Roaming Network Access Method Reducing Search Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment experiences excessively long network searching and registration times when roaming due to the need to search across all supported frequency bands and radio access technologies, especially in areas with many operators, leading to poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a preferential roaming list based on the mobile country code (MCC) of the roaming area, allowing the user equipment to selectively search and register with networks that match the MCC, reducing the need to search all available networks and sequences, thereby shortening network access time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE performs full-band network searching across all supported frequency bands and RATs, then the UE can find all available networks, but the network searching time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and prioritizes certain frequency bands and RATs based on historical registration success and operator preferences, removing them from the full search set. This allows the UE to focus searching only on these high-priority bands first, rather than searching all supported bands equally, thus reducing search time while maintaining reliable network discovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification and prioritization of frequency bands and RATs before actual network searching begins. By pre-organizing the search sequence based on historical data and operator policies, the UE prepares an optimized search roadmap that avoids exhaustive searching, thereby reducing the time required for network acquisition
2Ease of operation
If the UE follows the standard PLMN selection sequence (RPLMN→HPLMN→UPLMN→OPLMN→OTHER), then the selection process is systematic, but the registration time becomes excessively long in roaming areas with many operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PLMN selection process into distinct phases: first attempting registration with RPLMN, then HPLMN, and finally OTHER available PLMNs only if previous attempts fail. This segmentation allows the UE to focus on the most likely successful registrations first, avoiding unnecessary attempts at lower-priority networks and reducing overall registration time in roaming scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment to the PLMN selection sequence based on roaming status and historical registration outcomes. When roaming is detected, the UE dynamically modifies the search priority to favor operator-controlled and user-controlled PLMNs over other available PLMNs, making the selection process adaptive rather than static, thus reducing registration time in diverse roaming environments
3Reliability
If the UE attempts registration with multiple PLMNs in sequence, then the UE can find a suitable network, but the trial-and-error process leads to excessively long registration time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors registration outcomes and adjusts subsequent search and selection behavior based on success/failure patterns. Historical registration data is fed back into the PLMN selection algorithm, allowing the UE to learn from past experiences and prioritize networks that are more likely to succeed, thereby reducing the number of failed attempts and overall registration time
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a roaming network access method and apparatus, where the method includes: obtaining a mobile country code MCC of a roaming area; obtaining a preferential roaming list, where the preferential roaming list is used to indicate information about at least one network that a user preferentially attempts to register with when the user is roaming; selecting a network that matches the MCC from the preferential roaming list and searching for the selected network; and each time a network is found by the searching, attempting to register with the found network. By means of the roaming network access method and apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, duration of network searching performed by user equipment is shortened, time spent by the user equipment on initial network access in the roaming area is reduced.