Zero Touch Connectivity Network Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience and inefficiency in managing internet connectivity, particularly when switching between cellular and WiFi networks, as they need to manually select and authenticate with third-party WiFi networks, which can be of varying quality and require significant interaction, leading to suboptimal connectivity and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method for Zero Touch Connectivity (ZTC) that uses a User Equipment (UE) and a ZTC operator backend with Entitlement, Subscriber Credential Manager, and Subscriber Data Platform to automatically select and connect to the best available network, whether cellular or WiFi, based on quality parameters and user preferences, without manual engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual connectivity management is used, then users can control network switching, but user burden and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing the UE to automatically perform network selection, authentication, and credential management without user intervention. The entitlement verification and credential retrieval processes occur autonomously in the background, eliminating manual connectivity management tasks for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-verifying entitlements and pre-retrieving credentials before the user needs to access a network. The entitlement verification and credential provisioning happen in advance, so when the UE needs to connect, the authentication process is already prepared and can execute automatically.
2Reliability
If users manually select WiFi networks, then connection quality can be optimized, but time and effort are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-verifying entitlements and pre-retrieving credentials before the user needs to access a network. The entitlement verification and credential provisioning happen in advance, so when the UE needs to connect, the authentication process is already prepared and can execute automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the UE continuously monitors available networks and their quality parameters. Based on this feedback, the system automatically selects the optimal network and initiates authentication processes, ensuring connection quality is maintained without user intervention.
3Loss of energy
If third-party WiFi networks are used, then cost savings are achieved, but security and reliability concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary entitlement verification mechanism that acts as a trusted mediator between the UE and third-party networks. The entitlement verification server validates credentials and establishes secure connections, ensuring that even when accessing third-party networks, the communication remains secure and reliable through the intermediary verification process.
4Ease of operation
If automatic entitlement verification is implemented, then seamless access is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the complex entitlement verification and credential management functions into a separate, dedicated server component. This extraction allows the UE to remain relatively simple while the heavy lifting of automated verification, credential provisioning, and network management is handled by the external server infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for enabling Zero Touch Connectivity, ZTC, access in a communication system, wherein the system comprises a User Equipment, UE, a ZTC operator backend associated with an Operator IT system, wherein the ZTC operator backend comprises and supports the following functions: Entitlement, ET, server, Subscriber Credential Manager, SCM; and a Subscriber Data Platform, SDP, the method comprising the steps of: registering, from the UE, to a cellular and/or WiFi network by using a subscriber identity, ID, wherein the subscriber ID is associated with a ZTC operator backend an Operator IT system; determining, at the UE, address information to establish a connection with the ZTC operator backend associated the subscriber ID, and establishing a connection with the ZTC operator backend using the determined address information; requesting, from the UE to the ET server, for ZTC status information associated with the subscriber ID; retrieving, at the ET server, the ZTC status information associated with the subscriber ID, from the associated responsible Operator IT system, wherein the ZTC status information comprises a ZTC status flag and profile information, wherein if the ZTC status flag is active indicates that the subscriber ID is subscribed to ZTC and if the ZTC status flag is inactive indicates that the subscriber ID is not subscribed to ZTC, and wherein the ZTC profile indicates whether the subscriber ID is authorized to use one or a combination of ZTC service functions on the UE; returning, from the ET server to the UE, the requested ZTC status information; if the ZTC status flag is set active, setting, at the UE, an auto-connect switch to ON, if the ZTC status flag is set inactive, or if the ZTC status flag is set active but the ZTC status flag was already set active before and the subscriber ID had manually set earlier the auto-connect switch as OFF, the method is terminated; sending, from the UE to the SCM, a set of WiFi credentials, wherein the WiFi credentials are known and stored in the UE, and requesting synchronization with the SDP; synchronizing, from the SCM to the SDP, by storing new or updating the set of WiFi credentials as received by the UE and retrieving the synchronized set of WiFi credentials; sending, from the SCM to the UE, the synchronized set of WiFi credentials; receiving, updating and storing, at the UE, the synchronized set of WiFi credentials .