Service-Based Network Selection for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network selection procedures in wireless communication systems fail to consider multiple credentials, service availability, radio access technologies (RATs), context, and radio capabilities, leading to suboptimal network choices that may not provide the requested services.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a service-based network selection method that allows users to select compatible credentials and prioritize network/RAT combinations based on available services, context, and radio capabilities, including WLAN RATs, and providing coverage area and service information for each entry in the preferred networks list.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional network selection procedures are used, then the UE can obtain connectivity through automatic network selection, but the network selection does not consider service availability, multiple credentials, or radio capabilities leading to suboptimal network choices
Solution Approach 1:
The network selection procedure is segmented into distinct phases: service identification, credential selection, network identification, and network selection. Each phase handles specific aspects independently, allowing the system to consider multiple factors (services, credentials, radio capabilities) without creating monolithic complexity. The service-based approach segments the selection criteria into service-specific requirements that can be evaluated separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by identifying available services and selecting compatible credentials before proceeding to network selection. The preferred networks list is pre-configured with service availability information, coverage area data, and radio capability requirements. This preliminary preparation enables more informed network selection decisions without adding operational complexity during the actual connection process.
2Ease of operation
If the UE attempts to obtain services through the currently registered MNO, then the connection process is simplified, but the UE cannot choose which set of credentials to use or select networks that may better support the requested service
Solution Approach 1:
The UE autonomously performs service-based network selection by automatically identifying available services, selecting compatible credentials from multiple stored credential sets, and choosing the most appropriate network from the preferred networks list. The system self-determines which credential set matches the service requirements and which network offers the best support, eliminating the need for manual user intervention while maintaining flexibility in credential and network choice.
3Reliability
If the UE searches through all available networks to find one that provides the requested service, then complete service availability is ensured, but the search process becomes time-consuming and may cause interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary filtering by maintaining a preferred networks list that is pre-configured with service availability information. Before attempting network selection, the UE filters the preferred networks list to identify only those networks that offer the requested service, eliminating the need to search through all available networks. This preliminary action significantly reduces selection time while ensuring service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and isolates the relevant subset of networks from the complete available networks list by filtering based on service availability, coverage area, and radio capability matching. This extraction process removes unnecessary networks from consideration, allowing the UE to focus only on networks that can actually provide the requested service, thereby reducing search time without compromising reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the UE considers all radio access technologies including WLAN, then comprehensive network options are available, but the network selection procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The network selection framework is designed to be universal and multi-functional, supporting multiple radio access technologies (LTE, WLAN, and future RATs) through a single unified procedure. The preferred networks list structure and service-based selection mechanism work consistently across different RAT types, allowing the UE to consider comprehensive network options without requiring separate selection procedures for each technology. The system universally applies service matching, credential verification, and capability assessment across all RATs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, comprising: including, by a computing device, a wireless local area network, WLAN, radio access technology, RAT, in a list of preferred networks; ranking, by the computing device, the WLAN RAT option among other network options in the list of preferred networks; providing, by the computing device, coverage area information and supported services information for each entry in the list of preferred networks; and provisioning, by the computing device, the ranked list of preferred networks to one or more wireless communications devices as well as a corresponding apparatus and a corresponding computer-readable medium.