IP Library Granted Patent US 9,907,001
Granted Patent B2
US 9,907,001 · App. 14/700,966 · Granted Feb 27, 2018

Method and device for switching between networks

Inventors: Hui Jin (Beijing, CN); Guodong Xue (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: HUAWEI DEVICE (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
H04W36/14H04W48/02H04W48/16H04W48/18H04W36/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,907,001
App. No.
14/700,966
Granted
Feb 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and device for switching between networks, where the method includes, if a notification that a signal of a first operator network is lost is received from a user equipment (UE), sending a temporary operational profile (OP) request to a remote management platform of a second operator network; receiving a temporary OP and a validity period of the temporary OP; instructing the UE to detect signal strength of the first operator network, and accessing the second operator network using the temporary OP; and before the validity period of the temporary OP expires, if it is determined according to the signal strength of the first operator network that the signal of the first operator network is recovered, re-accessing the first operator network.

Claims (85)

1. A method for switching between networks comprising:

determining a second operator network is available when a signal of a first operator network is lost by a user equipment (UE);

sending a temporary operational profile (OP) request to a remote management platform of the second operator network, wherein the temporary OP request carries reason information for sending the temporary OP request;

receiving a temporary OP and a validity period of the temporary OP from the remote management platform;

detecting a signal strength of the first operator network;

accessing the second operator network using the temporary OP; and

re-accessing the first operator network before the validity period of the temporary OP expires and when the signal of the first operator network has recovered.

2. The method for switching between networks according to claim 1 , wherein the validity period of the temporary OP is based on the reason information.

3. The method for switching between networks according to claim 1 , wherein after detecting the signal strength of the first operator network, the method further comprises:

sending a temporary OP update request to the remote management platform when the validity period of the temporary OP expires without receipt of a notification from the UE that the signal of the first operator network is recovered;

receiving a temporary OP update response from the remote management platform, wherein the temporary OP update response carries a new temporary OP or a new validity period that is allocated by the remote management platform; and

continuing to use the second operator network using the new temporary OP or according to the new validity period.

4. The method for switching between networks according to claim 1 , wherein re-accessing the first operator network comprises:

activating an OP of the first operator network;

deactivating the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network;

starting a delete timer, wherein the delete timer is used to set a deletion period required for detecting whether the first operator network is stable; and

re-accessing the first operator network using the OP of the first operator network.

5. The method for switching between networks according to claim 4 , wherein after starting the delete timer, the method further comprises:

re-accessing the second operator network using the temporary OP when a notification that the signal of the first operator network is lost is received from the UE before both the deletion period and the validity period of the temporary OP expire; and

stopping the delete timer.

6. The method for switching between networks according to claim 4 , wherein after starting the delete timer, the method further comprises:

deleting the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network when the deletion period has expired, the validity period of the temporary OP has not expired, and the signal of the first operator network has not been lost; and

sending a temporary OP deletion request to the remote management platform, and wherein the temporary OP deletion request instructs the remote management platform to delete the temporary OP.

7. The method for switching between networks according to claim 4 , wherein after starting the delete timer, the method further comprises:

not sending a temporary OP update request to the remote management platform of the second operator network when the validity period of the temporary OP expires prior to the deletion period; and

stopping the delete timer.

8. The method for switching between networks according to claim 1 , wherein after detecting the signal strength of the first operator network, the method further comprises re-accessing the first operator network after the validity period of the temporary OP expires and when the signal of the first operator network has recovered.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory comprising instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to:

determine a second operator network is available when a signal of a first operator network is lost by a user equipment (UE);

send a temporary OP request to a remote management platform of the second operator network;

receive a temporary OP and a validity period of the temporary OP from the remote management platform;

detect a signal strength of the first operator network;

access the second operator network using the temporary OP;

re-access the first operator network before the validity period of the temporary OP expires and when that the signal of the first operator network has recovered;

send a temporary OP update request to the remote management platform when the validity period expires and the signal of the first operator network has not recovered;

receive a temporary OP update response from the remote management platform, wherein the temporary OP update response carries a new temporary OP or a new validity period that is allocated by the remote management platform; and

continue to use the second operator network using the new temporary OP according to the new validity period.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the temporary OP request carries reason information for sending the temporary OP request, and wherein the validity period of the temporary OP is based on the reason information.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein re-accessing the first operator network comprises:

activating an OP of the first operator network;

deactivating the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network;

starting a delete timer, wherein the delete tinier is used to set a deletion period required for detecting whether the first operator network is stable; and

re-accessing the first operator network using the OP of the first operator network.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine that the signal of the first operator network is lost before both the deletion period and the validity period of the temporary OP expires;

deactivate the OP of the first operator network;

activate the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network;

re-access the second operator network using the temporary OP; and

stop the delete timer.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

delete the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network when the deletion period has expired, the validity period of the temporary OP has not expired, and the signal of the first operator network has not been lost; and

send a temporary OP deletion request to the remote management platform, wherein the temporary OP deletion request instructs the remote management platform to delete the temporary OP.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory comprising instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to:

determine a second operator network is available when a signal of a first operator network is lost by a user equipment (UE);

send a temporary operational profile (OP) request to a remote management platform of the second operator network;

receive a temporary OP and a validity period of the temporary OP from the remote management platform;

detect a signal strength of the first operator network;

access the second operator network using the temporary OP; and

re-access the first operator network before the validity period of the temporary OP expires and when the signal of the first operator network is recovered, wherein re-accessing the first operator network comprises:

activating an OP of the first operator network;

deactivating the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network;

starting a delete timer, wherein the delete timer is used to set a deletion period required for detecting whether the first operator network is stable; and

re-accessing the first operator network using the OP of the first operator network.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the signal of the first operator network is lost before both the deletion period and the validity period of the temporary OP expires;

deactivate the OP of the first operator network;

activate the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network;

re-access the second operator network using the temporary OP; and

stop the delete timer.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

delete the temporary OP allocated by the second operator network when the deletion period has expired, the validity period of the temporary OP has not expired, and the signal of the first operator network has not been lost; and

send a temporary OP deletion request to the remote management platform, wherein the temporary OP deletion request instructs the remote management platform to delete the temporary OP.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

not send a temporary OP update request to the remote management platform when the validity period of the temporary OP expires prior to the deletion period; and

stop the delete timer.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to re-access the first operator network after the validity period of the temporary OP expires and when the signal of the first operator network has recovered.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the temporary OP request carries reason information for sending the temporary OP request, and wherein the validity period of the temporary OP is based on the reason information.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to;

send a temporary OP update request to the remote management platform when the validity period expires and the signal of the first operator network has not recovered;

receive a temporary OP update response from the remote management platform, wherein the temporary OP update response carries a new temporary OP or a new validity period that is allocated by the remote management platform; and

continue to use the second operator network using the new temporary OP according to the new validity period.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 11, 2019
From: HUAWEI DEVICE (DONGGUAN) CO.,LTD.
To: HUAWEI DEVICE CO.,LTD.
Reel/Frame 048555/0951 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2017
From: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.
To: HUAWEI DEVICE (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043750/0393 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2015
From: JIN, HUI; XUE, GUODONG
To: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035545/0438 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2012083840 · Oct 31, 2012
Related Publication 20150237551A1 · Aug 20, 2015