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EP-4736549-A1 - SELECTING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK FOR MANAGING PAGING COLLISIONS

EP4736549A1EP 4736549 A1EP4736549 A1EP 4736549A1EP-4736549-A1

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed In an example, a method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) for selecting a communication network associated with a Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM, of the plurality of USIMs for managing paging collisions between a plurality of communication networks is disclosed. Each of the communication networks is associated with a respective USIM of the plurality of USIMs. The method comprises receiving one or more paging configuration messages indicative of upcoming paging occasions for each of the plurality of communication networks, wherein the upcoming paging occasions for the communication networks include one or more paging occasion overlaps between the upcoming paging occasions for at least one of the communication networks and the upcoming paging occasions for one or more other communication networks. The method also comprises selecting at least one of the communication networks based on one or more network selection criteria, and triggering a procedure with the selected at least one communication network for reconfiguring paging occasions associated with the selected at least one communication network.

Inventors

  • CHEN LARSSON, Maomao
  • DA SILVA, Icaro Leonardo
  • TERZANI, ALESSIO
  • FRANKKILA, TOMAS

Assignees

  • Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240520

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) for selecting a communication network associated with a Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM, of the plurality of USIMs for managing paging collisions between a plurality of communication networks, each of the communication networks associated with a respective USIM of the plurality of USIMs, the method comprising: receiving one or more paging configuration messages indicative of upcoming paging occasions for each of the plurality of communication networks, wherein the upcoming paging occasions for the communication networks include one or more paging occasion overlaps between the upcoming paging occasions for at least one of the communication networks and the upcoming paging occasions for one or more other communication networks; selecting at least one of the communication networks based on one or more network selection criteria; and triggering a procedure with the selected at least one communication network for reconfiguring paging occasions associated with the selected at least one communication network.
  2. 2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a paging occasion overlap comprises at least one of: a full paging occasion overlap, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the at least one selected communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with one or more other communication networks of the plurality of communication networks; a partial paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the at least one selected communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more other communication networks; or a close paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the at least one selected communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more other communication networks does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.
  3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the upcoming paging occasions for the communication networks include one or more paging occasion non-overlaps between the upcoming paging occasions for at least one of the communication networks and the upcoming paging occasions for one or more other communication networks.
  4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein a paging occasion non overlap comprises a first duration of the paging occasion associated with the at least one selected communication network and a second duration of the paging occasion associated with one or more other communication networks of the plurality of communication networks does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration at least as long as a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first IISIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.
  5. 5. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein for the at least one selected communication network, the one or more network selection criteria comprises a number of paging occasions associated with the selected at least one communication network is less than a number of paging occasions associated with each of one or more other communication networks of the plurality of communication networks during a time period.
  6. 6. The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein for the at least one selected communication network, the one or more network selection criteria comprises a number of paging occasions associated with the selected at least one communication network is higher than a number of paging occasions associated with each of one or more other communication networks of the plurality of communication networks during a time period.
  7. 7. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein for the at least one selected communication network, the one or more network selection criteria comprises a number of paging occasion overlaps for the at least one selected communication network is higher than one or more second number of paging occasion overlaps associated with one or more other communication networks of the plurality of communication networks during a time period.
  8. 8. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein for the at least one selected communication network, the network selection criteria comprises a number of paging occasion overlaps for the at least one selected communication network is less than one or more second number of paging occasion overlaps associated with one or more other communication networks of the plurality of communication networks during a time period.
  9. 9. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the procedure is triggered when at least one of the following applies during a time period: each of at least half of the plurality of communication networks have one or more paging occasion overlaps with at least one other of the communication networks; a number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the plurality of communication networks exceeds an overlap threshold number; a number of paging occasion non overlaps for at least one of the plurality of communication networks is less than a non overlap threshold number; and/or the number of paging occasion non overlaps is zero.
  10. 10. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the procedure is triggered when at least one of the following applies during a time period: the number of paging occasion non overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a first threshold number; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the communication networks exceeds a second threshold number; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the communication networks exceeds a third threshold number; and/or the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold percentage of a total number of paging occasions configured for the plurality of communication networks.
  11. 11. The method according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the time period is at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode.
  12. 12. The method according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the time period is a first paging cycle of the selected at least one communication network and wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with one or more other communication networks of the plurality of communication networks.
  13. 13. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the one or more network selection criteria comprises at least one of the following: radio access technology, RAT, of the communication networks; radio Resource Control, RRC, state of the wireless communication device in each of the communication networks; serving cell frequency of each of the communication networks; network type of each of the communication networks; a preference of the selected communication network; a reoccurrence rate of system information updates for the at least one communication network; one or more capabilities of the communication networks; a service type of each of the communication networks; a latency associated with each of the communication networks; a previously selected communication network of the plurality of communication networks; a supported network slice of the communication networks; and/or a performance of each of the communication networks.
  14. 14. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein triggering the procedure comprises performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the selected communication network.
  15. 15. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein triggering the procedure comprises transmitting requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (I MSI) offset to an Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the selected communication network.
  16. 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising transmitting the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN.
  17. 17. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein triggering the procedure comprises: triggering a procedure for reconfiguring paging occasions for the at least one selected communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the selected communication network to reduce a number of the one or more paging occasion overlaps.
  18. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the parameter value is based on alternative paging occasions for the selected communication network to reduce the number of the one or more paging occasion overlaps.
  19. 19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the parameter value is different to one or more of: a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device; a parameter value previously received from the selected wireless communication network; and/or an excluded parameter value.
  20. 20. The method according to any of claims 17 to 19, comprising, after triggering the procedure: receiving, from the selected communication network, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value; and using reconfigured paging occasions for the selected communication network based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

Description

SELECTING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK FOR MANAGING PAGING COLLISIONS Technical Field The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless communication. More particularly, it relates to selecting a communication network for managing paging collisions, for example in a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs). Background Multi-USIM (Multiple Universal Subscriber Identity Module), or MUSIM, is a term used to describe a feature wherein Multiple USIMs (Universal Subscriber Identity Modules) can be used at a single User Equipment (UE), such as a single Smartphone. The multi-USIM feature has been commercialized for more than 10 years with a large range in worldwide markets covering all major smart phone brands. When introduced, it became a great success in some markets, e.g. in China. Since then, it has become a common feature supported by a lot of major smartphone brands worldwide. For example, the Apple iPhone 12 supports multi-USIM with 2 physical SIM cards in China, while supporting one physical SIM card and one embedded-SIM (eSIM) in all the other regions. In this disclosure, the terms MUSIM, multi-USIM and multi-SIM are used interchangeably. Similarly, the terms USIM and SIM are used interchangeably. Also, the terms terminal, communication device and UE may be used interchangeably in this disclosure. The MUSIM function allows the UE to be connected to several different network operators, where each network/operator is associated with a respective USIM of the UE. A UE with multiple valid USIMs is hence capable of initiating and maintaining simultaneous separate registration states over 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) access with PLMN(s) using identities and credentials associated with those USIMs and supporting one or more of: NAS signaling connection release, paging indication for voice services, reject paging request, paging restriction, and paging timing collision control. Typically, when a UE registers to a network, the network configures the UE with Paging Occasions (POs) that indicate to the UE when the network may page the UE, i.e. , when the UE needs to monitor paging messages sent by the network. Thereby, a UE configured in RRCJDLE and/or RRCJNACTIVE state may go into sleep mode in between the POs and save battery power. The paging configuration typically describes (at least) the following features: when (in time) the POs occur; the periodicity of the PO reoccurrence; and the duration time of the POs (e.g. 1 subframe of 1ms). When the terminal/UE (it should be noted that the terms terminal, communication device and UE may be used interchangeably in this disclosure) uses multiple USIMs it should be contactable by each network associated with a respective IISIM, even though the networks typically are not aware that the UE is equipped with another PLMN’s USIM. Typically, if the UE is equipped with two USIMs, the UE in IDLE state in a first PLMN receives a paging configuration enabling the UE to calculate PO(s) for the PLMN associated with the first USIM, and also receives in a second PLMN a Paging configuration enabling the UE to calculate PO(s) for the PLMN associated with the second USIM. As 3GPP standards had not defined any coordination to support MUSIM operation, PO overlaps between both networks may happen. Paging Occasion (PO) overlapping may cause several problems, such as the UE failing to monitor a PO in the first PLMN when the first PLMN is trying to reach the UE. This leads to that the UE fails to be reached by the network (in this case the first PLMN). When the UE fails to receive a paging message, paging escalation occurs, i.e. , the paging message may be repeated and after several repetitions, the paging will stop. This causes a so-called paging failure. Paging failures may also occur for other reasons, for example poor network planning, and the operator typically cannot know what caused the failures. The amount of paging failures is therefore one of the metrics that the network operator wants to minimize. Furthermore, it is also desirable to minimize the amount of paging failures caused by conditions that the operator cannot control. What is more serious here is that the operator may not even be able to easily perform a root cause analysis to understand why the paging failure occurred, as the first PLMN does not have control over the UE actions regarding the second PLMN or is not aware of the UE’s configuration associated to the second PLMN. Another problem is that sending paging messages several times also consumes radio resources, which reduces the amount radio resources available for other UEs. Furthermore, repeated paging also increases the energy consumption on the network side. Yet another problem, which occurs even if the UE eventually responds to a later paging, is the delay, e.g., session setup delay, caused by being forced to repeat the paging several times. If the paging escalation is not suc