Terminal Device Network Search MCC Home Area Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Terminal devices often camp on Visited Public Land Mobile Networks (VPLMN) for long periods due to the slow expiration of the higher priority PLMN search timer, leading to delayed return to the Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN).
Innovation Solution
A network search method is implemented where a terminal device determines if it has entered its Mobile Country Code (MCC) home area by calculating the proportion of cells with the same MCC as the SIM card and triggering a network search when a predetermined proportion is met, thereby accelerating the return to the HPLMN.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the terminal device waits for the higher priority PLMN search timer to expire before performing network search, then the timer mechanism ensures systematic network management, but the terminal device camps on VPLMN for long time and returns to HPLMN slowly
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device performs network search in advance when entering the MCC home area, rather than waiting for the timer to expire. This preliminary action triggers the network search based on location information (MCC matching) before the timer expiration condition is met, thereby reducing the time spent camping on VPLMN and accelerating the return to HPLMN.
2Reliability
If the terminal device performs network search only when disconnected from VPLMN or timer expires, then the network search is triggered by explicit conditions, but the terminal device remains on VPLMN unnecessarily in border areas
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device proactively performs network search when it determines it has entered the MCC home area, which is a preliminary action taken before disconnection or timer expiration. This location-based triggering mechanism improves network switching speed by initiating the search earlier, while maintaining reliability through accurate MCC-based location detection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the higher priority PLMN search period is set to a long duration (e.g., 60 minutes by default), then the timer provides stable network management, but the terminal device returns to HPLMN at slow speed
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device performs network search in advance based on location information (MCC home area detection) rather than waiting for the long-duration timer to expire. This preliminary action significantly reduces the return speed to HPLMN while the long timer duration maintains network management stability by providing a fallback mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic network search triggering mechanism that adapts to the terminal device's location. When the device enters the MCC home area, the network search is triggered dynamically regardless of the timer status. This dynamic approach allows the system to balance between stability (long timer) and speed (location-based triggering).
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a network search method and a terminal device. The network search method is applied to a terminal device, and a subscriber identity module SIM card is installed in the terminal device. The method part in the embodiments of this application includes: when the terminal device camps on a visited public land mobile network VPLMN, determining an MCC home area corresponding to the SIM card; determining whether the terminal device has entered the MCC home area or is to enter the MCC home area; and triggering a network search if the terminal device has entered the MCC home area or is to enter the MCC home area. The embodiments of this application also disclose the terminal device, so as to increase a speed of going back, by the terminal device, from the VPLMN network to camp on an HPLMN network.