CN111294888B

CN111294888B - Network selection method and device

Info

Publication number: CN111294888B
Application number: CN201910152652.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 倪金金; 金逸
Original assignee: Spreadtrum Communications Shanghai Co Ltd
Current assignee: Spreadtrum Communications Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-28
Filing date: 2019-02-28
Publication date: 2022-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-28
Also published as: CN111294888A

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a network selection method and device, wherein the method is applied to a user equipment supporting a 5G network, and comprises: determining the type of a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) according to configuration information of the USIM in user equipment, wherein the configuration information comprises a current Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list of the USIM; when the USIM is a USIM, adding 5G configuration information into the current PLMN list of the USIM according to a network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the USIM; and selecting a network according to the updated PLMN list. By adding the 5G configuration information to the PLMN list of the USIM on stock, the network selection method and the network selection device in the embodiment of the disclosure can facilitate the user equipment adopting the USIM on stock to more effectively reside in the 5G network.

Description

Network selection method and device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of 5G communications, and in particular, to a network selection method and apparatus.

Background

A Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), also called an upgraded SIM, is a component of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) 3G network.

In USIMs currently in use, because some USIMs do not have a 5G Network at the time of release, whether networks support 5G is not included in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list related to Network selection configured in the some USIMs, and in the case of a 5G Network, the USIMs may not be able to camp on the 5G Network for the first time, which may result in that User Equipment (UE) using the USIMs may not achieve an optimal communication effect.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, the present disclosure provides a network selection method and apparatus, which can facilitate a user equipment using USIMs in stock to more effectively camp on a 5G network.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a network selection method applied to a user equipment supporting a 5G network, the method including: determining the type of a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) according to configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment, wherein the configuration information comprises a current Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list of the USIM; when the USIM is a stock USIM, adding 5G configuration information into the current PLMN list of the stock USIM according to a network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM; and selecting a network according to the updated PLMN list.

In a possible implementation manner, determining the type of the universal subscriber identity module USIM according to configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment includes: reading the configuration information of a USIM in the user equipment; when the configuration information comprises 5G configuration information, determining that the USIM is a non-stock USIM; and when the configuration information does not include 5G configuration information, determining that the USIM is an inventory USIM.

In one possible implementation manner, the 5G configuration information includes: and the network access technologies supported by the PLMN in the 5G protocol related file or the current PLMN list of the USIM comprise 5G access technologies.

In a possible implementation manner, adding 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list of the stock USIM according to a network access technology supported by a PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM includes: when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM comprises a 4G access technology, adding a 5G access technology in the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM; and when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM does not comprise the 4G access technology, keeping the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM unchanged, and obtaining an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM.

In a possible implementation manner, the network selection according to the updated PLMN list includes: determining a target PLMN according to the updated PLMN list; when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority, and selecting a network; and searching the target PLMN for network selection according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN does not include a 5G access technology.

In a possible implementation manner, when the network access technologies supported by the target PLMN include a 5G access technology, searching for the target PLMN with the 5G access technology as a first priority, and performing network selection includes: when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority; when the target PLMN is searched successfully under the 5G access technology, network selection is completed; and when the target PLMN is searched under the 5G access technology and fails, continuing to search the target PLMN according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN to complete network selection.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and searching a target PLMN for network selection according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM without stock when the USIM is a non-stock USIM.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a network selection apparatus comprising: a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) type determining unit, configured to determine a type of a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) according to configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment, where the configuration information includes a current Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list of the USIM; a PLMN list updating unit, configured to, when the USIM is a stock USIM, add 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list of the stock USIM according to a network access technology supported by a PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM, to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM; and the network selection unit is used for selecting a network according to the updated PLMN list.

In one possible implementation, the USIM type determination unit is configured to: reading the configuration information of a USIM in the user equipment; when the configuration information comprises 5G configuration information, determining that the USIM is a non-stock USIM; and when the configuration information does not include 5G configuration information, determining that the USIM is an inventory USIM.

In a possible implementation manner, the PLMN list updating unit is configured to: when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM comprises a 4G access technology, adding a 5G access technology in the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM; and when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM does not comprise the 4G access technology, keeping the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM unchanged, and obtaining an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM.

In one possible implementation, the network selecting unit is configured to: determining a target PLMN according to the updated PLMN list; when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority, and selecting a network; and searching the target PLMN for network selection according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN does not include a 5G access technology.

In a possible implementation, the network selecting unit is further configured to: when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority; when the target PLMN is searched successfully under the 5G access technology, network selection is completed; and when the target PLMN is searched under the 5G access technology and fails, continuing to search the target PLMN according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN to complete network selection.

In one possible implementation, the apparatus is further configured to: and searching a target PLMN for network selection according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM without stock when the USIM is a non-stock USIM.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a network selection apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement the method of the first aspect described above.

According to the network selection method and device of the embodiments of the aspects of the disclosure, the user equipment of the USIM which cannot use the 5G network at present can be adopted, and the USIM can be more effectively resided on the 5G network when the 5G network is available, so that the communication effect is improved, and more efficient communication is realized.

Other features and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 shows a flow diagram of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 shows a flow diagram of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a network selection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of an application example according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of a network selection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Various exemplary embodiments, features and aspects of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers can indicate functionally identical or similar elements. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

The word "exemplary" is used exclusively herein to mean "serving as an example, embodiment, or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a better understanding of the present disclosure. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details. In some instances, methods, means, elements and circuits that are well known to those skilled in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

In the current USIM card, a necessary PLMN list is built in for network selection according to the requirements of a home operator when the USIM card leaves a factory. For example, peer-to-peer Home network (EHPLMN), User Controlled network (UPLMN), Operator Controlled network (Operator Controlled PLMN), and Operator Controlled network (OPLMN, Operator Controlled PLMN) lists may be indicated, and a network access technology (RAT) support condition of a corresponding PLMN in the lists may be indicated at the same time, and a terminal may perform network selection according to the PLMN lists and corresponding RAT priorities. For example, the following is an example of the PLMN list in USIM card a for chinese mobile:

EHPLMN and corresponding RAT:

first (1 st): PLMNID 46000, RAT 4G;

second (2 st): PLMNID 46000, RAT 3G;

third (3 nd): PLMNID 46000, RAT 2G;

UPLMN and corresponding RAT: air conditioner

OPLMN and corresponding RAT:

1st：PLMNID 404010，RAT 4G/3G/2G；

2st：PLMNID 40409，RAT 3G；

3nd：PLMNID 40411，RAT 4G/3G/2G；

if the configuration of the USIM card is above, when the target PLMN is 46000, the first priority RAT is 4G, so it is required to find 46000 under 4G first. Even if the 5G network of 46000 is opened by the subsequent operator, the USIM card selects 4G as the 46000 first priority RAT, and the 46000 supports 5G and is not known from the USIM card. Thus, the user of the card is faced with the problem that the 5G network cannot be resident for the first time, and the user experience is affected.

As can be seen from the above example, for USIMs to which 5G support information is not added in the PLMN list, such USIMs may be referred to as stock USIMs, which may not camp on a 5G network for the first time in the case of a 5G network.

In order to solve the above problem, this embodiment discloses an application example of a network selection method, in this example, when a USIM in a user equipment supporting a 5G network is a stock USIM, configuration information of 5G may be added to a RAT supporting 4G in a PLMN list of the stock USIM, so that the user equipment using the stock USIM may more effectively attempt to camp on the 5G network when the 5G network exists.

Fig. 1 shows a flow diagram of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method may be performed by a user equipment supporting a 5G network, and as shown in the figure, the method may include:

step S11, determining the type of USIM according to the configuration information of USIM, the configuration information including the current PLMN list of USIM.

Step S12, when the USIM is a USIM on stock, adding 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list of the USIM on stock according to a network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM on stock, to obtain an updated PLMN list of the USIM on stock.

And step S13, selecting the network according to the updated PLMN list.

The user equipment supporting the 5G network is not specifically limited, and may be a mobile phone supporting 5G, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm computer, a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a wearable device, a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in remote operation, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation security (in), a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a wireless terminal in a car networking, and the like, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment.

In a possible implementation manner, the types of USIMs may be divided into two types, namely, an existing USIM and a non-existing USIM, where the existing USIM may be regarded as a USIM that has not undergone 5G-related configuration, and the non-existing USIM may be regarded as a USIM that has undergone 5G-related configuration, how to determine the type of USIM is not limited in this embodiment, and any manner that may determine whether the USIM is an existing USIM may be used in the method. Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in the figure, in one possible implementation, step S11 may include:

step S111, reading the configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment.

Step S112, when the configuration information includes 5G configuration information, determines that the USIM is a non-stock USIM.

In step S113, when the 5G configuration information is not included in the configuration information, the USIM is determined to be a stock USIM.

In the above steps, the manner of reading the configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment does not affect the result of determining the type of the USIM, and thus the specific reading manner is not limited. The specific form of the configuration information is also not limited, and any information that can determine whether the USIM in the user equipment performs 5G-related configuration can be considered as configuration information for determination, and in one example, the configuration information may be a mobile network protocol file; in one example, the configuration information may be a list of all relevant PLMNs of the USIM. Since the form of the configuration information is not limited, the form of the 5G configuration information included in the configuration information is also not limited, and can be flexibly selected according to the form of the configuration information, and in a possible implementation manner, the 5G configuration information may include: the RAT supported by the PLMN in the 5G protocol-related file or the current PLMN list of the USIM includes the 5G access technology, etc., the 5G configuration information does not need to exist at the same time, any form of 5G configuration information exists, and the configuration information can be considered to include the 5G configuration information, in one example, the read configuration information includes both the 5G protocol new file and the RAT supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list includes the 5G access technology, and thus the stock is a non-stock USIM; in an example, if the read configuration information only includes the 5G access technology in the RAT supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM, it may also be considered that the 5G configuration information is included, and thus the USIM is a non-stock USIM; in an example, if the read configuration information only includes the 5G protocol add-on file, it may also be considered that the configuration information includes 5G configuration information, and thus the USIM is a non-stock USIM. As can be seen from the above, only when there is no 5G configuration information in the read configuration information, the USIM can be considered as an inventory USIM.

After the USIM is determined to be a stock USIM, a current PLMN list in the stock USIM can be read, and 5G configuration information is added to the current PLMN list of the stock USIM, so that the stock USIM can preferentially select a 5G network when the 5G network exists, thereby improving the network selection capability of the USIM user equipment and further improving the communication capability.

How to add 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list can be flexibly selected according to the situation that the PLMN in the PLMN list supports the RAT. Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in the figure, in one possible implementation, step S12 may include:

step S121, when the network access technologies supported by the PLMNs in the current PLMN list of the USIM inventory include the 4G access technology, adding the 5G access technology to the network access technologies supported by the PLMNs in the current PLMN list of the USIM inventory to obtain an updated PLMN list of the USIM inventory.

Step S122, when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM inventory does not include the 4G access technology, maintaining the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM inventory unchanged, and obtaining an updated PLMN list of the USIM inventory.

Since the 5G network and the 4G network are in an interoperation relationship in the 5G deployment, there is no explicit interoperation relationship with the 2/3G network. That is, the probability that a network with 4G standard has 5G standard at the same time is much higher than the probability that a network with only 2/3G standard has 5G standard at the same time. Therefore, when adding 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list, it may be determined whether the RATs supported by the PLMNs in each list include 4G, and if so, 5G may be added to the RATs supported by the PLMN. In an example, the PLMN list in the USIM card a of china mobile described above is not repeated here, and after 5G is added to the PLMN list in the above example, the specific form of the obtained updated PLMN list may be:

EHPLMN and corresponding RAT:

1st：PLMNID 46000，RAT 5G/4G；

2st：PLMNID 46000，RAT 3G；

3nd：PLMNID 46000，RAT 2G；

UPLMN and corresponding RAT: air conditioner

OPLMN and corresponding RAT:

1st：PLMNID 404010，RAT 5G/4G/3G/2G；

2st：PLMNID 40409，RAT 3G；

3nd：PLMNID 40411，RAT 5G/4G/3G/2G。

after obtaining the updated PLMN list, since the updated PLMN list is added with support information of the 5G access technology, in a 5G network environment, the user equipment may perform network selection according to the updated PLMN list, and fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in the figure, in a possible implementation manner, step S13 may include:

step S131, determining a target PLMN according to the updated PLMN list.

Step S132, when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN includes a 5G access technology, the 5G access technology is used as a first priority to search the target PLMN for network selection.

Step S133, when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN does not include the 5G access technology, searching for the target PLMN according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN, and performing network selection.

When the RAT supported by the target PLMN includes a 5G access technology, that is, it indicates that the USIM of the current user equipment may attempt to communicate using a 5G network, at this time, the 5G access technology may be used as a first priority to search for the target PLMN to perform network selection, which is how to implement this process, and flexible selection may be performed according to actual situations, fig. 5 shows a flowchart of a network selection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in the figure, in one possible implementation manner, step S132 may include:

step S1321, when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN includes a 5G access technology, searching for the target PLMN with the 5G access technology as a first priority.

Step S1322 is to complete network selection when the target PLMN search is successful in the 5G access technology.

And step S1323, when the target PLMN is searched under the 5G access technology and fails, continuing to search the target PLMN according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN, and completing network selection.

In the updating of the PLMN list, since the PLMN supporting the 5G access technology is added on the basis of the PLMN supporting the 4G access technology, the priority of the 5G access technology should be consistent with the priority of the 4G access technology, and it can be seen from the above steps that, in one example, when the 5G access technology is included in the RAT supported by the target PLMN, if the priority of the RAT supporting both the 5G access technology and the 4G access technology in the updated PLMN list is the first priority, the search of the target PLMN can be preferentially performed with the 5G access technology, that is, although the priorities of the 4G access technology and the 5G access technology are at the same position in the updated PLMN list, the network selection can be performed with the 5G access technology as the first priority; in one example, when the RATs supported by the target PLMN include the 5G access technology, if the priority of the RAT supporting both the 5G access technology and the 4G access technology in the updated PLMN list is not the first priority, the search for the target PLMN may be performed with priority given to the 5G access technology, that is, although the priority of the 5G access technology is not the first priority in the updated PLMN list, the network selection may be performed with priority given to the 5G access technology as the first priority. By using the 5G access technology as the priority of the first network selection, the user equipment using the stock USIM can more effectively try to reside in the 5G network, so that the communication effect of the user equipment where the stock USIM is located is improved.

If the RAT supported by the target PLMN does not include the 5G access technology, or when the target PLMN search fails under the 5G access technology, the target PLMN search may be performed sequentially under the corresponding network access technologies according to the priority order of the network access technologies in the updated PLMN list, until the network selection is completed successfully. In an example, a specific form of updating the PLMN list may be consistent with the form of updating the PLMN list in the foregoing, that is, in the EHPLMN, the first priority is PLMNID 46000, RAT5G/4G, the second priority is PLMNID 46000, RAT 3G, the third priority is PLMNID 46000, RAT 2G, for the updated PLMN list, when the target PLMN is 46000 and supported RATs include 5G access technologies, the first priority RAT is 5G/4G, so that 46000 is preferentially found under 5G, if found, 5G network selection is completed, and if not found, 46000 is sequentially found under 4G, 3G, and 2G according to the order of updating the PLMN list until network selection is completed after finding.

Since the USIM may also be a non-stock USIM, that is, the USIM itself has 5G configuration information, at this time, for the non-stock USIM, it is sufficient to operate according to normal network selection logic when performing network selection. In a possible implementation manner, the network selection method provided in this embodiment may further include: and when the USIM is a non-stock USIM, searching a target PLMN according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the non-stock USIM, and selecting a network.

In this way, when the user equipment supporting the 5G network performs network selection, the configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment is read, a stock USIM without the 5G configuration added is identified, and the relevant 5G configuration information is added to the part of the stock USIM, so that the user equipment using the stock USIM can preferentially select the 5G network in the 5G network, the network selection performance of the user equipment supporting the 5G network is improved, the 5G network can be fully utilized, and the communication effect is improved. Meanwhile, by the method provided in the example, hardware modification of the current stock USIM without adding a 5G network is not required, the utilization efficiency of the USIM is improved, the cost is saved, and the waste of resources is avoided.

Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a network selection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown, the apparatus 20 includes:

a USIM type determination unit 21, configured to determine a type of the USIM according to configuration information of the USIM, where the configuration information includes a current PLMN list of the USIM;

a PLMN list updating unit 22, configured to, when the USIM is a stock USIM, add 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list of the stock USIM according to a network access technology supported by a PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM, to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM;

and a network selecting unit 23, configured to select a network according to the updated PLMN list.

In one possible implementation, the USIM type determination unit is configured to: reading the configuration information of a USIM in user equipment; when the configuration information includes 5G configuration information, determining that the USIM is a non-stock USIM; when the 5G configuration information is not included in the configuration information, the USIM is determined to be an inventory USIM.

In one possible implementation, the 5G configuration information includes: and the network access technologies supported by the PLMN in the 5G protocol related file or the current PLMN list of the USIM comprise 5G access technologies.

In a possible implementation manner, the PLMN list updating unit is configured to: when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM stock comprises a 4G access technology, adding a 5G access technology in the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM stock to obtain an updated PLMN list of the USIM stock; and when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM at the stock does not comprise the 4G access technology, keeping the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM at the stock unchanged, and obtaining an updated PLMN list of the USIM at the stock.

In one possible implementation, the network selection unit is configured to: determining a target PLMN according to the updated PLMN list; when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority, and selecting a network; and searching the target PLMN for network selection according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN does not comprise the 5G access technology.

In one possible implementation, the network selection unit is further configured to: when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority; when the target PLMN is searched successfully under the 5G access technology, network selection is completed; and when the target PLMN is searched under the 5G access technology and fails, the target PLMN is searched continuously according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN, and the network selection is completed.

In one possible implementation, the apparatus is further configured to: and when the USIM is a non-stock USIM, searching a target PLMN according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the non-stock USIM, and selecting a network.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example application of the present disclosure, which is only for facilitating understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure and does not limit the embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in fig. 7, for a complete process of a certain user equipment supporting a 5G network when performing network selection, as can be seen from the figure, when performing network selection, the user equipment first reads configuration information of a USIM in the user equipment, and determines whether the configuration information includes 5G configuration information, if the 5G configuration information is included, it indicates that the USIM is a non-stock USIM, then network selection may be performed according to normal logic of the non-stock USIM, in this example, a process of performing network selection according to normal logic of the non-stock USIM may be: after the target PLMN is determined, sequentially searching the target PLMN under the corresponding RAT according to the priority order of the RAT supported by the PLMN in the PLMN list in the USIM, and after the target PLMN is searched, completing the corresponding network selection. If the USIM does not contain the 5G configuration information, it may be determined that the USIM is an inventory USIM, and for the inventory USIM, the user equipment may read a current PLMN list from the USIM, where the current PLMN list read in this example may be:

the priority of the EHPLMN and the corresponding RAT is PLMNID 46000, RAT 4G, PLMNID 46000, RAT 3G, PLMNID 46000 and RAT 2G in sequence; UPLMN and corresponding RAT is null; the priority of the OPLMN and the corresponding RAT is as follows in sequence: PLMNID 404010, RAT 4G/3G/2G, PLMNID 40409, RAT 3G and PLMNID 40411, RAT 4G/3G/2G.

As can be seen from the read current PLMN list, the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM in the stock does not support the 5G access technology, and since the 5G network and the 4G network may have an interoperation relationship, the support information of the 5G access technology may be added to a part of the current PLMN list that supports the 4G access technology in the PLMN support RAT to obtain an updated PLMN list, in this example, the updated PLMN list may specifically be:

the priority of the EHPLMN and the corresponding RAT is PLMNID 46000, RAT5G/4G, PLMNID 46000, RAT 3G, PLMNID 46000 and RAT 2G in sequence; UPLMN and corresponding RAT is null; the priority of the OPLMN and the corresponding RAT is as follows in sequence: PLMNID 404010, RAT5G/4G/3G/2G, PLMNID 40409, RAT 3G and PLMNID 40411, RAT 5G/4G/3G/2G.

After obtaining the updated PLMN list, when the user equipment performs network selection, the user equipment may perform selection according to the updated PLMN list of the USIM, as can be seen from the figure, before selecting a network, the user equipment first determines a target PLMN according to the updated PLMN list, and determines whether the RAT supported by the target PLMN includes a 5G access technology, if the target PLMN does not include the 5G access technology, the network selection may still be performed according to the original logic, a specific network selection process is consistent with a process when the USIM is a non-stock USIM, which is not described herein again, if the target PLMN includes the 5G access technology, the target PLMN may be preferentially searched under 5G, in this example, the target PLMN may be 46000 and includes the 5G access technology, therefore, according to this updated PLMN list, the target PLMN may be preferentially searched under 5G, if found, the target PLMN is successful in 5G network selection, the user equipment may communicate through the 5G network, if not found, then the network selection is normally performed according to the logic in the updated PLMN list, in this example, if 46000 is not found under 5G, the network is switched to find 46000 under 4G, if found, the user equipment can communicate through the 4G network, if not found, the network is continuously searched for 46000 under 3G, and so on, until the network selection of the user equipment is successful.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a network selection apparatus 1300 according to an example embodiment. For example, the apparatus 1300 may be provided as a server. Referring to fig. 8, apparatus 1300 includes a processing component 1322, which further includes one or more processors, and memory resources, represented by memory 1332, for storing instructions, such as application programs, that may be executed by processing component 1322. The application programs stored in memory 1332 may include one or more modules that each correspond to a set of instructions. Further, processing component 1322 is configured to execute instructions to perform the methods described above.

The apparatus 1300 may also include a power component 1326 configured to perform power management for the apparatus 1300, a wired or wireless network interface 1350 configured to connect the apparatus 1300 to a network, and an input-output (I/O) interface 1358. The apparatus 1300 may operate based on an operating system stored in the memory 1332, such as Windows Server, Mac OS XTM, UnixTM, LinuxTM, FreeBSDTM, or the like.

In an exemplary embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as the memory 1332, is also provided that includes computer program instructions that are executable by the processing component 1322 of the apparatus 1300 to perform the methods described above.

The present disclosure may be systems, methods, and/or computer program products. The computer program product may include a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions embodied thereon for causing a processor to implement various aspects of the present disclosure.

The computer readable storage medium may be a tangible device that can hold and store the instructions for use by the instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic memory device, a magnetic memory device, an optical memory device, an electromagnetic memory device, a semiconductor memory device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanical coding device, such as punch cards or in-groove projection structures having instructions stored thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer-readable storage media as used herein is not to be construed as transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission medium (e.g., optical pulses through a fiber optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through electrical wires.

The computer-readable program instructions described herein may be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to a respective computing/processing device, or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, such as the internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and/or a wireless network. The network may include copper transmission cables, fiber optic transmission, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. The network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer-readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer-readable program instructions for storage in a computer-readable storage medium in the respective computing/processing device.

The computer program instructions for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may be assembler instructions, Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) instructions, machine-related instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C + + or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The computer-readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the case of a remote computer, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet service provider). In some embodiments, the electronic circuitry that can execute the computer-readable program instructions implements aspects of the present disclosure by utilizing the state information of the computer-readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, such as a programmable logic circuit, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or a Programmable Logic Array (PLA).

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

These computer-readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer, programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer-readable medium storing the instructions comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Having described embodiments of the present disclosure, the foregoing description is intended to be exemplary, not exhaustive, and not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen in order to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application, or improvements made to the technology in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A network selection method is applied to user equipment supporting a 5G network, and comprises the following steps:

determining the type of a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) according to configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment, wherein the configuration information comprises a current Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list of the USIM;

when the USIM is a stock USIM, adding 5G configuration information into the current PLMN list of the stock USIM according to a network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM;

selecting a network according to the updated PLMN list;

wherein the stock USIMs are USIMs for which no 5G support information exists in the PLMN list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the type of the Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) according to configuration information of the USIM in the user equipment comprises:

reading the configuration information of a USIM in the user equipment;

when the configuration information comprises 5G configuration information, determining that the USIM is a non-stock USIM;

and when the configuration information does not include 5G configuration information, determining that the USIM is an inventory USIM.

3. The network selection method of claim 2, wherein the 5G configuration information comprises: and the network access technologies supported by the PLMN in the 5G protocol related file or the current PLMN list of the USIM comprise 5G access technologies.

4. The network selection method according to claim 1, wherein adding 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list of the stock USIM according to a network access technology supported by a PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM comprises:

and when the network access technologies supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM include a 4G access technology, adding a 5G access technology to the network access technologies supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a network based on the updated PLMN list comprises:

determining a target PLMN according to the updated PLMN list;

when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority, and selecting a network;

and searching the target PLMN for network selection according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN does not include a 5G access technology.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein when the network access technologies supported by the target PLMN include a 5G access technology, searching for the target PLMN for network selection with the 5G access technology as a first priority comprises:

when the network access technology supported by the target PLMN comprises a 5G access technology, searching the target PLMN by taking the 5G access technology as a first priority;

when the target PLMN is searched successfully under the 5G access technology, network selection is completed;

and when the target PLMN is searched under the 5G access technology and fails, continuing to search the target PLMN according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the target PLMN to complete network selection.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

and searching a target PLMN for network selection according to the priority of the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the USIM without stock when the USIM is a non-stock USIM.

8. A network selection apparatus, comprising:

a universal subscriber identity module USIM type determining unit, configured to determine a type of a universal subscriber identity module USIM in user equipment according to configuration information of the USIM, where the configuration information includes a current public land mobile network PLMN list of the USIM; wherein, the stock USIM is USIM without 5G support information in PLMN list; a PLMN list updating unit, configured to, when the USIM is a stock USIM, add 5G configuration information to the current PLMN list of the stock USIM according to a network access technology supported by a PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM, to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM;

and the network selection unit is used for selecting a network according to the updated PLMN list.

9. The network selection apparatus of claim 8, wherein the USIM type determination unit is configured to:

reading the configuration information of a USIM in the user equipment;

10. The network selection apparatus of claim 9, wherein the 5G configuration information comprises: and the network access technologies supported by the PLMN in the 5G protocol related file or the current PLMN list of the USIM comprise 5G access technologies.

11. The network selection apparatus of claim 8, wherein the PLMN list updating unit is configured to:

when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM comprises a 4G access technology, adding a 5G access technology in the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM to obtain an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM;

and when the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM does not comprise the 4G access technology, keeping the network access technology supported by the PLMN in the current PLMN list of the stock USIM unchanged, and obtaining an updated PLMN list of the stock USIM.

12. The network selection apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network selection unit is configured to:

determining a target PLMN according to the updated PLMN list;

13. The network selection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the network selection unit is further configured to:

14. The network selection apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

15. A network selection apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-7.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any of claims 1 to 7.