Managing paging collisions between communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed. In an example, a method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks is disclosed. Each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs. The method comprises receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network, and receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks. The method also comprises triggering a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition. Each of one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not collision in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to one of the one or more second USIMs. Additionally or alternatively, each of one or more of the paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is greater than or equal to a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the one of the one or more second USIMs.

Description

[0001] MANAGING PAGING COLLISIONS BETWEEN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] Examples of this disclosure relate generally to the field of wireless communication. More particularly, examples of this disclosure relate to managing paging collisions between communication networks in wireless communication devices equipped with multiple USIMs.

[0004] Background

[0005] Multi -USIM (Multiple Universal Subscriber Identity Module), or MUSIM, is a term used to describe a feature wherein Multiple USIMs (Universal Subscriber Identity Modules) can be used at a single User Equipment (UE), such as a single Smartphone. The multi-USIM feature has been commercialized for more than 10 years with a large range in worldwide markets covering all major smart phone brands. When introduced, it became a great success in some markets, e.g. in China. Since then, it has become a common feature supported by a lot of major smartphone brands worldwide. For example, the Apple iPhone 12 supports multi-USIM with 2 physical SIM cards in China, while supporting one physical SIM card and one embedded-SIM (eSIM) in all the other regions. In this disclosure, the terms MUSIM, multi-USIM and multi-SIM are used interchangeably. Similarly, the terms USIM and SIM are used interchangeably. Also, the terms terminal, communication device and UE may be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

[0006] The MUSIM function allows the UE to be connected to several different network operators, where each network / operator is associated with a respective USIM of the UE. A UE with multiple valid USIMs is hence capable of initiating and maintaining simultaneous separate registration states over 3GPP (3rdGeneration Partnership Project) access with PLMN(s) using identities and credentials associated with those USIMs and supporting one or more of: NAS signaling connection release, paging indication for voice services, reject paging request, paging restriction, and paging timing collision control.

[0007] Typically, when a UE registers to a network, the network configures the UE with Paging Occasions (POs) that indicate to the UE when the network may page the UE, i.e., when the UE needs to monitor paging messages sent by the network. Thereby, a UE configured in RRC IDLE and / or RRC INACTIVE state may go into sleep mode in between the POs and save battery power. The paging configuration typically describes (at least) the following features: when (in time) the POs occur; the periodicity of the PO reoccurrence; and the duration time of the POs (e.g. 1 subframe of 1ms).

[0008] When the terminal / UE uses multiple USIMs it should be contactable by each network associated with a respective USIM, even though the networks typically are not aware that the UE is equipped with another PLMN’s USIM. Typically, if the UE is equipped with two USIMs, the UE in IDLE state in a first PLMN receives a paging configuration enabling the UE to calculate PO(s) for the PLMN associated with the first USIM, and also receives in a second PLMN a Paging configuration enabling the UE to calculate PO(s) for the PLMN associated with the second USIM. As 3GPP standards had not defined any coordination to support MUSIM operation, PO overlaps between both networks may happen. The terms “PO collision” and “PO overlap” may be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

[0009] Paging Occasion (PO) overlapping may cause several problems, such as the UE failing to monitor a PO in the first PLMN when the first PLMN is trying to reach the UE. This leads to that the UE fails to be reached by the network (in this case the first PLMN). When the UE fails to receive a paging message, paging escalation occurs, i.e., the paging message may be repeated and after several repetitions, the paging will stop. This causes a so-called paging failure. Paging failures may also occur for other reasons, for example poor network planning, and the operator typically cannot know what caused the failures. The amount of paging failures is therefore one of the metrics that the network operator wants to minimize. Furthermore, it is also desirable to minimize the amount of paging failures caused by conditions that the operator cannot control. What is more serious here is that the operator may not even be able to easily perform a root cause analysis to understand why the paging failure occurred, as the first PLMN does not have control over the UE actions regarding the second PLMN or is not aware of the UE’s configuration associated to the second PLMN.

[0010] Another problem is that sending paging messages several times also consumes radio resources, which reduces the amount radio resources available for other UEs. Furthermore, repeated paging also increases the energy consumption on the network side.

[0011] Yet another problem, which occurs even if the UE eventually responds to a later paging, is the delay, e.g., session setup delay, caused by being forced to repeat the paging several times. If the paging escalation is not successful, then this can also cause session setup failures. Both session setup delays and session setup failures are important metrics(Key Performance Indicators, KPIs) that the network operator wants to optimize. That is, the operator may wish to minimize or maximize certain KPIs.

[0012] In order to reduce or avoid PO overlapping, the support of MUSIM UEs with UE assistance for a better coordinated Multi-SIM operation was standardized in the Rel-17 multi-SIM Working Item (WI) when a UE uses two (or more) USIMs, i.e., physical SIM cards and / or eSIMs.

[0013] An example of such assistance is paging timing collision control. To try to avoid possible paging occasion collisions and to enhance the likelihood that paging is received successfully for differentnetworks, a Multi -USIM UE may provide, for at least one USIM, a Requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) Offset value that is used for the determination of paging occasions. Upon reception of a Requested IMSI Offset value from UE in Attach Request or Tracking Area Update Request, a supporting Mobility Management Entity (MME) provides an Accepted IMSI Offset value to the UE in the Attach Accept or Tracking Area Update Accept message to acknowledge it supports the feature and provide the accepted value. The Accepted IMSI Offset Value may be different from the Requested IMSI Offset provided by the UE. The UE and the network use the Accepted IMSI Offset to determine the paging occasions forthat network.

[0014] For UEs in 4G (i.e. connected to Evolved Packet System (EPS) Core Network (CN)), the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications define the signaling mechanisms the UE may use to indicate to the network a Requested IMSI offset value for calculating paging occasions, which may be used to avoid possible PO collision and to enhance the likelihood that paging is received successfully for different PLMNs associated with different USIMs.

[0015] For UEs in 5G CN, the UE may perform a new Non Access Stratum (NAS) Mobility Registration to receive a new 5G Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) to update the POs for that network. In this case, the UE cannot send a Requested IMSI offset, instead the newly allocated 5G- GUTI differs in each NAS Mobility Registration procedure, so it is possible that a new procedure will lead a new 5G-GUTI that resolves the PO overlapping.

[0016] Patent application US 2015 / 0163827 Al describes solutions on how to detect paging occasion overlapping in various conditions, with consideration of paging repetition times, for monitoring paging for two USIMs with certain priority. Various processes for altering paging when paging collisions are detected are also described. However, it may not always be beneficial to try to alter the paging occasions whenever an overlap / collision is detected, as this may lead to a large signaling overhead while still not improving actual performance.

[0017] Therefore, there is a need for methods an apparatus for managing paging collisions between POs associated with multiple USIMs in a single UE.

[0018] Summary

[0019] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises / comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.

[0020] It is an object of some embodiments to obviate at least some of the above disadvantages and to provide methods and apparatus for managing paging collisions in a wireless communication device such as a UE.

[0021] One aspect of this disclosure provides a method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks. Each of the first and one or more second communication networks is associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) of the plurality of USIMs. The method comprises receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network, and receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks. The method also comprises triggering a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition. Each of one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not collision in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to one of the one or more second USIMs. Additionally or alternatively, each of one or more of the paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is greater than or equal to a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the one of the one or more second USIMs.

[0022] Another aspect of this disclosure provides a method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks. Each of the first and one or more second communication networks is associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs. The method comprises receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network, and receiving one or more second paging configuration message indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks. The method also comprises triggering a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition.

[0023] Another aspect of this disclosure provides a computer program product comprising a non- transitory computer readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium has stored there on a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program is configured to be loadable into a data-processing unit, comprising a processor and a memory associated with or integral to the data-processing unit. When loaded into the data-processing unit, the computer program is configured to be stored in the memory, wherein the computer program, when loaded into and run by the processor, is configured to cause the processor to execute method steps according to the above aspect.

[0024] Another aspect of this disclosure provides apparatus for a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks. Each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIMs) of the plurality of USIMs. The apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause reception of a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network; reception of one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks; and triggering of a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition. Each of one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not collision in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to one of the one or more second USIMs. Additionally or alternatively, each of one or more of the paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is greater than or equal to a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the one of the one or more second USIMs.

[0025] A further aspect of this disclosure provides apparatus for a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks. Each of the first and one or more second communication networks is associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs. The apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause reception of a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network, reception of one or more second paging configuration message indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks, and triggering of a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition.

[0026] An advantage of some embodiments may include reducing or avoiding paging occasion collisions between networks in a UE and / or enhancing the likelihood that paging is received successfully for different USIMs in a UE. Another advantage of some embodiments may include reduction of signaling in a communication network, and this may lead for example to improved network efficiency and / or improvement of power consumption for the UE or the network.

[0027] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] Further objects, features and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings. It may be noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example embodiments.

[0029] Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating example method steps according to some embodiments;

[0030] Figs. 2a, 2b, 2c are schematic drawings illustrating example paging configurations according to some embodiments;

[0031] Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c are schematic drawings illustrating example paging configurations according to some embodiments

[0032] Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating example method steps according to some embodiments;

[0033] Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus according to some embodiments;

[0034] Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer program product according to some embodiments;

[0035] Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating example method steps according to some embodiments;

[0036] Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example apparatus according to some embodiments; and Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer program product according to some embodiments.

[0037] Detailed Description

[0038] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described and exemplified more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The solutions disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0039] In the following, embodiments will be described where conditions for when to triggering a procedure with one or more networks in order to avoid paging occasion collisions associated with the one or more networks are determined.

[0040] Generally, it should be noted that the terms wireless network, wireless communication network, (communication) network, (network) operator and PLMN may be used interchangeably in this disclosure. A network may also in some examples be a private network, non-public network or non-public land mobile network (NPLMN).

[0041] Similarly, the terms terminal, UE, (wireless) device, and (wireless) communication device may be used interchangeably herein.

[0042] A typical scenario, in which embodiments described herein are applicable, is when a communication device is equipped with multiple USIMs (e.g. two or more). Each USIM is associated with a respective network. The communication device will typically receive a paging configuration from each of the networks, where the paging configurations will indicate paging occasions (POs) to the wireless communication device when it can expect, and thus should listen for, paging from each of the networks.

[0043] Fig. 1 illustrates an example method 100 according to some embodiments. The method 100 is for a wireless communication device (e.g. a UE) equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM). The method is typically for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, where each of the first and one or more second communication networks is associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs.

[0044] The method 100 starts in step 110 with receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network.

[0045] Then in step 120 the method 100 comprises receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks. Typically, in some examples, the method 100 may comprise receiving a paging configuration from each network (including the first network and the one or more second networks) associated with a USIM comprised in the communication device. For example, if the communication device is equipped with four USIMs, it may receive four paging configuration messages, one from the network associated with each USIM. In other words, the communication device may receive paging configuration messages from the networks for each USIM that the communication device is equipped with.

[0046] It should be noted that the steps 110 and 120 can occur in any order, and the use of the terms “first” and “one or more second” paging configuration messages herein do not refer to the order in which the paging configuration messages are received by the wireless communication device.

[0047] Next, in step 130, the method 100 comprises triggering a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition.

[0048] The method 100 hence may comprise for example that the wireless communication device collects paging configurations from the networks associated with the equipped USIMs. The device can then compare the paging configurations to each other in order to determine whether it should attempt to alter one or more paging configurations (and thereby reduce or avoid paging occasion collisions) by triggering one or more procedures with one or more of the networks. In some examples, it may not be sufficient to just detect a paging collision, but instead the procedure may be triggered dependent on other factors such as a number of paging occasions that are not colliding (i.e. a number of non-overlapping POs). In some examples, triggering the procedure in step 130 comprises performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to a 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first or one or more second communication network. Typically, this is applicable when the PLMN with which the procedure is triggered is a 5G network. This may for example result in the UE obtaining a new 5G Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) forthat network, which may then be used to determine different POs for that network. This may result in a reduced number of PO overlaps between that network and one or more other networks. If in some examples this is not the case, the procedure may be repeated, to obtain yet another new 5G-GUTI, or alternatively the UE may attempt to change the POs configured for a different network.

[0049] In some examples, triggering the procedure comprises performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration.

[0050] In some examples, triggering the procedure comprises transmitting a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network, for example in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN. Typically, this is applicable when the PLMN with which the procedure is triggered is an LTE network.

[0051] In some examples, triggering the procedure comprises requesting alteration of paging configuration.

[0052] Hence, in some examples, if the communication device triggers the procedure with the first network, it may receive in response a re-configuration of the first paging configuration from the first network associated to a first USIM. If the communication device triggers the procedure with the second network, it may receive in response a re-configuration of the second paging configuration from the second PLMN associated to a second USIM. Triggering the procedure in step 130 may therefore result in an alteration of the paging occasion for a network. Based on the response from the network, and the reconfigured paging occasions, the PO overlapping may either be reduced and / or avoided.

[0053] A paging occasion is typically positioned in a Paging Frame, identified by a Serial Frame Number (SFN, i.e. the radio frame number), and by an index i_s as specified in 3GPP TS 36.304 V17.0.0 (2022-03) and 3GPP TS 38.304 vl7.0.0.

[0054] The wireless communication device may derive the SFN and index i_s from the received paging configuration. Based on this configuration, the communication device may calculate when the paging occasions occur, e.g. where there may be P-RNTI transmitted on PDCCH for the wireless communication device.

[0055] A paging occasion may typically have a time duration or correspond to a time-domain unit, which in some embodiments comprises the paging occasion as configured by a network. The time duration / time-domain unit may in some examples, be a subframe, time slot, radio frame etc. A paging occasion may, in some examples, be used by a network to transmit a paging message that includes an identifier, such as a Paging-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (P-RNTI) transmitted on a control channel, such as a CORESET and / or Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), addressing the communication device. A network may not transmit a paging message to the communication device in every PO configured in the communication device for that network in some examples.

[0056] In some examples, each paging occasion overlap between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises one of the following:

[0057] • a full paging occasion overlap, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network;

[0058] • a partial paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; or

[0059] • a close paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0060] In some examples, a paging occasion may experience a full paging occasion overlap with time aligned PO(s) of other networks. This may occur, for example, when multiple PLMNs are in sync in the time domain and have time aligned structures for the PO(s) which overlap, e.g. two subframes of 1ms which overlap in the time domain. Thus, for example, a full paging occasion overlap between two paging occasions may mean that the two paging occasions start at the same time, and also end at the same time.

[0061] An example of full paging occasion overlap is illustrated by Fig. 2a, where the horizontal axis represents time. In Fig. 2a, a first paging configuration 210 indicating a first paging occasion 211 associated with a first communication network is illustrated together with a second paging configuration 220 indicating two paging occasions 221 and 222 associated with a second communication network. Paging occasion 211 and paging occasion 221 are fully overlapping each other. That is, the start time of the paging occasions 211 and 221 are aligned, and the end time of the paging occasions 211 and 221 are also aligned.

[0062] Fig. 2a further illustrates a close paging occasion overlap, which may in some examples be considered as a paging occasion collision. Paging occasion 222 of the second paging configuration 220 is not actually overlapping in time with paging occasion 211. However, various factors may affect the time it takes the communication device to transition between the different USIMS and networks in order to monitor the paging occasions between different networks. This switching time 230 is shown in Fig. 2a. The start of paging occasion 222 of the second paging configuration 220 is scheduled within the switching time of the paging occasion 211 of the first paging configuration 210. As a result, time period 232 between the first duration and the second duration (i.e. between the end of PO 211 and the start of PO 222) is shorter than a switching time 230 for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging. Hence, for example, if the communication device is monitoring the paging occasion 211 of the first network, it will not be able to transfer to the second USIM in time to monitor the whole paging occasion 222 of the second network.

[0063] Thus, in some examples, switching time characterized as the time needed by the wireless communication device to switch from one network to another may be added to the PO duration of a network. This may be taken into account when determining whether a PO overlaps with another or not because in some scenarios, as exemplified in Fig. 2a, two or more PO(s) from a first and second network (or more) may not overlap in their PO duration, however if the end of the PO of the first network is too close in time to the start of the second paging occasion of the second network, the communication device may not have enough time to switch from the PO of the first network to the PO of the second network. Hence, in some examples of this disclosure, a paging occasion overlap is considered to include a close paging occasion overlap, such as is the case for example between POs 211 and 222, for the purposes of triggering the procedure in step 130 of the method 100.

[0064] In some examples, when two networks use the same frequency or are in the same band, or use contiguous carriers in the same band, the switching time could be very small, e.g. less than 1 OFDM symbol, or at least less 1ms. When the two networks are in the same frequency range, e.g. Frequency Range 1 (FR1), depending on the band category (e.g. low band <lGHz, mid band 2.4GHz, or mid-high band 3.5GHz), the switching time could in some examples depend on the receiver architecture of the wireless communications device, e.g. whether the same RF transceiver could support the two networks. However, between the low band to mid or high band the switching time could be >lms or 2-3ms. When the two networks are not in the same frequency ranges, e.g. one in FR1 and one in FR2, then it is expected that different RF transceivers would be used for the two different networks. In such examples, the switching time may be for example 3- 10ms.

[0065] In some examples, a large overlap for POs (e.g. more than 25%, more than 40%, more than 50%, or any other large amount of overlap) with similar duration(s), e.g. both 1ms, may be expressed in terms of the time between the start time of both subframes. Thus, in some embodiments, the communication device considers a PO overlap when the delta time duration (e.g. in seconds, milliseconds, etc.) between the end of the PO of the first network and the beginning of the PO of the second network is shorter than the switching time, i.e. shorter than the time the communication device would need to switch networks. If that delta time is shorter than the switching time, although the PO durations do not actually overlap, in practice the effect is the same as if they did, as the communication device would not have time to switch between PO(s) of the different networks..

[0066] Furthermore, in some embodiments, a paging occasion may experience a partial PO overlap with time aligned PO(s) of other networks. For example, when the communication device is configured with paging occasions from multiple PLMNs, a partial PO overlap may occur where two (or more) POs of different networks overlap in the time domain only partially, e.g. by a certain percentage. The term “partial” relates in some embodiments to a percentage, which could be a full overlap if the percentage is 100% or partial if the overlap is less than 100%. Hence, it may be noted that a partial overlap may in some embodiments be seen as a full overlap. That is, for example, a count of “partial” overlaps by the UE may include full overlaps where the “partial” overlap percentage is 100%.

[0067] An example of a partial paging occasion overlap is illustrated in Fig. 2b, where the horizontal axis represents time. Similar to Fig.2a, Fig, 2b illustrates a first paging configuration 210 associated with a first network indicating a first paging occasion 211. Fig. 2b further illustrates a second paging configuration 220 associated with a second network indicating a second paging occasion 221. The partial paging occasion overlap is illustrated by first paging occasion 211 of the first network and second paging occasion 221 of the second network, where the duration of the first paging occasion 211 partially overlaps in time with the duration of the third paging occasion 221. A partial paging occasion overlap may hence in some examples be defined as when a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication networks.

[0068] In some embodiments, the PO overlapping may be referred to as not time aligned. For example, a time-domain unit, e.g, a subframe A, configured as a PO for a first network (associated to a first USIM), partially overlaps but not fully with the time-domain unit, e.g, a subframe B, configured as a PO for a second network (associated to a second USIM). Even if they are not time aligned, a PO of a first PLMN and a PO of a second PLMN may still have a similar time-domain unit with similar extension, e.g., that PO is a subframe of 1ms.

[0069] A paging occasion non overlap may in some embodiments comprise where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with a first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with one or more second communication networks do not overlap in time, and further in some examples that a time period between the first duration and the second duration is at least as long as a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive (or at least monitor for) paging.

[0070] Fig. 2c illustrates an example of a scenario where both a partial and a full paging occasion overlap occurs, where the horizontal axis represents time. Fig. 2c illustrates a first paging configuration

[0071] 210 associated with a first network and indicating a first paging occasion 211. Also illustrated is a second paging configuration 220 associated with a second network and indicating a second paging occasion 221. From the perspective of the first network, the first paging occasion 211 is partially overlapped by the second paging occasion 221. From the perspective of the second network, the second paging occasion

[0072] 211 is fully overlapped by the first paging occasion 211. In any case, a paging occasion overlap occurs and the communication device will not be able to monitor the full duration of both occasions , and may even not be able to monitor any part of at least one of the occasions. Hence, in some embodiments, the PO is considered overlapped when there is a partial PO overlap for the first network and a possibly full PO overlap for the second network, when one PO has shorter duration than the other and is within the other. In such examples, the multiple networks may have different PO(s) durations. For example, a first network has 1ms duration for POs while a second network has 0.5ms duration for POs. This leads to that the second PO can fall completely within the first PO in the time domain.

[0073] It should be noted that Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are purely illustrative examples and the definitions provided for the various types of paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps may extend to when more than two USIMs and networks are involved. Hence, when more than two USIMs, networks and paging configurations are involved, one paging occasion for a first network may overlap with a third network but not with a second, or with POs of multiple networks etc. Similarly, different networks may have a different frequency of POs scheduled, i.e. in a time period there may be more POs for one network than for another network.

[0074] In some scenarios, two or more of the networks are not time aligned, leading to that frames are not aligned between networks and the SFNs from the networks are completely independent. Even if the two networks are time aligned, the SFN still may not align in time. In this situation, the values of the SFNs are not enough to indicate if the POs are overlapped. In such cases, the communication device may in some examples correlate in time the SFN of the networks, to determine if the POs are overlapped (or partially overlapped), or not overlapped but within the transit time of each other (i.e. closely overlapped). In some examples, the communication device may convert the SFNs related to the POs to a corresponding absolute time relative the communication device. For example, the absolute time may be a subframe number or number of seconds since the UE was powered on. By comparing the absolute time values, the communication device can determine, in advance, if the POs are overlapped, partially overlapped or closely overlapped (e.g. not overlapped but within the transit time of each other).

[0075] In some examples, the communication device may try using the receiver to monitor the Paging at the PO occurrence in one network. If the receiver is “busy”, for example because it is already in use for monitoring the paging in another network, this is an indication that the two POs are overlapped (or partially overlapped) or closely overlapped.

[0076] There are prior art solutions that focus on detecting paging occasion collisions (e.g. US 2015 / 0163827 Al, mentioned earlier) and applying counteractive procedures to reduce or remove the collisions. However, in the prior art, once a collision is detected, counter measures are applied directly. This may not always be beneficial as it may lead to unnecessary signaling overhead and may increase energy consumption in the network, as well as in some cases increase delay and negatively affect network performance.

[0077] Hence examples described in this disclosure focus on triggering counteractive measures based on whether the number of paging occasion overlaps and / or the number paging occasion non overlaps derived for the various networks fulfills a paging occasion condition. As a result, unnecessary triggering of various procedures for changing the paging configuration of one or more networks may be avoided.

[0078] In some examples, the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period:

[0079] • upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks have one or more paging occasion overlaps with at least one other of the communication networks;

[0080] • more than half of upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks overlap with one or more paging occasions for at least one other of the communication networks;

[0081] • the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks exceeds an overlap threshold;

[0082] • the number of paging occasion non overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a non overlap threshold; and / or

[0083] • the number of paging occasion non overlaps is zero.

[0084] In some examples, the time period is at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode, e.g. RRC IDLE or RRC INACTIVE mode, or is otherwise in a non-connected mode such as a mode other than RRC CONNECTED.

[0085] In some examples, the time period is a first paging cycle (or multiple paging cycles) of the first communication network. The first paging cycle may be longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

[0086] In some examples, the time period is a time domain unit. The time period may e.g. be 1ms, 10ms, 1 second or any other time period suitable in communication systems.

[0087] As indicated above, in some examples, when the paging configuration messages associated with each network have been received, it may be determined or calculated by the communication device that upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks have one or more paging occasion overlaps with at least one other of the communication networks, or that more than half of upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks overlap with one or more paging occasions for at least one other of the communication networks. In such examples, it may be beneficial to trigger a procedure with one or more of the networks to change the paging configurations in order to try to reduce or entirely remove the paging occasion overlaps. It may also be that most of the communication networks (e.g. half, more than half, all) are configured with a number of paging occasion overlaps that exceeds an overlap threshold (e.g. half of the paging occasions for a network). When more than one, or several, networks have too many overlaps in relation to non overlaps, it may be beneficial to trigger procedure with the networks for reducing paging occasion collisions.

[0088] Hence, in some examples, the communication device may trigger the procedure in step 130 of the method 100 with one or more networks based on the occurrence of multiple PO overlapping(s), i.e. a plurality overlappings of POs in the PO(s) configured by one or more networks. In this case, it is not sufficient that a single PO overlap occurs to trigger the procedure by the communication device (e.g. single full PO overlapping and / or a single partial or close PO overlapping), as long as the communication device has in at least one of the networks at least one non-overlapping PO.

[0089] In some examples, the condition may be whether the communication device calculates, determines or derives based on the received paging configurations that a number of paging occasion overlaps (e.g. full and / or partial and / or close overlaps) exceeds an overlap threshold number. The overlap threshold number may e.g. define how many paging occasion overlaps are acceptable for a network during a given period of time. This threshold may vary, e.g. in relation to the total number of configured paging occasions for the network during the time period. The overlap threshold number may in such case be expressed e.g. as a percentage or a ratio, such as the ratio of overlaps to non overlaps. In some embodiments, the threshold is a fixed number, though in other examples the threshold may be a flexible number, may be different for different networks, and / or may be dynamically adjusted, e.g. reduced for one or more networks when the number of networks increases.

[0090] In some examples, the wireless communication device triggers the procedure in step 130 of the method 100 with one of the multiple networks to reduce paging occasion collisions (and / or enhance the likelihood that paging is received successfully for different networks associated with USIMs) when there is at least one full PO overlap. One advantage is that the number of times the procedure is triggered is reduced, as for example POs that experience a partial overlap with a PO of one or more other networks may still be partially monitored by the wireless communication device. The full PO overlap is possibly the most serious case of overlap, because there may in some examples be a higher chance of missing a fully overlapped PO as compared to a partially overlapped PO, and may hence be given more emphasis than partial or close overlaps when determining whether the condition is met (e.g. when calculating paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps). This is because the communication device typically needs to monitor the beginning of a paging occasion time period in order to determine whether there is paging intended for the device present in the paging occasion. With a full overlap, the device is typically required to pick one PLMN to monitor, regardless of whether the PO of the selected PLMN holds a paging intended for the device or not. Hence, giving emphasis to full paging overlaps in relation non overlaps or partial / close overlaps may lead to the number of procedures for reducing paging occasion collisions which are triggered being reduced (e.g. as only full overlaps may result in the condition being met in some embodiments) as compared to the case where all types of overlap (full, partial and close) being treated equally, and consequently, there will be lower signaling overhead and lower power consumption.

[0091] In some embodiments, the condition may be fulfilled when the number of PO(s) overlapping in a time interval (e.g. in a number of subframes, a number of radio frames, a time interval in seconds or milliseconds) is greater than or equal to N1 (wherein N1 is an integer) for one or more networks. In other words, the communication device does not trigger the procedure if the number of overlapping PO(s) is not significant (e.g. compared to the number of paging occasion non overlaps). This may be beneficial as it may reflect the fact that despite the existence of PO overlaps, the communication device may still be able to switch between networks and monitor at least one PO per network in a time period or interval (e.g within a radio frame). As noted above, this has a benefit in preventing the triggering of the procedure unnecessarily and rather allowing triggering of the procedure when the probability of missing paging for a network (e.g. for multiple paging occasions or multiple iterations of the time period) would be significant.

[0092] In some examples, and as noted above, a PO may be considered overlapped when there is a partial PO overlap with aligned PO(s), such as for example when the communication device is configured with paging occasions from multiple networks, where the paging occasions are of two subframes / slots / frames and where e.g. 1ms of these overlap in the time domain by at least X%. When partial overlaps are determined / calculated / detected based on the received configurations, the wireless communication device may in some embodiments decide to monitor a PO for a first network (e.g. Subframe A) and, upon determining that no data comes at the beginning of the subframe A, switching to monitor a PO of second network (e.g. Subframe B), if there is time.

[0093] However, by triggering the procedure with one of the multiple networks to avoid or reduce PO collisions and enhance the likelihood that paging is received successfully for different networks despite there being a partial overlap, example embodiments herein may consider that a large partial overlap may be as serious as a full overlap. A large overlap (e.g. more than 50% of the durations of the POs are overlapping) may result in that there may not be enough time to switch between the first and the second networks. In contrast, if the overlap is small, e.g. less than 50%, the communication device may wait a certain amount of time before checking if data is available in the first network and only if it is certain that there is no data, the communication device may switch to the second network to monitor the PO of the second network. However, if the overlap is large, the amount of time without any overlap in the first network may possibly be too short to allow sufficient success of monitoring the PO. Hence, depending on how large the partial overlap (in terms of time overlap) is, the communication device could trigger the procedure depending on the percentage of the partial overlap. In other words, the benefit of some of the examples may be that not all the partial PO overlaps would trigger the procedure to the network, thereby reducing the number of times the procedure is triggered. Consequently, there may be lower signaling overhead and lower power consumption.

[0094] It may be noted that a large overlap for POs with similar durations, e.g. both with 1ms, may be expressed in terms of the time between the start time of both subframes. A larger overlap (e.g. at least or greater than 50%) may mean that there is a short time between the two subframes, which may not leave enough time for the communication device to switch from the first to the second network if needed. Hence, a short time between subframes may be given emphasis in some examples of this disclosure when determining whether the condition is met to trigger the procedure in step 130 of the method 100, while a long time between subframes may result in that the condition is not met and the wireless device will refrain from triggering the procedure and instead rely on its own procedures to perform switching between PO(s) upon not detecting data in the PO of the first network.

[0095] In some examples, overlaps such as those described in conjunction with Fig. 2c may mean that the different networks associated with the USIMs may have different PO durations, e.g. a PO for a first network has 1ms duration while a PO for a second network has 0.5ms duration. In such circumstances, PO for the second network may be completely encompassed by the PO for the first network. This may allow the wireless communication device to decide to monitor the PO for the first network (e.g. PO 211 of Fig 2c), which is the longer PO, and, upon determining that no data comes at the beginning of the subframe, switching to monitor the PO of second network (e.g. paging occasion 221 of Fig. 2c), which is the shorter PO shown in Fig. 2c, so that there could still be time to monitor the whole PO of second network. Hence, in some examples, the method 100 may comprise triggering of the procedure for reducing paging occasion collisions based on the paging occasion condition, where the condition for what counts as an overlap and non overlap could depend on different aspects or combinations of the following, e.g.:

[0096] • a) how much larger the PO duration of the first network is compared to the PO duration of second network: i.e. how much overlap there is between the paging occasions of the first and second network. In some examples, a paging occasion may be considered overlapped when there is partial PO overlap the first network and full PO overlap in the second network and the difference in duration is small (e.g. less than 50% or less than 25%) or insignificant (e.g. less than 10%), as that would be almost like the full overlap case of aligned networks. This could lead to avoiding triggering the procedure when the difference is large (i.e. one duration much larger than the other) as that may count as a nonoverlap and reduce the signaling overhead and UE’s power consumption.

[0097] • b) the delta between start time of PO(s): i.e., how much time there is between the start of the paging occasions of the first network and the start of the paging occasion of the second network. For example, if the delta is long enough (e.g. longer than the transit time to switch from one network to another and including the time it takes to determine there is no data in the PO of the first network), it can be seen as a non overlap and the communication device may not need to trigger the procedure to reduce paging occasion collisions, which in turn leads to reducing or minimizing of the signaling overhead and the UE’s power consumption. Or, in other words, allowing the communication device to trigger the procedure when the delta between start time of PO(s) is not long enough to allow the communication device to switch from the first network to the second network upon detecting that there is no paging for the device from the first network.

[0098] In some examples, the procedure may be triggered based on a partial PO overlap, wherein the partial PO overlap considers the switching time as described herein.

[0099] In some embodiments, the transit time or switching time between networks, which may be compared to the delta time duration (e.g. in seconds, milliseconds, etc.) between the end of the PO of the first network and the beginning of the PO of the second network, may depend on different factors.

[0100] Hence, in some embodiments, the communication device may determine the switching time depending on one or more of the following factors:

[0101] • The Radio Access Technology (RAT) associated with the one or more networks (e.g. the first network and the second network). For example, if two networks are 4G / LTE networks it may require a shorter time to switch between these networks compared to if both networks use another communication technology, such as e.g. UMTS / 3G. If both networks are 5G NR PLMNs, it may take even less time two switch between these networks compared to LTE in some examples;

[0102] • Whether the different networks associated to the different USIM(s) are of the same RAT and / or different RATs. The required switching time may in some examples be longer if multiple networks are of different RATs. For example, it may take longer for the communication device to switch from LTE to NR, than from LTE to LTE;

[0103] • The RRC state the communication device has in the multiple networks associated to the different USIM(s). The switching time may be longer if the communication device is in an inactive mode instead of idle, for example;

[0104] • Whether the UE is in the same or in different states in the multiple networks associated to the different USIM(s). The switching time may in some examples be longer if the UE is in an inactive state in the first network and idle in the second network, compared to if the communication device is in inactive state in both networks;

[0105] • Whether the multiple networks associated with the different USIM(s) are networks of different network operators;

[0106] • Whether the communication device has different hardware or receiver implementation, e.g. different baseband modem processors could use different mechanisms when switching between monitoring paging for different networks;

[0107] • The time required to tune the RF transceiver of the communication device to monitor different frequencies of the different networks.

[0108] The switching time may be taken into consideration when calculating whether a paging occasion if overlapping or not, e.g. if the paging occasion experiences a close overlap, and may hence be a parameter for the paging occasion condition in order to base the triggering on the condition. Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c illustrate some further examples of paging configurations, where the horizontal axis represents time. Fig. 3a illustrates during a time period a first paging configuration 310 associated with a first network indicating a first paging occasion 311, a second paging occasion 312, a third paging occasion 313 and a fourth paging occasion 314. Fig. 3a further illustrates a second paging configuration 320 associated with a second network indicating a fifth paging occasion 321 and a sixth paging occasion 322.

[0109] The communication device is equipped with two USIMs and hence configured with the two PO configurations 310 and 320, one for the first network and one for the second network, shown in a time interval of seven time units, marked by the dashed lines, (e.g. seven subframes of 1ms, wherein each PO is defined as a 1ms subframe). Within that interval, there are two paging occasion overlaps (between the first paging occasion 311 and the fifth paging occasion 321; and between the fourth paging occasion 314 and the sixth paging occasion 322). In an embodiment where the paging occasion condition is considered fulfilled when the number of paging occasion overlaps is equal to, or exceeds (i.e. at least) a threshold number (e.g. three), and there is at least one paging occasion non overlap, then the scenario illustrated in Fig. 3a would not result in the wireless communication device triggering the procedure in step 130 of the method 100. This still allows the communication device to monitor the two configured paging occasions 321 and 322 of the second configuration 320, and allows the device to switch to the first network to monitor the second 312 and third 313 paging occasions of the first paging configuration 310. Hence, the communication device does not trigger the procedure to alter paging configurations, but is still able to monitor at least some of the paging occasions for both networks.

[0110] In other words, the communication device may monitor the fifth paging occasion 321, then switch to monitor the second 312 and third 313 paging occasions of the first network and then switch back to monitor the sixth paging occasion 322 of the second network.

[0111] A consequence is that in the time interval shown in Fig. 3a, two out of four POs of the first network would not be monitored by the communication device, while all POs of the second network would be monitored. In other words, there might be a slightly higher chance of missed POs in the first network, but as there are also more frequent POs and non-overlapping POs in the first network, this may not affect performance significantly (e.g. there are still POs for the first network that can be fully and frequently monitored). On the other hand, the communication device does not unnecessarily trigger the procedure to alter the paging configurations (in order to reduce paging occasion collisions) for either network, thus saving signaling and power consumption.

[0112] Furthermore, in some examples, it may be considered that the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period: • the number of paging occasion non overlaps for each of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a first threshold. The threshold may be set dynamically or be fixed. It may depend e.g. on the total number of paging occasions configured for each network.

[0113] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a second threshold. As noted above, in some examples, it may be the ratio of paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps that may be of interest when determining whether to trigger the procedure to alter paging configurations. Hence if the number of paging occasion non overlaps is lower than the number of overlaps for a network, the risk of missing paging from that network is increased. The higher the ratio becomes, the lower the risk gets (i.e. the number of non overlaps in relation to the number overlaps is high). In some embodiments, it may be sufficient that at least one of the networks experience a ratio of non overlaps to overlaps that fulfills the condition (e.g. is less than the second threshold) for the communication device to trigger the procedure for one or more networks.

[0114] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the first and the one or more second communication networks is less than a third threshold. In some examples, all of the networks may experience a ratio that fulfills the condition for the procedure in step 130 of the method 100 to be triggered. It should be noted that the ratios described in the embodiments herein may be defined the other way around, i.e. as a ratio of the number of overlaps in relation to non overlaps. For such a case, a high ratio (i.e. a ratio exceeding a threshold) would typically trigger the procedure.

[0115] • the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold fraction of a total number of paging occasions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks during the time period. In some examples, it is contemplated that the condition may be based on a fraction (e.g. a percentage) of paging occasion overlaps in relation to the total number of paging occasions (overlaps and non overlaps). For example, if the number of overlaps for one or more, or even all, of the networks is above 0.7 (or 70%) of the total number of paging occasions for one, more or all networks, it may be beneficial to trigger the procedure to alter paging configuration for one, more or all networks.

[0116] In some examples, if the communication device calculates, detects, determines or otherwise derives from the received paging configurations that none of the networks (associated with USIMs in the device) will experience paging occasions that are non overlapped, or that there are too few non overlaps for each network, then there may be no simple way to switch between the networks and still be able to monitor a sufficient amount of paging for all networks. The risk of missing a substantial amount of paging occasions for one or more networks may then be regarded as being too high, and it would in such a case merit triggering the procedure to alter the paging configurations to reduce paging occasion collisions for one or more networks.

[0117] Such an example is illustrated in Fig. 3b. As in Fig. 3a, a first paging occasion configuration 310 of a first network is illustrated together with a second paging occasion 320 of a second network. The first paging configuration 310 indicates a first paging occasion 311 and a second paging occasion 312 in a time period. The second paging occasion configuration 320 indicates a third paging occasion 321 and a fourth paging occasion 322 in the time period. Here, two paging occasion overlaps are calculated / detected / determined (between POs 311 and 321 ; and between POs 312 and 322) and no paging occasion non overlaps are calculate / detected / determined. The relation between paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps in this example indicates that the risk of missing paging is too high (e.g. the ratio of non overlaps to overlaps for each network is low, or even zero) since the communication device will only be able to monitor one paging occasion for each network. Hence it may be merited to trigger the procedure to reduce paging occasion collisions.

[0118] However, in some examples, even if there are overlapping PO(s), the communication device may not trigger the procedure if there is at least one non-overlapping PO in one of the networks out of the multiple networks during a time period. In other words, it may not be sufficient that a single or even multiple PO overlaps occur to trigger the procedure by the communication device (e.g. single full, partial or close PO overlap), as long as the communication device has in at least one of the networks at least one non-overlapping PO(s).

[0119] Whether or not a single paging occasion non overlap for at least one network is enough to refrain from triggering the procedure may be based on network conditions and / or total number of USIMs of the communication device. For example, if the communication device is in favorable network conditions where the likelihood of receiving paging from a network is high when listening on that network (e.g. if the device is close to the Radio Access Network (RAN) node, or if there is little traffic at the RAN node), it may be sufficient to monitor only one paging condition and still be able to receive paging. In less favorable conditions (e.g. if the device is at the cell edge or far from the network node, or if the cell is occupied with a lot of traffic) the risk of missing paging when only having one paging occasion to monitor may be deemed higher.

[0120] In some embodiments, the communication device triggers the procedure in step 130 of the method 100 if there are zero non-overlapping PO(s) in a time interval, (e.g. in a number of subframes, a number of radio frames, a time interval in seconds or milliseconds), i.e. all PO(s) overlap, for example as shown in Figs 2b, 2c and 3b, and also as shown in Fig. 2a when considering a close overlap between POs 211 and 222.

[0121] In some examples, the condition for triggering the procedure may be considered not met, even if there are zero paging occasion non overlaps, as long as there are sufficiently many paging occasions configured for each network to allow the communication device to switch between the networks to monitor at least one, but preferably more than one, paging occasion for every network. Hence, it may also be contemplated in some examples that the total number of paging occasions during a time period for each network is taken into consideration. For example, in the example of having two networks (or more than two in other examples), where both of the networks are configured with six paging occasions, and all of these overlap, then the communication device may determine to monitor three paging occasions for each network, even though each of the POs overlaps with a PO of the other network. It may hence in such examples be determined that, even though there is 100 percent collision of the paging occasions, the overlaps may be disregarded, and the procedure for reducing paging occasion collisions may not be triggered.

[0122] In some examples, the paging occasion condition is considered to be met and the communication device triggers the procedure in step 130 of the method 100 when the number of nonoverlapping PO(s) in a time interval (e.g. in a number of subframes, a number of radio frames, a time interval in seconds or milliseconds) is smaller than or equal to N2 (wherein N2 is an integer). For example, the communication device may trigger the procedure if the number of non-overlapping PO(s) is not sufficient to have a reasonable probability of successful paging receptions. Thus, if there are a number of non-overlapping PO(s) in one of the networks, the UE monitors these PO(s) of that network, while it monitors the PO(s) of the other network in the overlapping PO(s). Despite the existence of PO overlaps, the communication device may still switch between networks and monitor at least one PO per network in a time period (e.g. within a radio frame). This results in avoiding unnecessary triggering of the procedure to reduce paging occasion collisions (e.g. by requesting the network to alter paging configurations), while also ensuring that the procedure to reduce paging occasion collisions is triggered when the probability of missing paging would be significant.

[0123] In some examples, the communication device may trigger the procedure based on (i) the number of occurrence(s) of non-overlapping PO, e.g. a PO in one of the multiple PLMN(s) which is not overlapping any other paging occasion, and (ii) the number of PO(s), e.g. based on a relation between these numbers (i) and (ii).

[0124] In some examples, the paging occasion condition is considered to be met and the communication device triggers the procedure for reducing paging occasion collisions when the number of overlapping PO exceeds the number of non-overlapping PO(s), for example in a time period, when considering one or more of the received paging configurations. Using the same example as shown in Fig. 3a, there are two paging occasion overlaps (between paging occasions 311 and 321; and between paging occasions 314 and 322) and two non-overlapping paging occasions (paging occasions 312 and 313). Here, the paging collision condition is considered not to be met and the communication device does not trigger the procedure as there is an equal number of non-overlapping PO(s) and overlapping PO(s), at least for the second network associated with the second configuration 320. In this example, the two nonoverlapping PO(s) could be used to monitor one network (the first network), while the overlapping PO(s) may be used to monitor the other network (the second network). However, in some examples, if there would have been two overlapping PO(s) and only a single non-overlapping PO, the condition would have been met and the procedure would have been triggered.

[0125] In some examples, the paging occasion condition is considered to be met and the communication device triggers the procedure when, for at least one of the communication networks, the number of PO overlaps exceeds the number of non-overlapping PO(s). An example scenario may be when, during a time period, for a first network there are two PO overlaps and one non-overlapping PO, and for a second network there are two paging occasion overlaps and zero non overlaps. Such a relation may meet the paging occasion condition, leading to the procedure to reduce paging occasion collisions being triggered.

[0126] In some examples, the paging occasion condition is considered to be met and the communication device triggers the procedure when for two (or more) networks the number of PO overlaps exceeds the number of non-overlapping PO(s). For example, when, during a time period, for a first network there are two PO(s) overlaps and one non-overlapping PO, while for a second network there are two PO overlaps and zero non-overlaps, the procedure is triggered.

[0127] In some examples, the paging occasion condition is considered to be met and the communication device triggers the procedure for reducing paging occasion collisions when for at least one of the configured networks a percentage defined as the number of non-overlapping PO(s) divided by the number of PO overlaps is less than or equal than an acceptance percentage. The acceptance percentage may e.g. be 70%. Using as reference the same example as above with two overlaps and one non overlap for the first network and two overlaps for the second network, the percentage is 0.5 (50%) for the first network and zero for the second network. As at least one of the percentages is below 70%, the procedure may be triggered.

[0128] In some examples, the communication device triggers the procedure when for all configured PLMN(s) a percentage defined as the number of non-overlapping PO(s) divided by the number of PO overlaps is greater or equal than an acceptance percentage (e.g. 70%, other percentages are contemplated such as 60, 80, 90 etc.). Using as reference the same example as above, the percentage is 0,5 (50%) for the first network and 0 for the second network. As both percentages are below 70%, the procedure is triggered.

[0129] It should be noted that the above examples are given with percentages to illustrate the relation between paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps. However, the relation could also be illustrated by a ratio between paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps (as described earlier in this disclosure).

[0130] Figures, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, and 3b have illustrated configurations associated with two networks. However, as noted, the embodiments described herein are applicable for more than two networks. Fig. 3c illustrates an example with three networks (and hence the communication device is equipped with three USIMs and has received at least three paging occasion configurations, one for each network). Fig. 3c illustrates a first paging occasion configuration 310 of a first network, indicating a first paging occasion 311, a second paging occasion 312, a third paging occasion 313, and a fourth paging occasion 314.

[0131] Fig 3c also illustrates a second paging occasion configuration 320 of a second network, indicating a fifth paging occasion 321 and a sixth paging occasion 322.

[0132] Fig 3c further illustrates a third paging occasion configuration 330 of a third network, indicating an seventh paging occasion 331, a eighth paging occasion 332 and a ninth paging occasion 333.

[0133] When the number of networks and paging configurations increases, it may be contemplated in some examples that the communication device may form a matrix comprising the number of paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps of the paging configurations associated with the networks associated with the USIMs in the device.

[0134] Table 1 illustrates an example matrix according to Fig. 3c:

[0135] Table 1

[0136] Depending on how the paging occasion conditions is formed based on the relation of the paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps for the different networks, different scenarios may lead to triggering of the procedure for altering paging configuration.

[0137] The condition to trigger the procedure may in some examples depend on a combination of number of overlaps and number of non overlaps on each network. For example, a higher number overlaps may lead to a higher chance to trigger the procedure. Alternatively, for example, a higher number of overlaps and a lower number of non overlaps may lead to a higher chance to trigger the procedure.

[0138] For example, if N2 is an overlap threshold number of 2 (e.g. up to two overlapping POs per network are allowed), and a non-overlap threshold number N3 is 2 (e.g. at least two non-overlapping POs are needed per network), the paging occasion condition would be met for all networks, and the device may trigger the procedure to alter paging configuration for all of the networks (e.g. all networks for which the overlap threshold numbers N2 and N3 are violated, which is all of the networks in this example). In any of the examples of this disclosure, each of Nl, N2 and N3 may in some examples be an integer chosen by the UE or configured by one of the networks.

[0139] If in another example, the threshold number for N2 is set to 3 (e.g. up to three overlapping POs per network are allowed), and a non-overlap threshold number for N3 is 1 (e.g. at least one nonoverlapping POs is needed per network), the condition will be met for the second network 320 and the third network 330 (but not the first network 310). Hence, the communication device may trigger the procedure for at least one of the networks, e.g. only for the second and third networks. If the threshold number for N2 is set to 2 and the threshold number for N3 is 0 (e.g. no nonoverlapping POs are needed for any of the networks), the condition will only be met for the third network 330, and the communication device will trigger the procedure to alter the paging configuration for at least one of the networks, e.g. only for the third network.

[0140] Hence, it may in some examples be an advantage to take into consideration the relation between paging occasion overlaps and paging occasion non overlaps between the received paging configurations for a time period, when determining whether or not to trigger a procedure for reducing paging occasion collisions.

[0141] Fig. 3c may e.g. be seen as illustrating a matrix of paging occasions. In some examples, the wireless communication device may for example compare received paging configurations from different networks in such a matrix in order to determine whether it can keep the received configurations and still receive paging from all networks (according to the embodiments described herein), or if it should trigger the procedure to reduce collisions, by e.g. requesting a new IMSI offset and / or performing a (new) NAS mobility registration with at least one of the networks.

[0142] In some examples of the method 100, triggering the procedure in step 130 may comprise triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions. That is, for example, the parameter may be used by the wireless communication device to attempt to obtain reconfigured POs for the first network. The parameter may for example have a value that would result in a reduction in the first number of paging occasion overlaps (if allowed by the first network). In some examples, the wireless communication device may determine, calculate or select a parameter for reconfiguring paging occasions with the first communication network to reduce the number of paging occasion overlaps.

[0143] For example, the parameter value may be a value sent to the first network. The parameter value may be for example the Requested IMSI Offset value referred to above. Thus, in some examples, the method 100 may comprise receiving, from the first communication network, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value (e.g. if the first network will not allow the requested parameter value from the device, and provides the alternative value, for example if the requested value would cause PO collisions on the first network between the device and one or more other devices).

[0144] The method 100 may thus also include using reconfigured paging occasions for the first communication network based on the parameter value (or the alternative parameter value returned by the first network). Here, the first network is referred to as merely an example, and the parameter value may be sent to any one of the networks, or a respective (different) parameter value may be sent to each of multiple networks. The parameter value may be for example the Requested IMSI Offset value referred to above, and the alternative parameter value may be for example the Accepted IMSI Offset referred to above. The parameter value may in some examples be based on the alternative paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce the number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions. That is, for example, the device may calculate desired POs, and then use the desired POs to calculate the parameter value that, if allowed by the first network, would result in the desired POs being the reconfigured POs for the first network.

[0145] In some examples, the parameter value is different to one or more of the following:

[0146] • a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device, to ensure for example that reconfigured POs for the first network are different to those already configured;

[0147] • a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or

[0148] • an excluded parameter value, for example one or more parameter values that the first network as indicated cannot be chosen by the device.

[0149] Figure 4 illustrates an example method 400 according to some embodiments. The method 400 is for a wireless communication device (e.g. a UE) equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs). The method 400 is typically for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, where each of the first and one or more second communication networks is associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) of the plurality of USIMs.

[0150] The method 400 starts in step 410 with receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network.

[0151] Then in step 420 the method 400 comprises receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks. Typically, in some examples, the method 400 may comprise receiving a paging configuration from each network (including the first network and the one or more second networks) associated with a USIM comprised in the communication device. For example, if the communication device is equipped with four USIMs, it may receive four paging configuration messages, one from the network associated with each USIM. In other words, the communication device may receive paging configuration messages from the networks for each USIM that the communication device is equipped with.

[0152] It should be noted that the steps 410 and 420 can occur in any order, and the use of the terms “first” and “one or more second” paging configuration messages herein do not refer to the order in which the paging configuration messages are received by the wireless communication device.

[0153] Next, in step 430, the method 400 comprises triggering a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition.

[0154] In the method 400, each of one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not collision in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to one of the one or more second USIMs.

[0155] Additionally or alternatively, in the method 400, each of one or more of the paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is greater than or equal to a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the one of the one or more second USIMs.

[0156] Therefore, in the method 400, a collision may be considered to be for example a collision or close overlap between POs of different networks, as illustrated for example in Figure 2a, where the paging occasions 211 and 222 may be considered as a collision if the time period 232 between the first PO 211 and the second PO 222 (i.e. between the end of PO 211 and the start of PO 222) is shorter than a switching time 230 for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the one of the one or more second USIMs.

[0157] The method 400 hence may comprise for example that the wireless communication device collects paging configurations from the networks associated with the equipped USIMs. The device can then compare the paging configurations to each other in order to determine whether it should attempt to alter one or more paging configurations (and thereby reduce or avoid paging occasion collisions) by triggering one or more procedures with one or more of the networks. In some examples, it may not be sufficient to just detect a paging collision, but instead the procedure may be triggered dependent on other factors such as a number of paging occasions that are not colliding (i.e. a number of non-colliding POs).

[0158] In some examples, the PO collisions could, in addition to the one or more close collisions, include one or more overlapping collisions. Thus, for example, each paging occasion collision other than the one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions may in some examples comprise one of:

[0159] • a full paging occasion collision, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network, e.g. as illustrated in Figure 2a (POs 211 and 221) or Figure 2b; or • a partial paging occasion collision, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network, e.g. as illustrated in Figure 2c.

[0160] Alternatively, in some examples, the one or more of the paging occasion collisions may comprise all of the paging occasion collisions, and / or the one or more of the paging occasion noncollisions may comprise all of the paging occasion non-collisions.

[0161] In some examples, the first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period:

[0162] • upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks have one or more paging occasion collisions with at least one other of the communication networks;

[0163] • more than half of upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks collision with one or more paging occasions for at least one other of the communication networks;

[0164] • the number of paging occasion collisions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks exceeds an collision threshold;

[0165] • the number of paging occasion non-collisions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a non-collision threshold; and / or

[0166] • the number of paging occasion non-collisions is zero.

[0167] In some examples, the first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period:

[0168] • the number of paging occasion non-collisions for each of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a first threshold;

[0169] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non-collisions in relation to the number of paging occasion collisions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a second threshold;

[0170] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non-collisions in relation the number of paging occasion collisions for each of the first and the one or more second communication networks is less than a third threshold; and / or • the number of paging occasion collisions reaches a threshold fraction of a total number of paging occasions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks during the time period.

[0171] In some examples, the time period is at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode, e.g. RRC IDLE or RRC INACTIVE mode, or is otherwise in a non-connected mode such as a mode other than RRC CONNECTED.

[0172] In some examples, the time period is a first paging cycle (or multiple paging cycles) of the first communication network. The first paging cycle may be longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

[0173] In some examples, the time period is a time domain unit. The time period may e.g. be 1ms, 10ms, 1 second or any other time period suitable in communication systems.

[0174] In some examples, triggering the procedure in step 430 of the method 400 may comprise performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first or one or more second communication network. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, triggering the procedure may comprise transmitting a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network. The method 400 may also comprise transmitting the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN in some examples.

[0175] The first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions may in some examples be within a first time period.

[0176] Triggering the procedure in some examples of step 430 of the method 400 may comprise triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce the first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions. That is, for example, the parameter may be used by the wireless communication device to attempt to obtain reconfigured POs for the first network. The parameter may for example have a value that would result in a reduction in the first number of paging occasion collisions (if allowed by the first network). In some examples, the wireless communication device may determine, calculate or select a parameter for reconfiguring paging occasions with the first communication network to reduce the number of paging occasion collisions.

[0177] The parameter value may for example be based on the alternative paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks to reduce a number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions. That is, for example, the device may calculate desired POs, and then use the desired POs to calculate the parameter value that, if allowed by the first network, would result in the desired POs being the reconfigured POs for the first network.

[0178] The parameter value may for example be different to one or more of: a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device; a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or an excluded parameter value. In some examples, the method 400 may further comprise, after triggering the procedure, receiving, from the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value (e.g. if the first network will not allow the requested parameter value from the device, and provides the alternative value, for example if the requested value would cause PO collisions on the first network between the device and one or more other devices), and using reconfigured paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

[0179] Variations described above in relation to the method 100 shown in Figure 1 may also be individually applied in some examples to the method 400 shown in Figure 4 where compatible.

[0180] Fig. 5 illustrates an example apparatus 500 according to some embodiments. The apparatus 500 may e.g. be comprised or be comprisable in a wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the apparatus 500 is a wireless communication device. The apparatus 500 may further be configured to carry out the method 100 described in conjunction with Fig. 1 as well as the embodiments described so far.

[0181] The apparatus 500 is for a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) (e.g. USIMs 501, 502, 50N) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs. The apparatus comprises controlling circuitry (CNTR) 510 configured to cause reception of a first paging configuration message indicative of upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network and reception of one or more second paging configuration message indicative of upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication network. To this end, the apparatus may be connectable to or comprise a transceiver circuit (RX / TX) 520, configured to receive and transmit data.

[0182] The controlling circuitry 510 is further configured to cause triggering of a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication network for reducing paging occasion collisions. The triggering is based on the first and one or more second paging configuration messages indicating that a relation between a first number of paging occasion overlaps derived from the received first and one or more second paging configuration messages and a second number of paging occasion non overlaps derived from the received first and one or more second paging configuration messages fulfills a paging occasion condition. To this end, the apparatus 500 may in some examples comprise a determiner (DET) 512 configured to determine parameters for the paging occasion condition, and whether the paging occasion condition is met.

[0183] The apparatus 500 may further comprise a calculating circuit (CALC) 411 configured to determine paging occasion overlaps and non overlaps from the received paging configurations.

[0184] In some examples of the apparatus 500, each paging occasion overlap between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises one of the following:

[0185] • a full paging occasion overlap, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network;

[0186] • a partial paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; or

[0187] • a close paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0188] In some examples of the apparatus 500, a paging occasion non overlap comprises the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with one or more of the second communication networks does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is at least as long as a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM.

[0189] In some examples of the apparatus 500, the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period:

[0190] • upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks have one or more paging occasion overlaps with at least one other of the communication networks;

[0191] • more than half of upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks overlap with one or more paging occasions for at least one other of the communication networks; • the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks exceeds an overlap threshold;

[0192] • the number of paging occasion non overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a non overlap threshold; and / or

[0193] • the number of paging occasion non overlaps is zero.

[0194] In some examples of the apparatus 500, the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period:

[0195] • the number of paging occasion non overlaps for each of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a first threshold;

[0196] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a second threshold;

[0197] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the first and the one or more second communication networks is less than a third threshold number; and / or

[0198] • the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold fraction of a total number of paging occasions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks during the time period.

[0199] The time period may be for example at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode. Alternatively, the time period may be for example a first paging cycle of the first communication network and wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

[0200] In some examples, the apparatus 500 comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause triggering of the procedure by performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first or one or more second communication network.

[0201] In some examples, the apparatus 500 comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause triggering of the procedure by transmitting requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network.

[0202] In some examples, the apparatus 500 comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause transmission of the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN. In some examples of the apparatus 500, the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions are within a first time period.

[0203] In some examples, the apparatus 500 comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause triggering of the procedure by triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions. The parameter value may for example be based on the alternative paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks to reduce a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0204] In some examples of the apparatus 500, the parameter value may be different to one or more of:

[0205] • a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device;

[0206] • a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or

[0207] • an excluded parameter value.

[0208] In some examples, the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause, after triggering the procedure, reception, from the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks, of the parameter value or an alternative parameter value, and use of reconfigured paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

[0209] In some examples, the apparatus 500 according to some embodiments may alternatively be configured to carry out the method 400 described in conjunction with Fig. 4 and variations thereof. Thus, in some examples,

[0210] Fig. 6 illustrates a computer program product comprising a possibly non-transitory computer readable medium 600 (such as, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a plug-in card, an embedded drive, or a read only memory (ROM)). Fig. 6 illustrates the computer readable medium as a compact disc (CD) ROM. The non-transitory computer readable medium 600 has stored there on a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program is configured to be loadable into a data-processing unit 610, comprising a processor (PROC) 620 and a memory (MEM) 630 associated with or integral to the data-processing unit. When loaded into the data-processing unit 610 (e.g comprised in a wireless communication device and form part of a controlling circuitry). The computer program is configured to be stored in the memory 630, wherein the computer program, when loaded into and run by the processor 620 is configured to cause the processor to execute method steps according to the method 100 described in conjunction with Fig. 1, or the method 400 described in conjunction with Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating example method steps according to some embodiments. In particular, Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a method 700 of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks. Each of the first and one or more second communication networks is associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs, the method comprising:

[0211] The method 700 starts in step 710 with receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network, and step 720 with receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks. It should be noted that the steps 710 and 720 can occur in any order, and the use of the terms “first” and “one or more second” paging configuration messages herein do not refer to the order in which the paging configuration messages are received by the wireless communication device.

[0212] The method 700 also includes, in step 730, triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0213] That is, for example, the parameter may be used by the wireless communication device to attempt to obtain reconfigured POs for the first network. The first parameter may for example have a value that would result in a reduction in the first number of paging occasion overlaps (if allowed by the first network). In some examples, the wireless communication device may determine, calculate or select a parameter for reconfiguring paging occasions with the first communication network to reduce the number of paging occasion overlaps.

[0214] For example, the parameter value may be a value sent to the first network. The parameter value may be for example the Requested IMSI Offset value referred to above. Thus, in some examples, the method 700 may comprise receiving, from the first communication network, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value (e.g. if the first network will not allow the requested parameter value from the device, and provides the alternative value, for example if the requested value would cause PO collisions on the first network between the device and one or more other devices). The method 700 may thus include using reconfigured paging occasions for the first wireless communication network based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

[0215] In some examples, the parameter value is based on alternative paging occasions for the first communication network, wherein a number of paging occasion overlaps between the alternative upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions is lower than a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions. That is, for example, the device may calculate desired POs, and then use the desired POs to calculate the parameter value that, if allowed by the first network, would result in the desired POs being the reconfigured POs for the first network.

[0216] In some examples, the parameter value is different to one or more of the following:

[0217] • a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device, to ensure for example that reconfigured POs for the first network are different to those already configured;

[0218] • a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or

[0219] • an excluded parameter value, for example one or more parameter values that the first network as indicated cannot be chosen by the device.

[0220] Each of the one or more paging occasion overlaps may in some examples comprise a full, partial or close paging occasion overlap as defined above. Thus, for example, each paging occasion overlap may comprise one of the following:

[0221] • a full paging occasion overlap (e.g. as shown in Fig. 2a between POs 211 and 221), wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network;

[0222] • a partial paging occasion overlap (e.g. as shown in Fig. 2b), wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network;

[0223] • a close paging occasion overlap (e.g. as shown in Fig. 2a between POs 211 and 222), wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0224] In some examples of the method 700, triggering the procedure in step 730 may be performed when at least one of the following applies during a time period:

[0225] • the number of paging occasion non overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a first threshold number;

[0226] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one communication networks is less than a second threshold number; • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a third threshold number; and / or

[0227] • the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold percentage of a total number of paging occasions configured for the first and one or more second communication network.

[0228] The time period may be for example at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode. Alternatively, the time period may be for example a first paging cycle of the first communication network, wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

[0229] A paging occasion non overlap may in some examples comprise where a first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of the paging occasion associated with one or more the second communication network do not overlap in time, and further in some examples where a time period between the first duration and the second duration is at least as long as a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0230] In some examples, triggering the procedure may comprise transmitting the parameter value to the first communication network or a Core Network (CN) associated with the first communication network. The parameter value may be a Requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) Offset for example.

[0231] Triggering the procedure may in some examples comprise performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first communication network. Alternatively, in some examples, triggering the procedure may comprise transmitting a Requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) Offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network. The method 700 may also comprise transmitting the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN.

[0232] Fig. 8 illustrates an example apparatus 800 according to some embodiments. The apparatus 800 may e.g. be comprised or be comprisable in a wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the apparatus 800 is a wireless communication device. The apparatus 800 may further be configured to carry out the method 600 described in conjunction with Fig. 7 as well as the embodiments described so far.

[0233] The apparatus 800 is for a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) (e.g. USIMs 801, 802, 80N) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs. The apparatus comprises controlling circuitry (CNTR) 810 configured to cause reception of a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network and reception of one or more second paging configuration message indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication network. To this end, the apparatus may be connectable to or comprise a transceiver circuit (RX / TX) 820, configured to receive and transmit data.

[0234] The controlling circuitry 810 is further configured to cause triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0235] In some examples of the apparatus 800, the parameter value may be based on alternative paging occasions for the first communication network, wherein a number of paging occasion overlaps between the alternative upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions is lower than a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0236] In some examples of the apparatus 800, the parameter value is different to one or more of the following, as suggested above for the method 100, 400 or 700:

[0237] • a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device;

[0238] • a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or

[0239] • an excluded parameter value.

[0240] In some examples, the apparatus 800 may comprise controlling circuitry configured to cause, after triggering the procedure, reception of, from the first wireless communication network, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value; and use of reconfigured paging occasions for the first wireless communication network based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

[0241] In some examples of the apparatus 800, each of the one or more paging occasion overlaps comprises one or more of the following, as suggested above for the method 100, 400 or 700:

[0242] • a full paging occasion overlap, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network;

[0243] • a partial paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; or

[0244] • a close paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0245] In some examples of the apparatus 800, triggering of the procedure is caused when at least one of the following applies during a time period, as suggested above for the method 100, 400 or 700:

[0246] • the number of paging occasion non overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a first threshold number;

[0247] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one communication networks is less than a second threshold number;

[0248] • a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a third threshold number; and / or

[0249] • the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold percentage of a total number of paging occasions configured for the first and one or more second communication network.

[0250] The time period may be for example at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode, or alternatively for example a first paging cycle of the first communication network and wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

[0251] In some examples of the apparatus 800, a paging occasion non overlap may comprise for example a first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of the paging occasion associated with one or more the second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is at least as long as than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0252] In some examples, the apparatus 800 comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause triggering of the procedure by transmitting the parameter value to the first communication network or a Core Network (CN) associated with the first communication network.

[0253] The parameter value may in some examples comprise a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset.

[0254] In some examples, the apparatus 800 may comprise controlling circuitry configured to cause triggering of the procedure by performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first communication network, or transmitting a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network. The apparatus 800 may also in some examples comprise controlling circuitry configured to cause transmission of the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN.

[0255] Fig. 9 illustrates a computer program product comprising a possibly non-transitory computer readable medium 900 (such as, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a plug-in card, an embedded drive, or a read only memory (ROM)). Fig. 9 illustrates the computer readable medium as a compact disc (CD) ROM. The non-transitory computer readable medium 900 has stored there on a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program is configured to be loadable into a data-processing unit 910, comprising a processor (PROC) 920 and a memory (MEM) 930 associated with or integral to the data-processing unit. When loaded into the data-processing unit 910 (e.g comprised in a wireless communication device and form part of a controlling circuitry). The computer program is configured to be stored in the memory 930, wherein the computer program, when loaded into and run by the processor 920 is configured to cause the processor to execute method steps according to the method 700 described in conjunction with Fig. 7.

[0256] The described embodiments and their equivalents may be realized in software or hardware or a combination thereof. They may be performed by general-purpose circuits associated with or integral to a communication device, such as digital signal processors (DSP), central processing units (CPU), coprocessor units, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable hardware, or by specialized circuits such as for example application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC). All such forms are contemplated to be within the scope of this disclosure.

[0257] Embodiments may appear within an electronic apparatus (such as a wireless communication device) comprising circuitry / logic or performing methods according to any of the embodiments. The electronic apparatus may, for example, be a portable or handheld mobile radio communication equipment, a mobile radio terminal, a mobile telephone, a base station, a base station controller, a pager, a communicator, an electronic organizer, a smartphone, a computer, a notebook, a USB-stick, a plug-in card, an embedded drive, or a mobile gaming device. It should further be noted, that although the method and apparatus and corresponding embodiments have been described to be carried out by a wireless communication device, the methods and embodiments are also applicable on communication devices that are connected by cable.

[0258] It should also be noted that some emphasis has been made to the embodiments being carried out in a 4G or 5G network environment. The embodiments described herein are not limited to 4G and 5G but may also be applicable in other communication technologies, such as 6G (or other future generation), 2G, UMTS etc.

[0259] According to some embodiments, a computer program product comprises a computer readable medium such as, for example, a diskette or a CD-ROM. The computer readable medium may have stored thereon a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program may be loadable into a data-processing unit, which may, for example, be comprised in a mobile terminal. When loaded into the data-processing unit, the computer program may be stored in a memory associated with or integral to the data-processing unit. According to some embodiments, the computer program may, when loaded into and run by the data-processing unit, cause the data-processing unit to execute method steps according to, for example, the method 100 shown in Figure 1, the method 400 shown in Figure 4, or the method 700 shown in Figure 7.

[0260] This disclosure includes the following example enumerated embodiments:

[0261] Embodiment 1 : A method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs, the method comprising: receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network; receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication network; triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0262] Embodiment 2: The method according to embodiment 1, wherein the parameter value is based on alternative paging occasions for the first communication network, wherein a number of paging occasion overlaps between the alternative upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions is lower than a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0263] Embodiment 3 : The method of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the parameter value is different to one or more of: a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device; a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or an excluded parameter value.

[0264] Embodiment 4: The method according to any of the previous embodiments, comprising, after triggering the procedure: receiving, from the first wireless communication network, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value; and using reconfigured paging occasions for the first wireless communication network based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

[0265] Embodiment 5 : The method according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the one or more paging occasion overlaps comprises at least one of: a full paging occasion overlap, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; a partial paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; or a close paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0266] Embodiment 6: The method according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein triggering the procedure is performed when at least one of the following applies during a time period: the number of paging occasion non overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a first threshold number; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one communication networks is less than a second threshold number; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a third threshold number; and / or the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold percentage of a total number of paging occasions configured for the first and one or more second communication network.

[0267] Embodiment 7 : The method according to embodiment 6, wherein the time period is at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode

[0268] Embodiment 8: The method according to embodiment 6 or 7, wherein the time period is a first paging cycle of the first communication network and wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

[0269] Embodiment 9: The method according to any of embodiments 6 to 8, wherein a paging occasion non overlap comprises a first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of the paging occasion associated with one or more the second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is at least as long as a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0270] Embodiment 10: The method according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein triggering the procedure comprises transmitting the parameter value to the first communication network or a Core Network (CN) associated with the first communication network. Embodiment 11 : The method according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein the parameter value comprises a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset.

[0271] Embodiment 12: The method according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein triggering the procedure comprises performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first communication network, or transmitting a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network.

[0272] Embodiment 13: The method according to embodiment 12, further comprising transmitting the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN.

[0273] Embodiment 14: A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium 700, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium 700 has stored there on a computer program comprising program instructions, wherein the computer program is configured to be loadable into a data-processing unit 710, comprising a processor 730 and a memory 720 associated with or integral to the data-processing unit, wherein when loaded into the data-processing unit 710, the computer program is configured to be stored in the memory 720, wherein the computer program, when loaded into and run by the processor 730 is configured to cause the processor to execute method steps according to any of the methods described in conjunction with any of embodiments 1-13.

[0274] Embodiment 15: An apparatus for a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause: reception of a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network; reception of one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication network; triggering of a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0275] Embodiment 16: The apparatus according to embodiment 15, wherein the parameter value is based on alternative paging occasions for the first communication network, wherein a number of paging occasion overlaps between the alternative upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions is lower than a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

[0276] Embodiment 17: The apparatus of embodiment 15 or 16, wherein the parameter value is different to one or more of: a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device; a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or an excluded parameter value.

[0277] Embodiment 18: The apparatus according to any of embodiments 15 to 17, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause, after triggering the procedure: reception of, from the first wireless communication network, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value; and use of reconfigured paging occasions for the first wireless communication network based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

[0278] Embodiment 19: The apparatus according to any of embodiments 15 to 18, wherein each of the one or more paging occasion overlaps comprises: a full paging occasion overlap, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; a partial paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; or a close paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0279] Embodiment 20: The apparatus according to any of embodiments 15 to 19, wherein triggering of the procedure is caused when at least one of the following applies during a time period: the number of paging occasion non overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a first threshold number; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one communication networks is less than a second threshold number; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non overlaps in relation the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the communication networks is less than a third threshold number; and / or the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold percentage of a total number of paging occasions configured for the first and one or more second communication network.

[0280] Embodiment 21 : The apparatus according to embodiment 20, wherein the time period is at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode Embodiment 22: The apparatus according to embodiment 20 or 21, wherein the time period is a first paging cycle of the first communication network and wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

[0281] Embodiment 23 : The apparatus according to any of embodiments 20 to 22, wherein a paging occasion non overlap comprises a first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of the paging occasion associated with one or more the second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is at least as long as than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

[0282] Embodiment 24: The apparatus according to any of embodiments 15 to 23, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause triggering of the procedure by transmitting the parameter value to the first communication network or a Core Network (CN) associated with the first communication network.

[0283] Embodiment 25: The apparatus according to any of embodiments 15 to 24, wherein the parameter value comprises a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset.

[0284] Embodiment 26: The apparatus according to any of embodiments 15 to 25, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause triggering of the procedure by performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first communication network, or transmitting a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network.

[0285] Embodiment 27 : The apparatus according to embodiment 26, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause transmission of the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN.

[0286] Embodiment 28: A wireless communication device comprising the apparatus of any of embodiments 15 to 29.

[0287] Reference has been made herein to various embodiments and examples. However, a person skilled in the art would recognize numerous variations to the described embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the claims. For example, the method embodiments described herein describes example methods through method steps being performed in a certain order. However, it is recognized that these sequences of events may take place in another order without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, some method steps may be performed in parallel even though they have been described as being performed in sequence.

[0288] In the same manner, it should be noted that in the description of embodiments, the partition of functional blocks into particular units is by no means limiting. Contrarily, these partitions are merely examples. Functional blocks described herein as one unit may be split into two or more units. In the same manner, functional blocks that are described herein as being implemented as two or more units may be implemented as a single unit without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0289] Hence, it should be understood that the details of the described embodiments are merely for illustrative purpose and by no means limiting. Instead, all variations that fall within the range of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

Claims1. A method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs, the method comprising: receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network; receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks; and triggering a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition, wherein: each of one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not collision in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to one of the one or more second USIMs; and / or each of one or more of the paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is greater than or equal to a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the one of the one or more second USIMs.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each paging occasion collision other than the one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises one of: a full paging occasion collision, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network;a partial paging occasion collision, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the one or more of the paging occasion collisions comprise all of the paging occasion collisions; and / or the one or more of the paging occasion non-collisions comprise all of the paging occasion noncollisions.

4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period: upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks have one or more paging occasion collisions with at least one other of the communication networks; more than half of upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks collision with one or more paging occasions for at least one other of the communication networks; the number of paging occasion collisions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks exceeds an collision threshold; the number of paging occasion non-collisions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a non-collision threshold; and / or the number of paging occasion non-collisions is zero.

5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period: the number of paging occasion non-collisions for each of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a first threshold; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non-collisions in relation to the number of paging occasion collisions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a second threshold;a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non-collisions in relation the number of paging occasion collisions for each of the first and the one or more second communication networks is less than a third threshold; and / or the number of paging occasion collisions reaches a threshold fraction of a total number of paging occasions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks during the time period.

6. The method according to any of claims 4 or 5, wherein the time period is at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode.

7. The method according to any of claims 4 or 5, wherein the time period is a first paging cycle of the first communication network and wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

8. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein triggering the procedure comprises performing a Non Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first or one or more second communication network.

9. The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein triggering the procedure comprises transmitting a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising transmitting the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN.

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions are within a first time period.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein triggering the procedure comprises: triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce the first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the parameter value is based on the alternative paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks to reduce a number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the parameter value is different to one or more of: a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device; a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or an excluded parameter value.

15. The method according to any of claims 12 to 15, comprising, after triggering the procedure: receiving, from the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value; and using reconfigured paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

16. A method of a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs, the method comprising: receiving a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network; receiving one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks; and triggering a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein each paging occasion overlap between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises one of: a full paging occasion overlap, wherein a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network completely overlaps in time with a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network;a partial paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network partially overlaps in time with the second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network; or a close paging occasion overlap, wherein the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM to receive a paging.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein a paging occasion non-overlap comprises the first duration of the paging occasion associated with the first communication network and the second duration of the paging occasion associated with one or more of the second communication networks does not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is at least as long as a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the second USIM.

19. The method according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period: upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks have one or more paging occasion overlaps with at least one other of the communication networks; more than half of upcoming paging occasions for each of more than half of the first and one or more second communication networks overlap with one or more paging occasions for at least one other of the communication networks; the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks exceeds an overlap threshold; the number of paging occasion non-overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a non-overlap threshold; and / or the number of paging occasion non-overlaps is zero.

20. The method according to any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-overlaps between the first upcoming pagingoccasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfills a paging occasion condition when at least one of the following applies during a time period: the number of paging occasion non-overlaps for each of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a first threshold; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non-overlaps in relation to the number of paging occasion overlaps for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks is less than a second threshold; a ratio defined as the number of paging occasion non-overlaps in relation the number of paging occasion overlaps for each of the first and the one or more second communication networks is less than a third threshold; and / or the number of paging occasion overlaps reaches a threshold fraction of a total number of paging occasions for at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks during the time period.

21. The method according to any of claims 19 or 20, wherein the time period is at least one paging cycle or a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless communication device, when the wireless communication is in an idle or inactive mode.

22. The method according to any of claims 19 or 20, wherein the time period is a first paging cycle of the first communication network and wherein the first paging cycle is longer than a second paging cycle associated with the one or more second communication network.

23. The method according to any of claims 16 to 2022 wherein triggering the procedure comprises performing a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) mobility registration to 5G Core Network (5G CN) associated with the first or one or more second communication network.

24. The method according to any of claims 16 to 23, wherein triggering the procedure comprises transmitting a requested International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) offset to Evolved Packet System Core Network (EPS CN) associated with the at least one communication network.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising transmitting the requested IMSI offset in an Attach Request or in a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the EPS CN.

26. The method according to any of claims 16 to 25, wherein the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or the second number of paging occasion non-overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions are within a first time period.

27. The method according to any of claims 16 to 26, wherein triggering the procedure comprises: triggering a procedure with the first communication network based on a parameter value for reconfiguring paging occasions for the first communication network to reduce the first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the parameter value is based on the alternative paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks to reduce a number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions.

29. The method of claim 27 or 28, wherein the parameter value is different to one or more of: a parameter value currently used by the wireless communication device; a parameter value previously received from the first wireless communication network; and / or an excluded parameter value.

30. The method according to any of claims 27 to 29, comprising, after triggering the procedure: receiving, from the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks, the parameter value or an alternative parameter value; and using reconfigured paging occasions for the at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks based on the parameter value or the alternative parameter value.

31. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium 700, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium has stored there on a computer program comprising program instructions, wherein the computer program is configured to be loadable into a data- processing unit, comprising a processor and a memory associated with or integral to the data-processing unit, wherein when loaded into the data-processing unit, the computer program is configured to be stored in the memory, wherein the computer program, when loaded into and run by the processor is configured to cause the processor to execute method steps according to any of the methods described in conjunction with the claims 1-30.

32. An apparatus for a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, each of the first and one or more second communication networksassociated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM of the plurality of USIMs, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause: reception of a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network; reception of one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks; and triggering of a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition, wherein: each of one or more of the paging occasion collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not collision in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is shorter than a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to one of the one or more second USIMs; and / or each of one or more of the paging occasion non-collisions between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions comprises an occasion where a first duration of a paging occasion associated with the first communication network and a second duration of a paging occasion associated with the one or more second communication network do not overlap in time and a time period between the first duration and the second duration is greater than or equal to a switching time for the wireless communication device to switch from the first USIM to the one of the one or more second USIMs.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 2 to 15.

34. An apparatus for a wireless communication device equipped with a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIM) for managing paging collisions between a first and one or more second communication networks, each of the first and one or more second communication networks associated with a respective first and one or more second Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIMs, of the plurality of USIMs, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause: reception of a first paging configuration message indicative of first upcoming paging occasions from the first communication network;reception of one or more second paging configuration messages indicative of second upcoming paging occasions from the one or more second communication networks; and triggering of a procedure with at least one of the first and one or more second communication networks for reducing paging occasion collisions when a first number of paging occasion overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions and / or a second number of paging occasion non-overlaps between the first upcoming paging occasions and the second upcoming paging occasions fulfill a paging occasion condition.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the apparatus comprises controlling circuitry configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 17 to 30.

36. A wireless communication device comprising the apparatus of any of claims 32 to 35.

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