Roaming Gateway Mobile Subscriber Identity Update

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in seamlessly roaming between different communication standards, as dual-mode access terminals often require updates to their roaming sponsors when switching between networks with incompatible protocols, leading to difficulties in authentication, billing, and service provision.

Innovation Solution

A roaming gateway system that allows access terminals to receive a new mobile subscriber identity associated with a preferred roaming sponsor, enabling them to switch between different communication standards by sending an update message via a short message service, secured with pre-established authentication keys, and updating the dual mode card to establish wireless service using the new identity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dual-mode access terminals use pre-configured roaming sponsors in dual mode cards, then they can operate in visited networks with different communication standards, but the roaming sponsors cannot be updated dynamically without user intervention or manual reconfiguration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to roam between different communication standardsVSAvoidmanual reconfiguration requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The access terminal automatically receives and applies updates to its mobile subscriber identity through the short message service without requiring user intervention. The terminal autonomously processes the identity update message, updates its dual mode card, and reconfigures itself to use the new roaming sponsor, enabling self-service operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The short message service acts as an intermediary channel between the network and the access terminal for transmitting identity update information. This intermediary mechanism enables automatic updates by bridging the network infrastructure and the terminal device through a standardized messaging interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If access terminals manually update roaming sponsors in dual mode cards, then authentication and billing can be maintained, but service continuity is interrupted during the update process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication and billing maintenanceVSAvoidservice interruption duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The access terminal receives the updated mobile subscriber identity message while still operating with the current identity. The update is prepared and stored in readiness, but not yet activated, allowing the terminal to maintain service continuity with the old identity until the update is deliberately applied, thus performing the update action in advance without immediate service disruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic switching between old and new mobile subscriber identities. The terminal can flexibly transition from the current identity to the updated identity without fixed timing constraints, allowing adaptive service continuity management based on network conditions and user needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple roaming sponsors are available in a visited network region, then service coverage is improved, but selecting the optimal roaming sponsor becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverage across multiple networksVSAvoidroaming sponsor selection logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the access terminal reports its location and service requirements to the network, which then provides recommendations for optimal roaming sponsors. The terminal uses this feedback information to automatically select the most appropriate roaming sponsor from available options, simplifying the selection process through informed decision-making based on network-provided guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8934894B2Real-time network selection and mobile subscriber identity update for inter-standard network roaming

Publication Date: 2015.01.13 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A method for inter-standard network roaming is provided. Upon roaming into a visited network, an access terminal may send a location update message that includes its current mobile subscriber identity. A roaming gateway receives the update message and uses the current mobile subscriber identity to determine whether the access terminal should be assigned a new mobile subscriber identity for operation in the visited network. If the current mobile subscriber identity indicates that the access terminal is not using a preferred roaming sponsor for the visited network, then the roaming gateway generates or selects a new mobile subscriber identity associated with the preferred roaming sponsor. The new mobile subscriber identity is securely transmitted to the access terminal which uses it for communications over the visited network thereafter.