System and method of dual-SIM UEs operation in 5G networks
Many commercially deployed devices support more than one SIM cards. Support for multi-USIM is currently handled in an implementation-specific manner without any support from 3GPP specifications. With the increased complexity of 5G-capable UEs and with growing demand for multi-USIM devices in the market, it becomes important to consider system enhancements that would allow for more efficient solution involving required support to UE from 5G core and 5G-RAN.
1. A method performed by a User Equipment (UE) comprising a plurality of Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), the method comprising:
transmitting to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) apparatus, in a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, first information indicating a Multi-SIM capability of the UE; and
receiving, from the AMF apparatus, in a second NAS message, second information including a Multi-SIM related value, based on the first information and a Multi-SIM feature supported by network,
wherein the Multi-SIM related value is configured to indicate whether the Multi-SIM capability of the UE indicated by the first information is also supported by the network.
2. A method performed by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving, from a User Equipment (UE) comprising a plurality of Subscriber Identify Modules (SIMs), in a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, first information indicating a Multi-SIM capability of the UE; and
sending, to the UE, in a second NAS message, second information including a Multi-SIM related value, based on the first information and a Multi-SIM feature supported by network,
wherein the Multi-SIM related value is configured to indicate whether the Multi-SIM capability of the UE indicated by the first information is also supported by the network.
3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores computer executable instructions that cause, when executed by one or more computers, the one or more computers to:
received, from a User Equipment (UE) comprising a plurality of Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), in a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, first information indicating a Multi-SIM capability of the UE; and
send, to the UE, in a second NAS message, second information including a Multi-SIM related value, based on the first information and a Multi-SIM feature supported by network,
wherein the Multi-SIM related value is configured to indicate whether the Multi-SIM capability of the UE indicated by the first information is also supported by the network.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first NAS message is a registration request message, and the second NAS message is a registration accept message.
5. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:
determining whether the Multi-SIM capability of the UE indicated by the first information is also supported by the network, based on the Multi-SIM feature supported by the network.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first NAS message is a registration request message, and the second NAS message is a registration accept message.
7. A User Equipment (UE) comprising a plurality of Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), the UE comprising:
at least one memory storing instruction, and
at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
transmit, to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) apparatus, in a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, first information indicating a Multi-SIM capability of the UE; and
receive, from the AMF apparatus, in a second NAS message, second information including a Multi-SIM related value, based on the first information and a Multi-SIM feature supported by network,
wherein the Multi-SIM related value is configured to indicate whether the Multi-SIM capability of the UE indicated by the first information is also supported by the network.
8. The UE according to claim 7 , wherein the first NAS message is a registration request message, and the second NAS message is a registration accept message.
9. An Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) apparatus, the AMF apparatus comprising:
at least one memory storing instructions, and
at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
receive, from a User Equipment (UE) comprising a plurality of Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), in a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, first information indicating a Multi-SIM capability of the UE; and
send, to the UE, in a second NAS message, second information including a Multi-SIM related value, based on the first information and a Multi-SIM feature supported by network,
wherein the Multi-SIM related value is configured to indicate whether the Multi-SIM capability of the UE indicated by the first information is also supported by the network.
10. The AMF apparatus according to claim 9 , the at least one processor configured to further execute the instructions to:
determine whether the Multi-SIM capability of the UE indicated by the first information is also supported by the network, based on the Multi-SIM feature supported by the network.
11. The AMF apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first NAS message is a registration request message, and the second NAS message is a registration accept message.