TW201731310A - Device and method of handling a public land mobile network selection - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication device of handling a public land mobile network (PLMN) selection in a roaming network comprises a storage unit for storing instructions and a processing means coupled to the storage unit. The processing means is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit. The instructions comprise determining that the communication device is roaming; selecting a preferred roaming PLMN with a preferred roaming PLMN ID to camp on, if the preferred roaming PLMN ID stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the communication device; and selecting a first roaming PLMN with a first roaming PLMN ID to camp on, if the preferred roaming PLMN ID is not stored in the SIM of the communication device, or the communication device does not find the preferred roaming PLMN and the first roaming PLMN ID is associated with a first home PLMN ID of the communication device.

Description

Apparatus and method for handling public land mobile network selection

The present invention relates to an apparatus for a wireless communication system, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for processing a public land mobile network (PLMN) selection in a wireless communication system.

Typically, local operators of user equipment (UE), such as telecom operators in Taiwan, fail to enter into roaming agreements with all roaming operators in roaming countries such as the United States. When the client is turned on in the roaming country, the client needs to search for a public land mobile network (PLMN) to camp on. The client may take a long time to reside on the roaming network. For example, a local operator may only sign a roaming agreement with a roaming operator in a roaming country. Before the user finds the public land mobile network of the roaming operator with the roaming agreement, the user may have tried many roaming operators' public land mobile networks, but they were all rejected. That is to say, before the user receives the service from the public land mobile network, the user needs to spend a long time searching for a suitable public land mobile network, which causes inconvenience to the user of the user.

Therefore, when the client is on the roaming network or roaming country, how to choose the appropriate public land mobile network is an urgent problem to be solved.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a communication device and method for handling public land mobile network selection to address the above issues.

The present invention discloses a communication device for processing a public land mobile network (PLMN) selection in a roaming country, including a storage unit for storing instructions and a processing device, The unit is coupled to the storage unit. The processing device is configured to execute the instruction in the storage unit. The command includes determining that the communication device is roaming; if a preferred roaming public land mobile network identity (ID) is stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the communication device, selecting a preferred roaming public land mobile network with the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification to camp; and if the preferred roaming public land mobile network identifies the subscriber identity not stored in the communication device In the module, or the communication device does not find the preferred roaming public land mobile network and a first roaming public land mobile network identifies a first local public land mobile network (home PLMN, associated with the communication device) The HPLMN) identifies a first roaming public land mobile network with the first roaming public land mobile network identification to camp on.

The invention further discloses a network for processing a public land mobile network (PLMN) selection, comprising a storage unit for storing instructions, and a processing device coupled to the storage unit. The processing device is configured to execute the instruction in the storage unit. The instruction includes receiving, from a first communication device, a roaming public land mobile network identity (identity, ID), a local public land mobile network (HPLMN) identification, and the roaming public land mobile network The road identifies an associated information with the local public land mobile network identification; and transmits the information to a second communication device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication system 10 can be composed simply of a network and a plurality of communication devices. The network and the communication device can communicate via one or more licensed bands and/or one or more carriers of one or more unlicensed bands. In Figure 1, the network and a plurality of communication devices are used to illustrate the architecture of the wireless communication system 10. In fact, in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system, or the subsequent version of the Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the network can be an evolved universal terrestrial global. An evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), which may include at least one evolved Node-Bs (eNB) and/or at least one relay. An evolved base station or relay station may be referred to as a base station.

In a local country, the network can be considered a local network and can include a local public land mobile network (HPLMN). In another embodiment, in a roaming country (e.g., a foreign country), the network may be considered a roaming network and may include one or more roaming public land mobile networks. In general, when a communication device roams in a different country, the communication device needs to search for a roaming public land mobile network to camp on cells roaming the public land mobile network. After a suitable roaming public land mobile network is selected, a number of subsequent procedures (eg, cell selection, authorization) can be performed.

The communication device can be a user equipment (UE), a low-cost device (such as a machine type communication (MTC)), a device-to-device (D2D) communication device, a mobile phone, and a note. A combination of a computer, tablet, e-book, portable computer system, car, airplane or the device described above. In addition, for device-to-cell communication, depending on the direction (such as the direction of transmission), the network side and the communication device can be regarded as the transmitting end or the receiving end, respectively. For example, for an uplink (UL), the communication device is the transmitter and the network is the receiver; for the downlink (DL), the network is the transmitter for the communication. The device is the receiving end.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 20 can be used to implement the network terminal or communication device in FIG. 1, but is not limited thereto. The communication device 20 includes a processing device 200, a storage unit 210, and a communication interface unit 220. The processing device 200 can be a microprocessor or an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The storage unit 210 can be any data storage device for storing a program code 214. The processing device 200 can read and execute the program code 214 through the storage unit 210. For example, the storage unit 210 can be a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Flash Memory, or a random access memory ( Random-Access Memory, RAM), CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/BD-ROM, magnetic tape, hard disk, optical data storage device , non-volatile storage unit, non-transitory computer-readable medium (eg, tangible media), and the like, without limitation. The communication interface unit 220 can be a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals (such as data, signals, messages, and/or packets) according to the processing results of the processing device 200. For simplicity, the client in the following embodiments can be considered as the communication device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a process 30 of a first embodiment of the present invention for use in a client (eg, the communication device in FIG. 1) for handling public land mobile network selection. The process 30 can be compiled into program code 214, which includes the following steps:

Step 300: Start.

Step 302: Determine that the client is roaming.

Step 304: If a preferred roaming public land mobile network identity (ID) is stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the client, select the preferred roaming public land action A better roaming public land mobile network identified by the network to reside.

Step 306: If the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is not stored in the user identification module of the user terminal, or the user terminal does not find the preferred roaming public land mobile network and a first roaming The public land mobile network identifies a first local public land mobile network identification associated with the client and selects a first roaming public land mobile network identified by the first roaming public land mobile network to camp.

Step 308: End.

According to the process 30, the UE determines that the UE is roaming. If the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is stored in the subscriber identity module of the subscriber, the subscriber selects a preferred roaming public land mobile network with better roaming public land mobile network identification to camp on. If the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is not stored in the user identification module of the user terminal, or the user does not find a better roaming public land mobile network and the first roaming public land mobile network identification is associated with the user The first local public land mobile network is identified and stored in the storage unit 210, and the UE selects the first roaming public land mobile network identified by the first roaming public land mobile network to camp. That is, the UE first searches for a preferred roaming public land mobile network, wherein the preferred roaming public land mobile network is identified by the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification in the subscriber identity module. Then, if the user's user identification module fails to obtain better roaming public land mobile network identification or the user does not find a better roaming public land mobile network, the user searches for the first roaming public land mobile network. Identification. Thus, when the client roams, the client can quickly and successfully reside on a roaming public land mobile network (eg, its cells). It should be noted that the user identification module can be a universal user identification module (universal SIM, USIM). The subscriber identity module can be an integrated circuit (IC) card or an integrated circuit embedded in the subscriber end. In another embodiment, the user identification module can be a partition of the storage unit 210 of the client.

When the UE searches for the public land mobile network, the UE scans multiple carrier frequencies, and the UE can receive multiple signals on it. If the UE finds a cell on a carrier frequency, the UE receives the system information broadcast by the cell. If the system information includes public land mobile network identification, the client looks for a public land mobile network with public land mobile network identification. If the client does not find any cells identified by the public land mobile network, the client does not find the public land mobile network.

According to the process 30, an embodiment is described below. The client may have frequency information for roaming the public land mobile network, and a cell capable of searching for a roaming public land mobile network on a carrier frequency based on the frequency information. However, if the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is stored on the subscriber's universal subscriber identity module and the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is different from roaming public land mobile network identification, with higher priority In this case, the client selects a preferred roaming public land mobile network and performs cell selection to select a cell of the preferred roaming public land mobile network. If the client does not find a better roaming public land mobile network cell, the client chooses to roam the public land mobile network and perform cell selection to select a cell that roams the public land mobile network.

The implementation of the process 30 is not limited to the above.

In an embodiment, if the UE receives the mobile country code (MCC) broadcast by a cell of the roaming public land mobile network, the UE determines that it is roaming. That is to say, the UE searches for a cell on a carrier frequency, receives system information of the cell, and the system information includes a roaming action country code. The roaming action country code received in the system information can be used by the client to identify where the client is located, ie, the roaming country. In an embodiment, after the UE is turned on or the air/flight mode of the UE is turned off, the UE may decide that it is roaming.

In an embodiment, if the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is not stored in the subscriber identity module, the UE may be associated with the first local public land mobile network identification and the first radio access technology ( The first roaming public land mobile network of the radio access technology (RAT) identifies the first roaming public land mobile network to reside on the first roaming public land mobile network. That is, the association between the first local public land mobile network identification, the first roaming public land mobile network identification, and the first wireless access technology is established. By using the hardware and software of the first wireless access technology, the UE resides on a cell of the first wireless access technology of the first roaming public land mobile network. Further, the first roaming public land mobile network identification may be further associated with another wireless access technology, and the first wireless access technology has a higher priority than other wireless access technologies. That is to say, there are two options for the UE to camp on the roaming network: the first roaming public land mobile network identification with the first radio access technology and the first roaming public land with other radio access technologies. Mobile network identification. In this embodiment, according to a higher priority of the first RAT, the UE selects the first roaming public land mobile network identification with the first RAT.

In an embodiment, the client can search and register in the roaming country to the second roaming public land mobile network, wherein the second roaming public land mobile network identification of the second roaming public land mobile network is not stored at the user end. The middle or client failed to register to the first public land mobile network. The client may associate with the second roaming public land mobile network to identify the first local public land mobile network, and may store the association between the second roaming public land mobile network identification and the first local public land mobile network in the user In the storage unit 210 of the end. That is, the UE may store a list of the one or more roaming public land mobile networks according to one or more roaming public land mobile networks that it registers, and the UE may use it for the next visit to the roaming country. Further, if the UE is registered to the second roaming public land mobile network through a cell of the second radio access technology, the UE may associate the second radio access technology of the second roaming public land mobile network to the second roaming Public land mobile network identification. That is, the UE may store information related to the second radio access technology and the local public land mobile network identification, the second roaming public land mobile network, and the second radio access technology. In an embodiment, the client may transmit information (eg, association) of the second roaming public land mobile network identification and the first local public land mobile network identification to the server. Therefore, the server can provide information to other clients so that other clients can update their respective roaming public land mobile network list. The information may further include location information related to the second roaming public land mobile network identification. Therefore, when one of the other clients detects that it is in the location indicated by the location information, one of the other clients may select the second roaming public land mobile network identification. Preferably, the location information may include a geographical location, WiFi positioning information, global positioning system (GPS) positioning information, and the like. In an embodiment, the UE may receive, from the server, a third roaming public land mobile network identification of the third roaming public land mobile network, a second local public land mobile network identification, and a third roaming public land mobile network. Correlation between road identification and second local public land mobile network identification, and identification of third roaming public land mobile network, second local public land mobile network identification, and third roaming public land mobile network identification and The association between the two local public land mobile network identifications is stored in the client. That is, the client updates the list of roaming public land mobile networks by itself or by using information provided by the server.

Figure 4 is a table 40 for public land mobile network selection in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The form is stored in the client for handling public land mobile networks and/or cell selection in the roaming country and can be updated upon receipt of relevant information as described above. Figure 4 shows the local public land mobile network identification HPID1 ~ HPID3, roaming public land mobile network identification RPID1 ~ RPID3, and radio access technology RAT1 ~ RAT2. Therefore, five (ie, five columns) associations are established. The client may select one of a plurality of associations to perform a public land mobile network and/or cell selection. For the first association, the local public land mobile network identification HPID1 is associated with the roaming public land mobile network identification RPID1 and the radio access technology RAT1. For the second association, the local public land mobile network identification HPID1 is associated with the roaming public land mobile network identification RPID1 and the radio access technology RAT2. For the third association, the local public land mobile network identification HPID2 is associated with the roaming public land mobile network identification RPID2 and is not associated with any radio access technology. For the fourth association, the local public land mobile network identification HPID2 is associated with the roaming public land mobile network identification RPID2 and is not associated with any radio access technology. For the fifth association, the local public land mobile network identification HPID3 is associated with the roaming public land mobile network identification RPID3 and the radio access technology RAT1. In the present embodiment, according to the plurality of associated column positions in FIG. 4, the priority order of the plurality of associations is set to a descending order.

In an embodiment, it is assumed that the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is not stored in the subscriber identity module and the local public land mobile network of the subscriber is identified by the local public land mobile network identification HPID1, and the UE first attempts The first association is to perform a public land mobile network and/or cell selection. That is, by using the radio access technology RAT1, the UE searches for a cell in the radio access technology RAT1 of the roaming public land mobile network identified by the roaming public land mobile network to identify the RPID1. If the cell is successfully found, the client can perform a registration procedure to roam the public land mobile network. If the cell is not successfully found according to the first association, the client attempts a second association to perform cell selection. That is, by using the radio access technology RAT2, the UE searches for a cell in the radio access technology RAT2 roaming the public land mobile network. If the cells in the radio access technology RAT2 are not successfully found, the UE attempts the third association. That is, the UE searches for a cell of the roaming public land mobile network identified by the roaming public land mobile network identifying the RPID2. The client continues to attempt to identify the next association with the local public land mobile network to identify HPID1 until a cell of the roaming public land mobile network identified by the next association is successfully found, ie, the public land mobile network and/or cell selection Was successfully executed. Once the user finds the appropriate cell, the client registers through the cell to the roaming public land mobile network identified by the next association.

In one embodiment, the client may find a roaming public land mobile network identified by the roaming public land mobile network identification RPID1, but fails to register with the roaming public land mobile network via the radio access technology RAT1. In this case, the client can re-arrange the association to the lowest priority (eg, move it to the last column in the table or include the local public land mobile network to identify the last column of multiple associations of HPID1) or by detecting The association is measured to update the association. Further, the UE may transmit a message for updating the association to the server. The server can then update the association to other clients.

Figure 5 is a table 50 for public land mobile network selection in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The form 50 is stored in the client for handling public land mobile networks and/or cell selections in the roaming country, and the form 50 can be updated upon receipt of relevant information as described above. Figure 5 shows the action country codes MCC1 to MCC2, the mobile network codes MNC1 to MNC3, the roaming public land mobile network identification RPID1 to RPID3, and the radio access technologies RAT1 to RAT2. Therefore, five (ie, five columns) associations are established. The client selects one of the plurality of associations to perform a public land mobile network and/or cell selection. A combined association (e.g., map) of each action country code and mobile network code to a local public land mobile network identification. Therefore, the operations for executing the form 40 can be applied to the form 50. The relationship between Table 50 and Table 40 is as follows. The combination of the action country code MCC1 and the mobile network code MNC1 in Table 50 corresponds to the local public land mobile network identification HPID1 in Table 40. The combination of the action country code MCC1 and the mobile network code MNC2 in Table 50 corresponds to the local public land mobile network identification HPID2 in Table 40. The combination of the action country code MCC2 and the mobile network code MNC3 in Table 50 corresponds to the local public land mobile network identification HPID3 in Table 40. The client can perform a public land mobile network and/or cell selection by using the form 50 in accordance with the description of Table 40. For detailed implementation, please refer to the foregoing, and details are not described herein.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is used in a network (for example, the network in FIG. 1) to process a public land mobile network selection. The process 60 can be compiled into program code 214, which includes the following steps:

Step 600: Start.

Step 602: Receive, from a first user terminal, a roaming public land mobile network identification, a local public land mobile network identification, and an association between the roaming public land mobile network identification and the local public land mobile network identification Information.

Step 604: Transfer the information to a second client.

Step 606: End.

According to the process 60, the network (such as a server) receives roaming public land mobile network identification, local public land mobile network identification, and roaming public land mobile network identification and local public land mobile network identification from the first user end. Information about the association between. Then, the network transmits information to the second client. That is, the network collects multiple local public land mobile network identifications from the first user set, multiple roaming public land mobile network identifications, and multiple local public land mobile network identification and roaming public land mobile networks. Identifying associations and publishing multiple local public land mobile network identifications, multiple roaming public land mobile network identifications, and associations between multiple local public land mobile network identification and roaming public land mobile network identification to the second Client collection. Some of the first client set and the second client set may be the same or different. Thus, depending on the contributions of other clients, the client stores one or more local public land mobile network identifications, one or more roaming public land mobile network identifications, and one or more local public land mobile network identification and roaming public land The association between mobile network identification. When the UE decides that it is in the roaming country, the UE selects the roaming public land mobile network of the roaming country. That is, the client finds roaming public land mobile network identification in the highest priority among one or more associations, and searches for a cell of the roaming public land mobile network to camp on. In this way, the UE can receive one or more services provided by the roaming public land mobile network in real time. In one embodiment, the client searches for one or more associations (e.g., Table 40) by the country code of the roaming country to find roaming public land mobile network identification.

In an embodiment, the information may include a wireless access technology associated with roaming public land mobile network identification. In an embodiment, the information may include location information related to the roaming public land mobile network identification. In an embodiment, when the client has a WiFi connection, the client can be set to only transmit information. That is to say, when the user roams, the client does not transmit information through the connection of the cell.

The implementation of the processes 30 and 60 is not limited to the above. The steps of the embodiment described in flow 30 can be applied to the steps of process 60.

Those skilled in the art can combine, modify or change the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The foregoing statements, steps and/or processes (including suggested steps) may be implemented by means of a device, which may be hardware, software, firmware (for the combination of hardware devices and computer instructions and materials, and computer instructions and materials are hardware) A read-only software on the device, an electronic system, or a combination of the above, wherein the device can be the communication device 20.

In summary, the present invention provides a client and method for handling public land mobile network selection. The method can be implemented on the client side and/or the network side according to various system requirements and/or design considerations. Thus, when the client is in a roaming country, the client can reside in the roaming public land mobile network of the roaming country, and the time spent searching for the roaming public land mobile network can be reduced. In this way, the UE can receive one or more services provided by the roaming public land mobile network in real time. The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

10‧‧‧Wireless communication system
20‧‧‧Communication device
200‧‧‧Processing device
210‧‧‧ storage unit
214‧‧‧Program code
220‧‧‧Communication interface unit
30, 60‧‧‧ Process
300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 600, 602, 604, 606‧ ‧ steps
40, 50‧‧‧ Form
HPID1～HPID3‧‧‧Local Public Land Mobile Network Identification
RPID1～RPID3‧‧‧Roaming public land mobile network identification
RAT1～RAT2‧‧‧Wire Access Technology
MCC1~MCC2‧‧‧ Action Country Code
MNC1～MNC3‧‧‧Mobile Network Code

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a process of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a table for the selection of a public land mobile network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a table for the selection of a public land mobile network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a flow chart of a process of the embodiment of the present invention.

30‧‧‧Process

300, 302, 304, 306, 308‧ ‧ steps

Claims (15)

A communication device for processing a public land mobile network (PLMN) selection in a roaming country, comprising: a storage unit for storing the following command: determining that the communication device is Roaming; if a preferred roaming public land mobile network identity (ID) is stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the communication device, selecting the preferred roaming public land action a preferred roaming public land mobile network for network identification to reside; and if the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is not stored in the subscriber identity module of the communication device, or the communication device is not Finding the preferred roaming public land mobile network and a first roaming public land mobile network identifying a first local public land mobile network (HPLMN) associated with the communication device, selecting to have the first Roaming a first roaming public land mobile network identified by the public land mobile network to reside; and a processing device, Coupled to the storage unit, configured to execute the instruction in the storage unit. The communication device of claim 1, wherein if the communication device receives a mobile country code (MCC) broadcast by a cell roaming the public land mobile network, the communication device determines that it is roaming . The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device determines that it is roaming after the communication device is turned on or an airplane mode of the communication device is turned off. The communication device of claim 1, wherein if the preferred roaming public land mobile network identification is not stored in the subscriber identity module, the communication device is identified according to the first local public land mobile network And the first roaming public land mobile network of a first radio access technology (RAT) identifies the first roaming public land mobile network to camp on the first roaming public land mobile network. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the first roaming public land mobile network identification is further associated with another wireless access technology, and a priority of the first wireless access technology is higher than the another wireless memory Take a prioritization of technology. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores the following instructions: searching and registering in the roaming country to a second roaming public land mobile network, wherein the second roaming public land mobile network The second roaming public land mobile network identification is not stored in the communication device or the communication device fails to register with the first public land mobile network; and the second roaming public land mobile network is associated with the first local a public land mobile network; and in the communication device, storing an association between the second roaming public land mobile network identification and the first local public land mobile network. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the storage unit further stores an instruction to: if the communication device registers with the second roaming public land mobile network through a cell of a second wireless access technology, The second wireless access technology of the second roaming public land mobile network is identified by the second roaming public land mobile network. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the storage unit further stores an instruction to: transmit the second roaming public land mobile network identification and the information identified by the first local public land mobile network to a server (server ). The communication device of claim 8, wherein the information includes location information associated with the second roaming public land mobile network. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the storage unit further stores the following instructions: receiving, from a server, a third roaming public land mobile network identification of a third roaming public land mobile network, a second local Public land mobile network identification, and an association between the third roaming public land mobile network identification and the second local public land mobile network identification; in the communication device, storing the third roaming public land mobile network Identification, the second local public land mobile network identification, and the association between the third roaming public land mobile network identification and the second local public land mobile network identification. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the subscriber identity module is an integrated circuit (IC) card, an integrated circuit embedded in the communication device, or a partition of the storage unit. . The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first local public land mobile network is associated with a combination of a mobile country code (MCC) and a mobile network code (MNC). A network for processing a public land mobile network (PLMN) selection includes: a storage unit for storing the following instructions: receiving a roaming from a first communication device Public land mobile network identity (ID), a local public land mobile network (HPLMN) identification, and information related to the roaming public land mobile network identification and the local public land mobile network identification And transmitting the information to a second communication device; and a processing device coupled to the storage unit configured to execute the instruction in the storage unit. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the information comprises a radio access technology (RAT) associated with the roaming public land mobile network identification. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the information includes location information associated with the roaming public land mobile network identification.