeted services is improved, but overall network complexity and management overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidmanagement overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Network slices are pre-configured with optimized parameters and resources based on anticipated service requirements. This preliminary configuration reduces real-time management overhead while maintaining high communication performance for targeted applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network slice management system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor communication performance and automatically adjust resource allocation. This closed-loop control maintains optimal performance while reducing manual management overhead through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3398378B1Method for establishing a roaming connection
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3398378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3398378B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3398378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (400) for establishing a roaming connection of a communication terminal (301) of a foreign communication network (333) in a visited communication network (303), wherein the method (400) comprises the following steps: receiving (401) a roaming connection request (302) from the communication terminal (301) of the foreign communication network (333) by means of a first identification entity (309) of a first sub-network (307) of the visited communication network (303), wherein the roaming connection request (302) has an identity (UE-ID) of the communication device (301); identifying (402) the communication terminal (301) by means of the first identification entity (309) of the visited communication network (303) on the basis of the identification (UE-ID) of the communication terminal (301); receiving (403, 338) a foreign sub-network code (SubNW-IDx) of a foreign sub-network (337) of the foreign communication network (333) by means of the first identification entity (309) or network management entity (319) of the visited communication network (303); checking, on the basis (404) of the foreign sub-network code (SubNW-IDx) and by means of the network management entity (319) or by means of the first identification entity (309), whether a corresponding sub-network (307, 311, 315) of the visited communication network (303) corresponds to the foreign sub-network (337) that is indicated by the foreign sub-network code (SubNW-IDx); and sending (405, 340) a configuration request (Cfg-Req) for a configuration of the foreign sub-network (333) by means of the first identification entity (309) of the visited communication network (303) to the foreign communication network (333) if no corresponding sub-network (307, 311, 315) of the visited communication network (303) corresponds to the foreign sub-network (337).