WO2017143609A1

WO2017143609A1 - Dual sim dual standby mobile communication device releases rrc connection on one subscription based on activities on other subscription

Info

Publication number: WO2017143609A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/074765
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xuepan GUAN; Bo Wu; Yong Su; Zhang ZHOU; Huan Xu; Tim LIOU; Haizhou LIU; Xiaojian LONG; Defang Chen; Xiaofeng BAI; Peng Hu
Original assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
Priority date: 2016-02-27
Filing date: 2016-02-27
Publication date: 2017-08-31

Abstract

A method for releasing a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a first subscription for a multi subscriber identity module multi standby (MSMS) mobile communication device having a radio frequency chain includes: completing registration and packet switched detach procedures between the mobile communication device and a communication network for the first subscription; determining whether an RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network; in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network, starting a timer; determining whether the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network before the timer expires; and in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network before the timer expires, sending a signaling release indicator to the first communication network.

Description

DUAL SIM DUAL STANDBY MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE RELEASES RRC CONNECTION ON ONE SUBSCRIPTION BASED ON ACTIVITIES ON OTHER SUBSCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

A dual subscriber identity module (SIM) dual standby (DSDS) mobile communication device may be configured with a first subscription (Sub1) as a dedicated data subscription (DDS) (i.e., circuit switched (CS) + packet switched (PS)) and a second subscription (Sub2) as a voice only subscription (i.e., CS only) . If one subscription is to engage in PS activities, it becomes the DDS. If a multimedia message service (MMS) message notification (i.e., a page) is received on Sub2, a DDS switch from Sub1 to Sub2 allows Sub2 to receive the MMS message. During the DDS switch, after Sub1 successfully receives a global system for mobile communications (GSM) mobility management (GMM) /Detach Accept message the network should send a radio resource control (RRC) connection release message to Sub1 if there are no other activities on Sub1. Sub1 should then be in idle mode awaiting network commands.

However, if the network delays sending or fails to send the RRC connection release message Sub1 may remain in connected mode and an MMS message reception failure may occur on Sub2 because Sub2 is unable to gain control of the radio frequency (RF) chain to receive the MMS message. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating the delay or failure of the network to send the RRC connection release message during communication between a conventional mobile communication device and a communication network.

Referring to FIG. 6, at block 1, Sub1 may control the RF chain and may start the registration and PS detach procedures. The registration procedures may include, for example, but not limited to, location area update (LAU) , routing area update (RAU) , tracking area update (TAU) , and attach procedures. At block 2, the network may provide a response to the Sub1 registration and PS procedures (e.g., an ACK or a NACK) . At block 3, Sub1 may finish the registration and PS procedures in accordance with the response received from the network； however, Sub1 may not release the RF chain. At block 4, Sub2 may start other activities (e.g., cell search, page decode, etc. ) to get control of RF chain. For example, Sub2 may receive an MMS message notification (i.e., a page) . A DDS switch would allow Sub2 to receive the MMS message. However, at block 5, if the network fails or delays sending the RRC connection release message for Sub1, Sub1 may maintain control of the RF chain, the DDS switch may not occur, and Sub2 may not be able to perform the activities (i.e., MMS message reception) .

SUMMARY

Apparatuses and methods for releasing the RRC connection on one subscription based on activities on the other subscription are provided.

According to various aspects there is provided a method for releasing a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a first subscription for a multi subscriber identity module multi standby (MSMS) mobile communication device having a radio frequency (RF) chain. In some aspects, the method may include: completing registration and packet switched (PS) detach procedures between the mobile communication device and a communication network for the first subscription； determining whether an RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network； in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network, starting a timer； determining whether the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network before the timer expires； and in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network before the timer expires, sending a signaling release indicator to the first communication network.

According to various aspects there is provided a multi subscriber identity module multi standby (MSMS) mobile communication device. In some aspects, the mobile communication device may include: a communication unit having a radio frequency (RF) chain； a determining unit configured to determine whether a radio resource control (RRC) connection release message for a first subscription is received from a communication network； a timing unit configured to implement a timer； and a control unit.

The control unit may be configured to: control the communication unit to completing registration and packet switched (PS) detach procedures between the mobile communication device and a communication network for the first subscription； control the determining unit to determine whether an RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network.

In response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network, the control unit may be configured to: control the timing unit to start a timer； control the determining unit to determine whether the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network before the timer expires； and in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network before the timer expires, control the communication unit to send a signaling release indicator to the first communication network.

According to various aspects there is provided a method for causing a network to release an RRC connection with a first subscription for a multi subscriber identity module multi standby (MSMS) mobile communication device having a radio frequency (RF) chain. In some aspects, the method may include: completing registration and packet switched (PS) detach procedures between the mobile communication device and a communication network for the first subscription； determining whether an RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network； in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network, determining whether activities are scheduled on the second subscription, and in response to determining that activities are scheduled on the second subscription, sending a signaling release indicator to the first communication network for the first subscription.

Other features and advantages should be apparent from the following description which illustrates by way of example aspects of the various teachings of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects and features of the various embodiments will be more apparent by describing examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a mobile communication device according to various embodiments；

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a network environment for various embodiments；

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for implementing a timer that causes a network to release an RRC connection with a subscription according to various embodiments；

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for causing a network to release an RRC connection with a first subscription based on activity on a second subscription according to various embodiments；

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 for locally releasing an RRC connection with a first subscription according to various embodiments；

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for locally releasing an RRC connection with a first subscription directly after completing the detach procedure according to various embodiments； and

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating the delay or failure of the network to send the RRC connection release message during communication between a conventional mobile communication device and a communication network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While certain embodiments are described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. The apparatuses, methods, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the example methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the scope of protection.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a mobile communication device 100 according to various embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the mobile communication device 100 may include a control unit 110, a communication unit 120, an antenna 130, a first subscriber identity module (SIM) 140, a second SIM 150, a user interface device 170, and a storage unit 180.

The mobile communication device 100 may be, for example but not limited to, a mobile telephone, smartphone, tablet, computer, etc., capable of communications with one or more wireless networks. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the mobile communication device 100 may include one or more transceivers (communication units) and may interface with one or more antennas without departing from the scope of protection.

The communication unit 120 may include, for example, but not limited to, an RF module 121. The RF module 121 may include, for example, but not limited to the first transceiver 122. An RF chain 135 may include, for example, but not limited to the antenna 130 and the RF module 121.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the mobile communication device 100 may include more than one communication unit and/or more than one antenna without departing from the scope of protection.

A SIM (for example the first SIM 140 and/or the second SIM 150) in various embodiments may be a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) that is configured with SIM and/or universal SIM (USIM) applications, enabling access to global system for mobile communications (GSM) and/or universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) networks. The UICC may also provide storage for a phone book and other applications. Alternatively, in a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a SIM may be a UICC removable user identity module (R-UIM) or a CDMA subscriber identity module (CSIM) on a card. A SIM card may have a CPU, ROM, RAM, EEPROM and I/O circuits. An integrated circuit card identity (ICCID) SIM serial number may be printed on the SIM card for identification. However, a SIM may be implemented within a portion of memory of the mobile communication device 100, and thus need not be a separate or removable circuit, chip, or card.

A SIM used in various embodiments may store user account information, an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) , a set of SIM application toolkit (SAT) commands, and other network provisioning information, as well as provide storage space for phone book database of the user’s contacts. As part of the network provisioning information, a SIM may store home identifiers (e.g., a system identification number (SID) /network identification number (NID) pair, a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) code, etc. ) to indicate the SIM card network operator provider.

The first SIM 140 may associate the communication unit 120 with a first subscription (Sub1) 192 associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) on a first communication network 190 and the second SIM 150 may associate the communication unit 120 with a second subscription (Sub2) 197 associated with a second RAT on a second communication network 195. When a RAT is active, the communication unit 120 receives and transmits signals on the active RAT. When a RAT is idle, the communication unit 120 receives but does not transmit signals on the idle RAT.

For convenience, the various embodiments are described in terms of DSDS mobile communication devices. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various embodiments may be extended to Multi-SIM Multi-Standby (MSMS) and/or Multi-SIM Multi-Active (MSMA) mobile communication devices without departing from the scope of protection. With an MSMS mobile communication device, one subscription may control of the RF chain during one time slot. Therefore, only one subscription may use the RF chain (i.e., to receive or transmit signals) at a given time.

The first communication network 190 and the second communication network 195 may be operated by the same or different service providers, and/or may support the same or different RATs, for example, but not limited to, GSM, CDMA, wideband CDMA (WCDMA) , and long term evolution (LTE) .

The user interface device 170 may include an input device 172, for example, but not limited to a keyboard, touch panel, or other human interface device, and a display device 174, for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD) , light emitting diode (LED) display, or other video display. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other input and display devices may be used without departing from the scope of the various embodiments.

The control unit 110 may be configured to control overall operation of the mobile communication device 100 including control of the communication unit 120, the user interface device 170, and the storage unit 180. The control unit 110 may be a programmable device, for example, but not limited to, a microprocessor (e.g., general-purpose processor, baseband modem processor, etc. ) or microcontroller.

The control unit 110 may include a determining unit 112 configured to determine whether an RRC connection release message has been received from the network and a timing unit 114 configured to implement a timer. Alternatively, the determining unit 112 and/or the timing unit 114 may be implemented as electronic circuitry separate from the control unit 110.

The storage unit 180 may be configured to store operating systems and/or application programs for operation of the mobile communication device 100 that are executed by the control unit 110, as well as to store application data and user data.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a network environment 105 for various embodiments. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a mobile communication device 100 may be configured to communicate with a first communication network 190 on a first subscription 192 and a second communication network 195 on a second subscription 197. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the mobile communication device may be configured to communicate with more than two communication networks and may communicate on more than two subscriptions without departing from the scope of protection.

The first communication network 190 and the second communication network 195 may implement the same or different radio access technologies (RATs) . For example, the first communication network 190 may be a GSM network and the first subscription 192 may be a GSM subscription. The second communication network 195 may also be a GSM network. Alternatively, the second communication network 195 may implement another RAT including, for example, but not limited to, LTE, WCDMA, and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) .

The first communication network 190 may include one or more base transceiver stations (BTSs) including, for example, but not limited to, a first BTS 193. The second communication network 195 may also include one or more BTSs, including, for example, but not limited to, a second BTS 198. A person having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the network environment 105 may include any number of communication networks, mobile communication devices, and BTSs without departing from the scope of the various embodiments.

The mobile communication device 100 may attempt to acquire the first communication network 190 and camp on the first BTS 193. The mobile communication device 100 may also attempt to acquire the second communication network 195 and camp on the second BTS 198. A person having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the acquisition of the first communication network 190 performed on the first subscription 192 may be independent of the acquisition of the second communication network 195 performed on the second subscription 197. Furthermore, the mobile communication device 100 may attempt to acquire the first communication network 190 on the first subscription 192 and the second communication network 195 on the second subscription 197.

Sub1 192 may perform a PS detach procedure to allow a DDS switch from Sub1 192 (e.g., TDSCDMA) to Sub2 197 (e.g., GSM) thereby permitting Sub2 197 to received MMS messages (e.g., pages) . The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) does not define a requirement for the network to wait for PS signaling release from the mobile communication device. 3GPP does not require implementing a guard timer or counter in the mobile communication device or the network to release the RRC connection after a PS service is no longer used on a subscription. Therefore, for all radio access technologies (RATs) (e.g., LTE/TDSCDMA/GSM/UMTS, etc. ) if no data activity is occurring on a subscription holding the radio resource (i.e., controlling the RF chain) the mobile communication device may send the PS signaling release indicator to the network to cause the RRC connection release. Alternatively, the mobile communication device may locally release the RRC connection instead of the network releasing the RRC connection.

In various examples, the mobile communication device 100 may start a timer for Sub1 192. For example, the timing unit 114 may implement a timer for a specified period. Upon expiration of the timer if the RRC connection release message is not received the mobile communication device 100 may send a signaling release indicator to cause the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) to send the RRC connection release message regardless of whether or not Sub2 197 has activities scheduled or activities in process. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method 200 for implementing a timer that causes a network to release an RRC connection with a subscription according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-2, Sub1 192 may be a CS + PS subscription and may be configured as the DDS. Sub2 197 may be configured as the CS-only subscription. The mobile communication device 100 may receive an MMS message indication (i.e., a page) on Sub2 197. At block 210, the control unit 110 may initiate a DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197, for example, to receive the MMS message on Sub2 197. At block 220, the control unit 110 may cause the communication unit 120 to complete registration and PS detach procedures between the mobile communication device 100 and the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) for Sub1 192. The registration procedures may include, for example, but not limited to, LAU, RAU, TAU, and attach procedures.

At block 230, the control unit 110 may control the determining unit 112 to determine whether an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 by the communication unit 120 from the first communication network 190. For example, the determining unit 112 may determine upon completion of the registration and PS detach procedures whether an RRC connection release message is received by communication unit 120 of the mobile communication device 100 from the first communication network 190. In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 (230-Y) , at block 290 the control unit may grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197. At block 295, the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is not received for Sub1 192 (230-N) , at block 240 the control unit 110 may control the timing unit 114 to start a timer. For example, the control unit 110 may control the timing unit 114 to implement a timer. The timer may time for a predetermined period of time. At block 250, the timer may be running (i.e., not expired) . If the timer is not expired (250-N) , at block 255 the control unit 110 may control the determining unit 112 to determine whether an RRC connection release message is received from the first communication network 190.

If the determining unit 112 determines that an RRC connection release message is received from the first communication network 190 (255-Y) , at block 290 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197. At block 295, the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197. If the determining unit 112 determines that an RRC connection release message is not received from the first communication network 190 (255-N) , the method may continue at block 250.

If the control unit 110 determines that the timer has expired before the first communication network 190 sends an RRC connection release message (250-Y) , at block 260 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to send a signaling release indicator to the first communication network 190.

At block 270, the determining unit 112 may determine whether an RRC connection release message is received from the first communication network 190 in response to the signaling release indicator sent by the communication unit 120. In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 (270-Y) , at block 290 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197. At block 295, the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is not received for Sub1 192 (270-N) , at block 280, the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to locally release the RRC connection for Sub1 192. At block 290 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197 and at block 295 the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In various embodiments, the mobile communication device 100 may send the signaling release indicator to the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) to cause the first communication network to send the RRC connection release for Sub1 192 if Sub2 197 has activities to be started or has activities in process. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method 300 for causing a network to release an RRC connection with a first subscription based on activity on a second subscription according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3, Sub1 192 may be a CS + PS subscription and may be configured as the DDS. Sub2 197 may be configured as the CS-only subscription. The mobile communication device 100 may receive an MMS message indication (i.e., a page) on Sub2 197. At block 310, the control unit 110 may initiate a DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197, for example, to receive the MMS message on Sub2 197. At block 320, the control unit 110 may cause the communication unit 120 to complete registration and PS detach procedures between the mobile communication device 100 and the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) for Sub1 192. The registration procedures may include, for example, but not limited to, LAU, RAU, TAU, and attach procedures.

At block 330, the control unit 110 may control the determining unit 112 to determine whether an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 by the communication unit 120 from the first communication network 190. For example, the determining unit 112 may determine upon completion of the registration and PS detach procedures whether an RRC connection release message is received by communication unit 120 of the mobile communication device 100 from the first communication network 190. In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 (330-Y) , at block 380 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197. At block 390, the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is not received for Sub1 192 (330-N) , at block 340 the control unit 110 may determine whether any activities are scheduled or are in process on Sub2 197. For example, the control unit 110 may determine if any activities, for example, but not limited to, data communication activities, are scheduled to be performed or are already in process on Sub2 197. In response to determining that no activities are scheduled or are in process on Sub2 197 (340-N) , the control unit 110 may wait for activities on Sub2 197 to be scheduled. In response to determining that no activities are scheduled or are in process on Sub2 197 (340-Y) , at block 350 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to send a signaling release indicator to the first communication network 190.

At block 360, the determining unit 112 may determine whether an RRC connection release message is received from the first communication network 190 in response to the signaling release indicator sent by the communication unit 120. In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 (360-Y) , at block 380 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197. At block 390, the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is not received for Sub1 192 (360-N) , at block 370, the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to locally release the RRC connection for Sub1 192. For example, the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to locally release the RRC connection for Sub1 192 if the mobile communication device 100 relies on the non-access stratum (NAS) to send the RRC Connection release when Sub2 197 has activities to be started. At block 380 the control unit may grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197 and at block 390 the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In various embodiments, the mobile communication device 100 may locally release the RRC connection between Sub1 192 and the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) if Sub2 197 has activities to be started or has activities in process. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 for locally releasing an RRC connection with a first subscription according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 4, Sub1 192 may be a CS + PS subscription and may be configured as the DDS. Sub2 197 may be configured as the CS-only subscription. The mobile communication device 100 may receive an MMS message indication (i.e., a page) on Sub2 197. At block 410, the control unit 110 may initiate a DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197, for example, to receive the MMS message on Sub2 197. At block 420, the control unit 110 may cause the communication unit 120 to complete registration and PS detach procedures between the mobile communication device 100 and the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) for Sub1 192. The registration procedures may include, for example, but not limited to, LAU, RAU, TAU, and attach procedures.

At block 430, the control unit 110 may control the determining unit 112 to determine whether an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 by the communication unit 120 from the first communication network 190. For example, the determining unit 112 may determine upon completion of the registration and PS detach procedures whether an RRC connection release message is received by communication unit 120 of the mobile communication device 100 from the first communication network 190. In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is received for Sub1 192 (430-Y) , at block 460 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197. At block 470, the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In response to determining that an RRC connection release message is not received for Sub1 192 (430-N) , at block 440 the control unit 110 may determine whether any activities are scheduled or are in process on Sub2 197. For example, the control unit 110 may determine if any activities, for example, but not limited to, data communication activities, are scheduled to be performed or are already in process on Sub2 197.

In response to determining that no activities are scheduled or are in process on Sub2 197 (440-N) , the control unit 110 may wait for activities on Sub2 197 to be scheduled. In response to determining that no activities are scheduled or are in process on Sub2 197 (440-Y) , at block 450 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to locally release the RRC connection for Sub1 192. At block 460 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197 and at block 470 the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

In various embodiments, the mobile communication device 100 may locally release the RRC connection between Sub1 192 and the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) directly after completing a detach procedure. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method 500 for locally releasing an RRC connection with a first subscription directly after completing the detach procedure according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 5, at block 510, the control unit 110 may initiate a DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197, for example, to receive the MMS message on Sub2 197. At block 520, the control unit 110 may cause the communication unit 120 to complete registration and PS detach procedures between the mobile communication device 100 and the communication network (e.g., the first communication network 190) for Sub1 192. The registration procedures may include, for example, but not limited to, LAU, RAU, TAU, and attach procedures.

Directly after the detach procedure has completed, at block 530 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to locally release the RRC connection for Sub1 192. At block 540 the control unit 110 may control the communication unit 120 to grant control of the RF chain 135 to Sub2 197 and at block 550 the control unit 110 may complete the DDS switch from Sub1 192 to Sub2 197.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the

methods

200, 300, 400, and 500, may be applied alternatively or additionally to other operational conditions (e.g., power on) during which the RRC connection release message from the communication network

The

methods

200, 300, 400, and 500, respectively, may be embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for example, but not limited to, the storage unit 180 or other non-transitory computer readable medium known to those of skill in the art, having stored therein a program including computer executable instructions for making a processor, computer, or other programmable device execute the operations of the methods.

The various embodiments illustrated and described are provided merely as examples to illustrate various features of the claims. However, features shown and described with respect to any given embodiment are not necessarily limited to the associated embodiment and may be used or combined with other embodiments that are shown and described. Further, the claims are not intended to be limited by any one example embodiment.

The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the protection. For example, the example apparatuses, methods, and systems disclosed herein can be applied to multi-SIM wireless devices subscribing to multiple communication networks and/or communication technologies. The various components illustrated in the figures may be implemented as, for example, but not limited to, software and/or firmware on a processor, ASIC/FPGA/DSP, or dedicated hardware. Also, the features and attributes of the specific example embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the operations of the various embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art the order of operations in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as “thereafter, ” “then, ” “next, ” etc., are not intended to limit the order of the operations； these words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the methods. Further, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a, ” “an, ” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm operations described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and operations have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the various embodiments.

The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP) , an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of receiver devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Alternatively, some operations or methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or non-transitory processor-readable storage medium. The operations of a method or algorithm disclosed herein may be embodied in processor-executable instructions that may reside on a non- transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. Non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage media may be any storage media that may be accessed by a computer or a processor. By way of example but not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD) , laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD) , floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of non-transitory computer-readable and processor-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium and/or computer-readable storage medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

Although the present disclosure provides certain example embodiments and applications, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments which do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be defined only by reference to the appended claims.

Claims

A method for releasing a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a first subscription for a multi subscriber identity module multi standby (MSMS) mobile communication device having a radio frequency (RF) chain, the method comprising:

completing registration and packet switched (PS) detach procedures between the mobile communication device and a communication network for the first subscription；

determining whether an RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network；

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network,

starting a timer；

determining whether the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network before the timer expires； and

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network before the timer expires,

sending a signaling release indicator to the communication network.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network after sending the signaling release indicator,

granting control of the RF chain to a second subscription.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network after sending the signaling release indicator,

locally releasing the RRC connection for the first subscription by the mobile communication device.
The method of claim 3, further comprising:

granting control of the RF chain to a second subscription after locally releasing the RRC connection for the first subscription.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

locally releasing the RRC connection for the first subscription by the mobile communication device without starting the timer or sending the signaling release indicator to the communication network.
The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed when a dedicated data subscription (DDS) switch is initiated.
The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed when the mobile communication device is powered up.
A multi subscriber identity module multi standby (MSMS) mobile communication device, comprising:

a communication unit having a radio frequency (RF) chain；

a determining unit configured to determine whether a radio resource control (RRC) connection release message for a first subscription is received from a communication network；

a timing unit configured to implement a timer； and

a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to:

control the communication unit to completing registration and packet switched (PS) detach procedures between the mobile communication device and the communication network for the first subscription；

control the determining unit to determine whether an RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network；

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network, the control unit is configured to:

control the timing unit to start the timer；

control the determining unit to determine whether the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network before the timer expires； and

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network before the timer expires,

control the communication unit to send a signaling release indicator to the communication network.
The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein:

in response to the determining unit determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network after the communication unit sending the signaling release indicator, the control unit is configured to

control the communication unit to grant control of the RF chain to a second subscription.
The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein:

in response to the determining unit determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network after the communication unit sending the signaling release indicator, the control unit is configured to

control the communication unit to locally release the RRC connection for the first subscription.
The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein:

the control unit is configured to control the communication unit to grant control of the RF chain to a second subscription after locally releasing the RRC connection for the first subscription.
The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises the determining unit.
The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises the timing unit.
A method for causing a network to release a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a first subscription for a multi subscriber identity module multi standby (MSMS) mobile communication device having a radio frequency (RF) chain, the method comprising:

completing registration and packet switched (PS) detach procedures between the mobile communication device and a communication network for the first subscription；

determining whether an RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network；

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network,

determining whether activities are scheduled on a second subscription, and

in response to determining that activities are scheduled on the second subscription,

sending a signaling release indicator to the communication network for the first subscription.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is received from the communication network after sending the signaling release indicator,

granting control of the RF chain to the second subscription.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in response to determining that the RRC connection release message for the first subscription is not received from the communication network after sending the signaling release indicator,

locally releasing the RRC connection by the mobile communication device.
The method of claim 16, further comprising:

granting control of the RF chain to the second subscription after locally releasing the RRC connection for the first subscription.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:

locally releasing the RRC connection for the first subscription by the mobile communication device without sending the signaling release indicator to the communication network.
The method of claim 14, wherein the method is performed when a dedicated data subscription (DDS) switch is initiated.
The method of claim 14, wherein the method is performed when the mobile communication device is powered up.