Wireless Device Disaster Roaming via Dynamic PLMN Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices experience service interruptions due to disaster conditions affecting their home network, such as outages in the core or radio access network, leading to a lack of available service and inability to roam on alternative networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing mechanisms to indicate disaster conditions to wireless devices, allowing them to search for and register with alternative networks that normally restrict access, and providing temporary disaster roaming services to maintain connectivity during outages, while facilitating return to the home network when conditions improve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless devices are forbidden from accessing alternative networks during disaster conditions, then network security and service quality are maintained, but service availability and connectivity are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network access control by allowing wireless devices to temporarily access alternative networks during disaster conditions. The system dynamically adjusts the forbidden PLMN list based on disaster condition indicators, transitioning from a static forbidden list to a dynamic one that can be modified when disasters are detected, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining security and ensuring service availability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of network access permission by introducing a disaster condition indicator that modifies the status of alternative networks. When the indicator signals a disaster, the system changes the access parameter from forbidden to allowed for specific alternative networks, enabling devices to maintain connectivity while preserving normal security restrictions under non-disaster conditions
2Reliability
If wireless devices search for and register with alternative networks during home network outages, then service continuity is maintained, but signaling load and network congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing disaster condition indicators in advance through system information broadcasts before devices attempt to access alternative networks. This advance notification allows devices to prepare for potential home network failures, reducing last-minute signaling bursts and enabling more controlled, efficient registration processes when disasters actually occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing wireless devices to autonomously detect disaster conditions through broadcast indicators and independently initiate registration with alternative networks without requiring extensive centralized coordination. This self-directed approach reduces signaling overhead by eliminating the need for devices to repeatedly query network status or wait for manual redirection instructions
3Loss of time
If wireless devices are immediately redirected to alternative networks during disasters, then service recovery time is reduced, but network selection complexity and device processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a simplified intermediary mechanism where the disaster condition indicator acts as a direct trigger for network selection. Instead of requiring devices to complexly evaluate multiple network parameters and make intelligent decisions, the broadcast indicator serves as a clear intermediary signal that directly guides devices to pre-identified alternative networks, reducing both recovery time and processing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for reducing wireless device service interruptions. An indication of a disaster condition may be provided to a wireless device. The disaster condition may affect a home public land mobile network of the wireless device. The wireless device may perform cell selection in a manner influenced by the indication of the disaster condition. This may include considering cells associated with a forbidden public land mobile network for the cell selection, or excluding cells associated with the home public land mobile network of the wireless device that are unavailable, for example due to the disaster condition, among various possibilities.