Subscriber Management Server MDT Approval Logic

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems lack the ability to initiate Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) measurement processes for target mobile stations without subscriber approval, leading to uncertainty among operation and maintenance servers and radio base stations regarding the approval status.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication method and system where an operation and maintenance server transmits instruction information to a subscriber management server, which determines approval and instructs a mobility management node and radio base station to initiate the MDT measurement process only when approved, ensuring that MDT is started only after subscriber approval is confirmed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If MDT measurement process is initiated without subscriber approval check, then MDT operation efficiency is improved, but subscriber privacy protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMDT operation efficiencyVSAvoidsubscriber privacy protection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary approval checks by the subscriber management server before initiating MDT measurement processes. The server receives MDT start requests, checks subscriber approval status in advance, and only permits measurement initiation when approval is confirmed, thus protecting subscriber privacy while maintaining operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The subscriber management server acts as an intermediary between the operation and maintenance server and the mobility management node. It mediates the MDT initiation process by verifying subscriber approval status and controlling whether MDT measurements can be started, thereby balancing operational efficiency with privacy protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If approval check is added to MDT initiation process, then subscriber privacy protection is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubscriber privacy protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The subscriber management server performs multiple functions including subscriber authentication, approval status checking, and MDT initiation control. By making this existing server multi-functional, the system adds approval verification capabilities without requiring entirely new dedicated components, thus limiting the increase in system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The subscriber management server automatically checks approval status and makes decisions about MDT initiation without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism streamlines the approval process and reduces operational complexity while maintaining privacy protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If MDT is started without verifying approval status, then measurement process speed is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement process speedVSAvoidmeasurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary approval verification before MDT measurement initiation. The subscriber management server checks approval status in advance and only permits measurement processes when approved, ensuring measurement reliability while minimizing delays through efficient pre-validation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2642787B1Mobile communication method, subscriber management server, and mobile management node
Publication Date: 2017.05.03 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2642787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2642787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2642787B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step A of transmitting, by an operation and maintenance server EM, "MDT config" to a subscriber management server HSS, and a step B of instructing, by the subscriber management server HSS, the target mobile station UE to perform the MDT measurement process through a mobility management node MME and a radio base station eNB when it is determined that the MDT measurement process by the target mobile station UE is approved.