Steering of roaming in wireless communication networks
A method for steering of roaming (SOR) in wireless communication networks includes sending by a mobile equipment (ME) a registration message to a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN). The ME receives a first message from a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) through the VPLMN. The ME determines that the first message has failed a security check. In response to determining that the first message has failed the security check, the ME sends a second message to the VPLMN, the second message including an indication that the first message has failed the security check.
1. A method in a mobile equipment (ME), comprising:
performing, by the ME, a registration procedure, the registration procedure comprising sending a REGISTRATION REQUEST message to a visited public land mobile network (PLMN);
receiving, by the ME, a REGISTRATION ACCEPT message;
determining, by the ME, that the REGISTRATION ACCEPT message comprises Steering of Roaming (SOR) data from a home PLMN, the SOR data comprising a secured packet, wherein the SOR data includes one or more preferred PLMNs;
sending, by the ME, the secured packet to a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC);
receiving, by the ME from the UICC, an indication to perform a PLMN search based on the received SOR data;
in response to the indication to perform the PLMN search based on the received SOR data, determining that the visited PLMN (VPLMN) is a preferred PLMN; and
in response to determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN, refraining from performing the PLMN search until a periodical PLMN search timer T expires.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN comprises determining that a user controlled PLMN list comprises the VPLMN.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN comprises determining that the ME is in a manual mode.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SOR data comprises a list of PLMNs.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining, by the ME, that the REGISTRATION ACCEPT message comprises SOR data further comprises performing a security check.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the security check fails.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending, by the ME, the secured packet to a UICC; and
receiving, by the ME, a command from the UICC, the command indicating SOR.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ME determines that the VPLMN is a highest priority PLMN.
9. A mobile equipment (ME), comprising:
a memory; and
at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to:
perform a registration procedure, the registration procedure comprising sending a REGISTRATION REQUEST message to a visited public land mobile network (PLMN);
receive a REGISTRATION ACCEPT message;
determine that the REGISTRATION ACCEPT message comprises Steering of Roaming (SOR) data from a home PLMN, the SOR data comprising a secured packet, wherein the SOR data includes one or more preferred PLMNs;
send the secured packet to a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC);
receive, by the ME from the UICC, an indication to perform a PLMN search based on the received SOR data;
in response to the indication to perform the PLMN search based on the received SOR data, determining that the visited PLMN (VPLMN) is a preferred PLMN; and
in response to determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN, refraining from performing the PLMN search until a periodical PLMN search timer T expires.
10. The ME of claim 9 , wherein determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN comprises determining that a user controlled PLMN list comprises the VPLMN.
11. The ME of claim 9 , wherein determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN comprises determining that the ME is in a manual mode.
12. The ME of claim 9 , wherein the SOR data comprises a list of PLMNs.
13. The ME of claim 9 , wherein the determining that the REGISTRATION ACCEPT message comprises SOR data further comprises performing a security check.
14. The ME of claim 13 , wherein the security check fails.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed, cause a mobile equipment (ME) to perform operations comprising:
performing a registration procedure, the registration procedure comprising sending a REGISTRATION REQUEST message to a visited public land mobile network (PLMN);
receiving a REGISTRATION ACCEPT message;
determining that the REGISTRATION ACCEPT message comprises Steering of Roaming (SOR) data from a home PLMN, the SOR data comprising a secured packet, wherein the SOR data includes one or more preferred PLMNs;
sending the secured packet to a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC);
receiving, by the ME from the UICC, an indication to perform a PLMN search based on the received SOR data;
in response to the indication to perform the PLMN search based on the received SOR data, determining that the visited PLMN (VPLMN) is a preferred PLMN; and
in response to determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN, refraining from performing the PLMN search until a periodical PLMN search timer T expires.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN comprises determining that a user controlled PLMN list comprises the VPLMN.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining that the VPLMN is the preferred PLMN comprises determining that the ME is in a manual mode.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the SOR data comprises a list of PLMNs.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the determining that the REGISTRATION ACCEPT message comprises SOR data further comprises performing a security check.