WO2022000252A1

WO2022000252A1 - Apparatus and methods for handover from a long-term evolution network to a fifth generation new radio network for dual-subscriber identification module

Info

Publication number: WO2022000252A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/099201
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yi Liu; Jinglin Zhang; Haojun WANG; Zhenqing CUI; Hao Zhang; Fojian ZHANG; Jian Li; Chaofeng HUI; Hong Wei
Original assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
Priority date: 2020-06-30
Filing date: 2020-06-30
Publication date: 2022-01-06

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method of wireless communication by a user equipment having a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator. The method includes determining that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network. The method also includes determining a signal quality associated with the second network. The method further includes transmitting a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription. In addition, the method includes transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR HANDOVER FROM A LONG-TERM EVOLUTION NETWORK TO A FIFTH GENERATION NEW RADIO NETWORK FOR DUAL-SUBSCRIBER IDENTIFICATION MODULE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology discussed herein relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for transitioning a subscription of a dual-Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) device from one network to another network.

INTRODUCTION

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power) . Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA) , time division multiple access (TDMA) , frequency division multiple access (FDMA) , orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) , or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) . A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE) . In some wireless communications systems, a UE may have a first Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription. Each of the first subscription and the second subscription may be associated with a same operator. When a first subscription transitions from a network to another network to receive a service, the second subscription may have difficulty transitioning back to the original network when the other network has a high quality signal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

A method of wireless communication by a user equipment is provided. The user equipment has a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator. The method includes determining that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network. The method also includes determining a signal quality associated with the second network. The method further includes transmitting a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription. In addition, the method includes transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.

A user equipment is provided. The user equipment has a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator. The user equipment includes a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a base station. The user equipment also includes one or more processors electronically coupled to the transceiver. The one or more processors are configured to determine that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network. The one or more processors are also configured to determine a signal quality associated with the second network. The one or more processors are further configured to transmit a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription. In addition, the one or more processors are configured to transition the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.

A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a user equipment having a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator, having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed by a processing circuit, the processing circuit is configured to determine that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network. When the instructions are executed by the processing circuit, the processing circuit is also configured to determine a signal quality associated with the second network. When the instructions are executed by the processing circuit, the processing circuit is further configured to transmit a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription. In addition, when the instructions are executed by the processing circuit, the processing circuit is configured to transition the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.

A user equipment is provided. The user equipment has a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator. The user equipment includes a means for determining that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network. The user equipment also includes a means for determining a signal quality associated with the second network. The user equipment further includes a means for transmitting a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription. In addition, the user equipment includes a means for transitioning the first subscription from the first network to the second network based on a received instruction from the base station.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows. Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific, example embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features of the present disclosure may be discussed relative to certain embodiments and figures below, all embodiments of the present disclosure can include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used in accordance with the various embodiments of the disclosure discussed herein. In similar fashion, while example embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments it should be understood that such example embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a wireless communication system.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual illustration of an example of a radio access network.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual illustration of an example wireless communication system for handover from a first network to a second network for a dual-Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) device.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an example user equipment (UE) according to some aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example method operational at a user equipment according to some aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating another example method operational at a user equipment according to some aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a base station according to some aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method operational at a base station according to some aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth herein in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

In some wireless communications systems, such as a fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless network, one or more wireless devices may have a first Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription. The first and second subscriptions may be associated with a same operator or provider. Both the first subscription and the second subscription may be utilizing the Fifth Generation New Radio network. Subsequently, the first subscription may receive a request to receive a service that is available on a Long-Term Evolution network, but not on the Fifth Generation New Radio network. The first subscription may transition from the Fifth Generation New Radio network to the Long-Term Evolution network to receive the service. When the first subscription is no longer receiving the service and the signal quality of the Long-Term Evolution network is strong, the first subscription may remain on the Long-Term Evolution network and not transition back to the Fifth Generation New Radio network. Various methods and systems described herein may be used by the user equipment to increase the likelihood that the first subscription transitions from the Long-Term Evolution network to the Fifth Generation New Radio network after receiving a service through the Long-Term Evolution network.

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to a user equipment initiating a release from a Long-Term Evolution network to a Fifth Generation New Radio network after receiving a service on the Long-Term Evolution network. According to some aspects, user equipment (UE) determines that a first subscription and a second subscription of the UE are utilizing a second network (e.g., a Fifth Generation New Radio network) . The UE may receive a request for the first subscription to transition to a first network (e.g., a Long-Term Evolution network) and receive a service through the first network. The first subscription of the UE may transition to the first network to receive the service and subsequently determine when the first subscription is no longer receiving the service. Subsequently, the UE may determine that the first subscription of the UE is not releasing from the first network and transitioning from the first network to the second network. The UE may receive a signal quality associated with the second network from the second subscription that has remained on the second network. Based on the signal quality, the UE may generate a pseudo signal quality and transmit the pseudo signal quality to the base station of the first network. Based on the pseudo signal quality the base station of the first network may determine that the first subscription is to be released from the first network and allowed to transition from the first network to the second network.

Particular aspects of the disclosed techniques enable a dual-SIM UE to increase the likelihood and speed by which a first subscription of the UE transitions back to a second network after receiving a service through a first network.

While aspects and embodiments are described in this application by illustration to some examples, those skilled in the art will understand that additional implementations and use cases may come about in many different arrangements and scenarios. Innovations described herein may be implemented across many differing platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, packaging arrangements. For example, embodiments and/or uses may come about via integrated chip embodiments and other non-module-component based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail/purchasing devices, medical devices, AI-enabled devices, etc. ) . While some examples may or may not be specifically directed to use cases or applications, a wide assortment of applicability of described innovations may occur. Implementations may range a spectrum from chip-level or modular components to non-modular, non-chip-level implementations and further to aggregate, distributed, or OEM devices or systems incorporating one or more aspects of the described innovations. In some practical settings, devices incorporating described aspects and features may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementation and practice of claimed and described embodiments. For example, transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily includes a number of components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components including antenna, RF-chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffer, processor (s) , interleaver, adders/summers, etc. ) . It is intended that innovations described herein may be practiced in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, end-user devices, etc. of varying sizes, shapes and constitution.

The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented across a broad variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards. Referring now to FIG. 1, as an illustrative example without limitation, various aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated with reference to a wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 includes three interacting domains: a core network 102, a radio access network (RAN) 104, and user equipment (UE) 106. By virtue of the wireless communication system 100, the UE 106 may be enabled to carry out data communication with an external data network 110, such as (but not limited to) the Internet.

The RAN 104 may implement any suitable wireless communication technology or technologies to provide radio access to the UE 106. As one example, the RAN 104 may operate according to 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) specifications, often referred to as 5G. As another example, the RAN 104 may operate under a hybrid of 5G NR and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) standards, often referred to as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) . The 3GPP refers to this hybrid RAN as a next-generation RAN, or NG-RAN. Of course, many other examples may be utilized within the scope of the present disclosure.

As illustrated, the RAN 104 includes a plurality of base stations 108. Broadly, a base station is a network element in a radio access network responsible for radio transmission and reception in one or more cells to or from a UE. In different technologies, standards, or contexts, a base station may variously be referred to by those skilled in the art as a base transceiver station (BTS) , a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS) , an extended service set (ESS) , an access point (AP) , a Node B (NB) , an eNode B (eNB) , a gNode B (gNB) , or some other suitable terminology.

The radio access network 104 is further illustrated supporting wireless communication for multiple mobile apparatuses. A mobile apparatus may be referred to as user equipment (UE) in 3GPP standards, but may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station (MS) , a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal (AT) , a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. A UE may be an apparatus that provides a user with access to network services.

Within the present document, a “mobile” apparatus need not necessarily have a capability to move, and may be stationary. The term mobile apparatus or mobile device broadly refers to a diverse array of devices and technologies. UEs may include a number of hardware structural components sized, shaped, and arranged to help in communication; such components can include antennas, antenna arrays, RF chains, amplifiers, one or more processors, etc. electrically coupled to each other. For example, some non-limiting examples of a mobile apparatus include a mobile, a cellular (cell) phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal computer (PC) , a notebook, a netbook, a smartbook, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA) , and a broad array of embedded systems, e.g., corresponding to an “Internet of things” (IoT) . A mobile apparatus may additionally be an automotive or other transportation vehicle, a remote sensor or actuator, a robot or robotics device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, an object tracking device, a drone, a multi-copter, a quad-copter, a remote control device, a consumer or wearable device, such as eyewear, a wearable camera, a virtual reality device, a smart watch, a health or fitness tracker, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player) , a camera, a game console, etc. A mobile apparatus may additionally be a digital home or smart home device such as a home audio, video, or multimedia device, an appliance, a vending machine, intelligent lighting, a home security system, a smart meter, etc. A mobile apparatus may additionally be a smart energy device, a security device, a solar panel or solar array, a municipal infrastructure device controlling electric power (e.g., a smart grid) , lighting, water, etc. ; an industrial automation and enterprise device; a logistics controller; agricultural equipment; military defense equipment, vehicles, aircraft, ships, and weaponry, etc. Still further, a mobile apparatus may provide for connected medicine or telemedicine support, e.g., health care at a distance. Telehealth devices may include telehealth monitoring devices and telehealth administration devices, whose communication may be given preferential treatment or prioritized access over other types of information, e.g., in terms of prioritized access for transport of critical service data, or relevant QoS for transport of critical service data.

Wireless communication between a RAN 104 and a UE 106 may be described as utilizing an air interface. Transmissions over the air interface from a base station (e.g., base station 108) to one or more UEs (e.g., UE 106) may be referred to as downlink (DL) transmission. In accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure, the term downlink may refer to a point-to-multipoint transmission originating at a scheduling entity (described further below; e.g., base station 108) . Another way to describe this scheme may be to use the term broadcast channel multiplexing. Transmissions from a UE (e.g., UE 106) to a base station (e.g., base station 108) may be referred to as uplink (UL) transmissions. In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure, the term uplink may refer to a point-to-point transmission originating at a scheduled entity (described further below; e.g., UE 106) .

In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled, wherein a scheduling entity (e.g., a base station 108) allocates resources for communication among some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell. Within the present disclosure, as discussed further below, the scheduling entity may be responsible for scheduling, assigning, reconfiguring, and releasing resources for one or more scheduled entities. That is, for scheduled communication, UEs 106, which may be scheduled entities, may utilize resources allocated by the scheduling entity 108.

Base stations 108 are not the only entities that may function as scheduling entities. That is, in some examples, a UE may function as a scheduling entity, scheduling resources for one or more scheduled entities (e.g., one or more other UEs) .

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a scheduling entity 108 may broadcast downlink traffic 112 to one or more scheduled entities 106. Broadly, the scheduling entity 108 is a node or device responsible for scheduling traffic in a wireless communication network, including the downlink traffic 112 and, in some examples, uplink traffic 116 from one or more scheduled entities 106 to the scheduling entity 108. On the other hand, the scheduled entity 106 is a node or device that receives downlink control information 114, including but not limited to scheduling information (e.g., a grant) , synchronization or timing information, or other control information from another entity in the wireless communication network such as the scheduling entity 108.

In general, base stations 108 may include a backhaul interface for communication with a backhaul portion 120 of the wireless communication system. The backhaul 120 may provide a link between a base station 108 and the core network 102. Further, in some examples, a backhaul network may provide interconnection between the respective base stations 108. Various types of backhaul interfaces may be employed, such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, or the like using any suitable transport network.

The core network 102 may be a part of the wireless communication system 100, and may be independent of the radio access technology used in the RAN 104. In some examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to 5G standards (e.g., 5GC) . In other examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to a 4G evolved packet core (EPC) , or any other suitable standard or configuration.

In certain embodiments, the UE 106 may be a dual-subscriber identity module (SIM) device. A SIM in various embodiments may be a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) that is configured with SIM and/or USIM applications, enabling access to Long-Term Evolution and/or Fifth Generation New Radio networks. The UICC may also provide storage for a phone book and other applications. Alternatively, in some embodiments, 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 multi-SIM, Multi-Active (MSMA) communication device, 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, or the like) to indicate the SIM card network operator provider.

Referring now to FIG. 2, by way of example and without limitation, a schematic illustration of a RAN 200 is provided. In some examples, the RAN 200 may be the same as the RAN 104 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1. The geographic area covered by the RAN 200 may be divided into cellular regions (cells) that can be uniquely identified by a user equipment (UE) based on an identification broadcasted from one access point or base station. FIG. 2 illustrates

macrocells

202, 204, and 206, and a small cell 208, each of which may include one or more sectors. A sector is a sub-area of a cell. All sectors within one cell are served by the same base station. A radio link within a sector can be identified by a single logical identification belonging to that sector. In a cell that is divided into sectors, the multiple sectors within a cell can be formed by groups of antennas with each antenna responsible for communication with UEs in a portion of the cell.

In FIG. 2, two

base stations

210 and 212 are shown in

cells

202 and 204; and a third base station 214 is shown controlling a remote radio head (RRH) 216 in cell 206. That is, a base station can have an integrated antenna or can be connected to an antenna or RRH by feeder cables. In the illustrated example, the

cells

202, 204, and 126 may be referred to as macrocells, as the

base stations

210, 212, and 214 support cells having a large size. Further, a base station 218 is shown in the small cell 208 (e.g., a microcell, picocell, femtocell, home base station, home Node B, home eNode B, etc. ) which may overlap with one or more macrocells. In this example, the cell 208 may be referred to as a small cell, as the base station 218 supports a cell having a relatively small size. Cell sizing can be done according to system design as well as component constraints.

It is to be understood that the radio access network 200 may include any number of wireless base stations and cells. Further, a relay node may be deployed to extend the size or coverage area of a given cell. The

base stations

210, 212, 214, 218 provide wireless access points to a core network for any number of mobile apparatuses. In some examples, the

base stations

210, 212, 214, or 218 may be the same as the base station/scheduling entity 108 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 further includes a quadcopter or drone 220, which may be configured to function as a base station. That is, in some examples, a cell may not necessarily be stationary, and the geographic area of the cell may move according to the location of a mobile base station such as the quadcopter 220.

Within the RAN 200, the cells may include UEs that may be in communication with one or more sectors of each cell. Further, each

base station

210, 212, 214, 218, and 220 may be configured to provide an access point to a core network 102 (see FIG. 1) for all the UEs in the respective cells. For example,

UEs

222 and 224 may be in communication with base station 210;

UEs

226 and 228 may be in communication with base station 212;

UEs

230 and 232 may be in communication with base station 214 by way of RRH 216; UE 234 may be in communication with base station 218; and UE 236 may be in communication with mobile base station 220. In some examples, the

UEs

222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, or 236 may be the same as the UE/scheduled entity 106 described herein and illustrated in FIG. 1.

In some examples, a mobile network node (e.g., quadcopter 220) may be configured to function as a UE. For example, the quadcopter 220 may operate within cell 202 by communicating with base station 210.

In the radio access network 200, the ability for a UE to communicate while moving, independent of its location, is referred to as mobility. The various physical channels between the UE and the radio access network are generally set up, maintained, and released under the control of an access and mobility management function (AMF, part of the core network 102 in FIG. 1) , which may include a security context management function (SCMF) that manages the security context for both the control plane and the user plane functionality, and a security anchor function (SEAF) that performs authentication.

In various aspects of the disclosure, a radio access network 200 may utilize DL-based mobility or UL-based mobility to enable mobility and handovers (i.e., the transfer of a UE’s connection from one radio channel to another) . In a network configured for DL-based mobility, during a call with a scheduling entity, or at any other time, a UE may monitor various parameters of the signal from its serving cell as well as various parameters of neighboring cells. Depending on the quality of these parameters, the UE may maintain communication with one or more of the neighboring cells. During this time, if the UE moves from one cell to another, or if signal quality from a neighboring cell exceeds that from the serving cell for a given amount of time, the UE may undertake a handoff or handover from the serving cell to the neighboring (target) cell. For example, UE 224 (illustrated as a vehicle, although any suitable form of UE may be used) may move from the geographic area corresponding to its serving cell 202 to the geographic area corresponding to a neighbor cell 206. When the signal strength or quality from the neighbor cell 206 exceeds that of its serving cell 202 for a given amount of time, the UE 224 may transmit a reporting message to its serving base station 210 indicating this condition. In response, the UE 224 may receive a handover command, and the UE may undergo a handover to the cell 206.

In a network configured for UL-based mobility, UL reference signals from each UE may be utilized by the network to select a serving cell for each UE. In some examples, the

base stations

210, 212, and 214/216 may broadcast unified synchronization signals (e.g., unified Primary Synchronization Signals (PSSs) , unified Secondary Synchronization Signals (SSSs) and unified Physical Broadcast Channels (PBCH) ) . The

UEs

222, 224, 226, 228, 230, and 232 may receive the unified synchronization signals, derive the carrier frequency and slot timing from the synchronization signals, and in response to deriving timing, transmit an uplink pilot or reference signal. The uplink pilot signal transmitted by a UE (e.g., UE 224) may be concurrently received by two or more cells (e.g.,

base stations

210 and 214/216) within the radio access network 200. Each of the cells may measure a strength of the pilot signal, and the radio access network (e.g., one or more of the

base stations

210 and 214/216 or a central node within the core network) may determine a serving cell for the UE 224. As the UE 224 moves through the radio access network 200, the network may continue to monitor the uplink pilot signal transmitted by the UE 224. When the signal strength or quality of the pilot signal measured by a neighboring cell exceeds that of the signal strength or quality measured by the serving cell, the network 200 may handover the UE 224 from the serving cell to the neighboring cell, with or without informing the UE 224.

Although the synchronization signal transmitted by the

base stations

210, 212, and 214/216 may be unified, the synchronization signal may not identify a particular cell, but rather may identify a zone of multiple cells operating on the same frequency or with the same timing. The use of zones in 5G networks or other next generation communication networks enables the uplink-based mobility framework and improves the efficiency of both the UE and the network, since the number of mobility messages that need to be exchanged between the UE and the network may be reduced.

In various implementations, the air interface in the radio access network 200 may utilize licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or shared spectrum. Licensed spectrum provides for exclusive use of a portion of the spectrum, generally by virtue of a mobile network operator purchasing a license from a government regulatory body. Unlicensed spectrum provides for shared use of a portion of the spectrum without need for a government-granted license. While compliance with some technical rules is generally still required to access unlicensed spectrum, generally, any operator or device may gain access. Shared spectrum may fall between licensed and unlicensed spectrum, wherein technical rules or limitations may be required to access the spectrum, but the spectrum may still be shared by multiple operators or multiple RATs. For example, the holder of a license for a portion of licensed spectrum may provide licensed shared access (LSA) to share that spectrum with other parties, e.g., with suitable licensee-determined conditions to gain access.

The air interface in the radio access network 200 may utilize one or more duplexing algorithms. Duplex refers to a point-to-point communication link where both endpoints can communicate with one another in both directions. Full duplex means both endpoints can simultaneously communicate with one another. Half duplex means only one endpoint can transmit information to the other at a time. In a wireless link, a full duplex channel generally relies on physical isolation of a transmitter and receiver, and suitable interference cancellation technologies. Full duplex emulation is frequently implemented for wireless links by utilizing frequency division duplex (FDD) or time division duplex (TDD) . In FDD, transmissions in different directions operate at different carrier frequencies. In TDD, transmissions in different directions on a given channel are separated from one another using time division multiplexing. That is, at some times the channel is dedicated for transmissions in one direction, while at other times the channel is dedicated for transmissions in the other direction, where the direction may change very rapidly, e.g., several times per slot.

The air interface in the radio access network 200 may utilize one or more multiplexing and multiple access algorithms to enable simultaneous communication of the various devices. For example, 5G NR specifications provide multiple access for UL transmissions from

UEs

222 and 224 to base station 210, and for multiplexing for DL transmissions from base station 210 to one or

more UEs

222 and 224, utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) . In addition, for UL transmissions, 5G NR specifications provide support for discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) with a CP (also referred to as single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) ) . However, within the scope of the present disclosure, multiplexing and multiple access are not limited to the above schemes, and may be provided utilizing time division multiple access (TDMA) , code division multiple access (CDMA) , frequency division multiple access (FDMA) , sparse code multiple access (SCMA) , resource spread multiple access (RSMA) , or other suitable multiple access schemes. Further, multiplexing DL transmissions from the base station 210 to UEs 222 and 224 may be provided utilizing time division multiplexing (TDM) , code division multiplexing (CDM) , frequency division multiplexing (FDM) , orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) , sparse code multiplexing (SCM) , or other suitable multiplexing schemes.

The channels or carriers described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are not necessarily all the channels or carriers that may be utilized between a scheduling entity 108 and scheduled entities 106, and those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other channels or carriers may be utilized in addition to those illustrated, such as other traffic, control, and feedback channels.

These physical channels described above are generally multiplexed and mapped to transport channels for handling at the medium access control (MAC) layer. Transport channels carry blocks of information called transport blocks (TB) . The transport block size (TBS) , which may correspond to a number of bits of information, may be a controlled parameter, based on the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the number of RBs in a given transmission.

When a dual-SIM user equipment (UE) determines that a service received by the first subscription of the UE through a first network has ended, the UE may utilize a signal quality obtained or measured by the second subscription of the UE and using a second network. Using the signal quality obtained or measured by the second subscription, the UE may determine whether to generate a pseudo signal quality to transmit to a base station of the first network. By transmitting the pseudo signal quality to the base station of the first network, the base station of the first network may be tricked into determining that the signal quality of the first network is below a threshold and release the first subscription of the UE allowing the first subscription of the UE to more easily transition from the first network to the second network.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual illustration of an example wireless communication system for handover from a first network to a second network for a dual-Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) device. In some embodiments, the first network may be a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network and the second network may be a Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) network.

In operation 306, a user equipment (UE) 302 may determine that a first subscription of the UE 302 and a second subscription of the UE 302 are utilizing a second network. For example, the UE 302 may include a first SIM card and a second SIM card. The first subscription may be associated with the first SIM card and the second subscription may be associated with the second SIM card. Each of the first subscription and the second subscription may be associated with a same operator (e.g., a same mobile service provider) . The UE 302 may determine that the first subscription and the second subscription are not utilizing a first network, but instead are both utilizing a same second network. In some embodiments, the second network may be a Fifth Generation New Radio network. The UE 302 may also determine that the first subscription and the second subscription are receiving signal qualities with qualities or strengths that are above one or more thresholds. In some embodiments, the qualities may be Carrier-to-Noise Ratio (CINR) , Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SINR) , Energy per Chip-to-Interference Power Ratio (Ec/Io) measurements, or the like. In some embodiments, the strengths may be a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) measurement or the like.

In operation 308, the UE 302 may receive a request from a base station 304 of the first network for the first subscription to be released from the network and transition to another network and receive a service through the other network. For example, the UE 302 may receive a request from the base station 304 of the first network for the first subscription to be release from the second network and transition to the first network to receive a service that is supported on the first network, but not the second network. The first network may be a Long-Term Evolution network. In some embodiments, the service may be a mobile terminal (MT) voice call paging data distributed service (DDS) .

In operation 310, the UE 302 may transition the first subscription to the other network to receive the service. For example, the UE 302 may receive the request from the base station 304 of the first network for the first subscription to transition from the second network to the first network to receive the service through the first network. The request may include instructions directing the first subscription of the UE 302 to be released from the second network and to establish communication with the first network. The UE 302 may receive instructions from the base station 304 of the first network to transition the first subscription from the second network to the first network, and subsequently, the first subscription may transition from the second network to the first network to receive the service. In some embodiments, when the first network is a Long-Term Evolution network, the second network is a Fifth Generation New Radio network, and the service is a voice call, then the first subscription may transition from the Fifth Generation New Radio network to the Long-Term Evolution network because Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) as Voice Over NR (VoNR) may not be supported. In certain embodiments, when the first subscription transitions from the second network to the first network to receive the service through the first network, the second subscription remains on the second network.

In operation 312, the UE 302 may receive the service using the first subscription through the other network. For example, after the first subscription transitions from the second network to the first network, the UE 302 may receive the service using the first network through the first subscription. The service may be a mobile terminal voice call paging data distributed service. The first network may be a Long-Term Evolution network.

In operation 314, the UE 302 may determine that the reception of the service by the first subscription through the other network has ended. Additionally, or alternatively, in operation 316, the base station 304 of the other network may determine that the transmission of the service to the UE 302 using the first subscription through the other network has ended. For example, after the UE 302 receives the service using the first subscription through the first network, the service may subsequently be terminated. Both of the UE 302 and the base station 304 of the first network may determine that the service received by the UE 302 using the first subscription through the first network has terminated.

In operation 318, the base station 304 of the other network may determine that a signal quality associated with the communication of the UE 302 using the first subscription over the other network meets a minimum criterion. For example, the base station 304 of the first network may have determined that the service received by the UE 302 using the first subscription through the first network has ended. The base station 304 of the first network may also determine that a signal quality (e.g., a strength or a quality) of one or more communication channels between the UE 302 and the base station 304 of the first network is also above a minimum threshold. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station 304 of the first network may not receive a measurement control message from the UE 302 requesting that the first subscription transition from the first network to the second network because a signal quality identified by the UE 302 and associated with the first network is above a threshold. Accordingly, the base station 304 of the first network may not transmit instructions to the UE 302 and thus prevent the first subscription from being released from the first network (e.g., release the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection of the first network) and allowed to transition to the second network.

In operation 320, the UE 302 may identify or determine that the first subscription is not transitioning from the other network to the network in response to the reception of the service by the subscription through the other network ending. For example, the UE 302 may have determined that the service received by the UE 302 using the first subscription through the first network has ended. The UE 302 may also determine that a signal quality of one or more communication channels between the UE 302 and the base station 304 of the first network is above a minimum threshold. The UE 302 may determine, after a period of time from the time that the reception of the service using the first subscription through the first network ends, not to transmit a measurement control message to the base station 304 of the first network requesting that the first subscription be released from the first network to transition from the first network to the second network. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE 302 may not receive a request or instructions from the base station 304 for the first subscription to be released from the first network and transition from the first network to the second network when a period of time passes after the reception of the service by the first subscription through the first network ends. Accordingly, the UE 302 may determine that the first subscription is not released from the first network and is not permitted to transition from the first network to the second network in response to the reception of the service by the first subscription through the first network ending.

In operation 322, the UE 302 may determine a signal quality associated with the network. For example, the UE 302 may determine that the first subscription is in a connected mode with the first network and that the second subscription is in an idle mode with the second network. The UE 302 may instruct the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription. The signal quality may include a strength or quality associated with one or more communication channels between the second subscription of the UE 302 and the base station 304 of the second network. In some embodiments, the signal quality may be a value that is above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE 302 to transmit from the first subscription a pseudo signal quality to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network.

In operation 324, the UE 302 may determine a pseudo signal quality associated with the other network. For example, the UE 302 may have instructed the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription. The signal quality may have included a strength or quality associated with one or more communication channels between the second subscription of the UE 302 and the base station 304 of the second network. In some embodiments, the signal quality may be a value that is above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE 302 to determine or generate a pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. In some embodiments, the threshold value may be about -100 decibels per milliwatt (dbm) . The UE 302 may determine or generate the pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network.

In certain embodiments, when the UE 302 instructs the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription, the signal quality may not be above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE 302 to determine or generate the pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. When the signal quality is not above the threshold value, the first subscription of the UE 302 may determine not to generate the pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station 304 of the first network.

In operation 326, the UE 302 may transmit a pseudo signal quality using the first subscription. For example, the UE 302 may have instructed the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription. The signal quality may have included a strength or quality associated with one or more communication channels between the second subscription of the UE 302 and the base station 304 of the second network. In some embodiments, the signal quality may be a value that is above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE 302 to determine or generate and transmit from the first subscription a pseudo signal quality to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. In some embodiments, the threshold value may be about -100 decibels per milliwatt (dbm) . The UE 302 may transmit the pseudo signal quality to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network.

In operation 328, the base station 304 of the first network may determine that the first subscription is to transition from the other network based on the pseudo signal quality. For example, the base station 304 of the first network may receive the pseudo signal quality from the first subscription of the UE 302. The base station 304 of the first network may compare the received pseudo signal quality with a threshold value and determine that the received pseudo signal quality is below a threshold value associated with the first network. In response to determining that the received pseudo signal quality is below the threshold value associated with the first network, the base station 304 of the first network may determine that the first subscription of the UE 302 is to be released from the first network and allowed to transition from the first network to the second network.

In operation 330, the UE 302 may receive a request or instructions for the first subscription to transition to the network. For example, the base station 304 of the first network may have determined that the received pseudo signal quality is below the threshold value. The base station 304 of the first network may have also determined that the first subscription of the UE 302 is to be released from the first network and transition from the first network to the second network. Subsequently, the base station 304 of the first network may transmit a request or instructions to the UE 302 for the first subscription to be released from the first network allowing the first subscription to transition from the first network to the second network. The request or instructions may be measurement control instructions.

In operation 332, the UE 302 may transition the first subscription from the other network. For example, after receiving the request or instructions from the base station 304 of the first network for releasing the first subscription from the first network and allowing the first subscription to transition from the first network to the second network, the UE 302 may provide the first subscription with the request or instructions from the base station 304 to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition from the first network to the second network. Upon receiving the request or instruction, the first subscription may release from the first network and begin transitioning from the first network to the second network.

It should be understood that the system 300 including the user equipment 302 and the base station 304 may implement any one or more procedures described herein in addition to the procedure described herein with respect to FIG. 3. For example, in addition to the system 300 implementing the one or more procedures described herein with respect to FIG. 3, the system 300 including the user equipment 302 and the base station 304 may implement any one or more procedures described herein with respect to any one or more of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4-8.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an example user equipment (UE) 400 according to some aspects of the disclosure. For example, the user equipment 400 may perform any of the functions illustrated and described in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8.

The user equipment 400 may be implemented with a processing system 414 that includes one or more processors 404. Examples of processors 404 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs) , field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) , programmable logic devices (PLDs) , state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. In various examples, the user equipment 400 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, the processor 404, as utilized in the user equipment 400, may be used to implement any one or more of the processes and procedures described in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8 and further illustrated in the flow diagrams discussed herein.

In this example, the processing system 414 may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus 402. The bus 402 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system 414 and the overall design constraints. The bus 402 communicatively couples together various circuits including one or more processors (represented generally by the processor 404) , a memory 405, computer-readable media (represented generally by the computer-readable medium 406) , a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card 416, and a second SIM card 418. The bus 402 may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further. A bus interface 404 provides an interface between the bus 402 and a transceiver 410. The transceiver 410 provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. Depending upon the nature of the apparatus, a user interface 412 (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided.

In certain embodiments, the UE 400 may be a dual-subscriber identity module (SIM) device. A SIM (e.g., a first SIM card 416, a second SIM card 418) in various embodiments may be a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) that is configured with SIM and/or USIM applications, enabling access to Long-Term Evolution and/or Fifth Generation New Radio networks. The UICC may also provide storage for a phone book and other applications. Alternatively, in some embodiments, 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 multi-SIM, Multi-Active (MSMA) communication device, and thus need not be a separate or removable circuit, chip, or card.

The first SIM card 416 may associate the first communications unit with a first subscription (Sub1) on a first communication network and the second SIM card 418 may associate the second communications unit with a second subscription (Sub2) on a second communication network. In active mode, a communications unit receives and transmits signals. In idle mode, a communications unit receives but does not transmit signals. In certain embodiments, the first subscription and the second subscription may transition between networks. For example, the first subscription and the second subscription may transition between a Long-Term Evolution network and a Fifth Generation New Radio network. The first communication network and the second communication network may be operated by the same or different service providers, or may support the same or different radio access technologies (RATs) , for example, but not limited to, WCDMA/1x/DO, long term evolution (LTE) , GSM, and Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) .

In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 404 may include a determining circuit 440 configured for various functions, including, for example, determining that a first subscription and a second subscription of a user equipment (UE) are utilizing a network. The determining circuit 440 may also be configured for various functions, including, for example, determining that reception of a service by the first subscription of the UE through the other network has ended. The determining circuit 440 may further be configured for various functions, including, for example, determining that the first subscription is not transitioning from the other network to the network in response to the reception of the service by the first subscription through the other network ending. In addition, the determining circuit 440 may further be configured for various functions, including, for example, determining a signal quality associated with the network.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 404 may include a receiving circuit 442 configured for various functions, including, for example, receiving a request for the first subscription to be released from the other network and allow the first subscription to transition to the other network and receive a service through the other network. The receiving circuit 442 may also be configured for various functions, including, for example, receiving the service by the first subscription through the other network. The receiving circuit 442 may further be configured for various functions, including, for example, receiving a request for the first subscription be released from the other network and permitting the first subscription to transition to the network.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 404 may include a transitioning circuit 444 configured for various functions, including, for example, transitioning the first subscription of the user equipment from the network and to the other network to receive a service. The transitioning circuit 444 may also be configured for various functions, including, for example, transitioning the first subscription from the other network. In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 404 may include a transmitting circuit 446 configured for various functions, including, for example, transmitting a signal quality using the first subscription of a user equipment.

The processor 404 is responsible for managing the bus 402 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 406. The software, when executed by the processor 404, causes the processing system 414 to perform the various functions described below for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium 406 and the memory 405 may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor 404 when executing software.

One or more processors 404 in the processing system may execute software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. The software may reside on a computer-readable medium 406. The computer-readable medium 406 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip) , an optical disk (e.g., a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD) ) , a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, a stick, or a key drive) , a random access memory (RAM) , a read only memory (ROM) , a programmable ROM (PROM) , an erasable PROM (EPROM) , an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM) , a register, a removable disk, and any other suitable medium for storing software or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium 406 may reside in the processing system 414, external to the processing system 414, or distributed across multiple entities including the processing system 414. The computer-readable medium 406 may be embodied in a computer program product. By way of example, a computer program product may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

In one or more examples, the computer-readable storage medium 406 may include receiving software or instructions 450, determining software or instructions 452, transmitting software or instructions 454, or exchanging software or instructions 456. Of course, in the above examples, the circuitry included in the processor 404 is merely provided as an example, and other means for carrying out the described functions may be included within various aspects of the present disclosure, including but not limited to the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 406, or any other suitable apparatus or means described in any one of the FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8 and utilizing, for example, the processes or algorithms described herein.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 500 operational at a user equipment (UE) according to some aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the method 500 may be carried out by any suitable apparatus or means for carrying out the functions or algorithm described herein. In some embodiments, the first network, described herein, may be a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network and the second network, described herein, may be a Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) network.

At block 502, the user equipment (UE) may determine that a first subscription and a second subscription of the UE are utilizing a network. For example, the UE may include a first SIM card and a second SIM card. The first subscription may be associated with the first SIM card and the second subscription may be associated with the second SIM card. Each of the first subscription and the second subscription may be associated with a same operator (e.g., a same mobile service provider) . The UE may determine that the first subscription and the second subscription are not utilizing a first network, but instead are both utilizing a same second network. In some embodiments, the second network may be a Fifth Generation New Radio network. The UE may also determine that the first subscription and the second subscription are receiving signal qualities with qualities or strengths that are above one or more thresholds. In some embodiments, the qualities may be Carrier-to-Noise Ratio (CINR) , Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SINR) , Energy per Chip-to-Interference Power Ratio (Ec/Io) measurements, or the like. In some embodiments, the strengths may be a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) measurement or the like.

At block 504, the UE may receive a request for the first subscription to be released from the network and permitting the first subscription to transition to another network and receive a service through the other network. For example, the UE may receive a request from the base station of the first network for the first subscription to be release from the second network and transition to the first network to receive a service that is supported on the first network, but not the second network. The first network may be a Long-Term Evolution network. In some embodiments, the service may be a mobile terminal (MT) voice call paging data distributed service (DDS) .

At block 506, the UE may transition the first subscription to the other network to receive the service. For example, the UE may receive the request from the base station of the first network for the first subscription to transition from the second network to the first network to receive the service through the first network. The request may include instructions directing the first subscription of the UE to be released from the second network and to establish communication with the first network. The UE may receive instructions from the base station of the first network to transition the first subscription from the second network to the first network, and subsequently, the first subscription may transition from the second network to the first network to receive the service. In some embodiments, when the first network is a Long-Term Evolution network, the second network is a Fifth Generation New Radio network, and the service is a voice call, then the first subscription may transition from the Fifth Generation New Radio network to the Long-Term Evolution network because Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) as Voice Over NR (VoNR) may not be supported. In certain embodiments, when the first subscription transitions from the second network to the first network to receive the service through the first network, the second subscription remains on the second network.

At block 508, the UE may receive the service by the first subscription through the other network. For example, after the first subscription transitions from the second network to the first network, the UE may receive the service using the first network through the first subscription. The service may be a mobile terminal voice call paging data distributed service. The first network may be a Long-Term Evolution network.

At block 510, the UE may determine that reception of the service by the first subscription through the other network has ended. For example, after the UE receives the service using the first subscription through the first network, the service may subsequently be terminated. The UE may determine that the service received by the UE using the first subscription through the first network has terminated.

At block 512, the UE may identify or determine that the first subscription is not transitioning from the other network to the network in response to the reception of the service by the first subscription through the other network ending. For example, the UE may have determined that the service received by the UE using the first subscription through the first network has ended. The UE may also determine that a signal quality of one or more communication channels between the UE and the base station of the first network is above a minimum threshold. The UE may determine, after a period of time from the time that the reception of the service using the first subscription through the first network ends, not to transmit a measurement control message to the base station of the first network requesting that the first subscription be released from the first network to transition from the first network to the second network. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may not receive a request or instructions from the base station for the first subscription to be released from the first network and transition from the first network to the second network when a period of time passes after the reception of the service by the first subscription through the first network ends. Accordingly, the UE may determine that the first subscription is not released from the first network and is not permitted to transition from the first network to the second network in response to the reception of the service by the first subscription through the first network ending.

At block 514, the UE may determine a signal quality associated with the network. For example, the UE may determine that the first subscription is in a connected mode with the first network and that the second subscription is in an idle mode with the second network. The UE may instruct the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription. The signal quality may include a strength or quality associated with one or more communication channels between the second subscription of the UE and the base station of the second network. In some embodiments, the signal quality may be a value that is above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE to transmit from the first subscription a pseudo signal quality to the base station of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network.

At block 516, the UE may generate a pseudo signal quality based on the signal quality associated with the network. For example, the UE may have instructed the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription. The signal quality may have included a strength or quality associated with one or more communication channels between the second subscription of the UE and the base station of the second network. In some embodiments, the signal quality may be a value that is above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE to determine or generate a pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. In some embodiments, the threshold value may be about -100 decibels per milliwatt (dbm) . The UE may determine or generate the pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network.

In certain embodiments, when the UE instructs the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription, the signal quality may not be above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE to determine or generate the pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. When the signal quality is not above the threshold value, the first subscription of the UE may determine not to generate the pseudo signal quality for transmission to the base station of the first network.

At block 518, the UE may transmit the pseudo signal quality using the first subscription. For example, the UE may have instructed the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription. The signal quality may have included a strength or quality associated with one or more communication channels between the second subscription of the UE and the base station of the second network. In some embodiments, the signal quality may be a value that is above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE to determine or generate and transmit from the first subscription a pseudo signal quality to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. In some embodiments, the threshold value may be about -100 decibels per milliwatt (dbm) . The UE may transmit the pseudo signal quality to the base station of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network.

At block 520, the UE may receive a request or instructions for the first subscription to transition from the other network. For example, the base station of the first network may have determined that the received pseudo signal quality is below the threshold value. The base station of the first network may have also determined that the first subscription of the UE is to be released from the first network and transition from the first network to the second network. Subsequently, the base station of the first network may transmit a request or instructions to the UE for the first subscription to be released from the first network allowing the first subscription to transition from the first network to the second network. The request or instructions may be measurement control instructions.

At block 522, the UE may transition the first subscription from the other network. For example, after receiving the request or instructions from the base station of the first network for releasing the first subscription from the first network and allowing the first subscription to transition from the first network to the second network, the UE may provide the first subscription with the request or instructions from the base station to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition from the first network to the second network. Upon receiving the request or instruction, the first subscription may release from the first network and begin transitioning from the first network to the second network.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 600 operational at a user equipment (UE) according to some aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the method 600 may be carried out by any suitable apparatus or means for carrying out the functions or algorithm described herein. As described herein, the UE may include a first SIM and a second SIM. A first subscription may be associated with the first SIM and a second subscription may be associated with the second SIM.

At block 602, the user equipment (UE) may determine that the first subscription of the UE is on a Long-Term Evolution network in a connected mode and the second subscription of the UE is on a Fifth Generation New Radio network in an idle mode.

At block 604, the UE may determine whether the UE receives a measurement control signal from a base station for the first subscription to transition to the Fifth Generation New Radio network. If the UE determines that the UE does receive the measurement control signal for the first subscription to transition to the Fifth Generation New Radio network, then, at block 618, the first subscription of the UE performs handover to the Fifth Generation New Radio network. Otherwise, at block 606, the UE determines whether the first subscription of the UE belongs to a same operator as the second subscription of the UE.

If the UE determines that the first subscription of the UE does not belongs to the same operator as the second subscription of the UE, then, at block 608, the UE determines that first subscription is to operate or work under other operating modes known to those skilled in the art. Otherwise, if the UE determines that the first subscription of the UE does belongs to the same operator as the second subscription of the UE, then, at block 610, the first subscription of the UE may obtain a Fifth Generation New Radio measurement result or signal quality from the second subscription of the UE.

At block 612, the UE may determine whether the Fifth Generation New Radio measurement result from the second subscription is greater than a threshold. If the UE determines that the Fifth Generation New Radio measurement result from the second subscription is not greater than the threshold, then at block 608, the UE determines that first subscription is to operate or work under other operating modes known to those skilled in the art. Otherwise, if the UE determines that the Fifth Generation New Radio measurement result from the second subscription is greater than the threshold, then at block 614, the UE transmits through the first subscription a fake measurement report to the network with a fake measurement result. The fake measurement result may be a pseudo signal quality generated by the first subscription of the UE.

At block 616, the UE may receive a measurement control signal form the network. At block 618, the first subscription of the UE may perform handover. At block, 620, the first subscription of the UE may hand over to the Fifth Generation New Radio network.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a base station 700 according to some aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the base station 700 may be a base station as illustrated in any one or more of FIGS. 1-6 and 8.

The base station 700 may be implemented with a processing system 714 that includes one or more processors 704. Examples of processors 704 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs) , field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) , programmable logic devices (PLDs) , state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. In various examples, the base station 700 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, the processor 704, as utilized in the base station 700, may be used to implement any one or more of the processes and procedures described and illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 and 8.

In this example, the processing system 714 may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus 702. The bus 702 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system 714 and the overall design constraints. The bus 702 communicatively couples together various circuits including one or more processors (represented generally by the processor 704) , a memory 705, and computer-readable media (represented generally by the computer-readable medium 707) . The bus 702 may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further. A bus interface 708 provides an interface between the bus 702 and a transceiver 710. The transceiver 710 may provide a communication interface or means for wirelessly communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. Depending upon the nature of the apparatus, a user interface 712 (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 704 may include a transmitting circuit 740 configured to perform various functions, including, for example, transmitting a request for a first subscription of a user equipment (UE) to transition from a network to another network and receive a service through the other network. Additionally, or alternatively, the transitioning circuit 740 may be configured to perform various functions, including, for example, transmitting the service to the first subscription of the UE through the other network. Additionally, or alternatively, the transmitting circuit 740 may be configured to perform various functions, including, for example, transmitting a request for the first subscription to transition to the network.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 704 may include a determining circuit 742 configured to perform various functions, including, for example, determining that the transmission of the service to the first subscription of the UE through the other network has ended. Additionally, or alternatively, the determining circuit 742 may be configured to perform various functions, including, for example, determining that a signal condition associated with communication of the first subscription of the UE over the other network meets a minimum criterion. Additionally, or alternatively, the determining circuit 742 may be configured to perform various functions, including, for example, determining that the first subscription of the UE is to transition to the network based on a signal quality. In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 704 may include a receiving circuit 744 configured to perform various functions, including, for example, receiving a signal quality from the first subscription of the UE.

The processor 704 may be responsible for managing the bus 702 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 707. The software, when executed by the processor 704, causes the processing system 714 to perform the various functions described herein, including those functions describe with respect to FIGS. 1-5, 7, and 8. The computer-readable medium 707 and the memory 705 may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor 704 when executing software.

One or more processors 704 in the processing system may execute software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. The software may reside on a computer-readable medium 707. The computer-readable medium 707 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip) , an optical disk (e.g., a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD) ) , a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, a stick, or a key drive) , a random access memory (RAM) , a read only memory (ROM) , a programmable ROM (PROM) , an erasable PROM (EPROM) , an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM) , a register, a removable disk, and any other suitable medium for storing software or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium 707 may reside in the processing system 714, external to the processing system 714, or distributed across multiple entities including the processing system 714. The computer-readable medium 707 may be embodied in a computer program product. By way of example, a computer program product may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

In one or more examples, the computer-readable storage medium 707 may include transmitting software or instructions 750, determining software or instructions 752, and receiving software or instructions 754. Of course, in the examples provided herein, the circuitry included in the processor 704 is merely provided as an example, and other means for carrying out the described functions may be included within various aspects of the present disclosure, including but not limited to the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 707, or any other suitable apparatus or means described in any one of the FIGS. 1-6 and 8 and utilizing, for example, the processes or algorithms described herein.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 800 operational at a base station for controlling multicast and broadcast access. In some examples, the method 800 may be carried out by any suitable apparatus or means for carrying out the functions or algorithm described herein.

At block 802, the base station of another network may transmit a request for a first subscription of a user equipment (UE) to be released from a network and transition from the network to the other network and receive a service through the other network. For example, the base station 308 of a first network may transmit a request to a first subscription of a UE requesting that the first subscription of UE be release from the second network and transition to the first network for receiving a service that is supported on the first network, but not the second network. The first network may be a Long-Term Evolution network. In some embodiments, the service may be a mobile terminal (MT) voice call paging data distributed service (DDS) .

At block 804, the base station may transmit the service to the first subscription of the UE through the other network. For example, the base station of the first network may transmit to the first subscription of the UE a request for the first subscription to transition from the second network to the first network to receive the service through the first network. The request may include instructions directing the first subscription of the UE 302 to be released from the second network and to establish communication with the first network. The UE 302 may receive instructions from the base station 304 of the first network to transition the first subscription from the second network to the first network, and subsequently, the first subscription may transition from the second network to the first network to receive the service. In some embodiments, when the first network is a Long-Term Evolution network, the second network is a Fifth Generation New Radio network, and the service is a voice call, then the first subscription may transition from the Fifth Generation New Radio network to the Long-Term Evolution network because Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) as Voice Over NR (VoNR) may not be supported. In certain embodiments, when the first subscription transitions from the second network to the first network to receive the service through the first network, the second subscription remains on the second network.

At block 806, the base station of the first network may determine that the transmission of the service to the first subscription through the other network has ended. For example, after the UE 302 receives the service using the first subscription through the first network, the service may subsequently be terminated. The base station of the first network may determine that the service received by the UE using the first subscription through the first network has terminated.

At block 808, the base station may determine that signal quality associated with communication of the first subscription over the other network meets a minimum criterion. For example, the base station of the first network may have determined that the service received by the UE using the first subscription through the first network has ended. The base station of the first network may also determine that a signal quality (e.g., a strength or a quality) of one or more communication channels between the UE and the base station of the first network is also above a minimum threshold. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station of the first network may not receive a measurement control message from the UE requesting that the first subscription transition from the first network to the second network because a signal quality identified by the UE and associated with the first network is above a threshold. Accordingly, the base station of the first network may not transmit instructions to the UE and thus prevent the first subscription from being released from the first network (e.g., release the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection of the first network) and allowed to transition to the second network.

At block 810, the base station may receive a pseudo signal quality from the first subscription of the UE. For example, the UE may have instructed the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription. The signal quality may have included a strength or quality associated with one or more communication channels between the second subscription of the UE and the base station of the second network. In some embodiments, the signal quality may be a value that is above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE to transmit from the first subscription a pseudo signal quality to the base station 304 of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. In some embodiments, the threshold value may be about -100 decibels per milliwatt (dbm) . The base station of the first network may receive the pseudo signal quality from the first subscription of the UE to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network.

In certain embodiments, when the UE instructs the second subscription to obtain or measure a signal quality of the second network and share the signal quality of the second network with the first subscription, the signal quality may not be above a threshold value that permits or enables the UE to transmit from the first subscription the pseudo signal quality to the base station of the first network to release the first subscription from the first network and allow the first subscription to transition to the second network. When the signal quality is not above the threshold value, the base station of the first network may not receive the pseudo signal quality because the first subscription of the UE may determine not to transmit the pseudo signal quality to the base station of the first network.

At block 812, the base station of the first network may determine that the first subscription of the UE is to transition from the other network based on the signal quality. For example, the base station of the first network may receive the pseudo signal quality from the first subscription of the UE. The base station of the first network may compare the received pseudo signal quality with a threshold value and determine that the received pseudo signal quality is below a threshold value associated with the first network. In response to determining that the received pseudo signal quality is below the threshold value associated with the first network, the base station of the first network may determine that the first subscription of the UE is to be released from the first network and allowed to transition from the first network to the second network.

At block 814, the base station may transmit a request for the first subscription of the UE to transition from the other network. For example, the base station of the first network may have determined that the received pseudo signal quality is below the threshold value. The base station of the first network may have also determined that the first subscription of the UE 302 is to be released from the first network and transition from the first network to the second network. Subsequently, the base station of the first network may transmit a request or instructions to the UE for the first subscription to be released from the first network allowing the first subscription to transition from the first network to the second network. The request or instructions may be measurement control instructions.

Several aspects of a wireless communication network have been presented with reference to an example implementation. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunication systems, network architectures and communication standards.

As used herein, “or” is used intended to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “a or b” may include a only, b only, or a combination of a and b. As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” or “one or more of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. For example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover the examples of: a only, b only, c only, a combination of a and b, a combination of a and c, a combination of b and c, and a combination of a and b and c.

The various illustrative components, logic, logical blocks, modules, circuits, operations and algorithm processes described in connection with the implementations disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, firmware, software, or combinations of hardware, firmware or software, including the structures disclosed in this specification and the structural equivalents thereof. The interchangeability of hardware, firmware and software has been described generally, in terms of functionality, and illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and processes described above. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware, firmware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.

Additionally, various features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations also can be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also can be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. As such, although features may be described above as acting in particular combinations, and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Further, the drawings may schematically depict one or more example processes in the form of a flowchart or flow diagram. However, other operations that are not depicted can be incorporated in the example processes that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated operations. In some circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

Claims

A method of wireless communication by a user equipment having a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator, comprising:

determining that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network;

determining a signal quality associated with the second network;

transmitting a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription; and

transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.
The method of claim 1, wherein determining the signal quality associated with the second network comprises detecting a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription.
The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the pseudo signal quality associated with the first network when the signal quality associated with the second network is above a threshold.
The method of claim 1, wherein the signal quality comprises a quality of service parameter associated with the second network.
The method of claim 1, wherein the received instruction is based on a measurement control message associated with the first network.
The method of claim 5, wherein transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on the received instruction from the base station comprises detecting a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription based on the measurement control message.
The method of claim 1, wherein the signal quality comprises a value that is above a threshold value associated with the second network.
A user equipment having a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator, comprising:

a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a base station; and

one or more processors electronically coupled to the transceiver and configured to:

determine that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network,

determine a signal quality associated with the second network,

transmit a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription, and

transition the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.
The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription when determining the signal quality associated with the second network.
The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to generate the pseudo signal quality associated with the first network when the signal quality associated with the second network is above a threshold.
The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the signal quality comprises a quality of service parameter associated with the second network.
The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the received instruction is based on a measurement control message associated with the first network.
The user equipment of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to detect a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription based on the measurement control message when transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on the received instruction from the base station.
The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the signal quality comprises a value that is above a threshold value associated with the second network.
A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a user equipment having a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator, having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to:

determine that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network;

determine a signal quality associated with the second network;

transmit a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription; and

transition the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.
The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, further cause the processing circuit to detect a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription when determining the signal quality associated with the second network.
The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, further cause the processing circuit to generate the pseudo signal quality associated with the first network when the signal quality associated with the second network is above a threshold.
The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the signal quality comprises a quality of service parameter associated with the second network.
The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the received instruction is based on a measurement control message associated with the first network.
The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, further cause the processing circuit to detect a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription based on the measurement control message when transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on the received instruction from the base station.
The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the signal quality comprises a value that is above a threshold value associated with the second network.
A user equipment having a first subscriber identification module (SIM) card associated with a first subscription and an operator and a second SIM card associated with a second subscription and the operator, comprising:

means for determining that the first subscription of the user equipment is not transitioning from a first network to a second network in response to an ending of a service associated with the first network;

means for determining a signal quality associated with the second network;

means for transmitting a pseudo signal quality to a base station of the first network using the first subscription; and

means for transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on a received instruction from the base station.
The user equipment of claim 22, wherein determining the signal quality associated with the second network comprises detecting a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription.
The user equipment of claim 22, further comprising a means for generating the pseudo signal quality associated with the first network when the signal quality associated with the second network is above a threshold.
The user equipment of claim 22, wherein the signal quality comprises a quality of service parameter associated with the second network.
The user equipment of claim 22, wherein the received instruction is based on a measurement control message associated with the first network.
The user equipment of claim 26, wherein transitioning the first subscription from the first network based on the received instruction from the base station comprises detecting a signal quality associated with the second network using the second subscription based on the measurement control message.
The user equipment of claim 22, wherein the signal quality comprises a value that is above a threshold value associated with the second network.