UE VPLMN Configuration Update Handling for Roaming Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the 5G cellular system, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in managing configuration updates when roaming between home and visiting public land mobile networks (PLMNs), particularly in synchronizing subscription information and network slice configurations across different networks, leading to inconsistencies and potential service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
The UE receives indications about configuration changes from the home network, allowing it to delete and update configuration information for visiting networks, ensuring that it obtains and applies the latest subscription and network slice information, and waits for an updated user equipment route and access selection policy before registering, thereby maintaining consistency across networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the UE stores configuration information for multiple visiting networks, then service availability during roaming is improved, but configuration consistency across networks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The UE proactively deletes configuration information for visiting networks upon receiving indication of home network configuration changes, before actual service disruption occurs. This preliminary action prevents configuration inconsistency from developing, resolving the contradiction by maintaining consistency while preserving service availability through timely updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanism where the UE monitors for configuration change indications from the home network and responds by updating its stored configuration information. This feedback loop ensures configuration consistency is maintained across different visiting networks while preserving service availability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the UE deletes configuration information upon home network changes, then configuration consistency is improved, but service disruption risk worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs deletion of outdated configuration information as a preliminary action before service disruption can occur. By acting on configuration change indications proactively, the system maintains consistency while avoiding actual service disruption, as the UE is already prepared with correct configuration when returning to visiting networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the configuration parameters (deleting stored VPLMN configuration information) in response to home network changes. This parameter change ensures consistency with the home network while the timing and conditions of deletion are controlled to maintain service reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the UE waits for updated configuration before registering, then configuration accuracy is improved, but registration time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs configuration updates in advance by deleting outdated configuration information when change indications are received, before actual registration or service usage occurs. This preliminary update ensures configuration accuracy is maintained without causing time loss during actual registration, as the configuration is already current when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for managing configuration updates. In some example embodiment, there may be provided an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive an indication regarding whether a home network of said apparatus makes a change to first configuration information stored at said home network and associated with the apparatus; and delete, in an instance in which the received indication represents the change, second configuration information stored at said apparatus, said second configuration information comprising information regarding one or more configurations associated with a visited network currently serving said apparatus and information regarding one or more configurations associated with one or more other visited networks.