Mobile Terminal PLMN List Management for Roaming Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication terminals experience prolonged network access times when roaming, as they must attempt connections to multiple Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) without pre-stored information, leading to delayed communication services.
Innovation Solution
The mobile communication terminal sends a network ID acquisition request to a wireless LAN network server, receives and adds the PLMN network ID to an Equivalent Home PLMN (EHPLMN) list, prioritizing network access based on this list to quickly find and connect to available networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile communication terminal attempts to connect to multiple VPLMNs sequentially without pre-stored information, then the terminal can ensure comprehensive network coverage search, but the network access time is significantly prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network server pre-fetch and provide PLMN information to the terminal before the terminal needs to access the network. The server proactively sends VPLMN identifiers to the terminal based on location information, so that when the terminal needs to roam, it already has the necessary network information stored, eliminating the need for sequential connection attempts and significantly reducing access time while maintaining reliable network connection.
2Speed
If the mobile communication terminal stores PLMN information in advance, then the network access speed is improved, but the device complexity and information management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the network server as an intermediary to manage PLMN information. Instead of the terminal needing to complexly manage and update PLMN lists itself, the server acts as a centralized information repository that automatically provides relevant VPLMN identifiers to the terminal based on location. This transfers the complexity of information management from the terminal to the server, simplifying the terminal while maintaining fast network access through pre-fetched information.
3Reliability
If the mobile communication terminal performs sequential connection attempts to multiple VPLMNs, then the terminal can ensure finding an available network, but the user communication experience is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-fetching and storing VPLMN information before the user needs to access the network. The server proactively sends network identifiers to the terminal based on location information, so when the user needs communication services, the terminal already has the necessary network information ready. This eliminates the sequential connection attempts and long waiting times, significantly improving user communication experience while maintaining reliable network connection through the pre-stored valid PLMN information.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a network access method, a mobile communication terminal, a network server, and a network access system. The network access method includes the follows. A mobile communication terminal accesses a wireless local area network (wireless LAN) of a visited place. The mobile communication terminal sends a network identity (ID) acquisition request to a network server of the wireless LAN. The mobile communication terminal receives a public land mobile network (PLMN) network ID of at least one visited place operator signed with a home operator of the mobile communication terminal, and adds the PLMN network ID received to a PLMN list, in which the PLMN network ID is either unicasted or broadcasted by the network server in response to the network ID acquisition request. The mobile communication terminal conducts network access at the visited place access according to the PLMN list.