UE-Based Network Subscription Management for MTC Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices, particularly MTC devices, often lack the necessary credentials or hardware to access cellular networks, making it difficult for them to establish subscriptions and communicate effectively within existing subscription-based service models.
Innovation Solution
A user equipment (UE) can obtain identification information for a device lacking credentials and establish a connection with a wireless network using its own credentials, registering the device by associating its identification information with the UE's network credentials, thereby enabling access to the network without requiring separate subscriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MTC devices use traditional subscription-based access, then network security and authentication are maintained, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UE (user equipment) as an intermediary that bridges the gap between MTC devices lacking credentials and the wireless network. The UE with credentials assists the MTC device in establishing network access by sharing its subscription information, allowing the MTC device to access the network without having its own separate subscription or hardware credentials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables a single UE subscription to serve multiple MTC devices through device association mechanisms. The UE's network credentials and subscription can be shared with multiple associated devices, allowing one subscription to provide universal access to multiple devices without requiring each device to have its own dedicated subscription.
2Adaptability or versatility
If MTC devices obtain separate network subscriptions, then independent access is achieved, but service management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the network access function of multiple MTC devices into a single UE subscription. Instead of managing separate subscriptions for each MTC device, the system combines them under one UE account, where the UE acts as a gateway that associates multiple devices and manages their collective access to the network through a unified subscription.
3Device complexity
If MTC devices lack credentials, then device simplicity is maintained, but network access capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a UE as an intermediary that compensates for the MTC device's lack of credentials. The UE with full credentials shares its subscription information with the MTC device, enabling the simple MTC device to access the network without having its own credentials or complex hardware, thus maintaining device simplicity while restoring network access capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may obtain identification information for a device and may assist in establishing credentials by which the device accesses a wireless network. The UE may establish a connection with the wireless network using its own credentials, and register the device to access the wireless network by associating the identification information for the device with the credentials of the UE. The UE may receive or establish credentials by which the device accesses the wireless network and may communicate these credentials to the device over a local connection. In some cases, the UE may authenticate the device's identification information to determine whether the device is allowed to be registered with the wireless network.