User Equipment Network Selection via Dynamic Threshold Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment (UE) often experiences poor data throughput and increased power consumption due to prioritizing the home public land mobile network (HPLMN) over the visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), even when the VPLMN provides better connectivity, and undergoes repetitive connection attempts when HPLMN or roaming VPLMN services are temporarily unavailable, leading to inefficient network selection and increased power usage.
Innovation Solution
The UE determines the quality of the connection to the HPLMN and, if it does not meet a predetermined threshold, disconnects from the HPLMN and connects to a VPLMN, performing data exchange only when the VPLMN connection quality meets a second threshold, and scans for available cells of both HPLMN and VPLMN, including non-roaming VPLMNs, to establish a full service connection efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE prioritizes the HPLMN over the VPLMN, then the UE maintains home network connectivity, but the UE experiences poor data throughput and increased power consumption at the edge of HPLMN coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network selection by continuously monitoring connection quality metrics (RSRP, RSRQ, SINR) and switching between HPLMN and VPLMN based on real-time conditions. The UE transitions from static HPLMN prioritization to dynamic selection, adjusting network affiliation according to signal quality thresholds and coverage conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining home network connectivity and achieving acceptable data throughput.
2Reliability
If the UE prioritizes the HPLMN over the VPLMN, then the UE maintains home network connectivity, but the UE consumes additional power due to weak connection operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts network selection based on power consumption thresholds and connection quality. When HPLMN signal strength falls below thresholds (e.g., RSRP < -105 dBm) or quality metrics (RSRQ, SINR) indicate poor connection, the UE switches to VPLMN to reduce power consumption associated with maintaining weak home network connections, thereby resolving the contradiction between connectivity reliability and energy efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the UE uses limited service scanning procedure when HPLMN service is unavailable, then the UE connects to non-roaming VPLMN cells, but the UE performs repetitive operations and consumes additional power scanning for HPLMN cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the limited service scanning procedure with full service scanning by integrating HPLMN cell scanning into the VPLMN scanning process. Instead of performing separate scanning operations, the UE combines both scanning functions, allowing simultaneous identification of both HPLMN and VPLMN cells in a single scanning cycle, thereby reducing repetitive operations and power consumption while maintaining service availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a user equipment (UE) connected to a first home cell of a home public land mobile network (HPLMN). The method includes determining a type of the first home cell, when the type is a first type, determining a first quality of the connection to the first home cell, in response to the first quality not satisfying a first predetermined threshold or a determination that the type is a second type, disconnecting from the HPLMN, connecting to a first visited cell of a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), determining a second quality of the connection to the first visited cell and when the second quality of the connection to the first visited cell is above a second predetermined threshold, performing a data exchange via the first visited cell.