Method and apparatus for supporting access to services for multiple subscriber identity modules

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses that support access to services for multiple subscriber identity modules. Disclosed are apparatuses and methods that support parallel access by a wireless device to services of multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and / or electronic SIMs (eSIMs). The wireless device is a single-radio wireless device that includes a radio circuit that supports, at a time, an active voice or video connection via a single-radio access network of a cellular wireless network. To send or receive data of a second SIM / eSIM, while an active voice or video connection of a first SIM / eSIM uses the radio circuit, the single-radio wireless device can i) establish a parallel link protocol data unit (PDU) session for a different SIM, ii) multiplex traffic of the different SIM with SIM information embedded in a protocol header over a common radio connection for routing by a network device, and / or iii) use additional dedicated bearers per data network name (DNN) with the first active SIM through which to route for the second suspended SIM.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application for patent with application number 202011200752.4, application date of 2020-11-02, and title of “Method and apparatus to support access to services for multiple subscriber identity modules”. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The described implementations relate generally to wireless communication, and more particularly to methods and apparatus to support access to services for multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) by a single radio, multiple SIM (multi-SIM) wireless device. The access can be implemented using i) a linked protocol data unit (PDU) session identifier associated with two different PDU sessions for two different SIMs, ii) multiplexed traffic using a tunnel header to distinguish traffic initiated by each SIM, or iii) an additional dedicated bearer on an active SIM to route traffic for a concurrently suspended SIM. BACKGROUND

[0003] Next generation (e.g., fourth generation (4G) and fifth generation (5G)) cellular wireless networks employing newer radio access technologies implementing one or more Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) standards are rapidly evolving and being deployed by network operators worldwide. The newer cellular wireless networks provide a range of packet-based services for concurrent voice and data. Users of wireless devices can access services provided by a wireless network service provider (also referred to as a mobile network operator (MNO)) based on service subscriptions controlled by authentication credentials included in a profile; the authentication credentials are also referred to as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) when included in a removable Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), and as an eSIM when included in an embedded UICC (eUICC) of a wireless device. With a removable UICC and a wireless device that is unlocked, a user can access different services by replacing the UICC / SIM combination. With a configurable eUICC, an eSIM can be downloaded to the eUICC to access different wireless services. Wireless devices that accommodate multiple UICC / SIMs and / or multiple eSIMs on an eUICC provide multiple subscriber identities used by the same wireless device to access different services, including services that can span different cellular wireless networks using different cellular Radio Access Technologies (RATs). Multi-radio wireless devices can include multiple transceivers for connecting to different cellular wireless networks in parallel; however, additional wireless transceiver circuitry can increase device size and cost. Single-radio wireless devices, including single-transmitter, single-receiver wireless devices, can include configurable radio circuitry to connect with different cellular wireless networks at different times, but limit or prohibit simultaneous active connections using different cellular access networks in parallel. Further, when a single-radio wireless device has an active voice or video connection for a first SIM, a second SIM can not be able to access data, voice mail, messaging services, or receive information for an incoming voice or video connection request. Mechanisms are needed to allow users to access services in parallel using multiple different SIM / eSIM profiles simultaneously with minimal hardware and / or software complexity. SUMMARY

[0004] Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that support access by a single radio, multiple subscriber identity module (SIM) (multi-SIM) wireless device to services of multiple SIMs. The services are associated with different subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and / or electronic SIMs (eSIMs) in the wireless device. The wireless device includes a first SIM / eSIM that provides access to wireless services of a first wireless service provider via a first cellular wireless network that includes a first radio access network using a first radio access technology and a first core network. The wireless device also includes a second SIM / eSIM that provides access to additional wireless services that can be for the same first wireless service provider, e.g., using a common service public land mobile network (PLMN), or for a second wireless service provider via a second cellular wireless network that includes a second radio access network using a second (possibly different) radio access technology and a second core network, e.g., using a different PLMN. In some embodiments, the wireless device includes multiple SIMs / eSIMs that provide access to wireless services of one or more wireless service providers. The wireless device is a single radio wireless device that includes wireless circuitry that supports a single active voice or video connection at a time via a cellular wireless network's single radio access network, without supporting two or more active voice or video connections at the same time via the cellular wireless network. To send or receive data (e.g., internet data, visual voicemail, or SMS), receive a mobile terminated incoming voice or video connection for the second SIM / eSIM, or establish a mobile originated outgoing voice or video connection for the second SIM / eSIM, the single radio wireless device can use one of the following mechanisms while the first SIM / eSIM's active voice or video connection uses the wireless circuitry.

[0005] In a first mechanism, the wireless device establishes parallel link protocol data unit (PDU) sessions: one PDU session for the first SIM and a second tunneled PDU session using the second SIM on behalf of the first SIM, where only one PDU session is active at a time. During an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) registration procedure, during a non-access stratum (NAS) registration procedure with a cellular wireless core network, and / or when requesting establishment of parallel PDU sessions, a SIM of the wireless device can access subscription information for one or more other SIMs and can provide information about at least one of the one or more other SIMs. The first SIM and the second SIM can be associated with a common PLMN or different PLMNs. Considered cumulative data usage and / or time of access via the tunneled PDU session using the second SIM on behalf of the first SIM can be applied to billing purposes for the first SIM.

[0006] In a second mechanism, the wireless device includes user identification information within a protocol header field, such as a 5G globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) of a subscription that initiates data traffic, to allow a cellular wireless access network element (e.g., a gNodeB) to determine from which of multiple SIMs the data packet originated. The cellular wireless access network element separates the multiplexed traffic from the multiple SIMs and routes the traffic appropriately to one or more cellular wireless core networks via different parallel tunnels.

[0007] In a third mechanism, the wireless device creates an additional dedicated bearer for each data network name (DNN) using a first active SIM through which traffic for a second suspended SIM is routed. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network initiates creation of the additional dedicated bearer in response to the first SIM notifying the cellular wireless network that the first SIM will be suspended (e.g., due to the cellular radio detuning to another cellular wireless network associated with the second SIM). Data traffic of the first SIM can be routed over the dedicated bearer based on subscription information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a 5thgeneration global unique temporary identity (5G-GUTI), a mobile station international user directory number (MSISDN), a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), or a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI) value, and a network node identifier such as an access point name (APN) or a data network name (DNN) value). The dedicated bearer for the first SIM can be released via the second SIM when the first SIM is resumed.

[0008] This Summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, to provide a basic understanding of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be interpreted as being exhaustive or limiting of the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein. Additional features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following DETAILED DESCRIPTION, Figures, and Claims.

[0009] Other aspects and advantages of the application will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] The described embodiments and their advantages are best understood with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] Figure 1An example of multiple subscriber identity module (SIM) / eSIM wireless devices in communication with two wireless networks is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0012] Figure 2 An example of a wireless device supporting multiple user identities is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0013] Figure 3A and Figure 3B An example set of actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device to establish Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with a common service Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0014] Figure 4A and Figure 4B An example set of actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device to establish IMS PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with different PLMNs is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0015] Figure 5A and Figure 5B An example set of actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device to establish Internet Data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with a common service PLMN is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0016] Figure 6 An example set of actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device to establish Visual Voice Mail (VVM) PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with a common service PLMN is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0017] Figure 7 A diagram of an example set of network elements for implementing PDU session tunnels is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0018] Figure 8 A diagram of an example set of network elements for implementing tunnels with multiplexed data traffic for multiple SIMs is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0019] Figure 9A and Figure 9B A diagram of an example Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) PDU header is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0020] Figure 10 A diagram of a network architecture for data tunnels between different Session Management Functions (SMFs) is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0021] Figure 11A and Figure 11B A set of example actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device to establish UE- initiated Internet Data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with different SMFs is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0022] Figure 12A and Figure 12B A set of example actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device to establish NW- initiated Internet Data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with different SMFs is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0023] Figure 13A and Figure 13B Another set of example actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device to establish Internet Data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with different SMFs is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0024] Figure 14A and Figure 14B An example procedure for cumulative data usage reporting between SMFs is shown in accordance with some embodiments.

[0025] Figure 15 A set of example components of a wireless device in accordance with some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Representative examples for accessing wireless services using multiple Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) and / or electronic SIMs (eSIMs) are provided herein. These examples are provided to add context and to assist in the understanding of the subject matter of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be practiced without some of the specific details set forth herein. In addition, various modifications and / or changes to the subject matter described herein and in the accompanying drawings can be made in light of the above teachings so as to achieve similar results without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0027] This section refers to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the present disclosure and in which are shown by way of illustration various implementations corresponding to the principles described herein. While the implementations of the present disclosure are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that these examples are not to be construed as limiting or exhaustive.

[0028] A user of a wireless device can seek to access services provided by a common cellular wireless network service provider for different cellular service account subscriptions, or services provided by different cellular wireless network service providers over different cellular wireless networks. The user can obtain and use multiple UICCs (also referred to as SIM cards), and / or install multiple electronic SIMs (eSIMs) on an eUICC of the wireless device, where the SIMs / eSIMs provide access to services of one or more service providers. Using multiple SIMs / eSIMs enables flexibility and convenience for the wireless device to access a wide variety of services. The user can seek to access services provided by multiple SIMs / eSIMs without having to use a wireless device that can simultaneously connect to multiple associated radio access networks of cellular wireless networks associated with the multiple SIMs / eSIMs.

[0029] The wireless device includes a first SIM / eSIM that provides access to wireless services of a first wireless service provider via a first cellular wireless network that includes a first radio access network using a first radio access technology and a first core network. The wireless device also includes a second SIM / eSIM that provides access to additional wireless services that can be for the same first wireless service provider, e.g., using a common service public land mobile network (PLMN), or for a second wireless service provider via a second cellular wireless network that includes a second radio access network using a second (possibly different) radio access technology and a second core network, e.g., using a different PLMN. In some embodiments, the wireless device includes multiple SIMs / eSIMs that provide access to wireless services of one or more wireless service providers. The wireless device is a single radio wireless device that includes wireless circuitry that supports one active voice or video connection at a time via a radio access network of a cellular wireless network, without supporting two or more active voice or video connections at the same time via a cellular wireless network. To send or receive data (e.g., Internet data, visual voicemail, or SMS) or to receive a mobile terminated incoming voice or video connection for a second SIM / eSIM, the single radio wireless device can use one of the following mechanisms when an active voice or video connection for a first SIM / eSIM uses the wireless circuitry. A voice or video connection as described herein can be Internet protocol (IP) based or can be a local voice connection, such as a Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) connection or a Voice over New Radio (VoNR) connection, which can carry audio data only or a combination of audio and video data.

[0030] In a first mechanism, the wireless device establishes parallel protocol data unit (PDU) sessions: one PDU session for a first SIM and a second tunneled PDU session using a second SIM on behalf of the first SIM, where only one PDU session is active at a time. During an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) registration procedure, during a non-access stratum (NAS) registration procedure with a cellular wireless core network, and / or upon requesting establishment of parallel PDU sessions, the SIM of the wireless device can access subscription information for one or more other SIMs and can provide information about at least one of the one or more other SIMs. The first SIM and the second SIM can be associated with a common PLMN or different PLMNs. Consideration of accumulated data usage and / or time accessed via the tunneled PDU session using the second SIM on behalf of the first SIM can be applied to billing purposes for the first SIM.

[0031] In a second mechanism, the wireless device includes user identification information within a protocol header field, such as a 5G globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) of a subscription that initiates data traffic, to allow a cellular wireless access network element (e.g., a gNodeB) to determine from which of multiple SIMs the data packet originated. The cellular wireless access network element separates the multiplexed traffic from the multiple SIMs and routes the traffic appropriately to one or more cellular wireless core networks via different parallel tunnels.

[0032] In a third mechanism, the wireless device creates an additional dedicated bearer for each data network name (DNN) using a first active SIM through which traffic for a second suspended SIM is routed. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network initiates creation of the additional dedicated bearer in response to the first SIM notifying the cellular wireless network that the first SIM will be suspended (e.g., due to the cellular radio tuning away to another cellular wireless network associated with the second SIM). Data traffic of the first SIM can be routed over the dedicated bearer based on subscription information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a 5thgeneration global unique temporary identity (5G-GUTI), a mobile station international user directory number (MSISDN), a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), or a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI) value, and a network node identifier such as an access point name (APN) or a data network name (DNN) value). The dedicated bearer for the first SIM can be released via the second SIM when the first SIM is resumed.

[0033] The solutions described herein provide greater power efficiency in single radio, multi-SIM / eSIM wireless devices compared to multi-SIM, multi-active (MSMA) wireless devices that use multiple parallel cellular radios. A user of a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device can configure preferences for using one or more SIMs / eSIMs, for example, designating that a SIM is preferred for data, voice and data, or voice only. Tunneling service capabilities can be configured for each SIM / eSIM of a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device. The user can enable / disable tunneling service capabilities based on whether the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device is camped on a home PLMN (HPLMN), a domestic (same country code) visited PLMN (VPLMN), or a foreign (different country code) VPLMN. The user can also select which services can use tunneling service capabilities, with representative services including incoming / outgoing IMS voice connections, incoming / outgoing SMS over IMS, internet data connections, and incoming / outgoing SMS over non-access stratum (NAS) signaling connections. A multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device can indicate to a wireless network a capability to support multiple SIMs and linked PDU sessions for one or more services, and the wireless network can indicate support for tunneling PDU sessions to one or more other wireless networks for one or more services.

[0034] Figure 1An illustration 100 showing components of a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 including one or more processors 106 and wireless circuitry 108 that provides wireless radio frequency (RF) connectivity between the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 and a first cellular wireless network 110A and a second cellular wireless network 110B. In some embodiments, the wireless circuitry 108 includes one or more baseband processors and a set of RF analog front-end circuitry. In some embodiments, the wireless circuitry 108 and / or a portion thereof can include or be referred to as a wireless transmitter / receiver or transceiver or radio. The terms “circuit,” “circuitry,” “component,” and “component block” are used interchangeably herein in some embodiments to refer to one or more operational units of a wireless device that process and / or operate on digital signals, analog signals, or units of digital data for wireless communication. For example, a representative circuit can perform various functions of converting units of digital data to transmitted RF analog waveforms and / or converting received analog waveforms to units of digital data, including intermediate analog and intermediate digital forms. The wireless circuitry 108 can include components of RF analog front-end circuitry, such as a set of one or more antennas that can be interconnected with additional supporting RF circuitry that can include filters and other analog components that can be “configured” for transmitting and / or receiving analog signals to / from one of the first cellular wireless network 110A and the second cellular wireless network 110B via one or more corresponding antennas.

[0035] Notably, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can include a hardware limitation that limits the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to connecting to only one of the first cellular wireless network 110A and the second cellular wireless network 110B at a time via its respective access network device 112A / 112B. For example, the radio circuitry 108 can include a single transmitter and one or more receivers for cellular wireless communications, such that only one active two-way cellular radio frequency connection to a cellular access network can be used at a time. When the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 has an active connection via the access network device 112A of the first cellular wireless network 110A, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can be blocked from establishing another active connection via the access network device 112B of the second cellular wireless network 110B (or blocked from establishing a second active connection to the first cellular wireless network 110A). In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can be registered with multiple subscriptions that simultaneously correspond to different SIMs / eSIMs; and the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can use a combination of an active PDU session for a first SIM and a suspended (standby) PDU session for a second SIM, where the active PDU session and the suspended PDU session are linked together. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can multiplex traffic for multiple SIMs over a common radio frequency access network connection, where a radio access network (RAN) device can separate (demultiplex) the traffic based on a data packet protocol header that indicates the original SIM. The RAN device can route the traffic to different tunnels for each original SIM as appropriate. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can create an additional dedicated bearer for each data network name (DNN) using a first active SIM, through which traffic for a second suspended SIM is routed.

[0036] According to various implementations, the one or more processors 106 and wireless circuitry 108 can be configured to perform and / or control the performance of one or more functions of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. The one or more processors 106 and wireless circuitry 108 can provide functionality to coordinate hardware / software resources in the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to provide connectivity with the first cellular wireless network 110A and the second cellular wireless network 110B. The one or more processors 106 can include multiple different types of processors that can provide both wireless communication management and / or higher layer functionality, e.g., one or more of the one or more processors 106 can be configured to perform data processing, application execution, and / or other device functionality according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102, or portions or components thereof such as the one or more processors 106, can include one or more chipsets, which can each include any number of microchips coupled thereto.

[0037] In some embodiments, the one or more processors 106 can be configured in a variety of different forms. For example, the one or more processors 106 can be associated with any number of microprocessors, coprocessors, controllers, or various other computing or processing devices, including integrated circuits such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any combination thereof. In various scenarios, the multiple processors 106 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can be coupled to and / or configured to operatively communicate with each other, and these components can collectively be configured to perform mobility management functions associated with multiple subscriber identities associated with wireless services provided via multiple wireless networks. In some implementations, the one or more processors 106 can be configured to execute instructions that can be stored in memory or otherwise accessible to the one or more processors 106. As such, whether configured as hardware or hardware and software, or whether combined with hardware and software, the one or more processors 106 can be capable of performing operations according to various embodiments described herein when configured accordingly. In various embodiments, the memory in the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can include a plurality of memory devices that can be associated with any common volatile or non-volatile memory type. In some cases, the memory can be associated with a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that can store various computer program instructions that can be executed by the one or more processors 106 during normal program execution. In this regard, the memory can be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions, or the like for enabling the wireless device to perform various functions in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In some implementations, the memory can be in communication with the one or more processors 106 and one or more system buses for passing information to and from the one or more processors 106 and other device components of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102, and / or otherwise operatively coupled to the one or more processors 106 and the one or more system buses.

[0038] Figure 1 The illustrated multi-SIM wireless device 102 includes a removable UICC 104 and an embedded UICC (eUICC) 114. The UICC 104 can include at least one subscriber identity module (SIM) that can be embodied as a software / firmware program installed on the UICC 104, while the eUICC 114 can include at least one electronic SIM (eSIM) that can also be embodied as a software / firmware program installed on the UICC 104. The removable UICC 104 can provide the ability for a user of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to replace the UICC to change services. The hardware complexity and / or size of the wireless device can limit the ability to include multiple UICC card slots, thus in some implementations, the removable UICC 104 can be replaced with an eUICC 114 that can be embedded in the wireless device.Figure 2 This document further illustrates additional arrangements of wireless devices to include multiple SIMs on a single UICC and / or an electronic SIM (eSIM) embedded on a UICC, or a combination thereof.

[0039] The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can simultaneously register with multiple wireless networks, such as a first cellular wireless network 110A and a second cellular wireless network 110B. The wireless circuit 108 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can be configured to register with and / or establish a connection with the first cellular wireless network 110A via an access network device 112A that interfacing with the core network 114A. The wireless circuit 108 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also be configured to register with and / or establish a connection with the second cellular wireless network 110B via an access network device 112B that interfacing with the core network 114B. The wireless circuit 108 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can support transmission and reception to only one of the first wireless network 110A and the second wireless network 110B at a time via its respective access network 112A / B. Because the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register with two different wireless networks simultaneously via two different subscriptions, it may appear as two different devices (each associated with a different number, user, and / or subscription). A multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 that can connect to only one wireless network at a time but can monitor and / or receive communications from multiple wireless networks to which it is registered can be called a multi-SIM multiple standby (MSMS) wireless device. A multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device that can simultaneously connect to multiple wireless networks using different user identities through its respective radio access network can be called a "multi-SIM multiple activity" (MSMA) wireless device. While the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can connect via only one radio access network of a cellular wireless network at a time, some wireless devices can also provide simultaneous connectivity via cellular and non-cellular wireless networks (not shown).

[0040] It should be understood that this may not be the case. Figure 1 As shown and relative to Figure 1 All components, device elements, and hardware described in the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 are essential to this disclosure, and therefore some of these items may be omitted, combined, or otherwise modified to a reasonable extent. Additionally, in some embodiments, the subject matter associated with the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 may be configured to, in addition to... Figure 1 In addition to those shown in the illustration, there are additional or alternative parts, equipment components, or hardware.

[0041] Figure 2 An illustration shows an exemplary multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device that supports multiple user identities using a removable UICC and / or embedded UICC (eUICC) on which a SIM and / or eSIM is implemented. As shown in Figure 200, the multi-SIM wireless device 220 includes a plurality of UICCs 204 that can be inserted and removed individually or together and communicate with one or more processors 206 connected to a wireless circuit 208 that provides wireless communication with one or more wireless networks 210. Since the physical size and design of the multi-SIM wireless device 220 may limit the number of UICCs 204 that can be supported, alternatively, as shown in Figure 240, the multi-eSIM wireless device 222 may include an embedded UICC (eUICC) 224 connected to one or more processors 206 and connected to one or more wireless networks 210 via the wireless circuit 208. The eUICC 224 may be built into the multi-eSIM wireless device 222 and may be a circuit board that cannot be removed from the multi-eSIM wireless device 222, for example, permanently attached to the multi-eSIM wireless device 222. The eUICC 224 can be programmed to allow one or more electronic SIMs (eSIMs) to be implemented on the eUICC 224. Each eSIM can be associated with a different user identity and / or provide different services or subscriptions to users of the multi-eSIM wireless device 222. Figure 250 illustrates an exemplary multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 226, which includes a removable UICC 204 and an eUICC 224 on which one or more SIMs can be installed, and on which one or more eSIMs can be installed. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 226 can represent... Figure 1Another form of multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is illustrated in FIG. 2B. The combination of SIMs on UICCs 204 and / or eSIMs on eUICCs 224 can provide connectivity to one or more wireless networks 210 using radio circuitry 208 under the control of the one or more processors 206 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 226. Diagram 260 illustrates another multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 228 that includes multiple UICCs 204 on which one or more SIMs can be installed and an eUICC 224 on which one or more eSIMs can be installed. The combination of SIMs on UICCs 204 and / or eSIMs on eUICCs 224 can provide connectivity to one or more wireless networks 210 using radio circuitry 208 under the control of the one or more processors 206 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 228.

[0042] Generally, a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 that supports multiple subscriber identities can include (i) at least one UICC 204 that supports multiple SIMs, (ii) an eUICC 224 that supports multiple eSIMs, or (iii) a combination of UICCs 204 and eUICCs 224. Each UICC 204 can support one or more SIMs, and each eUICC 224 can support one or more eSIMs. A multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 that supports multiple subscriber identities (e.g., 102, 220, 222, 226, 228) can include a combination of SIMs and / or eSIMs to support communication with one or more wireless networks 210.

[0043] Figure 3A and Figure 3BFigures 300, 350 show illustrations of a set of exemplary actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to establish Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session tunnels for multiple SIMs / eSIMs associated with a common service public land mobile network (PLMN). The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can include a first SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM1 302-1 and a second SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM2 302-2. At 320, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register the SIM1 302-1 with network elements of a 5G network, e.g., via a radio access network (RAN) 306 to an access and mobility management function (AMF) 308 and a session management function (SMF) 310. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers for IMS service with an IMS 312 network element. In some embodiments, when registering the first SIM, e.g., SIM1 302-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 provides information for the second SIM, e.g., SIM2 302-2. The information for the second SIM can include one or more identifiers for the second SIM, e.g., IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI values. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide mobile network operator (MNO) information for the second SIM when registering the first SIM. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also indicate device support for multi-SIM tunneling capabilities and can obtain information about network support for multi-SIM tunneling capabilities during registration. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capabilities during registration for one or more specific services and the network to which the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers can indicate services for which multi-SIM tunneling capabilities are granted. At 322, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register the SIM2 302-2 with network elements of the 5G network. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers for IMS service with the IMS 312 network element. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 provides information for the first SIM, e.g., SIM1 302-1, when registering the second SIM, e.g., SIM2 302-2. The information for the first SIM can include one or more identifiers for the first SIM, e.g., IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI values. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide MNO information for the first SIM when registering the second SIM. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also indicate device support for multi-SIM tunneling capabilities and can obtain information about network support for multi-SIM tunneling capabilities during registration. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capabilities during registration for one or more specific services and the network to which the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers can indicate services for which multi-SIM tunneling capabilities are granted. Figure 3A and Figure 3BIn some implementations, SIM1 302-1 and SIM2 302-2 may each be associated with the same MNO and thus registered to the same network element in the public core network. The multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may indicate support for multi-SIM tunneling capabilities and obtain information about network support for multi-SIM tunneling capabilities when registering SIM2 302-2. The multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may also provide identifiers for the SIM1 302-1 and SIM1 MNO information. At 324, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may use SIM1 to establish an IMS PDU session for SIM1, thereby identifying “ims” as the data network name (DNN) of the service used for the IMS PDU session. The SIM1 IMS PDU session may be assigned a numeric integer identifier, such as “X”. At 326, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may use SIM2 to establish a separate IMS PDU session for SIM2, thereby identifying “ims” as the DNN of the service used for the IMS PDU session. The SIM2 IMS PDU session can be assigned a numeric integer identifier, such as "X". At 328, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 can establish a second IMS PDU session for SIM1; however, this second IMS PDU session can be a tunneled PDU session for SIM1 using SIM2, thereby identifying "ims" as the DNN for service and assigning a different numeric integer identifier, such as "Y". The tunneled PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2 can also be assigned a unique linked PDU session identifier (ID), for example, by combining a unique SIM1 identifier with the previous SIM1 IMS PDU session ID ("X"). When a request to establish a tunneled PDU session is sent to the cellular radio network, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 can provide a unique linked PDU session ID, and when a response accepting the establishment of the tunneled PDU session is provided, the cellular radio network can include the unique linked PDU session ID. In some implementations, the absence of a linked PDU session ID in the response from the cellular network can indicate that the cellular network cannot link active and standby PDU sessions together, thus multi-SIM tunneling capabilities using the linked PDU session feature may not be supported by the cellular network. At 330, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 may request to suspend the SIM1 IMS tunnel PDU session. As a result of the actions at 324, 326, 328, and 330, both SIM1 and SIM2 have active IMS PDU sessions using their respective SIMs, and SIM1 additionally has a (standby) IMS tunnel PDU session suspended via SIM2. Although in Figure 3AA parallel IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM2 using SIM1 can also be established and suspended, although not shown. Thus, a SIM of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can have multiple IMS PDU sessions established using different SIMs / eSIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102, only one of which will be active at a time. At 332, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is registered using both SIMs and is capable of initiating or receiving voice or video connections with either SIM. At 352, the IMS network element 312 initiates a voice or video connection for SIM2 by sending a page for a VoLTE or VoNR call to the SIM2 302-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. At 354, the SIM2 302-2 sends a message to the SIM1 302-1 indicating a request to use radio frequency (RF) resources for an incoming VoLTE or VoNR call. Since the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can only support an active connection for one SIM at a time, when a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call is established for SIM2, SIM1 cannot use the IMS PDU session via SIM1, but must use the IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. At 356, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device sends a request to suspend the SIM1 PDU session identified by session ID “X”. The request can also include a linked PDU session ID that is based on a combination of the SIM2 identifier and the IMS tunnel PDU session ID for SIM1 via SIM2 (“Y”). The request at 356 suspends the SIM1 non-tunnel IMS PDU session and indicates the linked PDU session ID for the tunnel IMS PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. The request at 356 informs the network that SIM1 IMS communications should be routed via SIM2 on the tunnel IMS PDU session ID. At 358, the SIM1 302-1 sends a message to the SIM2 302-2 to authorize the SIM2 302-2 to use RF resources to establish the mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2. At 360, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call is active. At 362, the SIM2 302-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 sends a request to the core network to activate the previously established and suspended IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM1. The IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM1 (via SIM2) is identified by the SIM2 PDU session ID value “Y” and is also identified as having a linked PDU session ID with a value based on a combination of the SIM1 identifier and the SIM1 IMS PDU session ID value “X”.In some embodiments, the SIM1 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of the SIM1, and the SIM2 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of the SIM2. At 364, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can receive a mobile terminated voice or video connection for the SIM1 via the IMS tunneled PDU session established through the SIM2 while a VoLTE or VoNR call for the SIM2 is active.

[0044] Figure 4A and Figure 4BFigures 400, 450 show illustrations of a set of exemplary actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to establish IMS PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs / eSIMs associated with different serving PLMNs. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can include a first SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM1 302-1 and a second SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM2 302-2. At 420, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register SIM1 402-1 with network elements of a first 5G network NW1, e.g., via RAN1 406-1 to AMF1 408-1 and SMF1 410-1. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 also registers for IMS services with IMS network elements, e.g., IMS 312. In some embodiments, when registering the first SIM, e.g., SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 provides information for a second SIM, e.g., SIM2 402-2. The information for the second SIM can include one or more identifiers for the second SIM, e.g., IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI values. When registering SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide information for the MNO associated with SIM2 402-2 regarding the second network NW2. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also indicate device support for multi-SIM tunneling features, and can obtain information from the first network NW1 when registering SIM1 402-1 indicating the capability of the first network NW1 to support multi-SIM tunneling features for the second network NW2. At 422, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register SIM2 402-2 with network elements of a second 5G network NW2. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide multi-SIM tunneling feature capability information to the second network NW2, and obtain information when registering SIM2 402-2 regarding the capability of the second network to support multi-SIM tunneling features for the first network NW1. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide identifiers for SIM1 402-1 and SIM1 MNO information. In some embodiments, during registration with the first network NW1 and / or the second network NW2, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capabilities for one or more particular services, and the first and / or second network NW1, NW2 to which the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers can indicate the services for which multi-SIM tunneling capabilities are granted. At 424, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish an IMS PDU session for SIM1 using SIM1 over the first network NW1, identifying “ims” as the DNN for the service for the IMS PDU session.The SIM1 IMS PDU session can be assigned a numeric integer identifier, e.g.,“X”. At 426, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish, using SIM2 over the second network NW2, a separate IMS PDU session for SIM2, identifying“ims” as a DNN for the service for the IMS PDU session. The SIM2 IMS PDU session can be assigned a numeric integer identifier, e.g.,“X”. At 428, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish, over the second network NW2, a second IMS PDU session for SIM1, where the second IMS PDU session is a tunneled PDU session for SIM1 using SIM2, identifying“ims” as a DNN for the service and assigning a different numeric integer identifier, e.g.,“Y”. The tunneled PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2 can also be assigned a unique linked PDU session identifier (ID), e.g., by combining a unique SIM1 identifier with the prior SIM1 IMS PDU session ID (“X”). The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can provide the unique linked PDU session ID when sending a request to the second network NW2 to establish the tunneled PDU session, and the second network NW2 can include the unique linked PDU session ID when providing a response accepting establishment of the tunneled PDU session. In some embodiments, the absence of a linked PDU session ID in the response from the second network NW2 can indicate that the second network NW2 is unable to link the active PDU session and the standby PDU session together, so that the multi-SIM tunneling capability using the linked PDU session feature can not be supported by the second network NW2. At 430, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can request suspension of the SIM1 IMS tunneled PDU session. As a result of the actions at 424, 426, 428, and 430, both SIM1 and SIM2 have active IMS PDU sessions over their respective networks using their respective SIMs, and SIM1 additionally has a (standby) IMS tunneled PDU session suspended over the second network NW2 via SIM2. While in the example of FIG. 4 the IMS PDU session for SIM1 is tunneled through the IMS PDU session for SIM2, in other embodiments the IMS PDU session for SIM1 can be tunneled through a different IMS PDU session for SIM2. Figure 4AA parallel IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM2 over the first network NW1 using SIM1 can also be established and suspended, although not shown. Thus, the SIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can have multiple IMS PDU sessions established using different SIMs / eSIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 over different wireless networks, where only one of the multiple PDU sessions will be active at a time. At 432, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers with both networks NW1 and NW2 using the respective SIMs and is able to initiate or receive voice or video connections with either SIM. At 452, the IMS network element 312 initiates a voice or video connection for SIM2 by sending a page for a VoLTE or VoNR call to the SIM2 402-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. At 454, the SIM2 402-2 sends a message to the SIM1 402-1 indicating a request to use radio frequency (RF) resources for the incoming VoLTE or VoNR call. Since the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can only support an active connection for one SIM at a time, when a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call is established for SIM2, SIM1 cannot use the IMS PDU session via SIM1 and must instead use the IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. At 356, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device sends a request to suspend the SIM1 PDU session identified by the session ID“X”. The request can also include a linked PDU session ID that is based on a combination of the SIM2 identifier and the IMS tunnel PDU session ID for SIM1 via SIM2 (“Y”). The request at 456 suspends the SIM1 non-tunnel IMS PDU session and indicates the linked PDU session ID for the tunnel IMS PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. The request at 456 informs the first network NW1 that SIM1 IMS communications should be routed over the second network NW2 via SIM2 on the tunnel IMS PDU session ID. At 458, the SIM1 402-1 sends a message to the SIM2 402-2 to authorize the SIM2 402-2 to use RF resources to establish the mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 via the second network NW2. At 460, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call is active via NW2. At 462, the SIM2 402-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 sends a request to the core network of the second network NW2 to activate the previously established and suspended IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM1.The IMS tunnel PDU session for SIM1 (via SIM2) is identified by a SIM2 PDU session ID value "Y" and is also identified as a linked PDU session ID with a value based on a combination of a SIM1 identifier and a SIM1 IMS PDU session ID value "X". In some embodiments, the SIM1 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM1 and the SIM2 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM2. At 464, the IMS network element (IMS 312) sends an indication to the core network element of the first network NW1 regarding an incoming (mobile terminated) voice or video connection request for SIM1 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. At 466, the core network element of the first network NW1 forwards the voice or video connection request for SIM1 to the core network element of the second network NW2. At 468, the incoming (mobile terminated) voice or video connection request for SIM1 is provided to the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 using the SIM1 IMS tunnel PDU session established over the second network NW2 using SIM2.

[0045] Figure 5A and Figure 5BIllustrations 500 and 550 illustrate a set of exemplary actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 to establish Internet data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs / eSIMs associated with a public service PLMN. The multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may include a first SIM / eSIM designated SIM1302-1 and a second SIM / eSIM designated SIM2302-2. At 520, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may register SIM1302-1 with network elements of a 5G network, for example, via a radio access network (RAN) 306 to an access and mobility management function (AMF) 308 and a session management function (SMF) 310. In some embodiments, when registering SIM1302-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 provides information about SIM2302-2. The information about SIM2302-2 may include one or more identifiers of SIM2302-2, such as IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI values. When registering SIM1 302-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may also provide MNO information for SIM2 302-2. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may also indicate device support for the multi-SIM tunneling feature and may obtain information about network support for the multi-SIM tunneling feature during registration. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capability for one or more specific services during registration, and the network to which the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 registers may indicate the service for which multi-SIM tunneling capability is granted. At 524, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may use SIM1 to establish an Internet data PDU session for SIM1, thereby identifying “Internet” as the DNN of the service used for the Internet data PDU session. The SIM1 Internet data PDU session may be assigned a numeric integer identifier, such as “A”. At 526, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may register SIM2 302-2 with network elements of the 5G network. Figure 5A and Figure 5BIn some embodiments, SIM1 302-1 and SIM2 302-2 can each be associated with the same MNO, and thus registration can be to the same network elements of the common core network. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also indicate support for the multi-SIM tunnel feature and obtain information about network support for the multi-SIM tunnel feature at registration of SIM2 302-2. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide an identifier for SIM1 302-1 and SIM1 MNO information. At 528, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish a second Internet data PDU session for SIM1, however, this second Internet data PDU session can be a tunneled PDU session for SIM1 using SIM2, identifying “Internet” as the DNN for service and assigning a different numeric integer identifier, e.g., “B.” The tunneled PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2 can also be assigned a unique linked PDU session identifier (ID), e.g., by combining the unique SIM1 identifier with the previous SIM1 Internet data PDU session ID (“A”). The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can provide the unique linked PDU session ID when sending a request to the cellular wireless network to establish the tunneled PDU session, and the cellular wireless network can include the unique linked PDU session ID when providing a response accepting establishment of the tunneled PDU session. In some embodiments, the absence of a linked PDU session ID in the response from the cellular wireless network can indicate that the cellular wireless network cannot link active and standby PDU sessions together, and thus the multi-SIM tunneling capability using the linked PDU session feature can not be supported by the cellular wireless network. At 530, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can request suspension of the SIM1 Internet data tunneled PDU session. As a result of the actions at 524, 526, 528, and 530, SIM1 has an active Internet data PDU session using SIM and a suspended (standby) Internet data tunneled PDU session via SIM2. Thus, the SIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can have multiple Internet data PDU sessions established using different SIMs / eSIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102, where only one of the multiple PDU sessions will be active at a time. At 532, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is registered using both SIMs and is capable of initiating or receiving voice or video connections with either SIM. At 552, the IMS network element 312 initiates a voice or video connection for SIM2 by sending a page for a VoLTE or VoNR call to SIM2 302-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102.At 554, SIM2 302-2 sends a message to SIM1 302-1 indicating a request to use radio frequency (RF) resources for an incoming VoLTE or VoNR call. Since the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can only support one SIM’s active connection at a time, when a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call is established for SIM2, SIM1 cannot use the internet data PDU session via SIM1 and must instead use the internet data tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. At 556, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 sends a request to suspend the SIM1 PDU session identified by session ID “A.” The request can also include a linked PDU session ID that is based on a combination of the SIM2 identifier and the internet data tunnel PDU session ID for SIM1 via SIM2 (“B”). The request at 556 suspends the SIM1 non-tunnel internet data PDU session and indicates the linked PDU session ID for the tunnel internet data PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. The request at 556 informs the network that SIM1 internet data communications should be routed via SIM2 on the tunnel internet data PDU session ID. At 558, SIM1 302-1 sends a message to SIM2 302-2 to authorize SIM2 302-2 to use the RF resources to establish the mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2. At 560, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call is active. At 562, SIM2 302-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 sends a request to the core network to activate the previously established and suspended internet data tunnel PDU session for SIM1. The internet data tunnel PDU session for SIM1 (via SIM2) is identified by the SIM2 PDU session ID value “B” and is also identified as having a linked PDU session ID with a value that is based on a combination of the SIM1 identifier and the SIM1 internet data PDU session ID value “A.” In some embodiments, the SIM1 identifier is the 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM1 and the SIM2 identifier is the 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM2. At 564, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can exchange application data with the application server 504 for the application of SIM1 via the internet data tunnel PDU session established through SIM2 while the VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 is active. Data traffic for the application data exchange over the internet data tunnel PDU session can be counted and billed, for example, by the user plane function (UPF) 502 core network element, against SIM1 (for which the internet data service applies) and not against SIM2 (for which the resources are used to transfer the data traffic via the tunnel).

[0046] Figure 6 Illustration 600 shows a set of exemplary actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 to establish a Visual Voice Mail (VVM) PDU session tunnel for multiple SIMs / eSIMs associated with a public service PLMN. The multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may include a first SIM / eSIM designated SIM1 302-1 and a second SIM / eSIM designated SIM2 302-2. At 620, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 may register SIM1 302-1 with network elements of a 5G network, for example, via a radio access network (RAN) 306 to an access and mobility management function (AMF) 308 and a session management function (SMF) 310. In some embodiments, when registering the first SIM, such as SIM1 302-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM radio device 102 provides information about the second SIM, such as SIM2 302-2. The information about the second SIM may include one or more identifiers of the second SIM, such as IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI values. When registering the first SIM, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 may also provide the mobile network operator (MNO) information for the second SIM. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 may indicate device support for the multi-SIM tunneling feature and may obtain information about network support for the multi-SIM tunneling feature during registration. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capability for one or more specific services during registration, and the network to which the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers may indicate the services for which multi-SIM tunneling capability is granted. In some embodiments, the network may indicate support for multi-SIM tunneling via one or more dedicated bearers, which are used to carry the tunneling traffic of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102's SIM / eSIM. At 622, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 may register SIM2 302-2 with network elements of the 5G network. Figure 6In some embodiments, SIM1 302-1 and SIM2 302-2 can each be associated with the same MNO, and thus registration can be to the same network elements of the common core network. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can indicate support for the multi-SIM tunneling feature and obtain information about network support for the multi-SIM tunneling feature when registering SIM2 302-2. As described above, in some embodiments, the network can indicate support for implementing multi-SIM tunneling over one or more dedicated bearers for carrying tunneled traffic for the SIM / eSIM of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide an identifier for the SIM1 302-1 and SIM1 MNO information. At 624, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish a VVM PDU session for SIM1 using SIM1, identifying “vvm” as the DNN for the service of the VVM PDU session. The SIM1 VVM PDU session can be assigned a numerical integer identifier, e.g., “C.” At 626, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish a separate VVM PDU session for SIM2 using SIM2, identifying “vvm” as the DNN for the service of the VVM PDU session. The SIM2 VVM PDU session can be assigned a numerical integer identifier, e.g., “C.” At 630, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is registered using both SIMs and is able to initiate or receive voice or video connections with either SIM. At 632, the IMS network element 312 initiates a voice or video connection for SIM2 by sending a page for a VoLTE or VoNR call to SIM2 302-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. At 634, SIM2 302-2 sends a message to SIM1 302-1 indicating a request to use radio frequency (RF) resources for an incoming VoLTE or VoNR call. Since the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can only support one active connection for a SIM at a time, SIM1 cannot use the VVM PDU session via SIM1 when a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call is established for SIM2. At 636, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 sends a request to suspend the SIM1 VVM PDU session identified by session ID “C.” At 638, SIM1 302-1 sends a message to SIM2 302-2 to authorize SIM2 302-2 to use RF resources to establish the mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2. At 640, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call is active.At 642, the cellular wireless network (associated with both SIM1 302-1 and SIM2 302-2) can establish a dedicated bearer associated with the “vmm” DNN to carry VVM traffic for SIM1 via SIM2 while SIM2 is in an active VoLTE or VoNR call. The cellular wireless network can establish the dedicated bearer based on the knowledge that the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 supports the multi-SIM tunneling feature, that SIM2 will be used for an active VoLTE or VoNR call, and that the SIM1 VVM PDU session is suspended. Alternatively, after 640, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can send a request to the cellular wireless network to establish a dedicated bearer for SIM1 via SIM2, and the cellular wireless network can accept the request, and the establishment of the VVM PDU session tunnel can continue at 642, as previously described. Quality of service (QoS) rules applied to traffic routing over the dedicated bearer can be based on the QoS rules for SIM1 for the VVM PDU session, and additionally based on the SIM1 identifier value (such as a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI value). The QoS rules applicable to SIM1 traffic can be reused, and additionally, it can be enforced that only traffic originating from SIM1 can be exchanged via the dedicated bearer, even though the bearer is established via SIM2. At 644, after the dedicated bearer is established, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can receive incoming VVM information, and also request the VVM information via the dedicated bearer.

[0047] Figure 7 A diagram 700 is shown illustrating a set of exemplary network elements of a 5G network for implementing PDU session tunneling for a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. Network elements that can be modified to support the multi-SIM tunneling feature and data tunneling as described herein can include those network elements indicated by the dashed outline. Representative affected network elements include access network elements, such as a next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) 306, and access points 722 for non-cellular wireless networks. In addition, core network elements that can need to be modified to support the multi-SIM tunneling feature and data tunneling described herein include an access and mobility management function (AMF) 308, a session management function (SMF) 702, a user plane function (UPF) 706-1, a policy control function (PCF) 712, a unified data management (UDM) 710, an authentication server function (716), and an N3 (user plane interface) interworking function (N3-IWF) 720.

[0048] Figure 8An illustration 800 showing a set of exemplary network elements for implementing tunnels with multiplexed data traffic for multiple SIMs / eSIMs of a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is shown. During registration of one or more SIMs / eSIMs, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can indicate multi-SIM / eSIM capability to the network elements and provide information about the SIMs / eSIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. Representative information can include SIM / eSIM identifiers. When the radio access network of the cellular wireless network supporting the multi-SIM / eSIM registration supports the use of a second SIM (e.g., SIM2) for a data tunnel for a first SIM (e.g., SIM1), a data connection can be established using SIM2 when SIM2 is also to be used in parallel for another active connection (e.g., a voice or video connection via SIM2), where the active connection via SIM1 is not allowed in parallel with the active SIM2 connection. The cellular wireless network can allocate a new data radio bearer (DRB) to SIM2 for the data tunnel to SIM1. Traffic on the connection between the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 and the access network, e.g., to the NG-RAN 306, can be multiplexed and include a data radio bearer for SIM2 traffic and a separate data radio bearer for SIM1 traffic. The access network can separate the multiplexed data traffic based on the identifiers of the respective SIMs included in the protocol headers of the data packets or based on independent logical channel identifiers (LCIDs) allocated to each bearer. The access network can have separate N3 tunnels to the UPF 706 for each SIM, e.g., a first N3 tunnel for SIM1 and a second N3 tunnel for SIM2, and data counting and charging of the data traffic for each SIM can apply to the separate subscription of the respective SIM even though the data traffic is multiplexed over a common radio access connection. For an incoming mobile terminated voice or video connection request for SIM1, the cellular wireless network can attempt to contact the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 by sending a page directly (over its default radio access network) to SIM1, and when no response from the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 occurs (e.g., because the radio of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is being used for a voice or video connection of SIM2), the radio access network can route session initiation protocol (SIP) signaling for the voice or video connection request for SIM1 via the data tunnel connection established for SIM1 traffic through SIM2. The traffic for each SIM can be counted and charged to the respective SIM appropriately even when multiplexed.

[0049] In some embodiments, when wireless bearer traffic (which can include signaling or data traffic) is requested to be tunneled, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device can use a non-access stratum (NAS) radio bearer PDU with the same format as an access stratum (AS) PDU. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network can assign a data radio bearer for each additional SIM that can transmit tunneled traffic. If a radio link failure (RLF) occurs, the SIM with the affected tunneled traffic can be notified to trigger the applicable recovery procedure. In some embodiments, for transmission of NAS signaling, IMS traffic, Internet data, and / or other IP-based traffic, the SIM with an active connection can provide the other SIMs with the tunnel bearers through which their respective signaling and / or data traffic can be encapsulated and carried.

[0050] Figure 9A An illustration 900 of an exemplary PDCP PDU header including tunnel information is shown. In some embodiments, a bit, e.g., the second bit labeled “TH” in octet 1, can be reserved to indicate the presence of tunnel header information in the PDCP PDU. In some embodiments, the tunnel header information can include a SIM identifier of the SIM to which the data traffic is applied, e.g., an 80-bit long 5G-GUTI contained in octets 4-13 of the PDCP PDU, or an alternative unique identifier, e.g., a 48-bit long 5G serving temporary mobile user identity (S-TMSI), which is a shortened form of the 5G-GUTI, which can be contained in octets 4-9 of the PDCP PDU, as shown in illustration 950 in Figure 9B The radio access network element, e.g., gNodeB or equivalent, can maintain a table mapping between the SIM identifier value, e.g., 5G-GUTI value, and the corresponding N3 GTP-U tunnel. The gNodeB can separate the multiplexed uplink data packets received from the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 for routing onto their respective N3 GTP-U tunnels. The gNodeB can also multiplex the data traffic received on multiple N3 GTP-U tunnels together to combine them into a single radio resource control (RRC) connection to the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102.

[0051] In some embodiments, a separate logical channel identifier (LCID) can be assigned for the tunnel data radio bearer carrying the tunneled traffic, and the access network element, e.g., gNodeB, can route the traffic for different SIMs to the applicable N3 GTP-U tunnel based on the LCID mapping.

[0052] In some embodiments, NAS level security and, when enabled, DRB integrity protection can be performed by the respective SIM that initiates the traffic, while AS level security can be provided by the SIM that carries the tunneled traffic. In some embodiments, NAS signaling radio bearer (SRB) messages for the tunneled SIM can only be accepted for SIM transport after a tunnel data radio bearer (DRB) has been established by the transport SIM for the tunneled SIM.

[0053] Figure 10 A diagram 1000 illustrating a network architecture for data tunneling between different session management functions (SMFs) 702 is shown. A first SIM (SIM1) 302-1 of a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is associated with a first network (H1), while a second SIM (SIM2) 302-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is associated with a second network (H2). In some embodiments, H1 and H2 belong to the same PLMN, while in other embodiments, H1 and H2 belong to different PLMNs. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is connected to RANs 306-1, 306-2 of the respective networks H1, H2 via Uu interfaces. The RANs 306-1, 306-2 are connected to AMFs 308-1, 308-2 of the respective networks H1, H2 via N2 interfaces. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 is also connected to the AMFs 308-1, 308-2 via N1 interfaces. The AMFs 308-1, 308-2 are also connected to PCFs 712-1, 712-2 via N15 interfaces, and to SMFs 702-1, 702-2 via N11 interfaces. The SMFs 702-1, 702-2 are connected to respective UPFs 706-1, 706-2 via N4 interfaces, where the UPFs 706-1, 706-2 provide N6 interface connections to data networks (DNs) 708-1, 708-2. The SMFs 702-1, 702-2 are interconnected to each other via N16 interfaces, and also to security edge protection proxies (SEPPs) 1002-1, 1002-2 that are interconnected via N32 interfaces. Data transferred via inter-SMF data tunneling PDU sessions between different SMFs follows the indicated dashed-line paths. For inter-PLMN scenarios, where H1 and H2 networks are in different PLMNs, each PLMN can implement a proxy function to establish secure interconnection to each other and hide their respective network topologies on the inter-PLMN interfaces.

[0054] Figure 11A and Figure 11BA diagram 1100, 1150 showing a set of exemplary actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to establish UE-initiated (mobile originated (MO)) internet data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs / eSIMs associated with different serving SMFs 410-1, 410-2, which can be in the same PLMN (intra-PLMN, inter-SMF data tunnel) or different PLMNs (inter-PLMN, inter-SMF data tunnel). The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can include a first SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM1 302-1 and a second SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM2 302-2. At 1120, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register the SIM 402-1 with network elements of a first 5G network NW1, e.g., via a RAN 406-1 to an AMF1 408-1 and a SMF1 410-1. In some embodiments, when registering the first SIM, e.g., SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 provides information for a second SIM, e.g., SIM2 402-2. The information for the second SIM can include one or more identifiers for the second SIM, e.g., an IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI value. When registering the SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide information about the second network NW2 for the MNO associated with the SIM2 402-2. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also indicate device support for multi-SIM tunneling features, and can obtain information from the first network NW1 when registering the SIM1 402-1 indicating the capability of the first network NW1 to support multi-SIM tunneling features for the second network NW2. At 1124, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish an internet data PDU session for SIM1 using SIM1 through the first network NW1, identifying “Internet” as the DNN for the service for the internet data PDU session. The SIM1 internet data PDU session can be assigned a numerical integer identifier, e.g., “A”. At 1126, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register the SIM2 402-2 with network elements of a second 5G network NW2. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide multi-SIM tunneling feature capability information to the second network NW2, and obtain information when registering the SIM2 402-2 about the capability of the second network to support multi-SIM tunneling features for the first network NW1. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide an identifier for the SIM1 402-1 and SIM1 MNO information.In some embodiments, during registration with the first network NW1 and / or the second network NW2, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capability for one or more particular services, and the first and / or second network NW1, NW2 with which the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers can indicate the services for which multi-SIM tunneling capability is granted. At 1127, the security edge protection proxy (SEPP) of the respective first network NW1 and second network NW2 establishes an N16 interface between the SMF1 410-1 of NW1 and the SMF2 410-2 of NW2 using SEPP procedures. The SEPP can set security policies for inter-SMF (intra- or inter-PLMN) control plane interfaces via an N32 interface. At 1128, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish a second internet data PDU session for SIM1 through the second network NW2, where the second internet data PDU session is a tunneled PDU session for SIM1 using SIM2, identifying “Internet” as the DNN for the service and assigning a different numeric integer identifier, e.g., “B”. The tunneled PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2 can also be assigned a unique linked PDU session identifier (ID), e.g., by combining the unique SIM1 identifier with the previous SIM1 internet data PDU session ID (“A”). The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can provide the unique linked PDU session ID when sending a request to the second network NW2 to establish the tunneled PDU session, and the second network NW2 can include the unique linked PDU session ID when providing a response accepting establishment of the tunneled PDU session. In some embodiments, the absence of a linked PDU session ID in the response from the second network NW2 can indicate that the second network NW2 is unable to link an active PDU session and a standby (tunneled) PDU session together, so that multi-SIM tunneling capability using linked PDU session features can not be supported by the second network NW2. At 1130, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can request suspension of the SIM1 internet data tunneled PDU session. As a result of the actions at 1124, 1126, 1127, and 1128, SIM1 has an active internet data PDU session using SIM1 through the first network NW1 and a suspended (standby) internet data tunneled PDU session via SIM2 through the second network NW2. Thus, a SIM of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can have multiple internet data PDU sessions established through different wireless networks using different SIMs / eSIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102, where only one of the multiple PDU sessions will be active at a time.At 1132, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers with both networks NW1 and NW2 using the respective SIMs and is able to initiate or receive voice or video connections with either SIM. At 1152, the IMS network element 312 initiates a voice or video connection for SIM2 by sending a page for a VoLTE or VoNR call to the SIM2 402-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. At 1154, the SIM2 402-2 sends a message to the SIM1 402-1 indicating a request to use radio frequency (RF) resources for an incoming VoLTE or VoNR call. Since the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can only support an active connection for one SIM at a time, when a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call is established for SIM2, SIM1 cannot use the Internet Data PDU session via SIM1 and must instead use the Internet Data Tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. At 1156, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device sends a request to suspend the SIM1 PDU session identified by session ID “A”. The request can also include a linked PDU session ID that is based on a combination of the SIM2 identifier and the Internet Data Tunnel PDU session ID for SIM1 via SIM2 (“B”). The request at 1156 suspends the SIM1 non-tunnel Internet Data PDU session and indicates the linked PDU session ID for the tunnel Internet Data PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. The request at 1156 informs the first network NW1 that SIM1 data communications should be routed over the second network NW2 on the tunnel Internet Data PDU session via SIM2. At 1158, the SIM1 402-1 sends a message to the SIM2 402-2 to authorize the SIM2 402-2 to use RF resources to establish the mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 via the second network NW2. At 1160, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call is active via NW2. At 1162, the SIM2 402-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 sends a request to the core network of the second network NW2 to activate the previously established and suspended Internet Data Tunnel PDU session for SIM1. The Internet Data Tunnel PDU session for SIM1 (via SIM2) is identified by the SIM2 PDU session ID value “B” and is also identified as having a linked PDU session ID with a value that is based on a combination of the SIM1 identifier and the SIM1 Internet Data PDU session ID value “A”. In some embodiments, the SIM1 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM1 and the SIM2 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM2.At 1164, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can exchange application data with the application server 504 for the application of SIM1 via the internet data tunnel PDU session established through SIM2 while the VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 is active. The data traffic for the application data exchange over the internet data tunnel PDU session can be counted, for example, through a user plane function (UPF) 706-2 core network element (not shown), and a cumulative data usage report for the internet data tunnel PDU session can be forwarded to the appropriate network elements of NW1 to charge / account for SIM1 (the internet data service applies to it) and not for SIM2 (the resources are used to transfer data traffic via the tunnel). At 1166, the SMF2 410-2 provides a cumulative data usage report to the SMF1 410-1 via the N16 interface regarding the data bytes (and / or accumulated time) consumed by the tunnel internet data PDU session. The cumulative data usage report can be communicated between the SMFs using a modified SEPP protocol message. At 1168, the SMF1 410-1 forwards the cumulative data usage report (or information extracted therefrom regarding the data bytes consumed and / or the time accumulated) to the PCF 712-1 of NW1 for counting / billing purposes. The PCF 712-1 of NW1 can take into account the cumulative data usage via the tunnel internet data PDU session to SIM1.

[0055] Figure 12A and Figure 12BFigures 1200, 1250 show illustrations of a set of exemplary actions taken by a multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to establish NW-initiated (mobile terminated (MT)) internet data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs / eSIMs associated with different serving SMFs 410-1, 410-2, which can be in the same PLMN (intra-PLMN, inter-SMF data tunnel) or different PLMNs (inter-PLMN, inter-SMF data tunnel). The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can include a first SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM1 302-1 and a second SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM2 302-2. At 1220, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register the SIM1 402-1 with network elements of a first 5G network NW1, e.g., via RAN1 406-1 to AMF1 408-1 and SMF1 410-1. In some embodiments, when registering the first SIM, e.g., SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 provides information for a second SIM, e.g., SIM2 402-2. The information for the second SIM can include one or more identifiers for the second SIM, e.g., IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI values. When registering SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide information for the MNO associated with SIM2 402-2 about the second network NW2. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also indicate device support for multi-SIM tunneling features, and can obtain information from the first network NW1 when registering SIM1 402-1 indicating the capability of the first network NW1 to support multi-SIM tunneling features for the second network NW2. At 1224, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish an internet data PDU session for SIM1 using SIM1 through the first network NW1, identifying “Internet” as the DNN for the service for the internet data PDU session. The SIM1 internet data PDU session can be assigned a numerical integer identifier, e.g., “A”. At 1226, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register SIM2 402-2 with network elements of a second 5G network NW2. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide multi-SIM tunneling feature capability information to the second network NW2, and obtain information when registering SIM2 402-2 about the capability of the second network to support multi-SIM tunneling features for the first network NW1. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide an identifier for the SIM1 402-1 and SIM1 MNO information.In some embodiments, during registration with the first network NW1 and / or the second network NW2, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capability for one or more particular services, and the first and / or second network NW1, NW2 with which the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers can indicate the services for which multi-SIM tunneling capability is granted. At 1227, the security edge protection proxy (SEPP) of the respective first network NW1 and second network NW2 establishes an N16 interface between the SMF1 410-1 of NW1 and the SMF2 410-2 of NW2 using SEPP procedures. The SEPP can set security policies for inter-SMF (intra- or inter-PLMN) control plane interfaces via an N32 interface. At 1228, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish a second internet data PDU session for SIM1 through the second network NW2, where the second internet data PDU session is a tunneled PDU session for SIM1 using SIM2, identifying “Internet” as the DNN for the service and assigning a different numeric integer identifier, e.g., “B”. The tunneled PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2 can also be assigned a unique linked PDU session identifier (ID), e.g., by combining the unique SIM1 identifier with the previous SIM1 internet data PDU session ID (“A”). The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can provide the unique linked PDU session ID when sending a request to the second network NW2 to establish the tunneled PDU session, and the second network NW2 can include the unique linked PDU session ID when providing a response accepting establishment of the tunneled PDU session. In some embodiments, the absence of a linked PDU session ID in the response from the second network NW2 can indicate that the second network NW2 is unable to link an active PDU session and a standby (tunneled) PDU session together, so that multi-SIM tunneling capability using linked PDU session features can not be supported by the second network NW2. At 1230, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can request suspension of the SIM1 internet data tunneled PDU session. As a result of the actions at 1224, 1226, 1227, and 1228, SIM1 has an active internet data PDU session using SIM1 through the first network NW1 and a suspended (standby) internet data tunneled PDU session via SIM2 through the second network NW2. Thus, a SIM of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can have multiple internet data PDU sessions established through different wireless networks using different SIMs / eSIMs of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102, where only one of the multiple PDU sessions will be active at a time.At 1232, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers with both networks NW1 and NW2 using the respective SIMs and is able to initiate or receive voice or video connections with either SIM. At 1242, the IMS network element 312 initiates a voice or video connection for SIM2 by sending a page for a VoLTE or VoNR call to the SIM2 402-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. At 1244, the SIM2 402-2 sends a message to the SIM1 402-1 indicating a request to use radio frequency (RF) resources for an incoming VoLTE or VoNR call. Since the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can only support an active connection for one SIM at a time, when a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call is established for SIM2, SIM1 cannot use the Internet Data PDU session via SIM1 and must instead use the Internet Data Tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. At 1246, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device sends a request to suspend the SIM1 PDU session identified by session ID “A”. The request can also include a linked PDU session ID that is based on a combination of the SIM2 identifier and the Internet Data Tunnel PDU session ID for SIM1 via SIM2 (“B”). The request at 1156 suspends the SIM1 non-tunnel Internet Data PDU session and indicates the linked PDU session ID for the tunnel Internet Data PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. The request at 1156 informs the first network NW1 that SIM1 data communications should be routed over the second network NW2 on the tunnel Internet Data PDU session via SIM2. At 1248, the SIM1 402-1 sends a message to the SIM2 402-2 to authorize the SIM2 402-2 to use RF resources to establish the mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 via the second network NW2. At 1252, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call is active via NW2. At 1254, a network initiated mobile terminated (MT) page for a VoIP or Facetime connection to the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 via the application server 1104 fails for SIM1 because SIM1 is unreachable (deactivated). At 1256, the SMF1 410-1 sends a message to the SMF2 410-2 to provide resources for the MT page via the Internet Data PDU tunnel session. The communication between the SMF1 410-1 and the SMF2 410-2 can occur via the previously established N16 interface. At 1258, the SIM2 402-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 sends a request to the core network of the second network NW2 to activate the previously established and suspended Internet Data Tunnel PDU session for SIM1.The Internet Data Tunnel PDU session for SIM1 (via SIM2) is identified by the SIM2 PDU session ID value "B" and is also identified as a linked PDU session ID with a value based on a combination of the SIM1 identifier and the SIM1 Internet Data PDU session ID value "A". In some embodiments, the SIM1 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM1 and the SIM2 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM2. The Internet Data Tunnel PDU session for SIM1 (via SIM2) can be used whenever the user of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 initiates a data session. At 1260, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can exchange application data with the application server 1104 for the application of SIM1 via the Internet Data Tunnel PDU session established through SIM2 while a VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 is active. Data traffic for the exchange of application data over the Internet Data Tunnel PDU session can be counted, for example, by a user plane function (UPF) 706-2 core network element (not shown) and a cumulative data usage report for the Internet Data Tunnel PDU session can be forwarded to the appropriate network element of NW1 to charge / account for SIM1 (for which the Internet Data service applies) and not for SIM2 (for which the resources are used to transfer data traffic via the tunnel). At 1262, the SMF2 410-2 provides a cumulative data usage report to the SMF1 410-1 via the N16 interface regarding the data bytes (and / or accumulated time) consumed by the tunnel Internet Data PDU session. The cumulative data usage report can be communicated between the SMFs using a modified Secure Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) protocol message. At 1264, the SMF1 410-1 forwards the cumulative data usage report (or information extracted therefrom regarding the data bytes consumed and / or the time accumulated) to the PCF 712-1 of NW1 for counting / billing purposes. The PCF 712-1 of NW1 can take into account the cumulative data usage via the tunnel Internet Data PDU session to SIM1.

[0056] Figure 13A and Figure 13B FIGS. 1300, 1350 show another set of example actions taken by the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 to establish Internet Data PDU session tunnels for multiple SIMs associated with different SMFs 410-1, 410-2, which can be in the same PLMN (in-PLMN, inter-SMF data tunnel) or different PLMNs (inter-PLMN, inter-SMF data tunnel). Figure 13A and 13BThe illustrated set of actions provides a streamlined (optimized) approach to establishing a UE-initiated (mobile originated (MO)) or NW-initiated (mobile terminated (MT)) Internet Data PDU session tunnel. Based on one SIM being used for an active voice connection, an Internet Data tunnel PDU session is created for the other SIM only when needed. This approach saves network-side and device-side resources because the tunnel PDU session is not activated and suspended, but rather created as needed by the SIM, which will deactivate when the other SIM actively uses the radio resources for a voice connection. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can include a first SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM1 302-1 and a second SIM / eSIM indicated as SIM2 302-2. At 1320, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register the SIM1 402-1 with network elements of the first 5G network NW1, e.g., via the RAN1 406-1 to the AMF1 408-1 and the SMF1 410-1. In some embodiments, when registering the first SIM, e.g., SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 provides information for the second SIM, e.g., SIM2 402-2. The information for the second SIM can include one or more identifiers for the second SIM, e.g., an IMSI, 5G-GUTI, MSISDN, SUPI, and / or SUCI value. When registering the SIM1 402-1, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide information for the MNO associated with the SIM2 402-2 regarding the second network NW2. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also indicate device support for the multi-SIM tunnel feature, and when registering the SIM1 402-1 can obtain information from the first network NW1 indicating the capability of the first network NW1 to support the multi-SIM tunnel feature for the second network NW2. At 1324, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish an Internet Data PDU session for SIM1 using SIM1 through the first network NW1, identifying “Internet” as the DNN for the service for the Internet Data PDU session. The SIM1 Internet Data PDU session can be assigned a numeric integer identifier, e.g., “A”. At 1326, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can register the SIM2 402-2 with network elements of the second 5G network NW2. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide multi-SIM tunnel feature capability information to the second network NW2, and obtain information when registering the SIM2 402-2 regarding the capability of the second network to support the multi-SIM tunnel feature for the first network NW1. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can also provide an identifier for the SIM1 402-1 and the SIM1 MNO information.In some embodiments, during registration with the first network NW1 and / or the second network NW2, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 requests multi-SIM tunneling capability for one or more specific services, and the first and / or second network NW1, NW2 with which the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers can indicate the services for which multi-SIM tunneling capability is granted. At 1328, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 registers with both networks NW1 and NW2 using the respective SIMs and is able to initiate or receive voice or video connections with either SIM. At 1330, the IMS network element 312 initiates a voice or video connection for SIM2 by sending a page for a VoLTE or VoNR call to SIM2 402-2 of the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102. At 1332, SIM2 402-2 sends a message to SIM1 402-1 indicating a request to use radio frequency (RF) resources for an incoming VoLTE or VoNR call. Since the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can only support an active connection for one SIM at a time, when a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call is established for SIM2, SIM1 cannot use the internet data PDU session via SIM1 and must instead use the internet data tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. The internet data tunnel PDU session is used as needed. Figure 13A and Figure 13BNW2, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can establish a second Internet data PDU session for SIM1 over the second network NW2, where the second Internet data PDU session is using the tunnel PDU session for SIM1 using SIM2, thereby identifying “Internet” as the DNN for the service and assigning a different numeric integer identifier, e.g., “B”. The tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2 can also be assigned a unique linked PDU session identifier (ID), e.g., by combining a unique SIM1 identifier with the previous SIM1 Internet data PDU session ID (“A”). In some embodiments, the SIM1 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI for SIM1 and the SIM2 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI for SIM2. The multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can provide the unique linked PDU session ID when sending the request to the second network NW2 to establish the tunnel PDU session, and the second network NW2 can include the unique linked PDU session ID when providing the response accepting the establishment of the tunnel PDU session. In some embodiments, the absence of the linked PDU session ID in the response from the second network NW2 can indicate that the second network NW2 is not capable of linking the active PDU session and the standby (tunnel) PDU session together, so the multi-SIM tunneling capability using the linked PDU session feature can not be supported by the second network NW2. At 1354, SIM1 402-1 sends a message to SIM2 402-2 to authorize SIM2 402-2 to use the RF resources to establish a mobile terminated VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 via the second network NW2.At 1356, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call is active via NW2. At 1358, the multi-SIM / eSIM wireless device 102 can exchange application data with the application server 504 for the application of SIM1 via the internet data tunnel PDU session established by SIM2, while the VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 is active. Data traffic for the application data exchange over the internet data tunnel PDU session can be counted, for example, by a user plane function (UPF) 706-2 core network element (not shown), and a cumulative data usage report for the internet data tunnel PDU session can be forwarded to the appropriate network element of NW1 for charging / billing for SIM1 (the internet data service applies to it) and not for SIM2 (resources are used to transfer data traffic via the tunnel). At 1360, the SIM2 VoLTE or VoNR call for SIM2 via the second network NW2 ends. At 1362, the SIM2 402-2 requests release of the internet data tunnel PDU session for SIM1 via SIM2. At 1362, the internet data tunnel PDU session is identified in the request by the PDU session ID “B” and a linked PDU session ID based on a combination of the SIM1 identifier and the SIM1 internet data PDU session ID “A”. In some embodiments, the SIM1 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM1, and the SIM2 identifier is a 5G-GUTI, SUPI, or SUCI of SIM2. At 1364, the SMF2 410-2 provides a cumulative data usage report to the SMF1 410-1 via the N16 interface regarding the data bytes (and / or accumulated time) consumed by the tunnel internet data PDU session. The cumulative data usage report can be communicated between the SMFs using a modified SEPP protocol message. At 1366, the SMF1 410-1 forwards the cumulative data usage report (or information extracted therefrom regarding the data bytes consumed and / or the time accumulated) to the PCF 712-1 of NW1 for counting / billing purposes. The PCF 712-1 of NW1 can take into account the cumulative data usage via the tunnel internet data PDU session to SIM1.

[0057] Figure 14A and Figure 14BIllustrations 1400, 1410, 1420, 1430 show accumulative data usage reporting between SMFs. A UPF 706 of a network can provide a report of accumulative data usage to an SMF 702 of the network. The report can provide information of data bytes and / or accumulative time of tunnel internet data PDU session consumption. In some scenarios, the UPF 706 can provide the accumulative data usage report to a visited SMF (V-SMF), which can be forwarded to a home SMF (H-SMF). In some embodiments, the accumulative data usage report is communicated between different SMFs using SMF service messages. Representative SMF service messages that can include accumulative data usage reports include the Release message and the StatusNotify message shown in the table of illustration 1410. The communication of accumulative data usage reports between SMFs can be included in an information element (IE) of a Nsmf_PDUSession_Subscribe message as shown in illustration 1420, or in a Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateRequest message as shown in illustration 1430. The receiving SMF can respond to the Nsmf_PDUSession_Subscribe message with a Nsmf_PDUSession_StatusNotify message as shown in illustration 1420. Alternatively, the receiving SMF can respond to the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateRequest message with a Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateResponse message as shown in illustration 1430. In some embodiments, an SMF can use the Nsmf_PDUSession_StatusNotify service operation to notify its consumer of the status of a PDU session, which can include data consumed by a released PDU session, such as for an internet data tunnel PDU session. In some embodiments, the accumulative usage data report can be communicated via the Nsmf_PDUSession_StatusNotify service operation message, which includes data consumed and / or accumulative duration by a released linked PDU session. In some embodiments, the accumulative usage data report can be communicated via the Nsmf_PDUSession_Release service operation message, which includes data consumed and / or accumulative duration by a released linked PDU session.

[0058] Representative embodiments

[0059] In some embodiments, a method of accessing services of multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) by a single radio wireless device in communication with a cellular wireless network includes: i) establishing a first protocol data unit (PDU) session for a first SIM to access a first cellular service; ii) establishing a second PDU session for a second SIM to access a second cellular service; iii) using the second SIM for the first SIM to establish a tunneled PDU session using a same data network name (DNN) for the first SIM to access the first cellular service; iv) requesting suspension of the tunneled PDU session; v) in response to receiving a paging indication or a non-access stratum (NAS) notification message establishing a connection for the second SIM, a) requesting suspension of the first PDU session for the first SIM, and b) using the second PDU session for the second SIM to establish the connection for the second SIM; and vi) requesting activation of the tunneled PDU session for the first SIM via the second SIM, wherein signaling and / or data traffic of the first SIM is transmitted via the tunneled PDU session via the second SIM.

[0060] In some embodiments, the NAS notification message is received via 3GPP access. In some embodiments, the NAS notification message is received via non-3GPP access indicating an access type is 3GPP access. In some embodiments, the method further includes the single radio wireless device providing information of the first SIM during registration of the second SIM with the cellular wireless network. In some embodiments, the information of the first SIM includes one or more identifiers of the first SIM. In some embodiments, the one or more identifiers of the first SIM include an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a 5th Generation Global Unique Temporary Identity (5G-GUTI), a Mobile Station International User Directory Number (MSFDD), a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), and / or a Subscription Concealed Identifier (SUCI). In some embodiments, the first SIM and the second SIM are associated with different mobile network operators (MNOs), and the information of the first SIM includes MNO and / or PLMN information of the first SIM. In some embodiments, the single radio wireless device indicates support for multiple SIM (multi-SIM) tunneling capability during registration of the second SIM with the cellular wireless network. In some embodiments, the single radio wireless device obtains an indication from the cellular wireless network of support for multi-SIM tunneling during registration of the second SIM with the cellular wireless network. In some embodiments, the single radio wireless device obtains an indication from the cellular wireless network of one or more cellular services authorized for multi-SIM tunneling capability during registration of the second SIM with the cellular wireless network. In some embodiments, each of the first PDU session for the first SIM, the second PDU session for the second SIM, and the tunnel PDU session for the first SIM via the second SIM is an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) PDU session. In some embodiments, each of the first PDU session for the first SIM, the second PDU session for the second SIM, and the tunnel PDU session for the first SIM via the second SIM is an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) PDU session, a Short Message Service (SMS) session, a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) session, a Visual Voice Mail (VVM) session, etc. In some embodiments, a unique linked PDU session identifier (ID) is assigned for the tunnel PDU session, the unique linked PDU session identifier (ID) combining a unique identifier of the first SIM with a PDU session ID of the first PDU session for the first SIM; and the unique linked PDU session ID is included when requesting establishment of the tunnel PDU session.In some embodiments, at any time, none or only one of: i) the first PDU session for the first SIM, or ii) the tunnel PDU session for the first SIM via the second SIM is active. In some embodiments, the data traffic of the first SIM transmitted via the tunnel PDU session via the second SIM is assigned to the first SIM rather than the second SIM for charging and / or counting purposes. In some embodiments, the second SIM sends a request to the first SIM to access radio frequency (RF) resources to establish the connection for the second SIM; and the first SIM authorizes the request of the RF resources to establish the connection for the second SIM. In some embodiments, the first SIM and the second SIM are associated with different mobile network operators (MNOs); and a session management function (SMF) of the cellular wireless network associated with the second SIM communicates tunnel data traffic of the first SIM with a corresponding SMF of a cellular wireless network associated with the first SIM using a secure edge protection proxy (SEPP) protocol. In some embodiments, the corresponding SMF of the cellular wireless network associated with the first SIM forwards tunnel data traffic of the first SIM to a policy control function (PCF) of the cellular wireless network associated with the first SIM for charging and / or counting purposes. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network configures a separate data radio bearer (DRB) for the second SIM to carry the data traffic tunneled for the first SIM. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network configures one or more quality of service (QoS) rules to cause internet protocol (IP) traffic belonging to the first SIM to be routed via the newly configured DRB on the second SIM. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network configures a split DRB and assigns two separate logical channel identifiers (LCIDs), including a first LCID assigned to the second SIM to carry its own traffic and a second LCID assigned to the second SIM to carry the data traffic tunneled for the first SIM. In some embodiments, communications between the single radio wireless device and the cellular wireless network include a first data radio bearer for traffic associated with the second SIM and a second data radio bearer for tunnel traffic associated with the first SIM. In some embodiments, communications between the single radio wireless device and an access network of the cellular wireless network include multiplexed data packets for the first SIM and for the second SIM; and the access network separates the multiplexed data packets into separate streams based at least in part on identifiers of the respective SIMs included in protocol headers of the multiplexed data packets.Exemplary multiplexed data packet protocol headers include a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) header and a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) header.

[0061] In some embodiments, a cellular wireless network base station comprises: i) a wireless circuit for transmitting and receiving cellular wireless radio frequency signals; and ii) at least one processor communicatively coupled to the wireless circuit and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the cellular wireless network base station to perform a method of enabling a single radio wireless device to access services of a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) at least by: a) establishing a second protocol data unit (PDU) session for a second SIM of the single radio wireless device to access a cellular service; b) establishing, via the second SIM of the single radio wireless device, a tunneled PDU session for a first SIM of the single radio wireless device to access the cellular service; c) in response to receiving a request from the single radio wireless device, suspending the tunneled PDU session; d) sending a paging indication to the single radio wireless device to establish a connection for the second SIM; e) establishing the connection for the second SIM using the second PDU session for the second SIM; and f) activating the tunneled PDU session for the first SIM via the second SIM, wherein signaling and / or data traffic for the first SIM is transmitted via the second SIM via the tunneled PDU session.

[0062] In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network base station configures a separate data radio bearer (DRB) for the second SIM to carry the data traffic tunneled for the first SIM. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network base station configures one or more quality of service (QoS) rules to cause Internet Protocol (IP) traffic of the first SIM to be routed via the separate DRB associated with the second SIM. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless network base station configures a split data radio bearer (DRB) and allocates a first logical channel identifier (LCID) for the second SIM to carry data traffic associated with the second SIM and a second LCID for the second SIM to carry tunneled data traffic associated with the first SIM. In some embodiments, the communication between the single radio wireless device and the cellular wireless network base station includes a first data radio bearer for traffic associated with the second SIM and a second data radio bearer for tunneled traffic associated with the first SIM. In some embodiments, the communication between the single radio wireless device and the cellular wireless network base station includes multiplexed data packets for the first SIM and for the second SIM; and the cellular wireless network base station separates the multiplexed data packets into separate streams based at least in part on an identifier of the respective SIM included in a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) header or a service adaptation protocol (SDAP) header of the multiplexed data packets.

[0063] In some embodiments, an apparatus configured to operate in a single radio wireless device includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the single radio wireless device to perform a method of accessing services of multiple SIMs in communication with a cellular wireless network, as described herein.

[0064] In some embodiments, a single radio wireless device includes one or more antennas and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the one or more antennas and to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the single radio wireless device to perform a method of accessing services of multiple SIMs in communication with a cellular wireless network, as described herein.

[0065] In some embodiments, a cellular network base station includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the cellular network base station to perform a method of enabling a single radio wireless device to access services of multiple SIMs in communication with a cellular wireless network, as described herein.

[0066] Exemplary computing device

[0067] Figure 15 A detailed view of a computing device 1500, according to some embodiments, that can be used to implement the various components described herein. Specifically, the detailed view shows components that can be included... Figure 1 and Figure 2 Various components in the wireless device shown and / or described herein. For example... Figure 15 As shown, computing device 1500 may include a processor 1502 representing a microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation of computing device 1500. Computing device 1500 may also include a user input device 1508 that allows a user of computing device 1500 to interact with computing device 1500. For example, user input device 1508 may take various forms, such as buttons, keypads, dial pads, touchscreens, audio input interfaces, visual / image capture input interfaces, sensor data input, etc. Furthermore, computing device 1500 may include a display 1510 (screen display) that can be controlled by processor 1502 to display information to a user. Data bus 1516 facilitates data transfer between at least storage device 1540, processor 1502, and controller 1513. Controller 1513 can be used to interact with and control different devices via device control bus 1514. Computing device 1500 may also include a network / bus interface 1511 coupled to data link 1512. In the case of wireless connectivity, the network / bus interface 1511 may include a wireless transceiver.

[0068] The computing device 1500 also includes a storage device 1540 (which may include a single disk or multiple disks, such as a hard disk drive), and includes a storage management module for managing one or more partitions within the storage device 1540. In some embodiments, the storage device 1540 may include flash memory, semiconductor (solid-state) memory, etc. The computing device 1500 may also include random access memory (RAM) 1520 and read-only memory (ROM) 1522. ROM 1522 may store programs, utilities, or procedures that will be executed in a non-volatile manner. RAM 1520 may provide volatile data storage and store instructions related to the operation of the computing device 1500. The computing device 1500 may also include one or more UICCs / eUICCs 1550 capable of storing one or more SIMs and / or eSIMs.

[0069] wireless technology

[0070] According to various embodiments described herein, the terms "wireless communication device," "wireless device," "mobile device," "mobile station," and "user equipment" (UE) can be used interchangeably herein to describe one or any number of commonly-encountered consumer electronic devices that can have the ability to communicate wirelessly with cellular wireless access communication capabilities associated with various embodiments of the present disclosure. According to various implementations, any of these consumer electronic devices can involve cellular phones or smart phones, tablet computers, laptop or notebook computers, media player devices, electronic book devices,

[0071] Additionally, it should be appreciated that UEs described herein can be configured as multi-mode wireless devices capable of communicating via traditional third generation (3G) and / or second generation (2G) RATs in addition to being capable of communicating with 4G wireless networks and using one or more different wireless local area networks. Multi-mode user equipment (UE) can include support for communicating according to one or more different wireless communication protocols developed according to standards bodies such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), LTE, LTE-A, and 5G NR standards of 3GPP or the CDMA2000 (lxRTT, 2x EV-DO, HRPD, eHRPD) standards of 3GPP2. Multi-mode UEs can also support communication using wireless local area network protocols such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), and wireless personal area network protocols such as Bluetooth®. Multiple wireless communication protocols can provide complementary functionality and / or different services for multi-mode UEs.

[0072] It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize

[0073] ​The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described implementations can be used separately or in any combination. Further, some aspects of the described implementations can be implemented by software, hardware or by a combination of hardware and software. The described implementations can also be implemented as computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer readable medium can be associated with any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer or computer system. Examples of computer readable media include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, solid-state drives (SSDs or flash memory), HDDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer program code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

[0074] For the purposes of illustration, the foregoing description uses specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described implementations. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the implementations described need not include all of the specific details as some specific details can not be necessary to practice the implementations. Accordingly, the foregoing description of specific implementations is presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the disclosed implementations be limited only by the claims and equivalents.

Claims

1. A wireless device having a single radio, comprising: One or more antennas; and At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the one or more antennas and a memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless device to perform a method of accessing services of multiple Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) and / or Electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) communicating with a cellular wireless network by at least the following steps: During registration with the cellular wireless network, the wireless device is instructed to support multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling capabilities; During registration with the cellular wireless network, an indication is made to obtain support for multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling from the cellular wireless network, the indication including i) data tunneling for the first SIM or eSIM via the second SIM or eSIM, and ii) data counting and billing for tunnel data traffic of the first SIM or eSIM transmitted via the second SIM or eSIM are applied to the subscription of the first SIM or eSIM; Establish a connection to the access network of the cellular wireless network, wherein the connection supports data tunneling via a second SIM or eSIM for a first SIM or eSIM; as well as Transmit multiplexed packet data convergence protocol data units (PDCP PDUs) for the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM via the connection. in: The protocol header of the multiplexed PDCP PDU includes a unique identifier for the first SIM or eSIM or the second SIM or eSIM to allow the cellular wireless network to separate and map the multiplexed PDCP PDU to a first tunnel associated with the first SIM or eSIM or a second tunnel associated with the second SIM or eSIM.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the unique identifiers of the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM include a 5G-GUTI value.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the unique identifiers of the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM include the 5G Service Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI) value.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the protocol header of the multiplexed PDCP PDU includes a tunnel header bit, the tunnel header bit indicating the presence of tunnel information including the unique identifier in the multiplexed PDCP PDU.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless device to: During registration with the cellular wireless network, instruct the wireless device to support multi-SIM or eSIM tunneling capabilities; and During registration with the cellular wireless network, an instruction is received from the cellular wireless network to support multi-SIM or eSIM tunneling.

6. The wireless device of claim 5, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless device to: Requesting multi-SIM or eSIM tunneling capability for one or more specific services during registration; and During registration with the cellular wireless network, an instruction is received from the cellular wireless network to be granted one or more services with multi-SIM or eSIM tunneling capabilities.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the connection to the access network of the cellular wireless network includes a data radio bearer associated with a second SIM or eSIM and used for data tunneling of a multiplexed PDCP PDU for the first SIM or eSIM.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device disallows the use of the first SIM or eSIM in parallel with the connection using the second SIM or eSIM to establish and use a second active connection to the access network of the cellular wireless network.

9. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein: The connection to the access network of the cellular wireless network is established using credentials of a second SIM or eSIM; and The connection includes a first data radio bearer for carrying a PDCP PDU for a second SIM or eSIM and a second data radio bearer for carrying a tunneled PDCP PDU for a first SIM or eSIM.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM are associated with different mobile network operators (MNOs).

11. A cellular wireless network base station, comprising: Wireless circuits used to transmit and receive cellular wireless radio frequency signals; and At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the wireless circuit and a memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the cellular wireless network base station to: During registration, receive an indication from a wireless device with a single radio that the wireless device supports multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling capabilities; During registration, the wireless device is given an indication to support multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling, the indication including i) data tunneling for the first SIM or eSIM via the second SIM or eSIM, and ii) data counting and billing for tunnel data traffic of the first SIM or eSIM transmitted via the second SIM or eSIM are applied to the subscription of the first SIM or eSIM; Establish a connection with the wireless device, wherein the connection supports data tunneling via a second SIM or eSIM for a first SIM or eSIM; Receive multiplexed packet data convergence protocol data unit (PDCP) PDU for a first SIM or eSIM and a second SIM or eSIM from the wireless device via the connection; as well as The multiplexed PDCP PDU is decoupled and mapped to a first tunnel associated with the first SIM or eSIM or a second SIM or eSIM based on the unique identifier of the first SIM or eSIM included in the protocol header of the multiplexed PDCP PDU.

12. The cellular wireless network base station according to claim 11, wherein: The first tunnel associated with the first SIM or eSIM is the first N3 tunnel to the user plane function UPF; as well as The second tunnel associated with the second SIM / eSIM is the second N3 tunnel to the UPF.

13. The cellular wireless network base station of claim 11, wherein the PDCP PDU for the first SIM or eSIM and the PDCP PDU for the second SIM or eSIM are counted and billed separately to separate the cellular wireless subscription associated with the first SIM or eSIM or the second SIM or eSIM.

14. The cellular wireless network base station according to claim 11, wherein the execution of the instruction further causes the cellular wireless network base station to: The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling for connection requests for the first SIM or eSIM is routed via the data tunnel.

15. The cellular wireless network base station of claim 11, wherein the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM are associated with different mobile network operators (MNOs).

16. The cellular wireless network base station of claim 11, wherein the execution of the instruction further causes the cellular wireless network base station to: In response to a request from the wireless device during registration for multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling capabilities for one or more specific services, an instruction is provided to the wireless device during registration for one or more services that are granted multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling capabilities.

17. A method for accessing services of multiple Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) and / or Electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) via a single radio device communicating with a cellular wireless network: By the wireless device: During registration with the cellular wireless network, the wireless device is instructed to support multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling capabilities; During registration with the cellular wireless network, an indication is obtained from the cellular wireless network to support multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling, the indication including i) data tunneling for the first SIM or eSIM via the second SIM or eSIM, and ii) data counting and billing for tunnel data traffic of the first SIM or eSIM transmitted via the second SIM or eSIM are applied to the subscription of the first SIM or eSIM; Establish a connection to the access network of the cellular wireless network, wherein the connection supports data tunneling via a second SIM or eSIM for a first SIM or eSIM; as well as Transmit multiplexed packet data convergence protocol data units (PDCP PDUs) for the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM via the connection. in: The protocol header of the multiplexed PDCP PDU includes a unique identifier for the first SIM or eSIM or the second SIM or eSIM to allow the cellular wireless network to separate and map the multiplexed PDCP PDU to a first tunnel associated with the first SIM or eSIM or a second tunnel associated with the second SIM or eSIM.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the unique identifiers of the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM include: The fifth-generation globally unique temporary identifier, 5G-GUTI value; or 5G service temporary mobile user identity S-TMSI value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the protocol header of the multiplexed PDCP PDU includes a tunnel header bit indicating the presence of tunnel information including the unique identifier in the multiplexed PDCP PDU.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: By the wireless device: During registration with the cellular wireless network, an instruction is received from the cellular wireless network to be granted one or more services with multi-SIM or eSIM tunneling capabilities.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM are associated with different mobile network operators (MNOs).

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a single radio device, cause the radio device to: During registration with the cellular wireless network, the wireless device is instructed to support multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling capabilities; During registration with the cellular wireless network, an indication is obtained from the cellular wireless network to support multi-SIM and / or eSIM tunneling, the indication including i) data tunneling for the first SIM or eSIM via the second SIM or eSIM, and ii) data counting and billing for tunnel data traffic of the first SIM or eSIM transmitted via the second SIM or eSIM are applied to the subscription of the first SIM or eSIM; Establish a connection to the access network of the cellular wireless network, wherein the connection supports data tunneling via a second SIM or eSIM for a first SIM or eSIM; as well as Transmit multiplexed packet data convergence protocol data units (PDCP PDUs) for the first SIM or eSIM and the second SIM or eSIM via the connection. in: The protocol header of the multiplexed PDCP PDU includes a unique identifier for the first SIM or eSIM or the second SIM or eSIM to allow the cellular wireless network to separate and map the multiplexed PDCP PDU to a first tunnel associated with the first SIM or eSIM or a second tunnel associated with the second SIM or eSIM.

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