Assignment of a second ue identity to regulate paging timing of a ue for a wireless network

Abstract

A method includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity associated with a first paging timing; and receiving, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes to adjust the paging timing from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

Description

[0001] CLAIM

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 814,792, entitled “ASSIGNMENT OF A SECOND UE IDENTITY TO ADJUST PAGING TIMING FOR UE FOR WIRELESS NETWORK” filed on March 6, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present specification relates to wireless communication. BACKGROUND

[0004] A communication system can be a facility that enables communication between two or more nodes or devices such as fixed or mobile communication devices. Signals can be carried on wired or wireless carriers.

[0005] One example of a cellular communication system is the architecture standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). A recent development in this field is the Long Term Evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio access technology. E-UTRA (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) is the air interface of 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile networks upgrade path. In LTE, base stations or access points (APs), which are referred to as enhanced Node B (eNB), provide wireless access to user equipments (UE) within a coverage area or cell. In LTE, mobile devices or mobile stations are referred to as User Equipment (UE). There are ongoing efforts in improving LTE, leading e.g. to LTE-Advanced (LTE-A).

[0006] 5G New Radio (NR) development is part of a continuous mobile broadband evolution promting to meet the 5G requirements with respect to improved services such as higher data rates, lower latency, and higher reliability. In addition, 5G is also expected to extend the mobile broadband capabilities to a very large number of new and diverse devices and applications, not just smartphones. 5G NR can also provide a more spectrum and SUMMARY

[0007] According to an example embodiment, a method can comprise receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; receiving, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes to adjust a paging timing from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

[0008] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus can comprise means for receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; and means for receiving, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes to adjust a paging timing from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

[0009] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus can comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; and receive, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes to adjust a paging timing from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

[0010] According to an example embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform a method comprising: receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; and receiving, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes to adjust a paging timing from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

[0011] According to an example embodiment, a method can comprise determining that a first paging timing, associated with a first UE identity assigned to a first user equipment, is misaligned or occurs at a different time than a second paging timing, associated with a second UE identity assigned to a second user equipment; and sending a message to the first user equipment to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment for at least paging or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing; wherein the third paging timing is aligned or occurs at the same time as the second paging timing.

[0012] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus can comprise means for determining that a first paging timing, associated with a first UE identity assigned to a first user equipment, is misaligned or occurs at a different time than a second paging timing, associated with a second UE identity assigned to a second user equipment; and means for sending a message to the first user equipment to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment for at least paging or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing, wherein the third paging timing is aligned or occurs at the same time as the second paging timing.

[0013] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus can comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine that a first paging timing, associated with a first UE identity assigned to a first user equipment, is misaligned or occurs at a different time than a second paging timing, associated with a second UE identity assigned to a second user equipment; and send a message to the first user equipment to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment for at least paging or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing; wherein the third paging timing is aligned or occurs at the same time as the second paging timing.

[0014] According to an example embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform a method of determining that a first paging timing, associated with a first UE identity assigned to a first user equipment, is misaligned or occurs at a different time than a second paging timing, associated with a second UE identity assigned to a second user equipment; and sending a message to the first user equipment to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment for at least paging or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing; wherein the third paging timing is aligned or occurs at the same time as the second paging timing.

[0015] The details of one or more examples of the embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network in accordance with example embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating two UE identities experiencing a collision (or alignment) between paging occasions in accordance with example embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating three UE identities with paging occasions distributed in time.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a distribution of paging occasions for a plurality of user equipment in accordance with example embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating operations of a user equipment in accordance with example embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating operations of a network entity in accordance with example embodiments.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a wireless station (e.g., an AP, BS, gNB, UE, or user equipment, or other network node) in accordance with example embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network 130 in accordance with example embodiments. In FIG. 1 In the wireless network 130 of FIG. 1, user equipment 131, 132, 133, and 135, which can also be referred to as mobile stations (MS) or user equipment (UE), can connect with (and communicate with) a base station (BS) 134, which can also be referred to as an access point (AP), an enhanced NodeB (eNB), or a network node. At least a portion of the functionality of an access point (AP), base station (BS), or (e)NodeB (eNB) can also be performed by any node, server, or host operably coupled to a transceiver, such as a remote radio head. The BS (or AP) 134 provides wireless coverage in a cell 136, including wireless coverage for the user equipment 131, 132, 133, and 135. While only four user equipment (or UEs) are shown as connected or attached to the BS 134, any number of user equipment can be provided. The BS 134 is also connected to a core network 150 via an S1 interface 151. This is only one simple example of a wireless network, and other examples can be used.

[0024] User equipment (user terminal, user equipment (UE)) can refer to a portable computing device that includes a wireless mobile communication device operating with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: a mobile station (MS), a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handset, a device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), a laptop and / or touch screen computer, a tablet, a phablet, a game console, a notebook, a vehicle, a sensor, and a multimedia device (as examples) or any other wireless device. It should be appreciated that a user equipment can also be a nearly exclusive uplink only device, an example of which is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network.

[0025] In LTE (as an example), the core network 150 can be referred to as an evolved packet core (EPC), which can include a mobility management entity (MME) that can handle or assist mobility / handover between user equipment and one or more gateways that can forward data and control signals between the BSs, packet data networks or the Internet, and other control functions or blocks.

[0026] Furthermore, as illustrative examples, the various example embodiments or techniques described herein can be applied to various types of user equipment or data service types, or can be applied to user equipment on which multiple applications can be running that can have different data service types. New radio (5G) development can support multiple different applications or multiple different data service types, such as: machine type communication (MTC), enhanced machine type communication (eMTC), Internet of Things (IoT), and / or narrowband IoT user equipment, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC).

[0027] IoT can refer to a growing group of objects that can have Internet or network connectivity, so the objects can send information to and receive information from other network devices. For example, many sensor type applications or devices can monitor physical conditions or states, and can send reports to a server or other network device, such as when an event occurs. Machine type communication (MTC or machine-to-machine communication) can feature full automation of data generation, exchange, processing, and driving between intelligent machines with or without human intervention. Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) can support much higher data rates than are currently available in LTE.

[0028] Ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) is a new data service type or new usage scenario that can be supported by new radio (5G) systems. This enables emerging new applications and services, such as industrial automation, autonomous driving, vehicle safety, e-health services, etc. As an illustrative example, 3GPP targets to provide connectivity with reliability corresponding to a block error rate (BLER) of 10 -5 -3 and a user plane (U-plane) latency of up to 1 ms. Thus, for example, a URLLC user equipment / UE can need a significantly lower block error rate and low latency (with or without a simultaneous high reliability requirement) than other types of user equipment / UEs. Thus, for example, a URLLC UE (or URLLC application running on a UE) can need a shorter latency than an eMBB UE (or eMBB application running on a UE).

[0029] Various example embodiments can apply to a variety of wireless technologies or wireless networks, such as LTE, LTE-A, 5G, cmWave and / or mmWave band networks, IoT, MTC, eMTC, eMBB, URLLC, etc., or any other wireless network or wireless technology. These example networks, technologies or data service types are provided as illustrative examples only.

[0030] Packet data traffic is typically bursty, such as an occasional transmission activity period followed by a longer quiet period. Rather than having a UE continuously monitor a downlink channel for downlink data (which would consume a significant amount of UE power), the UE can use discontinuous reception (DRX) to reduce power consumption. According to example embodiments, monitoring can include receiving downlink control information on a channel and determining whether one or more particular signals have been received on the channel. For example, monitoring can include receiving downlink control information on a channel and determining whether one or more particular signals have been received indicating a presence of downlink data on a downlink data channel or a presence of an UL transmission grant for use of an uplink data channel.

[0031] According to DRX, a UE monitors downlink control signaling for paging messages only at certain times (e.g., according to a paging timing of the UE, or according to a DRX period of the UE), such as every 100 ms or other paging timing (e.g., a paging timing defines or determines paging occasions at which a paging message can be received by the UE). Thus, for example, a paging cycle (or DRX cycle) can be defined for a UE in which the UE can sleep (e.g., place one or more of its circuits, or its receiver and / or transmitter, in an off or low power state) most of the time and only briefly wake up (power up its circuits, receiver and / or transmitter) to monitor or receive downlink control signaling to determine whether the network (e.g., CN) has downlink data to transmit to the UE.

[0032] For example, upon waking up from a sleep or low power state, the UE can monitor (e.g., receive and / or decode) downlink control information (DCI) on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for the presence of a paging message, e.g., which can be information encrypted by a paging identifier, such as information encrypted with a paging radio network temporary identifier (P-RNTI), as an example. The presence of the paging message (e.g., which can be information encrypted with the P-RNTI, for example) indicates that the network can have downlink data for delivery to the UE. For example, if the UE detects the paging message (e.g., detects the P-RNTI) on the DCI, the UE can receive (decode) additional control information (e.g., within resources or resource blocks indicated by the paging message) to determine whether its UE identity is indicated or provided in the additional control information. If the UE finds its UE identity, this indicates that the core network has downlink data for delivery (transmission) to the UE. After detecting its UE identity, the UE can perform a random access (RA or RACH) procedure with the cell or BS (or eNB / gNB) to establish a connection with the cell (to transition the UE to a connected state), and then the UE can receive the downlink data from the core network via the cell. After receiving the downlink data (and possibly transmitting any data it can need to transmit), the UE can then re-enter or resume a sleep state or low power state, e.g., a DRX sleep state in RRC CONNECTED (RRC connected), a DRX sleep state in RRC IDLE (RRC idle) state or RRC INACTIVE (RRC inactive) state, as illustrative examples, where RRC refers to radio resource control, for example, and remain in that sleep state until the next occasion (e.g., as indicated by a DRX cycle in terms of paging pattern or PDCCH monitoring pattern for the UE) at which the UE needs to wake up from sleep (e.g., power up its receiver and other circuitry) again and check for a paging or scheduling message, e.g., on downlink control information.

[0033] The paging pattern can include or can indicate one or more times (moments) at which the UE should wake up from sleep and check for a paging message, and then, e.g., if a paging message is detected, check for its UE identity in a resource block or channel.

[0034] Thus, paging is a network technology that can be used to contact a UE in case downlink traffic is to be delivered or transmitted to the UE. For RRC_Idle and / or RRC_Inactive UEs, this is typically implemented as a paging mechanism where the network and the UE have a common understanding of how and when the UE shall monitor the channel for paging message(s) from the network (core network). According to example embodiments, in order to have a statistical distribution of UEs in time domain, the time instant at which a UE shall listen or monitor for a paging message can be distributed by an algorithm that defines a UE paging frame as a combination function of UE (UE unique or UE specific, at least within the network) identity and system timing. For LTE, the paging frame can be a radio frame in which a UE shall listen for a paging message, and according to the configuration, the UE can also be assigned (still from the UE_ID) a subframe within the paging frame. The eNB / BS can control the number and / or distribution of UEs in time domain / resource domain by configuring paging related DRX parameters. This procedure can be similar for NR / 5G, and an inactive (e.g., RRC_Inactive) UE can listen or monitor for a channel for CN paging (computed using an NR equivalent IMSI called 5G-S-TMSI) and RAN paging (using RRC_Inactive RNTI: I-RNTI). Furthermore, in NR (5G), when multiple beams are used for paging transmission, a paging occasion (PO) can include a set of PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) monitoring occasions - one for each beam - and these PDCCH monitoring occasions are assigned in time. For these reasons, the table-based PO (paging occasion) configuration mechanism of LTE has been replaced in NR / 5G by a pagingSearchSpace (paging search space) based mechanism. These are just some illustrative examples of how a UE can determine or find its paging timing, such as its PF and PO. Furthermore, these are some illustrative examples of UE identities that can be used for a UE.

[0035] Thus, according to illustrative example embodiments, a UE can determine its paging timing by determining a paging frame (PF) in which (at which time) the UE shall monitor for a paging message and one or more paging occasions (POs) within the PF. According to example embodiments, a paging frame (PF) can contain one or more POs. According to example embodiments, a paging timing (e.g., which can be or can include a paging frame (PF) and / or a paging occasion (PO)) indicating when a UE shall monitor for a downlink control information for a paging message can be determined based on a UE identity (e.g., UE_ID) of the UE.

[0036] As noted, according to illustrative example embodiments, a UE can use discontinuous reception (DRX) in RRC IDLE and RRC INACTIVE states to reduce power consumption. For example, a UE can monitor (e.g., receive a downlink signal to detect a paging message) one or more paging occasions (POs) per DRX cycle. A PO can include a set of PDCCH monitoring occasions and / or can include a number of slots (e.g., subframes or OFDM symbols) in which a paging message can be transmitted to the UE. Further, for example, a paging frame (PF) can be a radio frame and can include one or more POs or the start of a PO. The same paging message can be used for both RAN (radio access network or BS) initiated paging and CN initiated paging.

[0037] As an illustrative example, according to Equation 1, a paging timing, e.g., a PF, can be determined based on a UE’s UE_ID. The SFN (system frame number) of a PF can be determined for a UE based on Equation 1 as follows:

[0038] SFN + PF_offset) mod T = (T div N)*(UE_ID mod N); (Equation 1)

[0039] An index (i_s) indicates the start of a set of PDCCH (physical downlink control channel 0 monitoring occasions for a paging message) and is determined by:

[0040] i_s = floor(UE_ID / N) mod Ns

[0041] For a default association, Ns is 1 or 2. For Ns = 1, there is only one PO starting in the PF. For Ns = 2, the PO is in the first half frame (i_s = 0) or the second half frame (i_s = 1) of the PF.

[0042] For a non-default association (i.e., when paging-SearchSpace is used), the UE monitors the (i_s + 1)th PO, where the first PO starts in the PF.

[0043] Some example parameters can be used to determine a PF and a PO based on Equation 1. T: DRX cycle of the UE. N: total number of paging frames in T; Ns: number of paging occasions of a PF; PF_offset: offset used for PF determination; UE_ID: UE identifier, e.g., such as 5G-S-TMSI (S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity) mod 1024.

[0044] The parameters N, Ns, first-PDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO, PF_offset, and the length of the default DRX cycle can be transmitted or signaled by the BS / gNB within system information, such as within SIB1. Further, other techniques can be used to determine the paging timing of the UE.

[0045] In normal UE operation in current networks, a UE will have a "hard-coded" (or static or fixed) UE (UE-specific) identity facing the core network. As one example, a UE can be assigned a fixed or static International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a fixed or static (5G or NR) Temporary Mobile Subscription Identifier (TMSI). The UE can use the IMSI in LTE and the 5G-S-TMSI in 5G / New Radio (NR) to determine the paging timing (e.g., paging frame (PF)) of the UE, e.g., to indicate the exact time at which the UE should monitor the network signaling (e.g., downlink control information) for a paging message. For example, the UE identifier can be converted (or used) by the UE by an equation such as Equation 1 to calculate or determine the paging frame (e.g., paging timing) of the UE. One function of the existing paging mechanism is to assign all devices connected to the network in a statistically fair manner, such that the probability of having a given load on the available network resources (e.g., paging frames) is equal. This mechanism provides a direct mapping when considering UEs with a single identity and without the need for network or UE control of the loading of the available resources.

[0046] Some examples of UE (UE-specific) identities can include an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a (5G or NR) Temporary Mobile Subscription Identifier (TMSI). These are some examples of UE-specific (e.g., different UE identities assigned to each UE within the network) UE identities, and other (UE-specific) UE identities can be used.

[0047] Accordingly, according to example embodiments, the paging timing of a UE can be associated with the UE identity (e.g., IMSI, TMSI, or other UE identity) assigned to the UE. For example, Equation 1 describes an example technique that can be used by a UE to determine the paging timing (e.g., PF) associated with its UE identity. As described above, the paging timing can indicate the time at which the UE monitors or receives (or should monitor or receive) the downlink control information for a paging message, and / or the paging timing can indicate the time at which a paging message can be transmitted to the UE. In current networks, the paging timing of a UE will be fixed or static based on the fixed or static UE identity (e.g., fixed TMSI, IMSI) of the UE.

[0048] However, there can be situations or applications where it can be advantageous to change or adjust the paging timing of the UE, according to example embodiments. Thus, according to example embodiments, the UE can be able to acquire an adjusted or different paging timing via assignment of an additional or another (or second) UE identity that is different from the first or initial UE identity assigned to the UE. According to illustrative example embodiments, the UE can be assigned a first UE identity associated with a first paging timing. The UE can then be assigned a second UE identity (different from the first UE identity) associated with a second paging timing that is different from the first paging timing, where the second or additional UE identity can be used at least for paging purposes. Thus, use of the second or additional UE identity (at least for paging) results in a change in paging timing or time(s) at which the UE will monitor for downlink control information for paging messages.

[0049] For example, the UE can detect a need for a different paging timing and then send a request to the BS or CN for another (or second) UE identity associated with the different paging timing. For example, the UE can be assigned two UE identities, e.g., each UE identity associated with (or assigned by) a different network or different network operator having the same (or aligned) paging timing (e.g., the UE can need to monitor for or receive downlink signaling from two different networks or network operators for different paging messages that can be transmitted on different frequency resources). However, the UE typically cannot monitor for or receive downlink control signals for paging messages from different networks (e.g., a first network and a second network) or different network operators at the same time, as the UE typically includes only one receiver. Thus, in the case where the paging occasions for the two UE identities conflict (or are aligned), it can be necessary to adjust (e.g., offset or unalign) the paging timing of the UE for one of the networks or network operators so that the UE can monitor for or receive downlink control information for the two networks or network operators separately (at different times), e.g., which can be on different frequency resources. Thus, in this case, the UE can send a request to one of the networks to request assignment of a third UE identity to the UE for at least paging purposes, e.g., in order to adjust the paging timing of the UE for that network so that the paging timing of the UE will be at least slightly unaligned (not conflict) with respect to the paging timing of the first network and the second network.

[0050] As another illustrative example, it can be advantageous to align (or synchronize) the paging timing (e.g., PF) for each of a plurality or group of UEs that can have some common application or common characteristic or property (e.g., a group of UEs receiving a certain type of data, or having the same UE type, or having the same UE / mobile phone manufacturer or model). In this case, the CN can send a different UE identity to each (or some) of these UEs that can be designed to provide the same paging timing (e.g., same PF). For example, based on Equation 1, a number of different UE identities can be selected (and assigned to UEs within the group of UEs) that results in a mapping or association to the same PF or paging timing (due to the modulo operation in Equation 1, allowing many UE identities to map to the same PF or paging timing).

[0051] In certain cases, when using the second (or other or additional) UE identity for paging purposes, the UE can continue to use the first (or primary) UE identity for one or more other (e.g., non-paging) purposes, such as requesting or obtaining security keys, authentication, performing random access or establishing a connection, and / or other UE functions.

[0052] These are just a few examples of when the paging timing of a UE can be changed or adjusted via assignment of a second or another UE identity. Other examples and additional details are described herein.

[0053] According to example embodiments, a method can include receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity associated with a first paging timing; receiving, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes, to adjust the paging timing from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

[0054] The method can further include transmitting, by the user equipment, a request to adjust the paging timing for the user equipment to be different from the first paging timing via the assignment of the second UE identity to the user equipment. The method can further include determining, by the user equipment, the second paging timing based on the second UE identity.

[0055] According to example embodiments, the request can include (or can indicate) timing information on which the second UE identity is based, the timing information including at least one of: a time of a paging instance for which the user equipment is requested; a time of a paging instance for which the user equipment is requested, where the requested time of the paging instance is indicated as an offset with respect to a system frame number or an offset relative to a system frame number; the requested UE identity; and the requested UE identity indicated by an offset relative to the first UE identity.

[0056] The method can further include monitoring a wireless channel based on the second UE identity or based on the second paging timing (e.g., which can include receiving or decoding a signal on the wireless channel, and / or detecting whether a particular signal has been received on the wireless channel). For example, the method can further include at least one of: monitoring the wireless channel for a paging message based on the second UE identity rather than based on the first UE identity; monitoring the wireless channel for a paging message at a time based on the second paging timing associated with the second UE identity rather than based on the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity; monitoring, by the user equipment, the wireless channel for a downlink signal based on the second UE identity rather than based on the first UE identity; or monitoring, by the user equipment, the wireless channel for a downlink signal at a time based on the second paging timing rather than based on the first paging timing.

[0057] For example, the monitoring can include at least one of: monitoring, by the user equipment, a downlink control information at a time indicated by the second paging timing associated with the second UE identity to receive a paging message indicated by a group paging radio network temporary identifier associated with the cell; monitoring, by the user equipment, information indicated or encrypted by the second UE identity based on receiving a paging message indicated by a group paging radio network temporary identifier associated with the cell; or monitoring a power saving control signal or a wake-up signal based on the second UE identity, the power saving control signal or the wake-up signal being transmitted to the user equipment to cause the user equipment to wake up from a power saving state.

[0058] The method can further include receiving, by the user equipment, a downlink signal (such as can be a paging message, or other downlink signal) based on the second UE identity rather than based on the first UE identity. Alternatively, the user equipment receives a paging message based on the second UE identity rather than based on the first UE identity.

[0059] According to one example embodiment, based on the associated UE identity, both the first paging timing and the second paging timing can include a time of a paging instance when a paging message can be transmitted by a network or received by the user equipment.

[0060] According to one example embodiment, based on the associated UE identity, both the first paging timing and the second paging timing can include at least one of: a time of a paging instance when the paging message can be transmitted to or received by the user equipment; a paging frame indicating a time or a location when the paging message can be transmitted to or received by the user equipment; or a combination of: 1) a paging frame, and 2) a subframe or a paging occasion within the paging frame indicating a time or a location when the paging message can be transmitted to or received by the user equipment.

[0061] According to example embodiments, the first UE identity can be associated with a first wireless network operator or a first wireless network associated with a first public land mobile network identity or a first public land mobile network; and the second UE identity can be associated with a second wireless network operator different from the first wireless network operator or a second wireless network different from the first wireless network and associated with a second public land mobile network identity or a second public land mobile network.

[0062] According to another example embodiment, a method (which can be performed, for example, by a RAN node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB), a core network, and / or other network entities) can include determining that a first paging timing associated with a first UE identity assigned to a first user equipment and a second paging timing associated with a second UE identity assigned to a second user equipment are unaligned or occur at different times; and sending a message to the first user equipment to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment for at least paging or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing; wherein the third paging timing is aligned with or occurs at the same time as the second paging timing.

[0063] The method can further include sending a single paging or control message to both the first user equipment and the second user equipment at a time instance based on the alignment of the third paging timing with the second paging timing.

[0064] The method can further include sending, by a radio access network (RAN) node, a request to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment for at least paging or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing, to cause the third paging timing of the first user equipment to be aligned or occur at the same time in time domain as the second paging timing of the second user equipment.

[0065] According to example embodiments, various techniques are described that allow a UE to acquire or be assigned a second (or additional) UE identity to adjust or change its paging timing. The second UE identity can be used for one or more UE operations, such as receiving paging messages, and / or possibly receiving other downlink control information. In some example embodiments, a negotiation mechanism can be provided in which a UE can request an additional UE identity (e.g., a second UE identity), and can provide one or more timing information or timing parameters (e.g., a requested UE identity, or a requested paging timing, a requested UE identity (which can be indicated by an offset from a current UE identity, an offset from a current paging timing, etc.) to indicate or direct the network to assign an additional UE identity to the UE.

[0066] In another example embodiment, the network (e.g., a core network, a RAN node, or other network entity) can send an updated or additional UE identity to each of one or more UEs within the network, for example, without being requested by the UE, e.g., to adjust the paging timing of one or more of these UE(s). Thus, by the network remapping or re-assigning a UE to a different (e.g., additional or second) UE identity, the paging timing of the UE can be adjusted or changed. Moreover, in certain cases, with this assignment of a second or additional UE identity, the UE identity and / or the timing used by the UE to receive or monitor other types of downlink control signals (e.g., other than paging messages) can also be changed.

[0067] There can be a variety of example scenarios or example use cases in which the assignment of an additional UE identity, or the adjustment or change of a UE’s paging timing via the assignment of an additional (or second) UE identity, can be useful or advantageous.

[0068] Use cases (examples) 1A and 1B: Multiple UE ID operations in a single UE

[0069] According to illustrative example embodiments, a UE can be assigned multiple UE identifiers (e.g., multiple IMSIs or multiple TMSIs). These multiple UE identities can be associated with (or assigned by) the same network or network operator, or can be associated with (or assigned by) different networks or network operators. For example, a UE can have more than one active SIM card (e.g., each SIM card associated with a different UE identity, and each UE identity having different paging timing). As an illustrative example, a UE can support dual SIMs in idle mode (e.g., each SIM card can belong to or be associated with a different mobile / network operator). Due to the two SIM cards and two associated UE identities assigned to the UE, this means that the UE should monitor the paging channels of two networks associated with the different SIM cards (and possibly different frequency resources for the two different paging channels). This can allow the UE to monitor for paging messages from multiple (e.g., two) network (mobile) operators. According to example embodiments, one or more electronic SIM cards (eSIMs) (e.g., SIMs that can be electronically assigned to the UE and do not require a physical SIM card to be installed on the UE) can also be assigned to the UE. Other techniques can be provided or used to assign additional UE identities to the UE. For example, the UE can receive a virtual UE identity (e.g., a virtual IMSI) or other assigned UE identity (possibly associated or possibly not associated with a SIM card or eSIM). These are a few examples of how multiple UE identities can be assigned to a UE.

[0070] However, assigning multiple UE identities to one UE can result in one or more problems or challenges, including, for example: 1A) if the paging timing (e.g., paging occasions) are the same for the multiple UE identities assigned to the UE, then the monitoring of the paging channels for the multiple (e.g., two) UE identities can collide; and 1B) a significant time interval between the paging occasions (or paging timing) for the two UE identities of the UE can result in significant power consumption, as the UE can need to remain on or active for a long period of time (thus, delaying transitioning to a sleep or low power state), or the UE can need to be separately powered up to monitor for paging messages for both UE identities (resulting in additional power consumption, as this powering up of the circuitry of the UE is performed for each of the two UE identities). Reference is made below to FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 Briefly describe these two example use cases. Use case 1A is described with respect to FIG. 2 and use case 1B is described with respect to FIG. 3 as some illustrative example embodiments.

[0071] With respect to use case 1A, FIG. 2This is a diagram illustrating a conflict (or alignment) between two UE identifiers of a UE according to an example embodiment between paging times. For example, a first UE identifier (IMSI1) and a second UE identifier (IMSI2) may be assigned to the UE by different network (or mobile) operators. In this example, as... FIG. 2 As shown, the paging times (or paging timings) of IMSI1 conflict (occur simultaneously) with the paging times (or paging timings) of IMSI2 in the time domain. Therefore, in this example, the paging frames (PF) and paging timings (PO) or subframes for paging messages can be aligned (simultaneously provided) for IMSI1 and IMSI2. Typically, a UE can only monitor or receive signals from one network at a given time (e.g., because a UE typically has only one radio receiver). Therefore, in this example, the UE cannot simultaneously monitor the channel for paging messages for IMSI1 and IMSI2 (which may use different frequency resources). Better yet, the paging timings or paging times of the first UE identifier (IMSI1) and the second UE identifier are sufficiently offset or misaligned (separated or orthogonal) in time to allow the UE to monitor or receive paging messages for both the first UE identifier and the second UE identifier.

[0072] Therefore, to provide a time offset between the two identifiers, the UE can send a request to one of the network operators to adjust its paging timing via the assignment of an additional or second UE identifier. For example, the UE can send a request to the network associated with the IMSI2 assigned to the UE (e.g., core network, RAN node, or BS or other network entity) via the assignment of an additional or second UE identifier (virtual IMSI2 or V-IMSI2) to adjust the UE's paging timing to be different (and thus the UE's paging timing is different) from the paging timing associated with IMSI2. This request may include or indicate one or more timing information or timing parameters that the network can use to assign the additional or second UE identifier (V-IMSI2) to the UE. Some example timing information or timing parameters that may be included in the request may include, for example, the time of the requested paging instance for the UE (paging timing); the time of the requested paging instance, wherein the time of the paging instance is indicated by an offset relative to the paging time instance of the first UE identifier (e.g., an offset of x ms from paging time instance IMSI2), or indicated as an offset with respect to the system frame number (SFN); the requested UE identifier; the requested UE identifier indicated by an offset relative to the first UE identifier (e.g., an offset from IMSI2).

[0073] The network (e.g., the core network or other network entity) may receive a request from the UE to adjust the paging timing of the UE via the assignment of a second or additional UE identifier, and may determine the second or additional UE identifier ( FIG. 2V-IMSI2), e.g., based on indicated timing information or timing parameters that can have been provided in or with the request, e.g., based on Equation 1, or using other techniques. The network can then send a message to the UE indicating the additional or second UE identity (V-IMSI2) assigned to the UE, which can be used by the UE at least for paging purposes. For example, the UE can power up (transition from a sleep or low power state to an on or active state), monitor a channel for a paging signal for the first UE identity (IMSI1) (e.g., receive a signal on a downlink control channel and determine whether a particular signal has been received or is present on the channel, such as a P-RNTI or other paging message), then monitor the channel for a paging signal for the new or additional UE identity (V-IMSI2) having a paging occasion that is at least slightly offset or unaligned (orthogonal) in time from the paging occasion of the first UE identity (IMSI1), then transition back to a sleep or low power state. In this way, acquiring the additional UE identity can allow the UE to monitor the channel for paging messages for both (or multiple) UE identities.

[0074] The UE can use the additional or second UE identity (V-IMSI2) for all UE functions. Or, the UE can use the additional or second UE identity (V-IMSI2) for a limited set of functions (at least including for paging purposes), and can continue to use the first (or primary) UE identity (IMSI2) for other (non-paging) purposes, e.g., requesting or acquiring security keys, performing authentication, performing random access or establishing a connection, and / or other UE functions.

[0075] With respect to use case 1B, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing three UE identities with paging occasions distributed in time. As FIG. 3As shown, according to example embodiments, IMSI1, IMSI2, and IMSI3 (as examples of UE identities) can be assigned to the UE by network (or network operator) 1, network 2, and network 3, respectively, for example. As shown, the paging occasions for these three UE identities are significantly (e.g., greater than a threshold) distributed (or separated) in time. Due to this significant distribution or separation in time of the paging occasions for these three UE identities, each of these UE identities (IMSI1, IMSI2, and IMSI3) has (or needs to have) its own warm-up period before the respective paging occasion. According to example embodiments, the warm-up period can be a period of time for circuitry within the UE to turn on to allow the UE to transition from a sleep or inactive state to an on or active state, which takes time and power to turn on the UE circuitry. For example, due to this separation of the paging occasions, IMSI1 can have a warm-up period 312 before the paging occasion 314; IMSI2 can have a warm-up period 322 before the paging occasion 324; and IMSI3 can have a warm-up period 332 before the paging occasion 334. Thus, it can be considered inefficient for the UE to have three separate warm-up periods in order to monitor for paging messages for these three UE identities (IMSI1, IMSI2, and IMSI3). Thus, while the paging occasions for these three UE identities assigned to the UE do not collide (they are not aligned or separated in time), the separation or misalignment of these three paging occasions is greater than a threshold, and thus, can be considered inefficient.

[0076] Accordingly, according to example embodiments, the UE can request additional UE identities from network 2 and / or network 3, which are assigned to the UE as IMSI2 and IMSI3, in order to change the paging timing of the UE with respect to network 2 and network 3. For example, the UE can provide one or more timing parameters as part of its request for new or additional UE identities in order to obtain additional UE identities V-IMSI2, V-IMSI3 from network 2 and network 3, respectively, in order to more closely align the paging timing of the UE for IMSI1, V-IMSI2, and V-IMSI-3, for example, to allow for more energy efficient UE operation. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the UE can request V-IMSI2 and V-IMSI3 from network 2 and network 3, respectively, in order to more closely align the paging timing of the UE for IMSI1, V-IMSI2, and V-IMSI-3, for example, to allow for more energy efficient UE operation. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the UE can request V-IMSI2 and V-IMSI3 from network 2 and network 3, respectively, in order to more closely align the paging timing of the UE for IMSI1, V-IMSI2, and V-IMSI-3, for example, to allow for more energy efficient UE operation. FIG. 3As shown, the paging timing for IMSI1 and V-IMSI2 and V-IMSI3 can now include a common warm-up period 342 (for all three UE identities) and a paging monitoring period 344. The paging monitoring period can include a time period in which the UE can continuously monitor the (at 352, 354, and 356) channels for paging messages for each of the three UE identities, e.g., including the UE: at 352, tuning or adjusting its receiver to the channel of network 1, monitoring for a paging message from network 1 (e.g., receiving a signal and detecting the presence or absence of a paging message); at 354, tuning or adjusting its receiver to receive signals on the channel of network 2 and monitoring for a paging message from network 2; and at 356, tuning or adjusting its receiver to receive signals on the channel of network 3 and monitoring for a paging message from network 3. Thus, acquiring additional UE identities (e.g., V-IMSI2 and V-IMSI3) with paging occasions that are more closely aligned with the paging occasion associated with IMSI1 can result in more energy-efficient operation of the UE, e.g., because the UE can use a common warm-up period and then serially perform monitoring for paging messages for each of the UE identities (IMSI1, V-IMSI2, and V-IMSI3) on the channels, and then transition (e.g., via a common power-down period) again to a sleep or inactive state. Thus, according to example embodiments, the paging occasions for IMSI1, V-IMSI2, and V-IMSI3 can be only slightly misaligned to occur within a threshold period of time (e.g., misaligned or occurring at different times, such as 352, 354, and 356, but occurring within a threshold period of time) in order to provide more energy-efficient operation for the UE. Thus, this approach can allow the UE to transition once from an inactive or sleep state to an on or active state (including the circuit warm-up period 342), then continuously monitor for paging messages for each of these multiple UE identities for the channels, and then transition back to an inactive or sleep state until the next common warm-up period 360 before the three paging occasions.

[0077] Use case (or example) 2: Time alignment of paging for multiple UEs

[0078] With respect to use case 2, FIG. 4 is a graph showing the distribution of paging occasions for multiple user equipment according to example embodiments. In some cases, some networks can operate to ensure a statistically uniform distribution of UEs over available system resources, such as over available paging message resources, or other resources.

[0079] However, in certain cases it can be beneficial to introduce some control (e.g. by the network core network, or RAN node or other network entity) that allows for some control of the randomness of the paging resource assignment. Such control can be relevant in many scenarios or situations, e.g. it can be attractive for the radio access network to have alignment of a specific set of UEs that are monitoring specific system broadcast signaling or have a shared common time instant that they are trying to access the system. One implementation related to the first aspect would be the case where the network uses a specially designed broadcast information (where specially tailored system information is only available at a given time instant to reduce system / network overhead). For the latter aspect, it can cover the case where the base station is listening for specific signals on dedicated resources (e.g. random access attempts on specific beams). Whatever the specific reason for the need of the "access time instant" time alignment, in this illustrative example of use case 2, the idea here is that the network can coordinate the timing (or re-assignment of resources to one or more UEs) by different UE identities towards the UEs.

[0080] As another illustrative example, it can be beneficial to align (or synchronize) the paging timing (e.g. PF) for each of a plurality or set of UEs that can have some common application or common characteristic or property (e.g. a set of UEs receiving a specific type of data, or a set of UEs having the same UE type, or having the same UE / mobile phone manufacturer or model). In this case, the CN can send a different UE identity to each (or some) of these UEs that can be designed to provide the same paging timing (e.g. same PF), or some other timing for common resources (e.g. receiving some broadcast control information from the network). For example, based on Equation 1, a number of different UE identities can be selected (and assigned to UEs within the set of UEs), e.g. due to the modulo (modulus) 1024 operation in Equation 1, that results in a mapping or association to the same PF or paging timing (due to the modulo operation in Equation 1, allowing many UE identities to map to the same PF or paging timing).

[0081] Thus, as FIG. 4As shown, initially, IMSI 1 is assigned to UE 1, IMSI 2 is assigned to UE 2, IMSI 3 is assigned to UE 3, and the access times (for monitoring or receiving certain control information from the network, such as a paging message or even other control information) are not aligned or separated in time. Thus, for example, the access times 410A (for IMSI 1), 412 (for IMSI 2), and 414 (for IMSI 3) all occur at different times (and thus are not aligned). The network (e.g., core network, RAN node, and / or other network entity) can detect the misalignment of the access times (410A, 412, 414) for the three UEs. To align the access times (e.g., paging times, or other times for monitoring or receiving control information from the network) for UE 1, UE 2, and UE 3, the network can assign a new UE identity to UE 2 (V-IMSI 2) and assign a new UE identity to UE 3 (V-IMSI 3). The network can select (e.g., see Equation 1, as an illustrative example, the network can perform UE identity selection over) V-IMSI 2 and V-IMSI 3 such that the access times (e.g., such as paging times) for IMSI 1 (at 410B), V-IMSI 2 (at 422), and V-IMSI 3 (at 424) are all aligned or occur at the same time. In this way, by aligning the access times for UE 1, UE 2, and UE 3, this can allow one or more UE operations with respect to the network to be performed simultaneously, such as transmission of broadcast control information, transmission of paging messages, and / or the like.

[0082] It should be noted that this new identity is a UE identity remapping from the network side - thus it is different from a group RNTI (G-RNTI), which can be used by a single eNB or gNB to address multiple UEs using the same scheduling grant (single transmission point to multiple reception points). Thus, the V-IMSI is different from a G-RNTI in terms of the number of parameters: the UE can be able to negotiate this value towards the core network; the UE maintains understanding of the newly acquired identity even when entering idle or inactive mode; at most only one V-IMSI can be assigned to no more than one UE at a time (UE uniqueness). Thus, the assignment of a new or additional UE identity can be, for example, a UE-specific UE identity (one UE identity assigned to only one UE, such as a V-IMSI), and not associated with a group of UEs, even for other use cases or applications described herein.

[0083] As another use case, RAN node, BS, or cell discovery (e.g., coincidences), a group of UEs (e.g., all 10 UEs) have the same access occasion or paging occasion (e.g., same paging timing), e.g., based on the mod 1024 operation from Equation 1. Due to limited paging resources, or to improve paging capacity, or to improve usage of paging resources, the core network or other network entity can reassign some of the 10 UEs to another paging timing via assignment of a new UE identity.

[0084] Some further example embodiments are now described.

[0085] Example 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a user equipment according to example embodiments. Operation 510 includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing. And, operation 520 includes receiving, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

[0086] Example 2. The method of example 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the user equipment, a request to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment to be different from the first paging timing via the assignment of the second UE identity to the user equipment.

[0087] Example 3. The method of any of examples 1-2, further comprising: determining, by the user equipment, the second paging timing based on the second UE identity.

[0088] Example 4. The method of any of examples 2-3, wherein the request includes timing information on which the second UE identity is based, the timing information including at least one of: a time of a paging instance requested for the user equipment; a time of a paging instance requested for the user equipment, wherein the time of the requested paging instance is indicated as an offset with respect to a system frame number or an offset relative to a system frame number; a time of a paging instance requested for the user equipment, wherein the time of the requested paging instance is indicated as an offset with respect to a time of a paging instance of the first UE identity; a requested UE identity; and a requested UE identity indicated by an offset relative to the first UE identity.

[0089] Example 5. The method of any of examples 2-4, wherein transmitting the request is performed based on determining that the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity is misaligned with a third paging timing by more than a threshold, the third paging timing being associated with a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment.

[0090] Example 6. The method of any of examples 2 to 4, wherein sending the request is performed based on an operation of determining that a first paging timing associated with the first UE identity aligns with a third paging timing associated with a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment.

[0091] Example 7. The method of any of examples 1 to 6, further comprising monitoring a wireless channel for a paging message based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

[0092] Example 8. The method of any of examples 1 to 7, further comprising monitoring a wireless channel for a paging message at a time based on a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity and not based on a first paging timing associated with the first UE identity.

[0093] Example 9. The method of any of examples 1 to 8, further comprising monitoring, by the user equipment, a wireless channel for a downlink signal based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

[0094] Example 10. The method of any of examples 1 to 9, further comprising monitoring, by the user equipment, a wireless channel for a downlink signal at a time based on the second paging timing and not based on the first paging timing.

[0095] Example 11. The method of any of examples 1 to 10, further comprising receiving, by the user equipment, a downlink signal based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

[0096] Example 12. The method of any of examples 1 to 11, further comprising receiving, by the user equipment, a paging message based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

[0097] Example 13. The method of any of examples 7 to 12, wherein monitoring comprises at least one of: monitoring, by the user equipment, for a downlink control information at a time indicated by a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity to receive a paging message indicated by a group paging radio network temporary identifier associated with the cell; monitoring, by the user equipment, information indicated or encrypted by the second UE identity based on receiving a paging message indicated by a group paging radio network temporary identifier associated with the cell; or monitoring, based on the second UE identity, a power saving control signal or a wake-up signal transmitted to the user equipment to cause the user equipment to wake up from a power saving state.

[0098] Example 14. The method of any of examples 1 to 13, wherein the first paging timing and the second paging timing each comprise a time of a paging instance when a paging message is able to be transmitted by a network or received by the user equipment based on the associated UE identity.

[0099] Example 15. The method of any of examples 1-14, wherein, based on the associated UE identity, the first paging timing and the second paging timing each comprise at least one of: a time of a paging instance when the paging message can be transmitted to or received by the user equipment; a paging frame indicating a time or location when the paging message can be transmitted to or received by the user equipment; and a combination of: 1) a paging frame, and 2) a subframe or paging occasion within the paging frame indicating a time or location when the paging message can be transmitted to or received by the user equipment.

[0100] Example 16. The method of any of examples 5-6, wherein: the first UE identity is associated with a first wireless network operator or is associated with a first wireless network, the first wireless network being identified by or associated with a first public land mobile network; the third UE identity is associated with a second wireless network operator or is associated with a second wireless network, the second wireless network being identified by or associated with a second public land mobile network.

[0101] Example 17. The method of any of examples 1-16, further comprising: receiving, by the user equipment from the network, a request to adjust the paging timing for the user equipment to be different from the first paging timing via an assignment of the second UE identity to the user equipment.

[0102] Example 18. The method of any of examples 1-17, wherein receiving, by the user equipment (UE), the at least first UE identity comprises: receiving, by the user equipment (UE), a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the first UE identity being associated with the first paging timing; receiving, by the user equipment, a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the third UE identity being associated with the third paging timing; and determining, by the user equipment, a need to adjust at least one of the first paging timing and the third paging timing based on a time domain relationship of the first paging timing to the third paging timing; and transmitting, by the user equipment in response to the determining, a request to adjust the first paging timing for the user equipment via an assignment of the second UE identity to the user equipment.

[0103] Example 19. The method of any of examples 1-17, wherein receiving, by the user equipment (UE), at least the first UE identity comprises: receiving, by the user equipment (UE), a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; receiving, by the user equipment, a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the third UE identity being associated with a third paging timing; the method further comprising determining, by the user equipment, that the first paging timing is aligned with the second paging timing; and wherein transmitting the request comprises transmitting, by the user equipment via assignment of the second UE identity, a request to adjust the paging timing for the user equipment including timing information such that the second paging timing will be unaligned or occur at a different time in the time domain than the third paging timing.

[0104] Example 20. The method of any of examples 2-19, wherein transmitting the request comprises at least one of: transmitting, by the user equipment via assignment of the second UE identity, a request to adjust the paging timing for the user equipment including timing information such that the second paging timing will be unaligned or occur at a different time in the time domain than a third paging timing, wherein the third paging timing is associated with a third UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment; or transmitting, by the user equipment via assignment of the second UE identity, a request to adjust the paging timing for the user equipment including timing information such that the second paging timing will be at least more aligned or occur at a closer time in the time domain than the third paging timing compared to the first paging timing being aligned with the third paging timing in the time domain, wherein the third paging timing is associated with a third UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment.

[0105] Example 21. An apparatus comprising means for performing a method of any of examples 1-20.

[0106] Example 22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform a method of any of examples 1-20.

[0107] Example 23. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program codes; the at least one memory and the computer program codes configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform a method of any of examples 1-20.

[0108] Example 24. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program codes; the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; and receive, by the user equipment, a second UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment at least for paging purposes to adjust a paging timing from the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity to a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity, wherein the second paging timing is different from the first paging timing.

[0109] Example 25. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a network entity according to example embodiments. Operation 610 includes determining that a first paging timing associated with a first UE identity assigned to a first user equipment and a second paging timing associated with a second UE identity assigned to a second user equipment are misaligned or occur at different times. And, operation 620 includes sending, to the first user equipment, a message to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment at least for paging purposes or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing, wherein the third paging timing is aligned with or occurs at the same time as the second paging timing.

[0110] Example 26. The method of example 25, further comprising: sending, to both the first user equipment and the second user equipment, a single paging message or control message at a time instance based on the alignment of the third paging timing with the second paging timing.

[0111] Example 27. The method of any of examples 25 to 26, further comprising: sending, by a radio access network (RAN) node, a request to assign a third UE identity to the first user equipment at least for paging purposes or control purposes, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing, so as to cause the third paging timing of the first user equipment to be aligned with or occur at the same time as the second paging timing of the second user equipment in a time domain.

[0112] Example 28. An apparatus comprising means for performing a method of any of examples 25 to 27.

[0113] Example 29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform a method of any of examples 25 to 27.

[0114] Example 30. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program codes; the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform a method according to any of examples 25 to 27.

[0115] Example 31. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program codes; the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: determine that a first paging timing associated with a first UE identity assigned to a first user equipment and a second paging timing associated with a second UE identity assigned to a second user equipment are misaligned or occur at different times; and send, to the first user equipment, a message to assign to the first user equipment a third UE identity for at least a paging purpose or a control purpose, wherein the third UE identity is associated with a third paging timing; wherein the third paging timing is aligned with or occurs at the same time as the second paging timing.

[0116] Example 32. The method according to any of examples 5 to 6, wherein: the first UE identity is associated with a first wireless network operator or is associated with a first wireless network identified by or associated with a first public land mobile network; the third UE identity is associated with the first wireless network operator or is associated with the first wireless network identified by or associated with the first public land mobile network.

[0117] Example 33. A method comprising: receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; and sending, by the user equipment, a request to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment to be different from the first paging timing via an assignment of a second UE identity to the user equipment, the request including the requested UE identity.

[0118] Example 34. The method according to example 33, further comprising: receiving, by the user equipment, a message indicating a second UE identity assigned to the UE, the message being usable by the UE for at least a paging purpose.

[0119] Example 35. A method comprising: receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment for a wireless network, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; and sending, by the user equipment, an indication of a second UE identity to be assigned to the user equipment, the second UE identity being associated with a second paging timing different from the first paging timing.

[0120] Example 36. An apparatus comprising means for performing a method according to any of examples 33 to 35.

[0121] Example 37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform the method of any of examples 33 to 35.

[0122] Example 38. An apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program codes; the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the method according to any of claims 33 to 35.

[0123] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a wireless station (e.g., an AP, a BS, or a user device, or other network node) 1000 according to example embodiments. The wireless station 1000 can include, for example, one or two RF (radio frequency) or wireless transceivers 1002A, 1002B, where each wireless transceiver includes a transmitter for transmitting signals and a receiver for receiving signals. The wireless station also includes a processor or control unit / entity (controller) 1004 for executing instructions or software and controlling the transmission and reception of signals, and a memory 1006 for storing data and / or instructions.

[0124] The processor 1004 can also: make decisions or determinations; generate frames, packets, or messages for transmission; decode received frames or messages for further processing; and other tasks or functions described herein. For example, the processor 1004, which can be a baseband processor, can generate messages, packets, frames, or other signals for transmission via the wireless transceiver 1002 (1002A or 1002B). The processor 1004 can control the transmission of signals or messages over a wireless network, and can control the reception of signals or messages via a wireless network, etc. (e.g., after being down-converted by the wireless transceiver 1002). The processor 1004 can be programmable and capable of executing software or other instructions stored in memory or on other computer media to perform the various tasks and functions described above, such as one or more of the tasks or methods described above. The processor 1004 can be (or can include) for example, hardware, programmable logic, a programmable processor that executes software or firmware, and / or any combination of these. For example, using other terminology, the processor 1004 and the transceiver 1002 can together be viewed as a wireless transmitter / receiver system.

[0125] Additionally, with reference to FIG. 7 , the controller (or processor) 1008 can execute software and instructions, and can provide overall control for the station 1000, and can control, among other things FIG. 7Other systems not shown can provide for control, such as control of input / output devices (e.g., display, keyboard), and / or can execute software for one or more applications that can be provided on the wireless station 1000 (e.g., e-mail program, audio / video applications, word processor, IP voice application, or other applications or software).

[0126] Further, a storage medium can be provided that includes stored instructions, which when executed by a controller or processor, can cause the processor 1004 or other controller or processor to perform one or more of the functions or tasks described above.

[0127] According to another example embodiment, the RF or wireless transceiver(s) 1002A / 1002B can receive signals or data and / or transmit or send signals or data. The processor 1004 (and possibly the transceiver 1002A / 1002B) can control the RF or wireless transceiver 1002A or 1002B to receive, send, broadcast or transmit signals or data.

[0128] However, embodiments are not limited to the system given as an example, and the person skilled in the art can apply the solution to other communication systems. Another example of a suitable communication system is the 5G concept. It is assumed that the network architecture in 5G will be very similar to that of the LTE-Advanced. 5G will most likely use multiple input - multiple output (MIMO) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than the LTE (the so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and possibly also employing various radio technologies to obtain better coverage and increased data rates.

[0129] It is to be understood that future networks will most probably utilize network function virtualization (NFV), which is a network architecture concept that proposes virtualizing network node functions into "building blocks" or entities that can be operationally connected or linked together to provide services. A virtualized network function (VNF) can comprise one or more virtual machines running computer program code using standard or general type servers instead of customized hardware. Cloud computing or data storage can also be utilized. In radio communications, this can mean that node operations can be carried out at least partly in a server, host or node that is operationally coupled to a remote radio head. Node operations can also be distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts. It should also be understood that the assignment of work between core network operations and base station operations can differ from that of the LTE, or even be non-existent.

[0130] Embodiments of the various techniques described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Embodiments can be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. Embodiments can also be provided on a computer readable medium or computer readable storage medium, which can be a non-transitory medium. Embodiments of the various techniques can also include embodiments provided via transitory signals or media, and / or program and / or software embodiments downloadable via the Internet or other networks (wired or wireless). Furthermore, embodiments can be provided via machine type communications (MTC) and / or via the Internet of Things (IOT).

[0131] A computer program can be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it can be stored in some sort of carrier, distribution medium, or computer readable medium, which can be any entity or device containing or storing the program. Such carriers include a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, photooptical and / or electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software distribution package, for example. A computer program can be executed in a single electronic digital computer, or it can be distributed amongst multiple computers.

[0132] Furthermore, embodiments of the various techniques described herein can use cyber-physical systems (CPS) (systems of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS can enable the embodiment and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects. A subcategory of CPS, mobile cyber physical systems, concerns physical systems with inherent mobility, where the physical system in question is mobile. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robots and electronics transported by humans or animals. The popularity of smartphones has increased interest in the field of mobile cyber-physical systems. Thus, various embodiments of the techniques described herein can be provided through one or more of these technologies.

[0133] A computer program, such as the above mentioned computer program(s), can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit or part of it suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and are interconnected by a communication network.

[0134] The method steps can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program or computer program portions to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The method steps can also be performed by, and an apparatus can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0135] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The elements of a computer can include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also can include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0136] To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a user interface, such as a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0137] Embodiments can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an embodiment, or any combination of such back end, middleware, or front end components. Components can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet.

[0138] While certain features of the described embodiments have been illustrated, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the various embodiments.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising: receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity assigned to the user equipment by a wireless network, the first UE identity associated with a first paging timing; and transmitting, by the user equipment, a request to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment to be different from the first paging timing via an assignment of a second UE identity to the user equipment by the wireless network, the request including the requested second UE identity; wherein the requested second UE identity is indicated by an offset relative to the first UE identity, the second UE identity is associated with a second paging timing, and the second UE identity is different from the first UE identity; wherein transmitting the request is performed based on: determining that the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity is misaligned with a third paging timing by more than a threshold, the third paging timing associated with a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the user equipment, a second paging timing based on the second UE identity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes timing information on which the second UE identity is based, the timing information including at least one of: a time of a paging instance requested for the user equipment; a time of a paging instance requested for the user equipment, wherein the time of the requested paging instance is indicated as an offset with respect to a system frame number or an offset relative to a system frame number; a time of a paging instance requested for the user equipment, wherein the time of the requested paging instance is indicated as an offset from the time of a paging instance of the first UE identity.

4. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein transmitting the request is performed based on: determining that the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity is aligned with a third paging timing, the third paging timing associated with a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment.

5. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising: monitoring a wireless channel for paging messages based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

6. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising: monitoring a wireless channel for paging messages at a time based on a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity and not based on the first paging timing associated with the first UE identity.

7. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising: monitoring, by the user equipment, a wireless channel for downlink signals based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

8. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising: monitoring, by the user equipment, a wireless channel for downlink signals at a time based on a second paging timing and not based on the first paging timing.

9. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising: receiving, by the user equipment, a downlink signal based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

10. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising: receiving, by the user equipment, a paging message based on the second UE identity and not based on the first UE identity.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the monitoring comprises at least one of: monitoring, by the user equipment, for a downlink control information at a time indicated by a second paging timing associated with the second UE identity to receive a paging message indicated by a group paging radio network temporary identifier associated with a cell; monitoring, by the user equipment, information indicated by the second UE identity or information encrypted by the second UE identity based on receiving the paging message indicated by the group paging radio network temporary identifier associated with a cell; or monitoring, based on the second UE identity, a power saving control signal or a wake up signal transmitted to the user equipment to cause the user equipment to wake up from a power saving state.

12. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein based on an associated UE identity, the first paging timing and the second paging timing each comprise a time of a paging instance when a paging message can be transmitted by a network or received by the user equipment.

13. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein based on an associated UE identity, the first paging timing and the second paging timing each comprise at least one of: a time of a paging instance when a paging message can be transmitted to the user equipment or received by the user equipment; a paging frame indicating a time or a location when a paging message can be transmitted to the user equipment or received by the user equipment; and a combination of 1) a paging frame, and 2) a subframe or a paging occasion within the paging frame indicating a time or a location when a paging message can be transmitted to the user equipment or received by the user equipment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first UE identity is associated with a first wireless network operator or associated with a first wireless network, the first wireless network being identified by a first public land mobile network or associated with the first public land mobile network; the third UE identity is associated with a second wireless network operator or associated with a second wireless network, the second wireless network being identified by a second public land mobile network or associated with the second public land mobile network.

15. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising: receiving, by the user equipment, a request from a network to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment to be different from the first paging timing via an assignment of another UE identity to the user equipment.

16. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein receiving at least a first UE identity by a user equipment (UE) comprises: receiving, by the user equipment (UE), the first UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; ​ receiving, by the user equipment, a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the third UE identity being associated with a third paging timing; and determining, by the user equipment, a need to adjust at least one of the first paging timing and the third paging timing based on a time domain relationship of the first paging timing to the third paging timing; and sending, by the user equipment, a request to adjust the first paging timing for the user equipment in response to the determining via assignment of a second UE identity to the user equipment.

17. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein receiving, by a user equipment (UE), at least a first UE identity comprises: receiving, by the user equipment (UE), the first UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the first UE identity being associated with a first paging timing; receiving, by the user equipment, a third UE identity assigned to the user equipment, the third UE identity being associated with a third paging timing; the method further comprising determining, by the user equipment, that the first paging timing is aligned with a second paging timing; and wherein sending the request comprises sending, by the user equipment, a request to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment including timing information via assignment of a second UE identity such that the second paging timing will be misaligned or occur at a different time in a time domain than the third paging timing.

18. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein sending a request comprises at least one of: sending, by the user equipment, a request to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment including timing information via assignment of a second UE identity such that a second paging timing will be misaligned or occur at a different time in a time domain than a third paging timing, wherein the third paging timing is associated with a third UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment; or sending, by the user equipment, a request to adjust a paging timing for the user equipment including timing information via assignment of a second UE identity such that the second paging timing will be at least more aligned or occur at a closer time in a time domain than the third paging timing in comparison to the first paging timing being aligned with the third paging timing in a time domain, wherein the third paging timing is associated with a third UE identity that has been assigned to the user equipment.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first UE identity is associated with a first wireless network operator or is associated with a first wireless network, the first wireless network being identified by a first public land mobile network or being associated with a first public land mobile network; the third UE identity is associated with the first wireless network operator or is associated with the first wireless network being identified by the first public land mobile network or being associated with the first public land mobile network.

20. An apparatus for communication, comprising means for performing a method of any of claims 1-19.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform the method of any of claims 1-19.

22. An apparatus for communication, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the method of any of claims 1-19.

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