Selective Roaming Permissions for Overlapping Wireless Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless telecommunications networks face challenges in managing roaming services, as enabling roaming for all customers can be expensive and burdensome, while conventional techniques offer no middle ground, forcing networks to either enable or disable roaming for all users.
Innovation Solution
Implementing selective roaming by maintaining a set of roaming permissions that specify which devices can access roaming networks and geographic regions, and using location monitoring to transition devices back to the home network when overlapping coverage is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If roaming is enabled for all customers, then customer service coverage is improved, but network cost and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the customer base into different categories (roaming-eligible customers vs. non-eligible customers) and applies different roaming policies to each segment. The network controller selectively enables roaming functionality only for authorized customers rather than uniformly enabling it for all users, thereby reducing infrastructure burden while maintaining service coverage for those who need it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing roaming only in specific geographic regions where the home network has limited or no coverage. The system determines the customer's location and permits roaming access only when the device is outside the home network's coverage area, thus optimizing resource utilization and reducing unnecessary roaming infrastructure burden.
2Reliability
If roaming infrastructure is maintained, then roaming service availability is improved, but network cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by maintaining roaming infrastructure and permissions only for the subset of customers who require roaming services, rather than for all customers. The network controller selectively activates roaming functionality based on customer authorization and location, thereby reducing the overall cost burden while ensuring reliable roaming service availability for eligible users.
3Productivity
If location monitoring is implemented, then roaming optimization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the wireless device autonomously determine its location and report it to the network controller. The device itself performs the location monitoring function using its built-in positioning capabilities, and the network controller uses this information to make automated roaming decisions, thereby minimizing the need for complex external monitoring infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A telecommunications network provides selective roaming for user equipment (UE) devices registered to the network, allowing some UE devices to operate on a roaming network in some geographic regions and disallowing other UE devices to access roaming networks. While a target UE device is operating on a roaming network, the telecommunications network monitors changes in location of the target device. If the target UE device is detected to have moved into an overlapping coverage area, covered by both the telecommunications network and the roaming network, the telecommunications network generates a command to cancel the subscription of the target UE device to the roaming network.