Service-Specific PRL for Wireless Roaming Network Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Preferred Roaming List (PRL)-controlled roaming schemes fail to efficiently account for multiple wireless service combinations and factors affecting the selection of the most optimum roaming network, leading to failed service initiations and suboptimal service access during roaming.
Innovation Solution
A home wireless network communicates an improved PRL with service type and service priority indicators that encode multiple wireless services offered by each roaming network, allowing the mobile device to select the most suitable network based on service parameters such as cost, reliability, and Service Level Agreements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional PRL-controlled roaming schemes are used, then roaming network availability is controlled, but service initiation fails on networks that do not provide the requested service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional single PRL into multiple service-specific PRLs (PRLs), where each PRL is tailored to specific service types (e.g., voice, data, messaging). This segmentation allows the mobile device to select the appropriate service-specific PRL based on the requested service, ensuring that roaming network selection is optimized for each service type, thereby preventing service initiation failures while maintaining control over roaming network availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic service parameter indicators (such as service quality, cost, and priority levels) into the PRL structure. These indicators allow the roaming network selection process to adapt dynamically based on the specific service requirements and current network conditions. The mobile device can adjust its network selection criteria in real-time based on service parameters, enhancing both reliability of service initiation and adaptability to different service combinations.
2Productivity
If traditional PRL-controlled roaming schemes are used, then roaming network control is maintained, but optimal roaming network selection cannot account for multiple service parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds new dimensions to the traditional PRL structure by incorporating service parameter indicators (service quality, cost, priority, etc.) as additional attributes alongside the traditional network identification fields. This dimensional expansion transforms the PRL from a simple network list into a multi-dimensional selection framework that can evaluate networks based on multiple criteria simultaneously, improving roaming service access efficiency while managing complexity through structured parameter organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters included in the PRL from basic network identification to comprehensive service parameters that include service quality indicators, cost information, priority levels, and service type compatibility. This parameter transformation enables more sophisticated network selection algorithms that can optimize roaming service access based on multiple factors, thereby improving productivity while the structured parameter framework helps manage the increased complexity.
3Ease of operation
If access technology-based priority assignment is used, then outgoing call initiation is optimized, but service-specific roaming network selection is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different service parameter priorities to different service types. Instead of a uniform access technology-based priority scheme, each service-specific PRL contains customized service parameters (such as data rate requirements, latency tolerances, cost constraints) that are locally optimized for that particular service type. This allows the system to maintain operational simplicity for each service while achieving service-specific network selection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A home wireless network is provided that communicates an improved Preferred Roaming List (PRL) that includes service type and service priority indicators for a plurality of wireless service combinations and corresponding roaming networks. Preferably, the service type indicator is a numerical indicator that encodes a combination of multiple wireless services offered by each roaming partner network. In case when more than one roaming network provides the requested wireless service, the service priority indicator provides a priority of selection of roaming networks for a given requested service in accordance with a plurality of parameters.