Selective IMSI Detach for Circuit-Switched Service Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE wireless communication systems, the existing detach procedures do not consider ongoing services, leading to service disruptions and inconvenience when a UE is implicitly detached by the network.

Innovation Solution

A communication device method that attaches to both circuit-switched and packet-switched domains, transmitting specific messages to handle detach notifications by performing an IMSI detach only for the packet-switched domain when a radio resource connection exists, thereby maintaining service continuity in the circuit-switched domain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE performs a full detach procedure when notified of implicit detach, then the network can properly manage the UE's service status, but all ongoing services including circuit-switched services are dropped causing inconvenience to the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service managementVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the detach procedure into domain-specific operations. Instead of performing a unified detach that affects all services, the UE selectively performs detach only for the packet-switched domain while maintaining attachment in the circuit-switched domain. This segmentation allows the network to properly manage PS services while preserving CS services, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable network management and user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the UE maintains attachment in both circuit-switched and packet-switched domains, then service continuity is improved, but the device complexity and message handling requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidmessage handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the attachment status domain-specific rather than uniform. The UE maintains different attachment states in different domains: attached in the circuit-switched domain for service continuity, and detached in the packet-switched domain to respond to network notifications. This localized differentiation allows service continuity while managing complexity through domain-specific handling rather than global state changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3076726B1Device for handling a detach procedure
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 HTC CORP
  • EP3076726B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3076726B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3076726B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication device of handling a detach procedure comprises a storage unit for storing instructions and a processing means coupled to the storage unit. The processing means is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit. The instructions comprise attaching to a network in a Network Mode of Operation I (NMO I) for a circuit switched (CS) domain and a packet switched (PS) domain; transmitting a first General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobility management (GMM) message to the network; receiving a second GMM message comprising a GMM cause indicating an implicit detach from the network; and performing an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) detach for the PS domain but not for the CS domain, when a Radio Resource (RR) connection exists.