UE Service Area Identification for Cross-Border 5G Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current 3GPP 5G system lacks a method for controlling access and connection of user equipment (UE) based on the country or region in which the UE and the core network are located, especially when satellite communication technology is used, which can provide radio coverage across multiple countries with different regulatory requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for identifying the service area where a UE belongs, involving a mobility management device and UE that exchange location information to determine the country or region, allowing the core network to manage access and connection appropriately, including precise positioning and location format conversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user equipment camps on a frequency for a long time to ensure reliable service area identification, then the reliability is improved, but the time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice area identification reliabilityVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the network side pre-configure service area information including frequency lists and candidate cell lists in the UE before the UE needs to camp on a frequency. This allows the UE to quickly identify service areas without prolonged camping, resolving the contradiction between reliability and time consumption by preparing data in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the network side sends detailed service area information to reduce identification complexity, then the ease of operation is improved, but the information transmission overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice area identification easeVSAvoidinformation transmission overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The service area information is segmented into two parts: a frequency list (smaller, more critical) and a candidate cell list (larger, supplementary). The UE first attempts to identify service area using the compact frequency list, and only if needed, uses the candidate cell list. This segmentation reduces overall information overhead while maintaining identification ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system sends more information than minimally required (both frequency list and candidate cell list), but the UE only processes what is necessary. This partial action approach ensures ease of operation by providing comprehensive data while the actual information consumption is optimized by only using needed portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4272471B1Method and device for identifying service area in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4272471B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4272471B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4272471B1 patent drawingFigure 4a

AI summary

The disclosure relates to communication techniques for merging 5G communication systems with internet-of-things (IoT) technology to support a high data transmission rate in post-4G system and systems therefor. A method performed by a mobility management entity in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving, from a base station, a first message including first information related to a location of a UE; in case that mobility management entity is not possible to determine whether location of UE is included in an area served by mobility management entity based on the first information, transmitting, to a location management entity, a second message including a parameter associated with location of UE; and receiving, from location management entity, third message including second information indicating an area where UE belongs, determined based on parameter.