UE Network Selection Priority During Service Interruptions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for network selection in service interruption scenarios, such as during disasters, are not optimally effective, leading to prolonged service outages and increased signaling load due to suboptimal execution of legacy and roaming network selection procedures.

Innovation Solution

A UE is configured with a configuration parameter to perform network selection based on an indication of a service interruption, allowing it to prioritize roaming network selection procedures and select networks that accommodate inbound roamers, thereby optimizing the network selection process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If legacy network selection procedure is performed first, then compatibility with existing networks is maintained, but service restoration time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork selection compatibilityVSAvoidservice restoration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the UE with disaster roaming information and establishing a prioritized network selection sequence before disasters occur. When service interruption is detected, the UE immediately executes the pre-planned roaming network selection procedure followed by legacy procedure, avoiding the time loss of ad-hoc decision-making and achieving faster service restoration while maintaining compatibility through the structured two-stage approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple network selection procedures are executed sequentially, then comprehensive network coverage is achieved, but signaling load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidsignaling load
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing a conditional execution strategy where the roaming network selection procedure is performed first as a targeted search for disaster-resistant networks, and the legacy procedure is only executed subsequently if the first procedure fails to find a suitable network. This partial execution approach achieves comprehensive network coverage when needed while minimizing unnecessary signaling load by avoiding redundant procedure executions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If roaming network selection is prioritized, then service continuity during disasters is improved, but complexity of network selection logic increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidnetwork selection logic
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the network selection logic adaptive rather than static. The UE dynamically adjusts its network selection behavior based on the detected service interruption condition, switching from normal operation mode to disaster recovery mode with prioritized roaming procedure. This dynamic approach improves service continuity during disasters while managing complexity through context-aware conditional execution rather than always-executing complex logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4278706B1Network selection in a service interruption scenario
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4278706B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4278706B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4278706B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for network selection in a service interruption scenario. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive an indication that a condition is associated with a first network to which the UE is registered. The UE may perform a network selection procedure based at least in part on receiving the indication. In some aspects, the network selection procedure includes a legacy network selection procedure and is associated with roaming information received by or configured on the UE. In some aspects, a UE may receive an indication that a condition is associated with a network to which the UE is registered. The UE may provide, for display and based at least in part on receiving the indication, network selection information associated with a set of networks. The network selection information may include an indication that a given network accommodates inbound roamers.