US-12621650-B2 - Dynamic device capability for multi-SIM/eSIM wireless devices during out-of-service scenarios

US12621650B2US 12621650 B2US12621650 B2US 12621650B2US-12621650-B2

Abstract

The described embodiments relate to wireless communications, including methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting device capability of a device that includes multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and/or electronic SIMs (eSIMs) during out-of-service scenarios. A multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device can include at least two SIM/eSIM profiles that each provide access to cellular wireless services. When an active SIM/eSIM profile enters an out-of-service (OOS) state or exits an OOS state, the multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device dynamically updates device capabilities to re-allocate device resources to one or more active SIM/eSIM profiles not in the OOS state to improve device performance. Device capabilities for the one or more active SIM/eSIM profiles not in the OOS state are also controlled to ensure the active SIM/eSIM profile in the OOS state has computing resources available to perform radio frequency (RF) scan procedures.

Inventors

Amithananda RAO
Karthik Ramamurthy
Zeba PATHERIA

Assignees

APPLE INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230531

Claims (20)

1 . A method for dynamic device capability by a wireless device, the method comprising: by a baseband component of the wireless device: detecting an out-of-service (OOS) condition for a second subscriber identity module (SIM) or electronic SIM (eSIM) of a plurality of active SIMs and/or eSIMs in the wireless device, wherein the plurality of active SIMs and/or eSIMs includes a first SIM or eSIM; reconfiguring, responsive to detecting the OOS condition for the second SIM or eSIM, a cellular wireless modem of the wireless device from a multiple SIM and/or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM to a single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM; detecting, while configured in the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM, initiation of an OOS radio frequency (RF) scan procedure for the second SIM or eSIM; blocking, while configured in the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM, use of a maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM during the OOS RF scan procedure; and when the OOS RF scan procedure successfully detects a cellular wireless network for the second SIM or eSIM, reconfiguring the cellular wireless modem of the wireless device from the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM to the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM, wherein: the cellular wireless modem is restricted to a reduced capability configuration for each active SIM or eSIM while configured in the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state, wherein the reduced capability configuration comprises: fewer component carriers available to each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM, or fewer multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers for each component carrier of each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: by the baseband component of the wireless device: when the OOS RF scan procedure is unsuccessful, allowing use of the maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: by the baseband component of the wireless device subsequent to reconfiguring the cellular wireless modem to the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state from the single SIM or eSIM state: sending, to a first cellular wireless network associated with the first SIM or eSIM, a first message indicating the reduced capability configuration of the first SIM or eSIM; and sending, to a second cellular wireless network associated with the second SIM or eSIM, a second message indicating the reduced capability configuration of the second SIM or eSIM.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: by the baseband component of the wireless device after the detecting initiation of the OOS RF scan procedure: determining the first SIM or eSIM is configured with the maximum capability configuration; and delaying scanning for cellular wireless networks for the second SIM or eSIM until the first SIM or eSIM is no longer configured with the maximum capability configuration.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduced capability configuration comprises fewer component carriers available to each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduced capability configuration comprises fewer multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers for each component carrier of each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM comprises use of a maximum number of component carriers by the first SIM or eSIM.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: by the baseband component of the wireless device after the detecting initiation of the OOS RF scan procedure: disallowing a limited service state for the second SIM or eSIM while in an OOS state; and using the first SIM or eSIM for access to emergency services while the second SIM or eSIM is in the OOS state.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the baseband component of the wireless device comprises a first cellular wireless protocol software (SW) stack associated with the first SIM or eSIM and a second cellular wireless protocol SW stack associated with the second SIM or eSIM; and the method further comprises: by the second cellular wireless protocol SW stack: initiating an OOS recovery timer upon detection of the OOS condition for the second SIM or eSIM; sending, upon expiration of the OOS recovery timer, a first message requesting suspension of use of the maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM; and waiting to scan for cellular wireless networks as part of the OOS RF scan procedure until after receiving from the first cellular wireless protocol SW stack a second message confirming suspension of use of the maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: sending, by the second cellular wireless protocol SW stack to the first cellular wireless protocol SW stack, a configuration update message indicating the OOS RF scan procedure successfully detects the cellular wireless network for the second SIM or eSIM to cause the first cellular wireless protocol SW stack to be restricted to the reduced capability configuration.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: sending, by the second cellular wireless protocol SW stack to the first cellular wireless protocol SW stack when the OOS RF scan procedure is unsuccessful, a third message indicating the first cellular wireless protocol SW stack is allowed to use the maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM.
12 . A wireless device configured for dynamic device capability, the wireless device comprising: a first subscriber identity module (SIM) or electronic SIM (eSIM); a second SIM or eSIM; and a baseband component configured to: implement a cellular wireless modem using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM; detect an out-of-service (OOS) condition for the second SIM or eSIM while configured in a multiple SIM and/or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM; reconfigure, responsive to detecting the OOS condition for the second SIM or eSIM, a cellular wireless modem of the wireless device from the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM to a single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM; detect, while configured in the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM, initiation of an OOS radio frequency (RF) scan procedure for the second SIM or eSIM; block, while configured in the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM, use of a maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM during the OOS RF scan procedure; and when the OOS RF scan procedure successfully detects a cellular wireless network for the second SIM or eSIM, reconfigure the cellular wireless modem of the wireless device from the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM to the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM, wherein: the cellular wireless modem is restricted to a reduced capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM while configured in the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state, wherein the reduced capability configuration comprises: fewer component carriers available to each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM, or fewer multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers for each component carrier of each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM.
13 . The wireless device of claim 12 , wherein the baseband component is further configured to: allow use of the maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM when the OOS RF scan procedure is unsuccessful.
14 . The wireless device of claim 12 , wherein the baseband component is further configured to, subsequent to reconfiguring the cellular wireless modem to the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state: send, to a first cellular wireless network associated with the first SIM or eSIM, a first message indicating the reduced capability configuration of the first SIM or eSIM; and send, to a second cellular wireless network associated with the second SIM or eSIM, a second message indicating the reduced capability configuration of the second SIM or eSIM.
15 . The wireless device of claim 12 , wherein the baseband component is further configured to, after detecting initiation of the OOS RF scan procedure: determine the first SIM or eSIM is configured with the maximum capability configuration; and delay scanning for cellular wireless networks for the second SIM or eSIM until the first SIM or eSIM is no longer configured with the maximum capability configuration.
16 . The multi SIM/eSIM wireless device of claim 12 , wherein the reduced capability configuration comprises fewer component carriers available to each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM.
17 . The wireless device of claim 12 , wherein the reduced capability configuration comprises fewer multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers for each component carrier of each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM.
18 . The wireless device of claim 12 , wherein the maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM comprises use of a maximum number of component carriers by the first SIM or eSIM.
19 . The wireless device of claim 12 , wherein the baseband component is further configured to, after detecting initiation of the OOS RF scan procedure: disallow a limited service state for the second SIM or eSIM while in an OOS state; and use the first SIM or eSIM for access to emergency services while the second SIM or eSIM is in the OOS state.
20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for dynamic device capability by a wireless device, the instructions comprising: instructions for detecting an out-of-service (OOS) condition for a second subscriber identity module (SIM) or electronic SIM (eSIM) of a plurality of active SIMs and/or eSIMs in the wireless device, wherein the plurality of active SIMs and/or eSIMs includes a first SIM or eSIM; instructions for reconfiguring, responsive to detecting the OOS condition for the second SIM or eSIM, a cellular wireless modem of the wireless device from a multiple SIM and/or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM to a single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM; instructions for detecting, while configured in the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM, initiation of an OOS radio frequency (RF) scan procedure for the second SIM or eSIM; instructions for blocking, while configured in the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM, use of a maximum capability configuration for the first SIM or eSIM during the OOS RF scan procedure; and instructions for, when the OOS RF scan procedure successfully detects a cellular wireless network for the second SIM or eSIM, reconfiguring the cellular wireless modem of the wireless device from the single SIM or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM to the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state using the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM, wherein: the cellular wireless modem is restricted to a reduced capability configuration for each active SIM or eSIM while configured in the multiple SIM and/or eSIM state, wherein the reduced capability configuration comprises: fewer component carriers available to each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM, or fewer multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers for each component carrier of each active SIM or eSIM than supported by the wireless device when using a single active SIM or eSIM.

Description

FIELD The described embodiments relate to wireless communications, including methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting device capability of a device that includes multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and/or electronic SIMs (eSIMs) during out-of-service scenarios. A multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device can include at least two SIM/eSIM profiles that each provide access to cellular wireless services. When an active SIM/eSIM profile enters an out-of-service (OOS) state or exits an OOS state, the multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device dynamically updates device capabilities to re-allocate device resources to one or more active SIM/eSIM profiles not in the OOS state to improve device performance. Device capabilities for the one or more active SIM/eSIM profiles not in the OOS state are also controlled to ensure the active SIM/eSIM profile in the OOS state has computing resources available to perform radio frequency (RF) scan procedures. BACKGROUND Newer generation, fifth generation (5G), cellular wireless networks that implement one or more 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards are rapidly being developed and deployed by mobile network operators (MNOs) worldwide. In addition, sixth generation (6G) standards are in active development. The newer cellular wireless networks provide a range of packet-based services, with 5G (and 6G) technology providing increased data throughput and lower latency connections that promise enhanced mobile broadband services for 5G-capable (and 6G-capable) wireless devices. Access to cellular services provided by an MNO can require use to cellular credentials and/or secure processing provided by a secure element (SE), such as a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) or an embedded UICC (eUICC) included in the wireless device. Typically, wireless devices have been configured to use removable UICCs, that include at least a microprocessor and a read-only memory (ROM), where the ROM is configured to store an MNO profile, also referred to as subscriber identity module (SIM) or SIM profile, which the wireless device can use to register and interact with an MNO to obtain wireless services via a cellular wireless network. The SIM profile hosts subscriber data, such as a digital identity and one or more cryptographic keys, to allow the wireless device to communicate with a cellular wireless network. Typically, a UICC takes the form of a small removable card, commonly referred to as a SIM card or physical SIM (pSIM) card, which can be inserted into a UICC-receiving bay of a mobile wireless device. In more recent implementations, UICCs are being embedded directly into system boards of wireless devices as eUICCs, which can provide advantages over traditional, removable UICCs. The eUICCs can include a rewritable memory that can facilitate installation, modification, and/or deletion of one or more electronic SIMs (eSIMs) on the eUICC, where the eSIMs can provide for new and/or different services and/or updates for accessing extended features provided by MNOs. An eUICC can store a number of MNO profiles—also referred to herein as eSIMs—and can eliminate the need to include UICC-receiving bays in wireless devices. The use of multiple SIMs and/or eSIMs is expected to offer flexibility for access to multiple services of multiple wireless networks. A multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device can register for access to wireless services of one or more cellular wireless networks using two or more different SIMs/eSIMs in parallel. The real-time processing capability of the multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device can limit configuration of a cellular wireless modem in the multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device depending on the number of active SIMs/eSIMs supported by the cellular wireless modem in the multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device. There exists a need for dynamically managing device capability of a multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device under various circumstances. SUMMARY The described embodiments relate to wireless communications, including methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting device capability of a device that includes multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and/or electronic SIMs (eSIMs) during out-of-service scenarios. A multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device can include at least two SIM/eSIM profiles that each provide access to cellular wireless services. When an active SIM/eSIM profile enters an out-of-service (OOS) state or exits an OOS state, the multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device dynamically updates device capabilities to re-allocate device resources to one or more active SIM/eSIM profiles not in the OOS state to improve device performance. Device capabilities for the one or more active SIMs/eSIM profiles not in the OOS state are also controlled to ensure the active SIM/eSIM profile in the OOS state has computing resources available to perform radio frequency (RF) scan procedures. A multi-SIM/eSIM wireless device can include multiple SIMs/eSIMs associated with one or more cellular wireless networks. For each active S