RVAS Network Function for HPLMN Roaming Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM) Association decided to avoid the use of Protocol for N32 Interconnect Security (PRINS) due to its complexity, requiring both roaming partners to support it, and there is no solution to include network functions provided by Roaming Value Added Services (RVAS) such that the use of RVAS in a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) is not visible to a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN, making it difficult to discover and include RVAS and HPLMN NFs in the control plane without impacting the VPLMN.
Innovation Solution
A Roaming Value Added Service (RVAS) Network Function registers itself in a Home Network Repository Function (H-NRF) and selects both the RVAS and Home NFs for discovery, informing the RVAS NF about the selected Home NF, and responds to a Visited NF with the address of the RVAS NF instead of the Home NF, allowing RVAS to perform necessary operations without visibility to the VPLMN.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PRINS is used to provide inter-PLMN security, then security protection is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates because both roaming partners must support it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary entity (the serving PLMN or network function) that mediates the security relationship between home PLMN and visited PLMN. Instead of requiring direct PRINS implementation between both partners, the intermediary handles the complex security operations, allowing simpler endpoints to benefit from secure roaming without directly implementing the complex protocol.
2Reliability
If PRINS is used for security, then security protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the requirement that both roaming partners must support it
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary network function absorbs the complexity of PRINS implementation, allowing roaming partners to deploy security without requiring both sides to support the full PRINS capability. The intermediary handles the protocol complexity while presenting a simpler interface to the roaming partners.
3Ease of operation
If direct connection between Visited NF and Home NF is established, then discovery simplicity is improved, but RVAS inclusion becomes impossible because Home NF becomes visible to VPLMN
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary network function that sits between the visited NF and home NF, allowing the visited NF to discover and communicate with the home NF through the intermediary. This maintains discovery simplicity while enabling RVAS to be included in the communication path, as the RVAS function can be deployed as the intermediary or integrated into it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the direct connection between visited NF and home NF by introducing an intermediary layer. This segmentation allows different functions (including RVAS) to be deployed in the intermediary layer without exposing the home NF directly to the visited PLMN, thus maintaining both discovery simplicity and RVAS inclusion capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If RVAS NF is inserted between Visited NF and Home NF, then RVAS functionality is improved, but control plane complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the intermediary network function to be universal and multi-functional, capable of handling both standard home NF communication and RVAS operations. By consolidating these functions in a single intermediary entity rather than adding separate dedicated components, the control plane complexity is minimized while maintaining full RVAS functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Providing Roaming Value Added Service (RVAS) network function for Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a Home Network Repository Function (H-NRF) in an HPLMN of a telecommunications network obtains information about a Home Control Network Function (NF) and a Roaming Control NF. A Visited NF in a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) sends a discovery request to the H-NRF in the HPLMN. The H-NRF receives the discovery request from the Visited NF in the VPLMN, and determines that, for the discovery request and the VPLMN, RVAS is applicable. The H-NRF selects the Roaming Control NF and the Home Control NF for the discovery request, and transmits, to the Visited NF, a response to the discovery request, the response comprising an address of the selected Roaming Control NF instead of an address of the selected Home Control NF.