Mobile Terminal Roaming Network Access via Operator Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communications terminals often spend significant time accessing a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) when roaming, leading to poor user experience due to the lack of pre-stored network identities in the Equivalent PLMN list.
Innovation Solution
The mobile communications terminal detects the absence of a Visited PLMN in the Equivalent PLMN list and retrieves its network identity from a shared operator server, adding it to the list for quicker network access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the mobile communications terminal searches for network identity in the visited location without pre-storing VPLMN information, then the terminal can maintain a simple EPLMN list structure, but the network access time becomes excessively long (dozens of minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal performs preliminary actions by obtaining and storing VPLMN network identity information from the operator's server before actual network access is needed. This is done when the terminal is powered off or in flight mode, preparing the EPLMN list in advance so that when the terminal needs to access the network in a visited location, the VPLMN information is already available, dramatically reducing network access time from dozens of minutes to just a few seconds
Solution Approach 2:
The operator's server acts as an intermediary that provides VPLMN network identity information to the terminal. The server mediates between the home location operator and visited location operator, allowing the terminal to obtain necessary roaming network information without having to perform complex real-time searches, thus simplifying terminal operations while enabling fast network access
2Ease of operation
If the terminal performs real-time network searching without pre-obtained VPLMN information, then the terminal maintains simple operational procedures, but user experience deteriorates due to long waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal performs preliminary network information acquisition by obtaining VPLMN data from the operator's server during periods when the terminal is not actively being used (powered off or in flight mode). This preliminary action prepares the EPLMN list in advance, so that when the terminal needs to access the network, the information is already ready, maintaining operational simplicity while eliminating long waiting times and improving user experience
3Productivity
If the terminal stores multiple VPLMN network identities in the EPLMN list, then network access speed improves significantly, but the complexity of managing and updating the EPLMN list increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operator's server serves as an intermediary that automatically provides updated VPLMN network identity information to the terminal. This eliminates the need for the terminal to manually manage and update the EPLMN list, as the server handles the complexity of obtaining and providing current network information, allowing the terminal to store multiple VPLMN identities for fast access without bearing the management burden
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the terminal to automatically obtain VPLMN information from the operator's server without requiring manual configuration or complex management procedures. The terminal simply needs to request and store the provided information, while the server automatically handles updates and maintenance, making the process simple for the terminal user despite the complexity of managing multiple network identities
Data Source
AI summary
A network access method includes: determining with a mobile communications terminal if a network identity of a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) exists in an equivalent public land mobile network (EPLMN) list, obtaining a shared network information stored in an operator's server and searching for the network identity of the VPLMN from the shared network information upon a condition that the network identity of the VPLMN does not exist in the EPLMN list, adding the network identity of the VPLMN to the EPLMN list, and accessing a network based on the EPLMN list.