Steering of Roaming with Secure SOR Packet Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G wireless communication networks, existing methods for steering user equipment (UE) to a preferred public land mobile network (PLMN) face issues such as delayed PLMN searches due to timer constraints, data integrity breaches during transmission, and inability to update persistent information on UICC, leading to inefficient and unreliable roaming procedures.
Innovation Solution
A secured packet delivery mechanism is implemented to transmit SOR data, ensuring data integrity and enabling timely updates to UICC information, while considering device constraints and operating modes, allowing the UE to perform PLMN searches at the appropriate time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional timer-based PLMN search methods are used, then the UE can perform periodic network searches, but the PLMN search is delayed due to timer constraints reducing roaming efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The HPLMN sends steering information to the UE in advance during the initial registration process, before the UE needs to perform PLMN searches. This preliminary provision of preferred PLMN lists allows the UE to immediately execute searches without waiting for timer-based updates, thereby reducing search delay while improving roaming efficiency
2Reliability
If SOR data is transmitted without secure packet delivery, then the transmission process is simpler, but data integrity is compromised during transmission
Solution Approach 1:
A secure packet delivery mechanism acts as an intermediary between the HPLMN and UE during SOR data transmission. This intermediary layer encrypts and protects the steering information, ensuring data integrity while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture by implementing security at the protocol level rather than requiring complex hardware modifications
3Reliability
If traditional roaming update methods are used, then the HPLMN can send steering information, but the persistent information on UICC cannot be updated preventing reliable roaming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the SOR information delivery mechanism with the existing USAT (Universal Subscriber Identity Module Application Toolkit) command structure. By merging the steering information update function into the established UICC communication framework, the system can reliably update persistent UICC information without requiring a completely new complex update mechanism
4Productivity
If the UE performs PLMN searches immediately upon receiving SOR data, then roaming responsiveness is improved, but battery consumption increases due to continuous searches
Solution Approach 1:
The UE dynamically adjusts its PLMN search behavior based on the received steering information and current operational context. Rather than performing continuous searches, the UE executes searches selectively according to the preferred PLMN lists provided by HPLMN and its current registration state, thereby maintaining roaming responsiveness while reducing unnecessary battery consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A method for steering of roaming (SOR) in wireless communication networks includes sending by a mobile equipment (ME) a registration message to a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN). The ME receives a first message from a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) through the VPLMN. The ME determines that the first message has failed a security check. In response to determining that the first message has failed the security check, the ME sends a second message to the VPLMN, the second message including an indication that the first message has failed the security check.