Granted Patent B2

US 12,376,169 · App. 18/002,342 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Inventors: Nuno Manuel Kiilerich Pratas (Gistrup, DK); Srinivasan Selvaganapathy (Bangalore, IN); Faranaz Sabouri-Sichani (Aalborg, DK)

Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy

H04W76/15H04W88/06

Abstract

Claims (66)

1. A user device having at least two different subscription entities, comprising

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user device at least to:

establish a first wireless signaling connection to a network for a first subscription entity when transitioning from an idle state to a connected state;

send to the network an inquiry, whether the network supports a use of the first wireless signaling connection to request establishment of a second wireless signaling connection;

send, by the first subscription entity in response to a response to the inquiry indicating that the network supports the use, at least to a second subscription entity among the at least two different subscription entities in the user device information that the first wireless signaling connection exists;

send, by the second subscription entity in an idle state, in response to the information, to the first subscription entity an indication that the second subscription entity wants to establish a wireless signaling connection to transit from an idle state to a connected state;

send, in response to the first subscription entity receiving from the second subscription entity the indication, using the first wireless signaling connection, a request for establishing a second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription entity;

receive, by the first subscription entity, from the network, information required for the second wireless signaling connection;

pass the information required for the second wireless signaling connection from the first subscription entity to the second subscription entity; and

establish, using the information required for the second wireless signaling connection, the second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription.

2. The user device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user device further to use a random access procedure when establishing the first wireless signaling connection.

3. The user device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user device further to:

send a request for a signaling radio bearer as the request for establishing the second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription entity in a medium access control, MAC, level control element or in a buffer status report to an access node in the cell, the access node providing a first radio link between the access node and the first subscription entity, the first radio link being part of the first wireless signaling connection;

receive, as the information required for the second wireless signaling connection, a radio network temporary identifier in a MAC level control element; wherein the causing establishing the second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription comprises:

monitor, by the second subscription entity, downlink MAC level control elements to detect a control element comprising the radio network temporary identifier, the control element providing an uplink grant for the second subscription entity in resources of the first wireless signaling connection;

send, in response to detecting the control element, a radio resource control, RRC, connection set up request from the second subscription entity using the resources indicated in the uplink grant;

establish an RRC connection between the access node and the second subscription entity, the RRC connection being a second radio link that is part of the second wireless signaling connection; and

establish a mobility control, MC, connection between the second subscription entity and a node in a core network of the network, the MC connection being the second wireless signaling connection comprising the second radio link.

4. The user device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user device further to:

send, by the second subscription entity, as the indication, a radio resource control, RRC, connection request;

send, over the first wireless signaling connection, to an access node in a cell, the access node providing a first radio link between the access node and the first subscription entity, the first radio link being part of the first wireless signaling connection, an RRC message requesting an uplink resource for a signaling radio bearer, SRB;

encapsulate, in response to receiving indication of the uplink resource, by the first subscription entity, the RRC connection request within an SRB message;

send in the uplink resource the request for establishing the second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription entity encapsulated in the SRB message to the access node;

receive, as the information required for the second wireless signaling connection, a radio network temporary identifier; wherein the causing establishing the second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription comprises:

monitor, by the second subscription entity, downlink control signaling to detect a message comprising the radio network temporary identifier and indicating resources allocated for the second subscription entity in a second radio link that is part of the second wireless signaling connection;

send, in response to detecting the message, an RRC setup completed message to the access node using the resources in the second radio link; and

establish a mobility control, MC, connection between the second subscription entity and a node in a core network of the network, the MC connection being the second wireless signaling connection comprising the second radio link.

5. The user device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user device further to, when the first subscription is in the connected state and the second subscription has transitioned from the connected state to an inactive state:

send, by the second subscription entity in the inactive state to the first subscription entity as the indication a resumption indication that the second subscription entity wants to resume the second wireless signaling connection to transit from an inactive state to a connected state; and

send, in response to the first subscription entity receiving from the second subscription entity the resumption indication, using the first wireless signaling connection, a resume request as the request for the second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription entity.

6. The user device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user device further to:

determine, whether the network supports the use of the first wireless signaling connection to request establishment of the second wireless signaling connection, based on information received in broadcast from the network; and

send, by the first subscription entity, the information that the first wireless signaling connection exists, in response to the network supporting the use.

7. The user device according to claim 1 , wherein the subscription entities are universal subscriber identity modules.

8. An apparatus comprising

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

sending, in response to receiving from a user device an inquiry, whether the apparatus supports a use of a first wireless signaling connection to request establishment of a second wireless signaling connection, a response indicating support for the use;

receiving, over the first wireless signaling connection to a first subscription entity in the user device, information indicating a request for establishing the second wireless signaling connection to a second subscription entity in the user device;

generating network information required for the second wireless signaling connection;

sending the network information over the first wireless signaling connection to the first subscription entity;

sending downlink information comprising the network information; and

establishing the second wireless signaling connection with the second subscription entity.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first wireless signaling connection is a radio resource control, RRC, connection and the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform:

receiving the information in a medium access control, MAC, level control element or in a buffer status report;

sending, as the network information, in a MAC level control element, a temporary identifier to the second wireless signaling connection,

wherein the establishing comprises:

receiving an RRC connection request from the second subscription entity;

accepting the RRC connection request; and

establishing a second RRC connection as the second wireless signaling connection.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first wireless signaling connection is a radio resource control, RRC, connection and the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform:

receiving the information as an RRC connection request encapsulated within a signaling radio bearer, SRB, message;

sending, as the network information, a temporary identifier to the second wireless signaling connection; and

sending, as the downlink information, an RRC connection setup message comprising the radio network temporary identifier,

wherein the second wireless signaling connection is a second RRC connection.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform broadcasting information, whether the apparatus supports a use of the first wireless signaling connection to request establishment of the second wireless signaling connection.

12. A method for a user device having at least two different subscription entities, the method comprising:

establishing a first wireless signaling connection to a network for a first subscription entity when transitioning from an idle state to a connected state;

sending to the network an inquiry, whether the network supports a use of the first wireless signaling connection to request establishment of a second wireless signaling connection;

sending, by the first subscription entity in response to a response to the inquiry indicating that the network supports the use, at least to a second subscription entity among the at least two different subscription entities in the user device information that the first wireless signaling connection exists;

sending, by the second subscription entity in an idle state, in response to the information, to the first subscription entity an indication that the second subscription entity wants to establish a wireless signaling connection to transit from an idle state to a connected state;

sending, in response to the first subscription entity receiving from the second subscription entity the indication, using the first wireless signaling connection, a request for establishing a second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription entity;

receiving, by the first subscription entity, from the network, information required for the second wireless signaling connection;

passing the information required for the second wireless signaling connection from the first subscription entity to the second subscription entity; and

establishing, using the information required for the second wireless signaling connection, the second wireless signaling connection for the second subscription.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (34)