Steered PLMN Network Selection for Wireless Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic network selection techniques for mobile stations in wireless communication networks are inefficient, requiring frequent updates to Preferred PLMN lists via SMS messages and involving wasteful use of network resources, especially when dynamic control is needed for commercial, fault, or load-sharing reasons.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'steered' PLMN system where a home network identification, prioritized roaming network identifications, and a steered network identification are stored in user equipment memory, allowing for automatic selection of networks by comparing received network identifications with the steered network identification, and enabling over-the-air programming for efficient network steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the HPLMN operator updates the entire PPLMN list for each subscriber using OTA programming, then dynamic network control is achieved, but a large number of SMS messages are required creating prohibitive overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the network selection control logic from the comprehensive PPLMN list and implements it through a separate steering mechanism. The network operator can steer subscribers to specific networks without updating the entire PPLMN list, thereby achieving dynamic control with minimal messaging overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network selection process into two independent components: the static PPLMN list stored in the SIM card and the dynamic network steering information transmitted via SMS. This segmentation allows the operator to control network selection dynamically without requiring frequent updates of the entire PPLMN list.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the HPLMN operator maintains PPLMN lists on a per subscriber basis for network load sharing, then network distribution control is achieved, but significant overhead is added with respect to configuration management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the load sharing control functionality from complex per-subscriber PPLMN list management and implements it through simple network steering parameters. The operator can direct subscribers to specific networks for load balancing without maintaining complex configuration data for each subscriber.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing solutions spoof network reject messages to direct subscribers to specific VPLMNs, then network selection control is achieved, but network resources are wasted each time selection is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing subscribers with a pre-configured PPLMN list containing preferred networks before they need to select a network. When roaming, subscribers can immediately select from this pre-prepared list without requiring real-time reject message spoofing, thereby eliminating wasteful network resource consumption during the selection process.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for automatically selecting a wireless communication network by user equipment using a “steered” PLMN are disclosed. A home network identification, a list of prioritized roaming network identifications, and a steered network identification are stored in memory (e.g. a SIM or USIM) of the user equipment. In an automatic network selection procedure, a scanning operation is performed to receive one or more network identifications corresponding to one or more available wireless communication networks in a coverage area. The user equipment attempts to select a wireless communication network in the coverage area by comparing the received network identifications from the scanning operation with the steered network identification. If a match between a received network identification and the steered network identification is identified, a wireless communication network corresponding to the received network identification that matches the steered network identification is selected and registered with by the user equipment. This procedure is performed in lieu of use of the list of prioritized roaming network identifications of the user equipment. By setting the steered network identification via an over-the-air programming procedure when necessary (e.g. on a per region basis), a home network operator may “steer” user equipment to any desired network immediately and efficiently.