Network Subscription Migration and Remigration Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network subscriptions in mobile networks are inflexible, particularly in regards to migration and remigration, often requiring manual user interaction and lacking flexibility in handling different remigration conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for combined migration and remigration of network subscriptions, involving a profile handling unit and a migration service entity that initiate and manage the process through migration start messages with remigration conditions, ensuring the network subscription is unavailable to the source subscriber until remigrated, and providing activation code tokens for access by both the destination and source subscribers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If network subscription migration is made flexible with automated remigration, then ease of operation and adaptability improve, but system complexity increases due to multiple activation code tokens and remigration conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of subscription migrationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the activation process by providing different activation code tokens for different scenarios: a first activation code token for initial subscription activation and a second activation code token for remigration. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex migration scenarios through simple, scenario-specific code tokens, improving ease of operation while managing complexity through structured division of activation functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a migration service entity as an intermediary that automatically manages the complex remigration logic, condition evaluation, and token generation. This intermediary absorbs the system complexity, allowing end users to benefit from automated, flexible remigration without directly interacting with the complex underlying mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual user interaction is required for subscription migration, then system control and reliability improve, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubscription migration controlVSAvoidmigration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service automation where the migration service entity automatically evaluates remigration conditions, generates appropriate activation code tokens, and executes remigration without requiring manual user interaction. The system serves itself by automatically managing the complex migration logic, thereby improving productivity and efficiency while maintaining reliability through automated condition-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the migration service entity continuously monitors remigration conditions and automatically adjusts the migration process based on condition satisfaction. This feedback-driven automation ensures reliable control through condition verification while improving productivity by eliminating manual intervention, as the system automatically responds to condition changes and executes appropriate actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If remigration conditions are strictly enforced, then reliability and security improve, but ease of operation and flexibility worsen due to rigid constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubscription securityVSAvoidremigration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making remigration conditions configurable and adaptable rather than fixed and rigid. The migration service entity evaluates multiple types of remigration conditions (time-based, event-based, condition-based) that can be dynamically set and adjusted. This dynamic approach maintains security through enforced conditions while improving flexibility by allowing different condition types and configurations for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing remigration conditions to be defined with different parameters (time thresholds, event triggers, condition values) that can be adjusted to match specific operational requirements. This parameter-based flexibility enables the system to maintain strict security enforcement through well-defined conditions while adapting to diverse remigration scenarios by changing the condition parameters, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3610666B1Combined migration and remigration of a network subscription
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3610666B1 patent drawingFigure 1~12
  • EP3610666B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3610666B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

There is provided mechanisms for combined migration and remigration of a network subscription of a source subscriber entity. A method is performed by a profile handling unit of the source subscriber entity. The method comprises initiating a combined migration and remigration of the network subscription by providing a migration start message to a migration service entity. The migration start message comprises a remigration condition. The method comprises accepting the network subscription to be unavailable to the source subscriber entity upon migration of the network subscription and until remigration of the network subscription back to the source subscriber entity.