UE Location Acquisition via HSS Query in Cellular Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for determining UE location in cellular networks require a large number of network hops when the UE is roaming, leading to increased network traffic, delay, and congestion.
Innovation Solution
A system that electronically obtains UE location information from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and populates this information into a call data record (CDR), reducing the number of network hops required to determine whether the UE is roaming and facilitating location-based services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to obtain UE location information while roaming, then location information can be obtained, but the number of network hops increases, causing additional network traffic, delay, and congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location information retrieval process from the traditional multi-hop network path and consolidates it to a direct query to the HSS. Instead of traversing multiple network nodes (VLR, MSC, etc.), the system directly queries the HSS for location information, removing unnecessary intermediate steps and reducing network hops while maintaining location accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The HSS is utilized as a universal location information source that serves both home network and roaming scenarios. By making the HSS the primary query target for location information in all cases, the system eliminates the need for separate location retrieval paths for roaming versus home network scenarios, simplifying the overall network architecture and reducing delay
2Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to obtain UE location information while roaming, then location information can be obtained, but the number of network hops increases, leading to network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary intermediate network nodes from the location information retrieval path. By querying the HSS directly instead of traversing through VLR, MSC, and other intermediate nodes, the system extracts the essential function (location retrieval) from the complex traditional path, thereby reducing network traffic and congestion while maintaining information accuracy
3Measurement precision
If the system queries multiple network nodes to determine UE roaming status, then accurate roaming determination can be made, but computing resources are consumed and network hops increase
Solution Approach 1:
The HSS serves as a universal source for both location information and roaming status determination. By querying the HSS for location information, the system simultaneously obtains data that can determine roaming status (by comparing the location with home network coverage), eliminating the need for separate queries to multiple network nodes and reducing architectural complexity while maintaining determination accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the location information retrieval function with the roaming status determination function. Instead of separately querying for location and roaming status from different network nodes, the system combines these functions by querying the HSS for location information and deriving roaming status from that single query result, thereby reducing network hops and computing resource consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular telecommunication system application server (AS), such as the short message service center (SMSC) or Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC), obtains a cellular network subscriber UE location information from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) of the cellular telecommunication system. The system determines whether the cellular network subscriber UE is roaming based on the UE location information obtained from the HSS. The system populates the location information obtained from the HSS into a call data record (CDR) of the UE and determines whether the cellular network subscriber UE is roaming based on the location information obtained from the HSS populated into the CDR. The system supports location-based services of the UE based on UE location information obtained from the HSS both while the UE is on a home cellular network and while the UE is roaming.