US 12,587,828 B2 · Managing multiple subscriber identities in cellular network

Abstract

This document discloses a solution for sharing information on subscriber identifiers in a network. According to an aspect, a method comprises: storing, in a mobility management node, at least two subscriber identifiers; and transmitting, by the mobility management node to a target network node during setup of a bearer for a first subscriber identifier of the at least two subscriber identifiers, a message comprising at least a second subscriber identifier of the at least two subscriber identifiers.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims8

Dependent claims

An apparatus for a mobility management node that is an access and mobility management function (AMF) in a 5G system controlling a plurality of access nodes, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
and
at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
store a record for a terminal device in a subscriber identifier database maintained by the AMF, the record comprising at least two subscriber identifiers, the at least two subscriber identifiers comprising a first subscriber identifier and a second subscriber identifier, wherein the second subscriber identifier is associated with a radio resource control (RRC) connection in an idle state, an inactive state, or a connected state, and wherein the record further stores (i) an equipment identifier for the terminal device, and (ii) an identifier of an access node currently serving the second subscriber identifier;
receive, from an access node of the plurality of access nodes, over an NG interface using NGAP, a handover required message requesting a handover procedure for the first subscriber identifier that is internal to the AMF;
receive, from a target network node that is under control of the AMF and before a setup of a bearer for the first subscriber identifier has been initiated, a setup message comprising at least one information element indicating that the target network node accepts information on multiple subscriber identifiers;
and
based on the handover required request message and the setup message, transmit, to the target network node during the setup of the bearer as part of the handover procedure, a further handover request message to the target network node, the further handover request message comprising:
the second subscriber identifier encoded in an information element;
at least one equipment identifier for the terminal device, the equipment identifier being included together with the information element in the handover request message;
and
a data structure defining a mapping of the first subscriber identifier and the second subscriber identifier to the at least one equipment identifier, the mapping indicating which equipment identifier is currently used by each subscriber identifier and an identifier of an access node serving the second subscriber identifier.

9 more elements

An apparatus for a network node comprising:

at least one processor;
and
at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to a mobility management node before a setup of a bearer has been initiated, a setup message comprising an information element indicating that the apparatus accepts information on multiple subscriber identifiers;
based on the setup message, receive, by the network node from the mobility management node controlling a plurality of access nodes, a handover message during the setup of the bearer for a first subscriber identifier, the handover message comprising at least a second subscriber identifier different from the first subscriber identifier, at least one equipment identifier, and a data structure defining a mapping of the first subscriber identifier and the second subscriber identifier to the at least one equipment identifier, wherein the second subscriber identifier is associated with a radio resource control (RRC) connection in an idle state, an inactive state, or a connected state;
store, by the network node, the first subscriber identifier, the second subscriber identifier, the at least one equipment identifier, and the data structure;
and
perform, by the network node, at least one procedure using the second subscriber identifier, wherein the at least one procedure is a paging procedure, and wherein performing the paging procedure comprises reducing a paging area for the second subscriber identifier based on a location associated with the first subscriber identifier.

5 more elements

A method comprising:

storing, in a mobility management node a record for a terminal device in a subscriber identifier database maintained by an access and mobility management function (AMF), the record comprising at least two subscriber identifiers, the at least two subscriber identifiers comprising a first subscriber identifier and a second subscriber identifier, wherein the second subscriber identifier is associated with a radio resource control (RRC) connection in an idle state, an inactive state, or a connected state, and wherein the record further stores (i) an equipment identifier for the terminal device, and (ii) an identifier of an access node currently serving the second subscriber identifier;
receiving, from an access node of a plurality of access nodes, over an NG interface using NGAP, a handover required message requesting a handover procedure for the first subscriber identifier that is internal to the AMF;
receiving, from a target network node that is under control of the AMF and before a setup of a bearer for the first subscriber identifier has been initiated, a setup message comprising at least one information element indicating that the target network node accepts information on multiple subscriber identifiers;
and
based on the handover request message and the setup message, transmitting, by the mobility management node to the target network node during the setup of the bearer as part of the handover procedure, a further handover request message comprising:
the second subscriber identifier encoded in an information element;
at least one equipment identifier for the terminal device, the equipment identifier being included together with the information element in the handover request message;
and
a data structure defining a mapping of the first subscriber identifier and the second subscriber identifier to the at least one equipment identifier, the mapping indicating which equipment identifier is currently used by each subscriber identifier and an identifier of an access node serving the second subscriber identifier.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description11,124 words

Summary1,559 words

#This application was originally filed as PCT Application No. PCT/FI2021/050462, filed on Jun. 17, 2021, which claims priority from FI application No. 20205757, filed on Jul. 17, 2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

#Various embodiments described herein relate to the field of cellular communications and, particularly, to radio access network operations related to terminal devices having multiple subscriber identities.

#Terminal devices or user equipment (UE) of cellular communication systems have been capable of supporting multiple subscriber identities for a long time. A subscriber identity is typically realized by a subscriber identifier such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a unique subscription permanent identifier (SUPI). The subscriber identifier may be stored in a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) or a similar module. This module may comprise of hardware and/or software components. A terminal device may operate multiple subscriber identities in parallel and independently, depending on the hardware and/or software configuration of the terminal device. Some (even a plurality) of the subscriber identities may have an active radio resource connection in operation while some of the subscriber identities may be in an idle state.

Brief description of the drawings9 figures

#Embodiments are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

#FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate wireless communication scenarios to which some embodiments of the invention may be applied;

#FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate some embodiments for sharing multiple subscriber identifiers of a terminal device between network nodes;

Detailed description9,373 words

#The following embodiments are examples. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words “comprising” and “including” should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may contain also features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned.

#In the following, different exemplifying embodiments will be described using, as an example of an access architecture to which the embodiments may be applied, a radio access architecture based on long term evolution advanced (LTE Advanced, LTE-A) or new radio (NR, 5G), without restricting the embodiments to such an architecture, however. A person skilled in the art will realize that the embodiments may also be applied to other kinds of communications networks having suitable means by adjusting parameters and procedures appropriately. Some examples of other options for suitable systems are the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or E-UTRAN), long term evolution (LTE, the substantially same as E-UTRA), wireless local area network (WLAN or WiFi), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Bluetooth®, personal communications services (PCS), ZigBee®, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), systems using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) and Internet Protocol multimedia subsystems (IMS) or any combination thereof.

#FIG. 1 depicts examples of simplified system architectures showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units, whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in FIG. 1 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the system typically comprises also other functions and structures than those shown in FIG. 1.

Facts

Application

18/005,128Filed 17 Jun 2021

Priority

FI 2020575717 Jul 2020

Published

US 2023/0262563 A117 Aug 2023

Granted

24 Mar 2026

Term ends

18 Dec 2042

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 549 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

H04W 8/20
Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data: transfer…
H04W 36/0069
Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link: in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink
H04W 8/183
Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data:…
H04W 36/385
By fixed network equipment: of the core network

Timeline

17 Jul 2020Priority claimedFI 20205757
17 Jun 2021Application filedUS 18/005,128
23 Jan 2023Assigned to Nokia Solutions and Networks Oyassignment of assignor's interest
17 Aug 2023PublishedUS 2023/0262563 A1
24 Mar 2026GrantedUS 12,587,828 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
18 Dec 2042Term endsEstimated, includes 549 days of adjustment

Managing multiple subscriber identities in cellular network

Life of this patent

Managing multiple subscriber identities in cellular network

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims8

Description11,124 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description11,124 words