WO2011024030A1

WO2011024030A1 - Roaming phone access point name (apn) re-assignment

Info

Publication number: WO2011024030A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/053776
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shaheer Jamal-Syed
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 2009-08-28
Filing date: 2009-08-28
Publication date: 2011-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-28

Abstract

A configuration device (140-1) determines (420) if a user equipment (UE) (110) has roamed into a roaming domain outside of a home domain of the UE (110). The configuration device (140-1) then assigns (430) a roaming Access Point Name (APN) (170) to the UE (110) when the UE (110) has roamed into the roaming domain, where the roaming APN (170) is different than another APN (150) assigned to the UE (110) in the home domain and where the roaming APN (170) permits the UE (110) to access local content and/or services in the roaming domain.

Description

ROAMING PHONE ACCESS POINT

NAME (APN) RE-ASSIGNMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

Implementations described herein relate generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to the roaming of user equipment within such wireless communications systems.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication systems (e.g., land-based cellular networks or space-based satellite networks) typically permit user equipment (UE), such as, for example, cellular telephones, to roam across geographic regions and their associated cellular networks. However, such roaming often leads to special roaming charges being applied to the UE when accessing content and/or services during roaming. The roaming charges are incurred when a UE leaves its home domain (i.e., home network) and travels to another geographical domain that is registered with a different Access Point Name (APN). An APN is an identifier used in a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network (also in 3G/EDGE networks) for identifying a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) bearer service. The APN defines the type of bearer service that is provided in the UE's packet data connection and identifies an external network that is accessible from the UE. The APN further includes several attributes associated with it that define how the UE can access the external network. In most cellular networks, there are two types of APNs. The more common APN is the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) APN that enables access to default WAP content. Another APN is the Internet or web APN that enables access to all content. APNs are typically used in a mobile network to identify "home" users such that the users may access WAP -based or Internet/web-based services in the "home" geographic domain. Network operators allow the "home" users to use these APNs to access the services at low prices or rates. Users, however, must continue to use their home-assigned APNs when they are roaming and, as a result, must pass through the network operator's gateway in a roaming domain, causing them to be charged high roaming prices or rates.

Therefore, when a UE roams from its home domain to another geographic domain, the UE continues to use the APN assigned to the UE in the home domain. In the network associated with the new geographic domain, the UE will be recognized as a roaming UE due to its out-of- domain APN, and roaming charges, that are more expensive than the UE would have incurred in the home domain, may be applied to the UE's access to local content and/or services. SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments described herein may enable APN re-assignment when a UE roams from a home domain to another geographic domain. Re-assignment of a particular roaming APN to the UE, when the UE roams into a domain outside of the UE's home domain, may permit the UE to access local content and/or services in the roaming domain at prices or rates that are equivalent to prices or rates of locally registered UEs. APN re-assignment, therefore, may be used to eliminate (or decrease) roaming charges that would otherwise be charged to the roaming UE when it attempts to access local content or services in the roaming domain.

According to one aspect, a method implemented in a configuration device may include determining if a user equipment (UE) has roamed into a roaming domain outside of a home domain of the UE. The method may further include assigning a roaming Access Point Name (APN) to the UE when the UE has roamed into the roaming domain, where the roaming APN is different than another APN assigned to the UE in the home domain and where the roaming APN permits the UE to access local content and/or services in the roaming domain.

According to a further aspect, a configuration server may include an interface configured to obtain a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), an

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and/or an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) associated with a user equipment (UE). The configuration server may further include a processing unit to: determine if the UE has roamed into a roaming domain outside of a home domain of the UE, based on the MSISDN, IMSI, and/or IMEI, and assign a roaming Access Point Name (APN) to the UE when the UE has roamed into the roaming domain based on the determination, where the roaming APN is different than another APN assigned to the UE in the home domain and where the roaming APN permits the UE to access content in the roaming domain at a price or rate that is equal to UEs that are residents of the roaming domain.

According to an additional aspect, a computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by at least one processor may include one or more instructions for obtaining a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile

Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and/or an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) associated with a user equipment (UE), and one or more instructions for determining if the UE has roamed into a roaming domain, outside of a home domain of the UE, based on the MSISDN, IMSI, and/or IMEI. The computer-readable medium may further include one or more instructions for assigning a roaming Access Point Name (APN) to the UE when the UE has roamed into the roaming domain, where the roaming APN is different than another APN assigned to the UE in the home domain and where the roaming APN permits the UE to access content in the roaming domain at a price or rate that is equal to other UEs that are residents of the roaming domain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, explain the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. IA illustrates an exemplary communications system in which devices, methods, and/or systems described herein may be implemented;

FIG. IB depicts temporary APN re-assignment when a UE roams from a home domain to a roaming domain;

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary components of the UE of FIGS. IA and IB;

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary components of a device that may correspond to the configuration server of FIG. IB;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates exemplary operations associated with APN reassignment when a UE roams from a home domain to a roaming domain; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram that graphically illustrates APN assignment and re-assignment when a UE roams from a home domain to a roaming domain and back to the home domain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings.

The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention.

Embodiments described herein relate to the re-assignment of an APN when a UE roams from its home domain to another geographic domain. Re-assignment of a roaming APN, to temporarily replace the UE's home domain APN, permits the UE to access local content and/or services in the roaming domain at prices/rates that may equal rates charged to UEs that are local to the other geographic domain. Re-assignment of an APN to a UE while the UE roams in another domain outside of its home domain may, thus, eliminate roaming charges that would have been charged to the roaming UE. In exemplary embodiments described herein, each operator network may create a separate APN for UEs that roam into the operator network.

FIG. IA illustrates an exemplary communications system 100 in which a UE may roam from a first operator network 120-1 (i.e., a home domain) to a second operator network 120-2 (i.e., a roaming domain). As shown in FIG. IA, UE 110 may use an APN 130 to communicate via operator network 120-1 and a different APN 135 to communicate via operator network 120- 2. APN re-assignment is described in further detail below with respect to FIG. IB.

UE 110 may include, for example, a cellular radiotelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a Personal Communications Systems (PCS) terminal, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, or any other type of device or appliance that includes a communication transceiver that permits UE 110 to communicate with other devices via a wireless link. The PCS terminal may, for example, combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile and data communications capabilities. The PDA may include, for example, a radiotelephone, a pager, an Internet/intranet access device, a web browser, an organizer, calendars and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. UE 110 may be referred to as a "pervasive computing" device.

Operator network 120-1 may include a mobile network, such as a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) or a satellite network, which may encompass a specific geographic region (i.e., a home domain). The PLMN or satellite network may further include a packet-switched network, such as, for example, a GPRS network. Operator network 120-1 may include, for example, a GSM network, a Third Generation (3G) (i.e., International Mobile

Telecommunications-2000) network, or an Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network. UE 110 may be registered with operator network 120-1 as a "local" device, where operator network 120-1 serves as UE 110's home domain. APN 130 may be assigned to UE 110 for communicating via operator network 120-1 using a GPRS bearer service identified by APN 130.

Operator network 120-2 may also include a mobile network, such as a PLMN or a satellite network, which may encompass a specific geographic region (i.e., a roaming domain) that is different than the geographic region encompassed by operator network 120-1. For example, operator network 120-2 may encompass the country of Sweden, whereas operator network 120-1 may encompass a portion of the country of the United States of America. The PLMN or satellite network may further include a packet-switched network, such as, for example, a GPRS network. Operator network 120-2 may also include, for example, a GSM network, a 3G network, or an EDGE network. UE 110 may roam from operator network 120-1 into operator network 120-2, where UE 110 may be considered to be a roaming device and operator network 120-2 may serve as UE 1 10's roaming domain. Even though UE 110 may still be registered with operator network 120-1 as a "local" device, APN 135 may be assigned to UE 110 for communicating via operator network 120-2 using a GPRS bearer service identified by APN 135.

FIG. IB depicts temporary APN re-assignment when UE 110 roams from a home domain (operator network 120-1) to a roaming domain (operator network 120-2) in communications system 100. As shown in FIG. IB, a configuration server 140-1, associated with operator network 120-1, may assign a home APN 150 to UE 110 when UE 110 first attempts to connect to operator network 120-1. UE 110 may use home APN 150 for

communicating via operator network 120-1 (i.e., home domain) and a GPRS bearer service identified by APN 150. At some point, UE 110 may roam 160 into operator network 120-2. When UE 110 first attempts to connect to operator network 120-2 after roaming, a configuration server 140-2, associated with operator network 120-2, may detect and identify UE 110 as a roaming UE and may temporarily re-assign a roaming APN 170 to UE 110. UE 110 may use roaming APN 170 for communicating via operator network 120-2 (i.e., roaming domain) and a GPRS bearer service identified by APN 150. Each of operator networks 120-1 and 120-2 may have a separate APN (or a separate pool of APNs) designated for UEs that roam into the operator's network.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary components of UE 110. UE 110 may include a transceiver 205, a processing unit 210, a memory 215, an input device(s) 220, an output device(s) 225, and a bus 230.

Transceiver 205 may include transceiver circuitry for transmitting and/or receiving symbol sequences using radio frequency signals via one or more antennas. Processing unit 210 may include a processor, a microprocessor, or processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. Processing unit 210 may perform data processing functions for inputting, outputting, and processing of data including data buffering and device control functions, such as, for example, call processing control, user interface control, or the like.

Memory 215 may provide permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary working storage of data and instructions for use by processing unit 210 in performing device processing functions. Memory 215 may include read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), large- capacity storage devices, such as a magnetic and/or optical recording media and their corresponding drives, and/or other types of memory devices. Input device(s) 220 may include mechanisms for entry of data into UE 110. For example, input device(s) 220 may include a key pad (not shown), a microphone (not shown) or a display unit (not shown). The key pad may permit manual user entry of data into UE 110. The microphone may include mechanisms for converting auditory input into electrical signals. The display unit may include a screen display that may provide a user interface (e.g., a graphical user interface) that can be used by a user for selecting device functions. The screen display of the display unit may include any type of visual display, such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma screen display, a light- emitting diode (LED) display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, etc.

Output device(s) 225 may include mechanisms for outputting data in audio, video and/or hard copy format. For example, output device(s) 225 may include a speaker (not shown) that includes mechanisms for converting electrical signals into auditory output. Output device(s) 225 may further include a display unit that displays output data to the user. For example, the display unit may provide a graphical user interface that displays output data to the user. Bus 230 may interconnect the various components of UE 110 to permit the components to communicate with one another.

The configuration of components of UE 110 illustrated in FIG. 2 is for illustrative purposes only. Other configurations with more, fewer, or a different arrangement of

components may be implemented. For example, UE 110 may include a location determining device (not shown), such as, for example, a GPS device that may be used to determine a location of UE 110.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a device 300, which may correspond to configuration servers 140-1 and/or 140-2, according to an exemplary implementation. As illustrated, device 300 may include a bus 310, a processing unit 320, a main memory 330, a ROM 340, a storage device 350, an input device 360, an output device 370, and a communication interface 380. Bus 310 may include a path that permits communication among the components of device 300.

Processing unit 320 may include a processor, a microprocessor, or processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. Main memory 330 may include a RAM or another type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions for execution by processing unit 320. ROM 340 may include a ROM device or another type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions for use by processing unit 320. Storage device 350 may include a magnetic and/or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive.

Input device 360 may include a mechanism that permits an operator to input information to device 300, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, voice recognition and/or biometric mechanisms, etc. Output device 370 may include a mechanism that outputs information to the operator, including a display, a printer, a speaker, etc. Communication interface 380 may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables device 300 to communicate with other devices and/or systems. For example, communication interface 380 may include mechanisms for communicating with another device or system via a network, such as operator networks 120- 1 or 120-2.

Device 300 may perform certain operations or processes described herein. Device 300 may perform these operations in response to processing unit 320 executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as main memory 330, ROM 340, and/or storage device 350. A computer-readable medium may be defined as a physical or a logical memory device. For example, a logical memory device may include memory space within a single physical memory device or distributed across multiple physical memory devices. Each of main memory 330, ROM 340 and storage device 350 may include computer-readable media. The magnetic and/or optical recording media (e.g., readable CDs or DVDs) of storage device 350 may also include computer-readable media.

The software instructions may be read into main memory 330 from another computer- readable medium, such as storage device 350, or from another device via communication interface 380. The software instructions contained in main memory 330 may cause processing unit 320 to perform operations or processes described herein. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes and/or operations described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates exemplary operations associated with APN reassignment when a UE roams from a home domain to a roaming domain, or returns from a roaming domain to a home domain. The exemplary process of FIG. 4 may be implemented by configuration servers 140-1 or 140-2, possibly in conjunction with one or more other devices.

The exemplary operations may include detecting a connection of a UE to an operator network (block 400). The operator network to which the UE is connecting may be the operator network associated with configuration server 140 that is implementing the exemplary process of FIG. 4. For example, referring to FIG. IB, configuration server 140-1 may detect the connection of UE 110 to operator network 120-1, and configuration server 140-2 may detect the connection of roaming UE 110 to operator network 120-2. Configuration server 140 may receive an indication from operator network 120 that UE 110 is attempting to connect to operator network 120.

The UE' s Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and/or International Mobile Equipment Identify (IMEI) may be obtained (block 410). Configuration server 140 may receive UE 110's

MSISDN, IMSI and/or IMEI directly from UE 110 (e.g., as part of UE 110' s connection/access request), or may receive it from a component of operator network 120.

A determination may be made if the connecting UE is currently roaming outside of its home domain (block 420). The MSISDN, IMSI and/or IMEI obtained in block 410 may be used by configuration server 140 to determine if the UE is currently roaming outside of its home domain. Referring to FIG. IB, for example, configuration server 140-2 may determine that UE 110 has roamed 160 from operator network 120-1 into operator network 120-2. If the UE is currently roaming outside of its home domain (YES - block 420), then the roaming UE may be assigned a roaming APN in the non-home domain (block 430). Referring to FIG. IB, for example, configuration server 140-2 may maintain a pre-allocated APN (or pool of re-allocated APNs) that is designated for use with roaming UEs, and configuration server 140-2 may temporarily assign that APN as a roaming APN 170 to the roaming UE 110.

The roaming UE may be permitted access to local content and/or local services at prices/rates corresponding to the roaming APN (block 440). Referring to FIG. IB, for example, roaming APN 170 may be specifically pre-allocated such that operator network 120-2 may permit UE 110 access to local content and/or services at special prices/rates that correspond to the roaming APN. In one exemplary implementation, the special prices/rates permitted for the roaming APN may equal prices/rates of "local" UEs in operator network 120-2, such that roaming UE 110 is charged identical prices/rates as locally registered UEs. The local services that may be accessed by a roaming UE may include, for example, mobile television (TV) services and location-based services.

Returning to block 420, if the UE is not currently roaming outside of the home domain (NO - block 420), then a determination may further be made whether the UE is assigned a roaming APN (block 450). IfUE 110 is not currently roaming outside of the home domain, then UE 110 may be assigned either a home APN, or may alternatively have just returned to its home domain from a non-home domain and may still be assigned a roaming APN. Configuration server 140 may determine whether UE 110 is assigned a home APN or a roaming APN.

If the UE is not assigned a roaming APN (NO - block 450), then the UE is a "local" UE registered with the current operator network and has not been re-assigned a roaming APN, and the UE may be permitted access to content and/or services at prices/rates corresponding to the home domain APN (block 470). Referring to FIG. IB, for example, configuration server 140-1 may determine that UE 110, which is registered with operator network 120-1 as a "local" device, is not currently assigned a roaming AP and may be permitted to access content and/or services via operator network 120-1.

Returning to block 450, if the UE has been assigned a roaming APN (YES - block 450), then the UE may be re-assigned to a home domain APN (block 460). Though not depicted in FIG. IB, subsequent to configuration server 140-2 temporarily re-assigning roaming APN 170 to UE 110, UE 110 may return to operator network 120-1 (i.e., the home domain). Upon connection to operator network 120-1, configuration server 140-1 may re-assign a home APN 150 to UE 110. The UE may be permitted access to content and/or services at prices/rates corresponding to the home domain APN (block 470).

The exemplary operations of FIG. 4 may be selectively repeated each time a UE connects to an operator network, whether the operator network includes the UE 's home network, or a roaming network. The exemplary operations of FIG. 4 may, thus, be selectively repeated for each of multiple different UEs that reside in, or are roaming into, a given operator network.

FIG. 5 is a diagram that graphically illustrates APN assignment and re-assignment when a UE roams from a home domain to a roaming domain, and back again to the home domain from the roaming domain. As shown in FIG. 5, UE 110 may connect 500 to its home domain (i.e., operator network #1) that is served by configuration server 140-1. Upon detection of the connection by UE 110, configuration server 140-1 may assign 505 a home APN. UE 110 may then access 510 local content/services via the assigned home APN. Subsequently, UE 110 may roam 515 into the roaming domain (i.e., operator network #2) and may connect 520 to operator network #2 that is served by configuration server 140-2. Upon detection of the connection by UE 110, configuration server 140-2 may temporarily assign 525 a roaming APN. UE 110 may then access 530 local content/services via the assigned roaming APN. Subsequently, UE 110 may roam 535 back into its home domain (operator network #1) and may re-connect 540 to operator network #1. Upon detection of the re-connection by UE 110, configuration server 140- 1 may re-assign 545 the home APN. UE 110 may then access 550 local content/services via the re-assigned home APN.

The foregoing description of implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.

Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings, or may be acquired from practice of the invention. For example, while a series of blocks has been described with regard to FIG. 4, the order of the blocks may be modified in other implementations consistent with the principles of the invention. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed in parallel.

Aspects described herein may also be implemented in methods and/or computer program products. Accordingly, the invention may be embodied in hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.). Furthermore, the invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement the embodiments described herein is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the embodiments were described without reference to the specific software code - it being understood that one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to design software and control hardware to implement the aspects based on the description herein.

Furthermore, certain portions of the invention may be implemented as "logic" that performs one or more functions. This logic may include hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit or field programmable gate array, or a combination of hardware and software.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, components or groups but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term "one" or similar language is used. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method implemented in a configuration device (140-1), comprising:

determining (420) if a user equipment (UE) (110) has roamed into a roaming domain outside of a home domain of the UE (110); and

assigning (430) a roaming Access Point Name (APN) (170) to the UE (110) when the UE (1 10) has roamed into the roaming domain, where the roaming APN (170) is different than another APN (150) assigned to the UE (110) in the home domain and where the roaming APN (170) permits the UE (110) to access local content and/or services in the roaming domain.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the local services comprise at least one of Mobile

Television (TV) or location-based services available in the roaming domain.

3. The method of claim 1, where the home domain corresponds to a first operator network (120-1) and where the roaming domain corresponds to a second, different operator network (120-2).

4. The method of claim 1, where the roaming APN (170) permits the UE (110) to access the local content and/or services in the roaming domain at a price or rate that is equal to phones that are residents of the roaming domain.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if another UE is assigned an APN that corresponds to another domain; and re-assigning the other UE to a home domain APN when the other UE is assigned the APN that corresponds to the other domain, where the home domain APN is different than the APN that corresponds to the other domain.

6. The method of claim 1, where the roaming domain is in a different country than the home domain.

7. The method of claim 1 , where determining if the UE (110) has roamed into the roaming domain comprises:

obtaining a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and/or an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) associated with the UE ( 110); and determining if the UE (110) has roamed into the roaming domain based on the obtained MSISDN, IMSI and/or IMEI.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting a connection of the UE (110) to an operator network corresponding to the roaming domain prior to obtaining the MSISDN, IMSI and/or IMEI associated with the UE (110).

9. A configuration server ( 140- 1 ), comprising:

an interface (380) configured to obtain (410) a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and/or an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) associated with a user equipment (UE) (110); and

a processing unit (320) to:

determine (420) if the UE (110) has roamed into a roaming domain outside of a home domain of the UE (110), based on the MSISDN, IMSI, and/or IMEI, and

assign (430) a roaming Access Point Name (APN) (170) to the UE (110) when the UE (110) has roamed into the roaming domain based on the determination, where the roaming APN (170) is different than another APN (150) assigned to the UE (110) in the home domain and where the roaming APN (170) permits the UE (110) to access content in the roaming domain at a price or rate that is equal to UEs that are residents of the roaming domain.

10. The configuration server (140-1) of claim 9, where the processing unit (320) is further to: determine if another UE is assigned an APN that corresponds to another domain, and re-assign the other UE to a home domain APN when the other UE is assigned the APN that corresponds to the other domain, where the home domain APN is different than the APN that corresponds to the other domain.

11. The configuration server (140- 1 ) of claim 9, where the home domain corresponds to a first operator network (120-1) and where the roaming domain corresponds to a second, different operator network (120-2).

12. The configuration server ( 140- 1 ) of claim 11 , where the first operator network (120- 1) is located in a different country than the second operator network (120-2).

13. A computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by at least one processor (320), the computer-readable medium comprising:

one or more instructions for obtaining (410) a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and/or an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) associated with a user equipment (UE) (110); one or more instructions for determining (420) if the UE (110) has roamed into a roaming domain, outside of a home domain of the UE (110), based on the MSISDN, IMSI, and/or IMEI; and

one or more instructions for assigning (430) a roaming Access Point Name (APN) (170) to the UE (110) when the UE (110) has roamed into the roaming domain, where the roaming APN (170) is different than another APN (150) assigned to the UE (110) in the home domain and where the roaming APN (170) permits the UE (110) to access content in the roaming domain at a price or rate that is equal to other UEs that are residents of the roaming domain.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, where the home domain corresponds to a first operator network (120-1) and where the roaming domain corresponds to a second, different operator network (120-2).

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

one or more instructions for determining if another UE is assigned an APN that corresponds to another domain; and

one or more instructions for re-assigning the other UE to a home domain APN when the other UE is assigned the APN that corresponds to the other domain, where the home domain APN is different than the APN that corresponds to the other domain.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, where the roaming domain is in a different country than the home domain.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising: one or more instructions for detecting a connection of the UE (110) to an operator network corresponding to the roaming domain prior to obtaining the MSISDN, IMSI and/or IMEI associated with the UE (110).