Private network activation on UE with two cellular SIMs

Abstract

A user equipment (UE) configured to: receive a command to activate a non-public network (NPN) SIM to enable access to the NPN when a first cellular subscriber identity module (SIM) and a second cellular SIM are active; analyzing, based on the received command, one or more conditions for selecting which of the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM to deactivate or modify settings; deactivating or modifying the setting for the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM based on the analysis; and activating the NPN SIM.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] Non-public networks (NPNs) or private networks are 3GPP systems deployed for non-public purposes, such as enterprise networks (e.g., factories including IoT devices), enterprise IT networks, or third-party specific cellular networks. NPNs can be deployed as Public Network Integration (PNI) NPNs, where a PNI NPN relies on the support of a PLMN, such as being part of a PLMN. NPNs can also be deployed as standalone NPNs (SNPNs), where an SNPN is operated by an NPN operator and does not rely on network functions provided by a 3GPP Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).

[0002] User equipment (UE) can be equipped with multiple Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), and each SIM enables the UE to establish an independent network connection. Therefore, a multi-SIM UE can use a first SIM to establish a first network connection and a second SIM to establish a second network connection. For NPN access, in addition to a cellular SIM (e.g., for PLMN or macro 5G networks), the UE can also be equipped with a private network SIM (NPN SIM). In some cases, the private network SIM can be automatically activated (e.g., turned on) when the UE enters the NPN coverage area defined by a geofence, and automatically deactivated (e.g., disabled) when the UE leaves the geofence. When the NPN SIM is activated, the UE can perform cell search and scan channels used by the NPN to attempt access.

[0003] Under current specifications, various aspects of NPN access (e.g., SIM activation / deactivation and cell search) are currently left to the UE for implementation. Enhancements to these aspects of NPN access may exist to improve the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Some exemplary embodiments relate to an apparatus for a user equipment (UE) having processing circuitry configured to: receive a command for activating a non-public network (NPN) SIM to enable access to the NPN when a first cellular subscriber identity module (SIM) and a second cellular SIM are active; analyze one or more conditions based on the received command to select which of the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM to disable or modify settings; disable or modify the settings for the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM based on the analysis; and activate the NPN SIM. Attached Figure Description

[0005] Figure 1 Network arrangements according to various exemplary implementations are shown.

[0006] Figure 2Exemplary UEs according to various exemplary implementations are shown.

[0007] Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a UE located at a distance outside a geofence, according to various exemplary embodiments.

[0008] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating NPN activation and deactivation outside of an NPN geofence, according to various exemplary embodiments, is shown.

[0009] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating NPNSIM activation when two cellular SIMs are currently active is shown, according to various exemplary embodiments.

[0010] Figure 6 The diagram illustrates a UE moving through a cell fence area where the 3GPP cell and NPN coverage overlap, according to various exemplary embodiments.

[0011] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a process for collecting community fence data for a community fence database, according to various exemplary embodiments, is shown.

[0012] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating cell fence assistance for enabling NPN SIM according to various exemplary embodiments is shown.

[0013] Figure 9 A flowchart for NPN location assistance is shown according to various exemplary embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The exemplary aspects can be further understood with reference to the following description and related figures, wherein similar elements have the same reference numerals. The exemplary aspects describe operations for accessing a non-public network (NPN). In some example embodiments, operations for activating and deactivating the NPN's User Identity Module (SIM) are described, for example, taking into account geofencing that defines the NPN's coverage area. In other example embodiments, operations for performing cell searches to access the NPN are described. Further example embodiments provide various optimizations related to NPN access to improve the user experience.

[0015] The exemplary aspect is described with reference to a UE. However, the use of the UE is provided for illustrative purposes. The exemplary aspect can be used with any electronic component capable of establishing a connection to a network and configured with hardware, software, and / or firmware for exchanging information and data with that network. Thus, the UE as described herein is used to represent any electronic component capable of accessing a non-private network (NPN).

[0016] The exemplary aspect is described with reference to a 5G New Radio (NR) network and a next-generation node B (gNB) as the base station. In some implementations, the 5G NR network may be an NPN, such as a standalone NPN (SNPN). Certain frequencies of the 5G network may be used to load into the SNPN (O-SNPN), while other frequencies may be used to employ the SNPN. The gNB may be an onboard gNB (O-gNB) used to perform initial access operations with the UE for provisioning purposes. The SNPN operator may utilize the same gNB as the O-gNB to operate with the SNPN, or different access nodes may be used for these operations. However, for illustrative purposes, the use of the 5G NR network, gNB, and NPN-SNPN is provided. The exemplary aspect can be applied to any type of network utilizing similar functionality.

[0017] Throughout this specification, the UE may be characterized as a multi-SIM UE. The term "multi-SIM UE" can refer to a UE equipped with multiple (e.g., two or more) SIMs. Each SIM can be used to establish an independent network connection, and in multi-SIM mode, each network connection can exist simultaneously. Therefore, each SIM can be associated with its own phone number and / or a subscription with a cellular service provider. Thus, a single UE can be associated with two or more phone numbers and / or subscriptions.

[0018] A SIM contains information used by a UE to establish a network connection. For example, a SIM may include an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) that can be used to authenticate with a network provider. A user may have a first subscription to a cellular service provider enabled by a first SIM and a second subscription to the same cellular service provider enabled by a second SIM. The network a UE can connect to using the first SIM may be a 5G NR cellular network, such as a PLMN deployed by a mobile network operator (MNO), and the network a UE can connect to using the second SIM may be an NPN. The first SIM may be referred to as a cellular SIM, and the second SIM may be referred to as an NPN SIM. It should be noted that the fact that the cellular SIM is the first SIM and the NPN SIM is the second SIM is not intended to indicate any kind of priority / preference between the first SIM and the second SIM. References to any particular type of information contained within a SIM are provided for illustrative purposes only. A SIM may contain a wide variety of different types of information that may be referred to by different names for different networks or different entities. Therefore, exemplary embodiments are applicable to SIMs containing any type of information used by multi-SIM UEs to establish network connections.

[0019] In this specification, reference may be made to a SIM that performs functions (e.g., communicating with a wireless network). However, those skilled in the art will understand that the SIM itself does not perform any functions or operations. Instead, the UE, or more precisely, the UE's processor, uses credentials and other information stored on the SIM to implement one or more protocol stacks, and then uses those protocol stacks to establish a connection with the network. Therefore, when references are made to SIM communicating with the network, this should be understood to include communication by the UE or the UE's processor via a connection associated with the SIM. Similarly, any other operations attributable to the SIM herein should be understood as operations performed by the processor using a protocol stack implemented with information provided by the SIM.

[0020] Some exemplary embodiments have been described for multi-SIM UEs equipped with two SIMs (e.g., a first SIM and a second SIM). However, those skilled in the art will understand that the exemplary embodiments are also applicable to devices with more than two SIMs. In some embodiments, the multi-SIM UE is equipped with three SIMs. The multi-SIM UE can utilize the same hardware, software, and / or firmware components to perform network connectivity-related operations associated with two or more SIMs. For example, the multi-SIM UE can be configured to use the same transceiver to perform operations associated with two network connections. Although many UEs equipped with an NPN SIM for NPN access also include at least one additional SIM (e.g., a cellular SIM), in some embodiments, the UE may be equipped with only a single SIM, which is an NPN SIM.

[0021] Figure 1 A network arrangement 100 according to an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. Network arrangement 100 includes a UE 110. Those skilled in the art will understand that the UE 110 can be any type of electronic component configured to communicate via a network, such as a mobile phone, tablet, smartphone, phablet, embedded device, wearable device, Cat-M device, Cat-M1 device, MTC device, eMTC device, other types of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, etc. A practical network arrangement may include any number of UEs used by any number of users. Therefore, the example of a single UE 110 is provided merely for illustrative purposes.

[0022] UE 110 can communicate with one or more networks. In the example of network configuration 100, the networks with which UE 110 can wirelessly communicate are 5G New Radio (NR) Radio Access Network (5G NR-RAN) 120, LTE Radio Access Network (LTE-RAN) 122, a legacy access network (legacy RAN), and a wireless local access network (WLAN) 126. However, UE 110 can also communicate with other types of networks, and UE 110 can also communicate with networks via wired connections. Therefore, UE 110 may include a 5G NR chipset communicating with 5G NR-RAN 120, an LTE chipset communicating with LTE-RAN 122, a legacy chipset communicating with legacy RAN 124, and an ISM chipset communicating with WLAN 126. In some aspects of these exemplary embodiments, 5G NR-RAN 120 may be a non-public network (NPN) (e.g., a standalone NPN (SNPN)).

[0023] UE 110 can be a multi-SIM UE and establish multiple independent network connections that can coexist. For example, UE 110 can use a first SIM to establish a first network connection and a second SIM to establish a second network connection with the network. The first and second network connections can be independent of each other and coexist. In the example of network configuration 100, UE 110 is pre-owned on gNB 120A of 5G NR-RAN 120 for the first network connection. In some implementations, 5G NR-RAN 120 is an NPN, and the first network connection is a link to a node (e.g., a gNB) deployed for NPN operation. However, in some implementations of this embodiment, UE 110 may also be pre-owned on a node of another network in multi-SIM operation. In some implementations, UE 110 can use a cellular SIM to establish a first network connection to 5G NR-RAN 120 (e.g., a public 5G network) and a second network connection to the NPN via a corresponding base station.

[0024] 5G NR-RAN 120, LTE-RAN 122, and traditional RAN 124 can be parts of a cellular network that can be deployed by a mobile network operator (MNO) (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.). 5G NR-RAN 120 can also be part of a private network (NPN) that can be deployed by a private organization, government organization, etc. These networks 120, 122, and 124 can include, for example, base stations (Node B, eNodeB, HeNB, eNB, gNB, gNodeB, macro cell, micro cell, small cell, femtocell, etc.) configured to transmit and receive traffic from UEs equipped with appropriate cellular chipsets. When 5G NR-RAN 120 is an NPN, the base station can be, for example, an onboard gNB (O-gNB) or a gNB deployed for NPN operation. WLAN 126 can include any type of wireless local area network (WiFi, hotspot, IEEE 802.11x network, etc.).

[0025] Base stations (e.g., gNB 120A, eNB 122A, base station 124A) may include one or more communication interfaces to exchange data and / or information with the pre-occupied UE, the corresponding RAN, cellular core network 130, Internet 140, etc. Furthermore, the base station may include a processor configured to perform various operations. For example, the base station's processor may be configured to perform operations for providing access to the NPN. However, references to processors are merely illustrative. The operation of the base station may also be represented as a standalone component of the base station, or as a modular component coupled to the base station, such as an integrated circuit with or without firmware. For example, the integrated circuit may include input circuitry for receiving signals and processing circuitry for processing signals and other information. Furthermore, in some base stations, the functionality of the processor is distributed among two or more processors, such as a baseband processor and an application processor. Exemplary embodiments may be implemented according to any of these or other configurations of the base station.

[0026] Any association procedure can be performed for UE 110 to connect to 5G NR-RAN 120, LTE-RAN 122, and legacy RAN 124. For example, 5G NR-RAN 120 can be associated with a specific cellular service provider where UE 110 and / or its user have protocol and credential information (e.g., stored on each of SIM A and SIM B). In the case of a multi-SIM UE, each SIM will connect independently to its corresponding network. Upon detecting the presence of 5G NR-RAN 120, UE 110 can send the corresponding credential information to associate with 5G NR-RAN 120. More specifically, UE 110 can be associated with a specific cell (e.g., gNB 120A of 5G NR-RAN 120). Similar association procedures can be performed for UE 110 to connect to LTE-RAN 122 and legacy RAN 124.

[0027] In addition to networks 120, 122, 124, and 126, network deployment 100 also includes a cellular core network 130, an Internet 140, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) 150, and a network services backbone 160. The cellular core network 130 can be viewed as a set of interconnected components managing the operation and traffic of the cellular network. The cellular core network 130 also manages the traffic flowing between the cellular network and the Internet 140. The IMS 150 can generally be described as an architecture for delivering multimedia services to the UE 110 using IP protocols. The IMS 150 can communicate with the cellular core network 130 and the Internet 140 to provide multimedia services to the UE 110. The network services backbone 160 communicates directly or indirectly with the Internet 140 and the cellular core network 130. The network services backbone 160 can generally be described as a collection of components (e.g., servers, network storage deployments, etc.) that implement a set of services that can be used to extend the functionality of the UE 110 in communicating with various networks.

[0028] Figure 2 An exemplary UE 110 according to various exemplary embodiments is shown. Reference will be made to... Figure 1The network layout 100 is used to describe UE 110. UE 110 can represent any electronic device and may include processor 205, memory layout 210, display device 215, input / output (I / O) device 220, transceiver 225, and other components 230. Other components 230 may include, for example, audio input devices, audio output devices, batteries providing a limited power source, data acquisition devices, ports for electrically connecting UE 110 to other electronic devices, sensors for detecting the status of UE 110, etc. UE 110 may include multiple SIMs (e.g., two or more SIMs), where at least one SIM enables access to an NPN.

[0029] Processor 205 can be configured to execute multiple engines of UE 110. For example, an engine may include NPN access engine 235 for performing various operations related to accessing the NPN, such as activating / deactivating the NPN SIM, performing cell search, etc., which will be described in detail below.

[0030] The engine described above, as an application (e.g., a program) executed by processor 205, is merely exemplary. The functionality associated with the engine may also be represented as a separate, integrated component of UE 110, or as a modular component coupled to UE 110, such as an integrated circuit with or without firmware. For example, the integrated circuit may include input circuitry for receiving signals and processing circuitry for processing signals and other information. The engine may also be embodied as one or more separate applications. Furthermore, in some UEs, the functionality described for processor 205 is distributed among two or more processors (such as a baseband processor and an application processor). Exemplary implementations may be implemented according to any of these or other configurations of the UE.

[0031] Memory 210 may be a hardware component configured to store data related to operations performed by UE 110. As will be described in detail below, memory 210 may store data associated with the state of UE 110 when determining the operation mode. Display device 215 may be a hardware component configured to display data to a user, while I / O device 220 may be a hardware component enabling the user to input data. Display device 215 and I / O device 220 may be separate components or may be integrated together (such as a touchscreen).

[0032] Transceiver 225 may be a hardware component configured to establish connections with LTE-RAN 120, LTE-RAN 122, legacy RAN 124, and WLAN 126, etc. Therefore, transceiver 225 may operate on multiple different frequencies or channels (e.g., consecutive frequency groups). Transceiver 225 includes circuitry configured to transmit and / or receive signals (e.g., control signals, data signals). Such signals may be encoded using information used to implement any of the methods described herein. Processor 205 may be operatively coupled to transceiver 225 and configured to receive signals from and / or transmit signals to transceiver 225. Processor 205 may be configured to encode and / or decode signals (e.g., signaling from a base station in the network) for use in implementing any of the methods described herein.

[0033] TS 23.501 Clause 5.30 specifies support for Non-Public Networks (NPNs). Various aspects of NPN operation are left to the UE for specific implementation, including details for activating and deactivating SNPN access modes (Clause 5.30.2.4.1, Clause 5.30.2.11) and network selection during airborne access (Clause 5.30.2.4.2, Clause 5.30.2.10.2.4, Clause 5.30.2.10.2.5).

[0034] The timing of activating or deactivating the private network SIM (NPN SIM) is currently left to the specific implementation by the UE. A geofence is an area defined by the NPN within which the UE can access the NPN. A geofence can be defined by, for example, geographical coordinates (latitude / longitude) and a radius. In one example implementation, the UE activates the NPN SIM when it enters the geofence and deactivates it when it leaves. In one example, if an application associated with the NPN (e.g., an email application associated with the NPN) is running, the NPN SIM may be automatically activated when the UE detects that it has entered the geofence. In another example, if an application associated with the NPN is invoked while the UE is already within the geofence, the SIM may be activated when the application is invoked and the UE detects that it is within the geofence.

[0035] However, using the specific UE implementation described above, time may be wasted after the UE enters the geofence when it is attached to the NPN. For example, when activating the UE within the geofence, the UE needs to perform an initial access procedure (including, for example, cell search and registration) before exchanging user plane traffic. It may be preferable for the UE to perform some NPN-related operations before entering the geofence, so that the UE can quickly send / receive upon entering the geofence.

[0036] According to some aspects of these exemplary embodiments, the UE can activate the private network SIM and perform cell search against the NPN when it is outside the geofence of the NPN, so that when the UE enters the geofence, it can quickly register and begin data transmission and / or reception operations. When an application associated with the NPN is invoked, the SIM can be activated if one or more conditions are met. Specifically, the conditions can be defined based on the UE's motion state. In one example embodiment, the UE can activate the NPN SIM if it is within a predefined, permissible distance from the geofence, where the permissible distance can vary based on the UE's motion state.

[0037] In one example implementation, four different motion states can be identified, such as walking, running, driving, or stationary. The motion state can be identified based on the UE's current speed, which can be estimated based on, for example, GPS data. A speed range can be associated with each motion state. For the driving motion state, such as when the UE is expected to quickly reach a geofence, a predefined distance from the geofence (within which the UE can activate NPN SIM) is likely to be the largest. The predefined distance for the running motion state can be smaller than the predefined distance for the driving motion state, and even smaller for the walking motion state. If a stationary motion state is detected, the UE may not activate NPN SIM.

[0038] Figure 3 A diagram is shown illustrating a UE 302 located at a distance 306 beyond a geofence 304, according to various exemplary embodiments. When the distance 306 is less than a predefined value “x” associated with the UE’s current motion state, the UE can activate its NPN SIM. When the distance is greater than “x”, the UE can maintain the NPN SIM in a dormant state.

[0039] It should be understood that it is not necessary to explicitly detect the category of UE motion state (e.g., driving, running, walking). For example, instead of various speed ranges associated with the corresponding motion state, in another embodiment, the allowable distance for activating NPN SIM can vary based on the current UE speed, for example, the allowable distance increases as the UE speed decreases.

[0040] In another example implementation, before checking distance and motion status, the UE may check whether the Mobile Country Code (MCC) of the serving 3GPP PLMN matches the geofenced country. If the MCC does not match, the UE may not activate NPNSIM.

[0041] Figure 4A flowchart 400 for activating and deactivating an NPN SIM outside an NPN geofence is shown according to various exemplary embodiments. Flowchart 400 is described with reference to a UE having multiple SIMs installed (e.g., a cellular SIM and an NPN SIM). In 405, the UE pre-occupies the network using the cellular SIM, while the NPN SIM is in a dormant state (e.g., deactivated). The UE is currently outside the geofence. In 410, the UE invokes the NPN application.

[0042] In step 415, the UE checks whether the MCC of the pre-occupied cellular PLMN of the primary SIM matches the country code of the NPN. If the country code does not match, the method proceeds to step 445, where the NPN SIM is not activated, the NPN PLMN scan is not initiated, and the process ends.

[0043] If the country code of the pre-occupied cellular PLMN matches the country of the NPN, then in step 420, the UE determines its current motion state. If the UE's motion state is determined to be stationary, the method proceeds to step 445, where the NPN SIM is not activated, the NPNLMN scan is not initiated, and the process ends.

[0044] If the UE's movement state is determined to be walking, then in step 435, the UE determines whether its distance from the geofence boundary is less than a predefined value associated with the walking movement state. In one example, the predefined value "x" could be 200 meters. If the UE's distance is not less than 200 meters, the method proceeds to step 445, where the NPN SIM is not activated, the NPN PLMN scan is not initiated, and the process ends. If the UE's distance is less than 200 meters, the method proceeds to step 440, and the UE activates the NPN SIM and initiates an NPN PLMN scan.

[0045] If the UE's motion state is determined to be running, then in step 430, the UE determines whether its distance from the geofence boundary is less than a predefined value associated with the running motion state. In one example, the predefined value "x" could be 400 meters. If the UE's distance is not less than 400 meters, the method proceeds to step 445, where the NPN SIM is not activated, the NPN PLMN scan is not initiated, and the process ends. If the UE's distance is less than 400 meters, the method proceeds to step 440, and the UE activates the NPN SIM and initiates an NPN PLMN scan.

[0046] If the UE's motion state is determined to be driving, then in step 425, the UE determines whether its distance from the geofence boundary is less than a predefined value associated with the driving motion state. In one example, the predefined value "x" could be 1 kilometer. If the UE distance is not less than 1 km, the method proceeds to step 445, where the NPN SIM is not activated, the NPN PLMN scan is not initiated, and the process ends. If the UE distance is less than 1 km, the method proceeds to step 440, and the UE activates the NPN SIM and initiates an NPN PLMN scan.

[0047] According to another aspect of these exemplary embodiments, a scenario is described in which NPN SIM can be avoided even when the UE is within a geofence, according to the embodiments described above.

[0048] In one exemplary implementation, if the UE is in an emergency call / service when it activates an NPN application and / or enters a geofence, NPN SIM may not be activated and / or NPN scanning may not be performed. In another exemplary implementation, NPN SIM may not be activated and / or NPN scanning may not be performed when a mobile network operator (MNO)-based foreground application is in use. In yet another exemplary implementation, the UE may perform a best-effort service-based NPN scan so that the user experience is not affected.

[0049] In some scenarios, NPN coverage may be poor and / or unnecessary even when the UE is within a geofence. In one example, an underground parking garage within the geofence of an NPN may have poor NPN coverage. In another example, coverage blind spots may exist within the geofence area for various reasons understood by those skilled in the art. NPN operating frequencies are typically high-frequency bands and may be subject to additional path loss relative to some cellular frequencies. Some NPNs may be deployed only indoors (within buildings or offices).

[0050] In another exemplary implementation, NPN SIM activation or scanning is not invoked based solely on Assisted GPS (A-GPS) when GPS coverage is unavailable. In some exemplary implementations, the UE may conservatively initiate an NPN scan using information collected from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. For example, this information could be location information derived from a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. In another example, this information may be related to Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth connections, such as the Wi-Fi access point the UE is connected to, the Bluetooth device the UE is connected to, etc. For example, the UE may understand that NPN coverage is available or unavailable when connected to a particular Wi-Fi access point.

[0051] In some exemplary implementations, the UE may maintain a database of information it has learned about NPN coverage and activate / deactivate the SIM based on that information. In one example, if the UE learns that the NPN is only available at certain altitudes, the UE may perform NPN activation / deactivation based on its current altitude. By adding this knowledge to the database, the UE may trigger the NPN only at altitudes that identify previous services.

[0052] In some exemplary implementations, the NPN may have coverage indoors rather than outdoors. In this scenario, aggressive scanning can only be initiated once association with certain WiFi APs associated with the office is achieved. Until then, more conservative scanning can be performed.

[0053] In some current implementations, at a given time, only two SIMs may be active for a UE. If the UE is actively using multi-SIM service while using two cellular 3GPP SIM cards, then based on the current implementation, NPN SIM cannot be activated.

[0054] In other aspects of the exemplary embodiments, operations for activating the NPN SIM when both cellular SIMs are currently active are described. In these embodiments, one of the two cellular SIMs may be deactivated based on various rules or conditions described below to allow the NPN SIM to be activated when the UE enters a geofence. When the NPN SIM is deactivated (e.g., when the UE leaves the geofence), the settings for both cellular SIMs can be restored.

[0055] In some exemplary embodiments, the UE may be enabled to automatically switch from a cellular SIM to an NPN SIM. In some exemplary embodiments, the UE has an option for automatic handover, which can be toggled on or off by the user of the UE. In one example, the UE may have an option to "Allow data handover". It should be understood that the phrase "Allow data handover" is provided for illustrative purposes only, and any suitable label for this feature may be used. When this option is toggled on, and the UE has two currently active cellular SIMs and receives an NPN SIM activation command (e.g., when the UE enters a geofence), the UE may automatically switch to the NPN SIM according to the following exemplary embodiments. In some embodiments, UE operation may depend on settings for the cellular SIM. In other embodiments, UE operation may depend on radio conditions for the cellular SIM.

[0056] In one exemplary implementation, when a UE enters the geofence of an NPN with two currently active cellular SIMs, if "Allow Data Exchange" is enabled and "WiFi Calling" is enabled for only one of the two cellular SIMs, the UE can perform the following actions to activate the NPN SIM. First, the UE can disable the Tx / Rx of the first cellular SIM that has "WiFi Calling" enabled. The second cellular SIM, which has not enabled "WiFi Calling," can maintain its current settings. Second, the UE can activate the NPN SIM and make it data preferred. The first cellular SIM with its Tx / Rx disabled can use either the second cellular SIM or the NPN SIM to perform certain operations (e.g., register for VoWiFi). Therefore, in this implementation, both cellular SIMs remain active, and a total of three SIMs (including the NPN SIM) are active simultaneously.

[0057] If both cellular SIMs have "WiFi calling" enabled in the above scenario, the UE can check which SIM is "voice preferred". The UE can then disable Tx / Rx for the SIM that is not "voice preferred".

[0058] In another example implementation, when a UE enters the geofence of an NPN with two currently active cellular SIMs, if "Allow Data Exchange" is enabled, the UE can perform the following actions to activate the NPN SIM. First, the UE checks the congestion and radio frequency (RF) conditions of the links enabled by the two cellular SIMs. Second, the UE can deactivate one of the two cellular SIMs based on the congestion and RF conditions. Third, the UE can activate the NPN SIM and make it the preferred data source.

[0059] In one example, the first cellular SIM with better congestion or RF conditions can remain active, while the second cellular SIM with worse congestion or RF conditions can be deactivated. In another example, if the radio link is of high quality for both cellular SIMs, another condition can be checked.

[0060] In another exemplary implementation, when a UE enters the geofence of an NPN with two currently active cellular SIMs, if "Allow Data Handover" is enabled and one of the two cellular SIMs is "Voice Preferred," the UE may perform the following actions to activate the NPN SIM. First, the UE deactivates the first cellular SIM, which is not "Voice Preferred." The second cellular SIM, which is "Voice Preferred," retains its current settings. Second, the UE may activate the NPN SIM and make it data preferred.

[0061] In another implementation, when a UE enters the geofence of an NPN with two currently active cellular SIMs, and either or both cellular SIMs are in a voice call, the UE can avoid calling the NPN SIM if "Allow Data Exchange" is enabled. The UE can wait until the call ends before considering any of the automatic handover options described above.

[0062] The above implementation schemes can be used in combination (e.g., sequentially), wherein the UE first checks whether "WiFi calling" is enabled for one of the cellular SIMs, then checks the congestion and / or RF conditions, and finally checks which cellular SIM is "voice preferred," as described below. Figure 5 The example flowchart 500 is described in further detail.

[0063] When any of the above implementation schemes is used to activate the NPN SIM when entering the geofence of an NPN with two currently active cellular SIMs, the UE can deactivate the NPN SIM, activate the deactivated cellular SIM (or re-enable the Tx / Rx of the SIM) when the UE leaves the geofence, and maintain the same settings as before the SIM was deactivated.

[0064] If "Allow Data Switching" is not set, the UE can prompt the user (e.g., display a pop-up window) to ask whether the NPN SIM should be activated. In one example, the pop-up window might display the text "You have entered a private NW geofence. Do you want to activate the private NW SIM?" and provide a yes / no option. If the user selects "Yes", the UE can display another pop-up window with options for the user to decide which 3GPP SIM should be deactivated. If the user selects "No", the UE can maintain both cellular SIMs.

[0065] In some exemplary implementations, when more than two options are available, the UE may remember the user's preference regarding which SIM to disable and / or retain. For example, if the user consistently selects "No" to activate the NPN SIM, the query to activate the NPN SIM will not pop up again when both cellular SIMs are active. In another example, if the user selects "Yes" to activate the NPN SIM and consistently selects one of the two cellular SIMs (e.g., SIM2) to disable, the query to select the SIM to disable will not pop up again, and SIM2 will be automatically disabled.

[0066] Figure 5A flowchart 500 for NPN SIM activation is shown according to various exemplary embodiments when two cellular SIMs are currently active. The flowchart 500 is described with reference to a UE having multiple cellular SIMs (e.g., a first cellular SIM (SIM1) and a second cellular SIM (SIM2)) and an NPN SIM. In 505, the UE is in multi-SIM mode, where two cellular SIMs are active and the NPN SIM is dormant (e.g., deactivated). The UE is currently outside a geofence. In 510, the UE enters the geofence and receives an NPN activation command.

[0067] In step 515, the UE checks whether "Allow Data Handover" is enabled. If "Allow Data Handover" is not enabled, then in step 520, the user is prompted, for example, to be provided with one or more pop-up windows to choose whether to activate the NPN SIM and / or which cellular SIM to disable.

[0068] If "Allow Data Handover" is enabled, in step 525, the UE checks if a voice call is active on either cellular SIM. If the voice call is active, in step 530, the UE waits until the call ends before initiating any action to activate the NPN SIM. If no call is active and / or when the call ends, in step 535, the UE checks if any user has enabled WiFi calling. If a user has enabled WiFi calling, in step 540, that user's Tx / Rx is disabled while the SIM remains active. The NPN SIM is activated. If a service is invoked on a SIM, the cellular connection of another SIM can be used to provide the service on the disabled SIM. If both users have enabled WiFi calling, in step 545, the UE checks which SIM is "Voice Preferred". For any SIM that is not "Voice Preferred", that user's Tx / Rx is disabled while the SIM remains active.

[0069] If no user enables WiFi calling, in step 550, the UE checks the radio status of the links enabled by the corresponding first cellular SIM and second cellular SIM. If either link is congested, in step 555, the SIM enabling the congested link can be deactivated, and the NPN SIM can be activated. If there is no link congestion, in step 560, the UE checks which SIM is "voice preferred." The SIM that is not "voice preferred" is deactivated, and the NPN SIM can be activated.

[0070] In another aspect of the exemplary implementation, an NPN SIM activation can be performed using a cell fence database. In these example implementations, the cell fence database associates 3GPP cells (e.g., for public cellular 5G networks) with NPN coverage areas, allowing the NPN coverage area to be inferred based on the coverage area of ​​the 3GPP cell and the known (geofence-fenced) coverage area of ​​the NPN when the UE is pre-occupied on a 3GPP cell. In some cases, a 3GPP cell may have a coverage area completely contained within the NPN coverage area. These 3GPP cells may be referred to as co-located cells. In other cases, a 3GPP cell may have a coverage area that partially overlaps with or is adjacent to the NPN coverage area. These 3GPP cells may be referred to as boundary cells. In some example implementations, if the UE is pre-occupied on a co-located 3GPP cell, the UE can be enabled to activate NPN SIM. In other example implementations, if the UE is pre-occupied on a boundary 3GPP cell, the UE can infer proximity to the NPN coverage area, and the UE can be enabled to activate NPN SIM if one or more conditions are met.

[0071] It should be understood that a 3GPP cell refers to a cell deployed by a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), which may also be referred to herein as a 3GPP network. However, this is only intended to distinguish between cells deployed by a PLMN and cells deployed by a private entity, and those skilled in the art will understand that NPN cells can also be deployed according to 3GPP specifications.

[0072] In some exemplary embodiments, the UE may enter a first cell fence mode when location information (e.g., GPS data) is currently unavailable to the UE. In the first mode, the UE may activate NPNSIM when it is pre-occupied on a co-located 3GPP cell. In another exemplary embodiment, the UE may enter a second cell fence mode when location information is currently available to the UE. In the second mode, the UE may activate NPNSIM when it is outside the geofence NPN coverage area but pre-occupied on a boundary cell if one or more conditions are met. In one example, this condition may be related to the UE's direction of mobility (e.g., toward the NPN coverage area).

[0073] In some exemplary implementations, a cell fence database can be used to enable the UE to activate NPN SIM. When enabling NPN SIM for activation, the UE may prompt the user to choose whether to activate NPN SIM.

[0074] This implementation for cell fencing can be useful in various scenarios. In one example scenario, the UE lacks location information (e.g., via GPS or WiFi) to determine its location within the geofence NPN coverage area. In this case, the UE can still access the NPN by inferring that it is within the NPN coverage area. In another exemplary scenario, the user has manually disabled the NPN SIM and has enabled two 3GPP cellular SIMs while within the NPN coverage area. In this case, the UE can prompt the user to activate the NPN SIM (e.g., when the UE changes 3GPP cells). In yet another example scenario, the UE is near the boundary of the geofence and frequently moves in and out of the NPN coverage area. In this case, the UE can enable NPN SIM activation when it is pre-occupied on the boundary 3GPP cell and is moving toward the NPN coverage area.

[0075] Figure 6 Figure 600 illustrates a UE 602, according to various exemplary embodiments, including movement through a cell fence area where a 3GPP cell overlaps with an NPN coverage area 604. In this example, a first 3GPP cell 606 completely overlaps with the geofenced NPN coverage area 604 in coverage (e.g., 3GPP cell 606 is a co-located cell). A second 3GPP cell 608 partially overlaps with the NPN in coverage (e.g., 3GPP cell 608 is a boundary cell). A third 3GPP cell 610 does not overlap with the NPN in coverage. The UE 602 can move throughout the entire NPN coverage area 604, thereby maintaining a link enabled by the NPN SIM. The UE 602 can be a multi-SIM UE and simultaneously maintain a cellular link with a 3GPP NR RAN (e.g., a PLMN). When the UE moves through and out of the NPN coverage area 604, the UE can pre-occupy the first 3GPP cell 606, the second 3GPP cell 608, or the third 3GPP cell 610.

[0076] In some exemplary embodiments, the UE can be used to collect cell fence data that can be provided to an NPN operator (e.g., a server). Data can be collected from multiple UEs capable of accessing the NPN, and the data can be merged according to NPN preferences. The cell fence database can be assembled by the NPN operator and pushed to the NPN UEs to enable the UEs to access the NPN via the cell fence technology described herein.

[0077] Figure 7A flowchart 700 for collecting cell fence data for a cell fence database is shown according to various exemplary embodiments. The flowchart 700 is described with reference to a UE equipped with at least one cellular SIM and an NPN SIM. In 705, the UE is in a scenario for data collection for the cell fence database. The UE is within NPN coverage and within a geofence NPN coverage area. Location services (e.g., GPS) are enabled on the UE.

[0078] In 710, the UE collects cell fence data. Considering NPN coverage, the cell fence data may include 3GPP cell information and GPS information. For example, the UE may collect GPS information when pre-occupying various cells within and / or outside the NPN coverage area. This information can be used, for example, to identify co-located 3GPP cells (fully within NPN coverage), boundary 3GPP cells (partially within NPN coverage), and 3GPP cells outside the NPN coverage area.

[0079] Steps 705 to 710 described above can be performed by multiple UEs in a multi-UE data collection operation. In step 715, the UE shares cell fence data with the server. The server can merge data from each individual UE in the multi-UE data collection operation. For example, data can be added to the APACS NPN database. Based on the analysis of the data, the server can compress the data into cell fence parameters in the cell fence database, which can be pushed to the UE to perform cell fence operations. In step 720, the UE receives cell fence parameters and / or the complete cell fence database from the NPN. For example, cell fence parameters can associate 3GPP cells with NPN coverage areas, allowing the UE to infer NPN availability based on the 3GPP cells it has pre-occupied, even if location information is unavailable at the UE's location. Cell fence parameters can also associate 3GPP cells with the boundaries of the NPN coverage areas, allowing the UE to infer NPN proximity based on the 3GPP cells it has pre-occupied, even if location information is unavailable at the UE's location.

[0080] Cell fence databases can be used to infer proximity to geofences (e.g., when a UE is pre-occupied on a boundary cell as described above) or to infer NPN coverage within a geofence (e.g., when a UE is pre-occupied on a co-located cell). Based on this information, NPN SIM can be activated / deactivated based on the 3GPP cell currently pre-occupied by the UE. In some exemplary implementations, the user may be prompted to activate NPN SIM even if no location information is available when the 3GPP cell is fully within NPN coverage. When location information is available and the UE is not yet within NPN coverage, in some cases, the UE may activate NPN SIM if the cell fence information and / or location information indicate that the UE may soon be within geofence NPN coverage.

[0081] Figure 8 A flowchart 800 for enabling NPN SIM cell fence assistance according to various exemplary embodiments is shown. The flowchart 800 is described with reference to a UE equipped with at least one cellular SIM and an NPN SIM and having a cell fence database for NPN. The UE may also enable location determination services via, for example, GPS or WiFi. In 805, the UE checks whether location information (e.g., GPS) is available. If location information is unavailable, in 810, a first cell fence mode (e.g., cell fence without GPS support) is enabled. In this cell fence mode (e.g., preferred cell fence), if the UE pre-occupies a co-located 3GPP cell (completely within the NPN geofence), the UE can infer NPN access. In 815, the UE checks whether it has pre-occupied a co-located 3GPP cell based on the cell fence database. If the UE has not pre-occupied such a 3GPP cell, the UE can continue monitoring as it changes serving cells. If the UE continues to pre-occupy such a cell, the method proceeds to 840, and the NPN SIM can be enabled and activated upon user selection. If location data becomes available, the UE can switch to a second mode (e.g., cell fence assisted mode).

[0082] Returning to 805, if location information is available, then in 820, the UE enables the second mode. In the second mode, location support (e.g., GPS) is used to perform cell fencing. In 825, the UE checks whether it is within NPN coverage, for example via GPS or via cell fencing. If the UE is within NPN coverage, the method proceeds to 840, and NPN SIM can be enabled and activated upon user selection. If the UE is not within NPN coverage, then in 830, the UE checks whether it is near a geofence and within a cell fence (e.g., a boundary cell). If the UE is not near a geofence and / or within a cell fence, the UE can continue monitoring when it changes serving cell. If the UE is near a geofence, then in 835, the UE can check whether its direction of movement is towards the boundary of the geofence. If the direction of movement is not towards the boundary of the geofence, the UE can continue monitoring. If the direction of movement is towards the boundary of the geofence, the method proceeds to 840, and NPN SIM can be enabled and activated upon user selection.

[0083] According to another aspect of the exemplary implementation, when a multi-SIM UE activates both a 3GPP cellular SIM and an NPN SIM within NPN coverage, rules can be defined for traffic routing between these two SIMs. In some implementations, the traffic routing rules can be designed to enhance NPN privacy. In some implementations, the traffic routing rules can be designed to enhance UE performance. In these implementations, the UE may be equipped with two default data SIMs (DDS), where any data can be pushed through both SIMs.

[0084] In some implementations, privacy-preferred options may be provided for NPNs operated by, for example, private or government-based organizations. These privacy-preferred options enable private communications in professional environments while offloading certain types of communications to a 3GPP SIM (cellular SIM).

[0085] Traffic can be routed via either a 3GPP cellular SIM or an NPN SIM based on traffic type. In one example implementation, if any work-related or NPN-specific application is initiated, the NPN SIM is used to route user plane traffic. In another example implementation, if the user initiates any other social networking application (other than work-related or NPN-specific applications), the 3GPP SIM is used to route user plane traffic. In another example implementation, if the user initiates any personal email application, the 3GPP SIM is used to route user plane traffic. In another example implementation, if the routing descriptor is via 3GPP access rather than any other slice-specific application defined by the NPN, the 3GPP SIM is used to route user plane traffic. In yet another example implementation, the NPN SIM is used for any other user plane traffic.

[0086] In another aspect of these example implementations, experience optimization options can be provided. These options can provide choices for routing traffic based on factors such as, for example, the type of application and whether the SIM is preferred for that application, scheduling / loading conditions, or quality of service (QoS) considerations. In some cases, data activity can continue even in the event of a failure or adverse condition on an NPN SIM or cellular SIM.

[0087] In some implementations, for applications that are part of a subscription in certain networks, the UE can select between an NPN SIM and a cellular SIM in the following ways: In one implementation, when an application is launched using an NPN SIM, the user may be prompted (e.g., via a pop-up window) to select a default SIM for the application. In another implementation, the application may have an associated profile that indicates the network through which its traffic should be routed.

[0088] If the preferred SIM is deactivated while the application is running, the user can launch the application in the foreground and activate the corresponding preferred SIM when the NPN SIM is deactivated. If the preferred SIM is activated while the application is running, the NPN SIM can be used if the background data volume exceeds the foreground application (assuming a data plan is economical). Otherwise, all data traffic can be routed to the cellular SIM.

[0089] In another implementation, scheduling / loading conditions may be considered. In one implementation, traffic may be switched to cellular 3GPP SIM if the loading condition or scheduling rate falls below a threshold in NPN SIM. In another implementation, the UE may also analyze higher-layer behaviors (TCP window size, arrival interval between successful packets) to further understand network congestion behavior.

[0090] In another implementation, the UE can be configured with QoS for data traffic. If the UE is configured with QoS for data traffic in a similar traffic profile, traffic routing can be configured to follow a SIM with a better 5QI value.

[0091] In the current implementation, one NPN is mapped to one SIM, and there is no priority. In the future, multiple NPNs may be available at a given location. To save power during scanning (cell search), the UE can scan only key or supported NPNs via a priority list.

[0092] According to another aspect of these exemplary embodiments, NPN system selection scanning can be optimized. During the initial selection, for example, when airplane mode is turned off, the UE is restarted, or a manual scan is initiated, the NPN SIM can be scanned in the following order.

[0093] First, the UE scans for previously reserved NPNs. Second, the UE scans for NPNs within previously reserved NR frequencies. Third, the UE scans for NPNs based on the last active application used. Fourth, the UE scans for NPNs based on historical data, such as NPNs previously scanned in the current geographic location. Fifth, the UE scans for NPNs outside the previously reserved NR frequencies within the same frequency range. Sixth, the UE scans for NPNs outside the same frequency range.

[0094] In another aspect of the exemplary implementation, the UE may provide location orientation assistance to the user. In these implementations, the UE provides the user with the option to locate an NPN within the current city based on geofence data available for subscription. In cases where multiple NPNs are available for subscription in a single SUB, the UE may provide the option to select an NPN. In some cases, if the user frequently moves in and out of NPN coverage (e.g., if the user is working on the boundary of a geofence), the user may manually select an NPN. This process can be optimized when, for example, the user is very close to an NPN or if the user wants to know the location where an NPN application can be used.

[0095] Figure 9 A flowchart 900 for NPN location assistance is shown according to various exemplary embodiments. Flowchart 900 is described with reference to a UE equipped with an NPN SIM. In 905, the UE initiates an NPN application. In 910, the UE checks NPN proximity relative to its own location.

[0096] If the UE is within the geofence, in step 915, the UE enables NPN SIM. The UE can perform cell search, register with the NPN, and access NPN services. NPN SIM remains enabled as long as the UE remains within the geofence. In step 920, the UE leaves the geofence and checks if the UE still has NPN coverage outside the geofence. If the UE still has NPN coverage outside the geofence, in step 925, the UE provides the user with the option to manually select an NPN with coverage. If the UE does not have network coverage outside the geofence, in step 930, the UE provides the user with the option to remain in NPN mode. For example, NPNSIM can remain active, and the method can revert to step 910. This option may be useful for users who frequently move in and out of the geofence, for example, due to work.

[0097] Returning to 910, if the UE has NPN proximity but is outside the geofence, then in 935, the UE checks if it has NPN coverage available for pre-claiming. If the UE does not currently have coverage, it can wait until it does. When the UE has NPN coverage available for pre-claiming outside the geofence, in 940, the UE measures the signal at the NPN frequency. If the signal is greater than a threshold, then in 945, the UE allows the user to manually select an NPN. This option enables the NPN before reaching the destination, allowing for rapid establishment of a link with the NPN upon entering the geofence.

[0098] If the signal strength is not greater than the threshold, in step 950, the UE checks whether multiple NPNs are available. If multiple NPNs are unavailable (e.g., if only one NPN is available), in step 955, the UE enables the user to manually select an NPN. If multiple NPNs are available, in step 960, the UE checks whether a fence location is available for multiple NPNs. If only one fence location is available, in step 965, the UE provides the user with the option to navigate to an available NPN. If multiple fence locations are available, in step 970, the UE provides the user with the option to select an NPN to receive guidance to that selected NPN.

[0099] Example

[0100] In a first embodiment, a method is performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a command for activating a non-public network (NPN) SIM to enable access to the NPN when a first cellular user identity module (SIM) and a second cellular SIM are active; analyzing one or more conditions based on the received command to select which of the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM to disable or modify settings; disabling or modifying the settings for the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM based on the analysis; and activating the NPN SIM.

[0101] In a second embodiment, according to the method of the first embodiment, the one or more conditions are based on the settings for the first cellular SIM and the second cellular SIM.

[0102] In the third embodiment, according to the method of the second embodiment, when the first cellular SIM has WiFi calling enabled and the second cellular SIM has not WiFi calling enabled, the cellular connection for the first cellular SIM is disabled for sending and receiving, while the first cellular SIM remains active and the NPN SIM is enabled, and when a service is invoked for the first cellular SIM, the cellular connection or NPN connection of the second cellular SIM is used for the service on the first cellular SIM.

[0103] In the fourth embodiment, according to the method of the second embodiment, when the first cellular SIM has voice preference enabled and the second cellular SIM has not voice preference enabled, the second cellular SIM is disabled and the NPN SIM is enabled.

[0104] In a fifth embodiment, according to the method of the first embodiment, the one or more conditions are related to the radio conditions of a first link enabled by the first cellular SIM or a second link enabled by the second cellular SIM.

[0105] In a sixth embodiment, according to the method of the fifth embodiment, the one or more conditions are based on a metric for congestion or radio frequency (RF) quality.

[0106] In the seventh embodiment, according to the method of the sixth embodiment, the first cellular SIM is selected for deactivation when the metric indicates poor radio condition of the first link.

[0107] In the eighth embodiment, according to the method of the first embodiment, when a voice call enabled by the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM is active when the command for activating the NPN SIM is received, the system waits to deactivate or modify the settings for the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM until the voice call has ended.

[0108] In the ninth embodiment, according to the method of the first embodiment, wherein when the UE enters a geofence, it receives the command for activating the NPN SIM, the method further includes: when the UE leaves the geofence, deactivating the NPN SIM; and restoring the previous settings for the first cellular SIM and the second cellular SIM.

[0109] In the tenth embodiment, according to the method of the first embodiment, the method further includes displaying a first prompt for the user to choose whether to activate the NPN SIM.

[0110] In the eleventh embodiment, according to the method of the tenth embodiment, the method further includes displaying a second prompt when the user selects to activate the NPN SIM, allowing the user to select either the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM to deactivate it.

[0111] In the twelfth embodiment, according to the method of the eleventh embodiment, the method further includes: storing user preferences for the first prompt or the second prompt; and avoiding displaying the first prompt or the second prompt in future operations based on the user preferences.

[0112] In a thirteenth embodiment, a processor is configured to perform any one of the methods described according to the first to twelfth embodiments.

[0113] In a fourteenth embodiment, a user equipment (UE) includes: a transceiver configured to communicate with a network; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to perform any one of the methods described in the first to twelfth embodiments.

[0114] Those skilled in the art will understand that the example embodiments described above can be implemented with any suitable software or hardware configuration or combination thereof. Example hardware platforms for implementing the example embodiments may include, for example, Intel x86-based platforms with compatible operating systems, Windows OS, Mac platforms and MAC OS, and mobile devices with operating systems such as iOS and Android. The example embodiments described above can be embodied as programs containing lines of code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which, when compiled, can be executed on a processor or microprocessor.

[0115] Although this application describes various embodiments that have different features in various combinations, those skilled in the art will understand that any feature of one embodiment can be combined with features of other embodiments in any way that is not expressly denied or that is not functionally or logically inconsistent with the operation of the device or the specified function of the disclosed embodiment.

[0116] As is widely recognized, the use of personally identifiable information should comply with privacy policies and practices that are generally accepted to meet or exceed industry or governmental requirements for protecting user privacy. Specifically, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly explained to users.

[0117] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to this disclosure without departing from its spirit or scope. Therefore, this disclosure is intended to cover modifications and variations thereof, provided they fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to: Receive a command to activate a non-public network (NPN) SIM when the first cellular subscriber identity module (SIM) and the second cellular SIM are active, so as to enable access to the NPN; The received command is used to analyze one or more conditions to select which of the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM to disable or modify the settings. Based on the analysis, disable or modify the settings for the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM; as well as Activate the NPN SIM.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions are based on the settings for the first cellular SIM and the second cellular SIM.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, When the first cellular SIM has WiFi calling enabled and the second cellular SIM has not, the cellular connection for the first cellular SIM is disabled for sending and receiving, while the first cellular SIM remains active and the NPN SIM is enabled. When a service is invoked for the first cellular SIM, the cellular connection or NPN connection of the second cellular SIM is used for the service on the first cellular SIM.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, When the first cellular SIM has voice preference enabled and the second cellular SIM has not voice preference enabled, the second cellular SIM is deactivated and the NPN SIM is enabled.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions are related to the radio conditions of a first link enabled by the first cellular SIM or a second link enabled by the second cellular SIM.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more conditions are based on a metric for congestion or radio frequency (RF) quality.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, When the metric indicates poor radio condition of the first link, the first cellular SIM is selected for deactivation.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, When a voice call enabled by the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM is active when the command for activating the NPN SIM is received, wait for the settings for the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM to be deactivated or modified until the voice call has ended.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the command for activating the NPNSIM is received when the UE enters a geofence, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: When the UE leaves the geofence, the NPN SIM is deactivated; and Restore the previous settings for the first cellular SIM and the second cellular SIM.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: The first prompt is displayed so that the user can choose whether to activate the NPN SIM.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: When a user selects to activate the NPN SIM, a second prompt is displayed so that the user can choose either the first cellular SIM or the second cellular SIM to deactivate it.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: Store user preferences for the first or second prompt; and Based on the user's preferences, the first or second prompt will be avoided in future operations.

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