Roaming Data Traffic Filtering via Network Node Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Roaming users face high data charges when accessing data services outside their home network, leading to the disabling of data services to avoid costs, which is disadvantageous for both users and network operators, as it restricts access to valuable data services and reduces revenue-generating traffic.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that filter data traffic in a network node to allow only selected data services when a user is roaming, identifying relevant services based on user profiles and geographic location, and presenting them to the user equipment device, while withholding non-relevant traffic to avoid unnecessary charges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data services are allowed when roaming, then users can access data services while traveling, but users incur high data charges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data traffic into different categories (roaming data traffic vs. home network data traffic) and applies different routing paths. Roaming data traffic is routed through the visited network to avoid home network roaming charges, while home network traffic continues to use the standard path. This segmentation allows users to access data services while roaming without incurring high charges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network node (such as a gateway or proxy server) that acts as an intermediary between the user equipment and the data services. This intermediary detects whether the user is roaming and automatically routes traffic through appropriate networks, eliminating the need for users to manually manage data service activation/deactivation and ensuring optimal routing without additional charges.
2Loss of energy
If data services are disabled when roaming, then users avoid high data charges, but users cannot access data services
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service functionality where the network automatically detects when a user is roaming and manages data traffic routing without requiring user intervention. The network node monitors user location and automatically switches routing paths, allowing users to access data services while roaming without needing to manually enable/disable services or understand complex network configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary network node automatically manages the complexity of roaming data services by detecting user location and managing traffic routing transparently. This intermediary handles all the technical complexity of switching between visited and home networks, presenting a simple interface to users who can access data services without worrying about charges or configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If full data service capability is provided when roaming, then users have complete access to all data services, but network operators lose revenue generating traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data traffic into roaming traffic and home network traffic, allowing the network operator to generate revenue from home network traffic while providing complimentary or reduced-cost access to visited network traffic. This segmentation enables the operator to maintain revenue streams from users who would otherwise disable data services entirely, as users can now access at least some data services without incurring full roaming charges.
Data Source
AI summary
A method (100) in a network node is disclosed, the method for delivering data services to a roaming user accessing the services via a user equipment device. The method comprises identifying services to be made available to the user when roaming (110) presenting the identified services to the user equipment device (120), and filtering at least one of data traffic to the user equipment device or data traffic from the user equipment device according to a relation of the data traffic to the identified services (130). Also disclosed is a method (600) in a user equipment device, the method for accessing data services when roaming. The method comprises accessing, from a network node, an identification of services available to a user of the user equipment device when roaming (610), selecting, from the identification of services, services for presentation to the user (620), presenting the selected services to the user (630), and on request of a presented service by the user, initiating a connection to a provider of the requested service (650). Also disclosed are a computer program product for carrying out the above methods and a network node (400, 500) and user equipment device (700, 800) configured to carry out the above methods.