COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication device for flexibly enabling MUSIM features, thereby saving network resources. The method includes a terminal device determining first indication information based on the status of multiple Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs) and sending the first indication information to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), where the first indication information indicates enabling or disabling a call performance enhancement function and / or enabling or disabling a function for avoiding call opportunity collisions, and the terminal device includes multiple USIMs. Thus, the terminal device determines whether to enable or disable MUSIM features and notifies the AMF using the first indication information whether to enable or disable the MUSIM features, so that the AMF performs a corresponding operation based on the content indicated by the first indication information.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202010438309.4, entitled “COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE”, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on May 21, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to communication methods and devices. [Background technology]

[0003] With the development of communication technology, multiple card slots are deployed in terminals, and one universal integrated circuit card (UICC) on a terminal device stores multiple universal subscriber identity modules (USIMs), or the terminal device can store multiple USIMs without using a UICC, i.e., soft SIM or soft USIM is used. In this way, a terminal user holds multiple universal subscriber identity modules (USIMs) at the same time to perform communication services. For example, a terminal user may use multiple USIMs to contact different user groups or to perform different communication services. In addition, in future enterprise scenarios, there is a strong demand for one terminal to support multiple USIMs.

[0004] Currently, terminals on the market have different communication capabilities, including 1Rx / 1Tx and 2Rx / 1Tx capabilities, where 1Rx communication capability means that the terminal can simultaneously receive network signals of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) corresponding to only one USIM. For example, a terminal with single-receive single-transmit (single-RX / single-Tx) communication capability, or a terminal configured with independent receiving ports (receive, Rx) for different USIMs and allowing only one Rx to work simultaneously, can simultaneously receive network signals of PLMNs corresponding to only one USIM. In other words, at least two Rx on a UE terminal can simultaneously serve only one USIM. In this case, logically, one Rx is used. Therefore, a multi-USIM terminal with such communication capability may encounter a problem of not being able to receive a paging of a USIM due to paging occasion collision (specifically, the paging occasions of at least two USIMs are the same). Therefore, a function of avoiding paging opportunity collision needs to be implemented for a terminal with 1Rx capability. For example, the AMF may initiate paging the USIM multiple times and extend the time interval between two paging times. The RAN may initiate paging the USIM multiple times, paging the USIM at the PO of two consecutive DRX cycles of the USIM, and sending the paging of the USIM at a random PO. The dual Rx / single Tx UE allocates Rx capability to each USIM, so that it can receive signals of two networks at the same time and no paging collision occurs. However, the dual Rx / single Tx UE cannot maintain an RRC connection between two networks because it only has 1 Tx capability and does not support simultaneous communication with two systems over the uplink.Therefore, when one USIM is in a connected state and is running a service, and another USIM triggers a paging by a downlink service, a terminal with 1Tx capability cannot determine whether to continue running the service of the current USIM or to transition to running the service of the other USIM. Therefore, it is necessary to perform paging capability enhancement for the MUSIM scenario so that the UE can continue running the service of the current USIM or to transition to running the service of the other USIM. For example, the core network CN notifies the UE of downlink service information using a paging message, a NAS message, or user plane data, and the UE determines whether to continue running the service of the current USIM or to transition to running the service of the other USIM based on the downlink service information. Alternatively, based on the service information (e.g., service type) of the downlink service and the service information desired by the UE reported by the UE (e.g., USIM1) to the core network CN (e.g., AMF), the CN (e.g., AMF) needs to decide whether to send a paging message to the UE or to inform the UE of the existence of the downlink service by using a NAS message or user plane data.

[0005] It can be recognized that the aforementioned problems require MUSIM feature enhancements on the network side, which results in additional network overhead. However, in the prior art, MUSIM performance enhancement features are always enabled, which results in a waste of network resources. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present application provides a communication method and a communication device for flexibly enabling or disabling MUSIM features without having to enable the MUSIM features all the time, thereby saving network resources.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises a terminal device (or a component, e.g., a circuit or chip, in the terminal device) determining first indication information based on a state of a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules USIMs, and sending the first indication information to an Access and Mobility Management Function AMF, where the first indication information indicates to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function and / or to enable or disable a function to avoid collision of call opportunities, and the terminal device includes a plurality of USIMs. Thus, the terminal device determines whether to enable or disable a MUSIM call feature, and uses the first indication information to inform the AMF whether to enable or disable the MUSIM call feature, so that the AMF performs a corresponding operation based on the content indicated by the first indication information. In this way, the MUSIM call feature can be flexibly enabled. This allows network resources to be saved.

[0008] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0009] Optionally, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the first instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the first instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0010] In this embodiment of the present application, there are several implementation examples of the first indication information determined by the terminal device according to a multi-USIM status, and the several implementation examples are described separately below.

[0011] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0012] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or to an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0013] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0014] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0015] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The terminal device sending the first indication information to an access and mobility management function (AMF) includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or to an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0016] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a function of enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0017] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises an access and mobility management function AMF (or a component in the AMF, e.g., a circuit or chip) receiving first indication information from a terminal device, the terminal device including a plurality of USIMs, and the first indication information is determined based on the state of the plurality of USIMs. The AMF enables or disables a call performance enhancement function based on the first indication information, and / or the AMF enables or disables a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities based on the first indication information. Thus, the AMF knows from the terminal device whether to enable or disable a MUSIM call feature, and performs a corresponding operation based on the contents indicated by the first indication information. In this way, the MUSIM call feature can be flexibly enabled. This allows network resources to be saved.

[0018] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0019] Optionally, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the first instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the first instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the first indication indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0021] Optionally, the method further comprises the AMF sending a subscription request to a session management function SMF of the second USIM, the subscription request being used to subscribe to the call performance enhancement feature.

[0022] Optionally, the method further comprises the AMF sending a first notification message to the SMF of the second USIM, the first notification message notifying the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement feature.

[0023] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0024] Optionally, the method further comprises the AMF sending an unsubscription request to the SMF of the second USIM, the unsubscription request being used to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement feature.

[0025] Optionally, the method further comprises the AMF sending a second notification message to an SMF corresponding to the first USIM or an SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the second notification message notifying the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement feature.

[0026] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0027] Optionally, the AMF enabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF performing call processing based on a first number of attempts and / or a first call interval, where the first number of attempts is greater than a second number of attempts and the first call interval is greater than the second call interval, where the second number of attempts is the number of call attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and where the second call interval is the call interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0028] Optionally, the AMF enabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF sending a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating enabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the first indication indicates disabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0030] Optionally, the AMF disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF performing call processing based on a second number of attempts and / or a second calling interval, where the second number of attempts is less than the first number of attempts and the second calling interval is shorter than the first calling interval, the second number of attempts is a number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the second calling interval is a calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the first number of attempts is a number of calling attempts of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the first calling interval is a calling interval of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0031] Optionally, the AMF disabling the ability to avoid collision of call opportunities includes the AMF sending a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating that the ability to avoid collision of call opportunities is to be disabled.

[0032] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0033] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates disabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0034] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises a terminal device (or a component, e.g., a circuit or chip, in the terminal device) sending a status of a plurality of USIMs to an access and mobility management function AMF, the terminal device having a plurality of USIMs, and the status of the plurality of USIMs is used to determine second indication information. The terminal device receives the second indication information from the AMF, and the second indication information indicates to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function and / or to enable or disable a function to avoid collision of call opportunities. Thus, the terminal device does not need to know from the AMF whether to enable or disable a MUSIM call feature and to determine whether to enable or disable the MUSIM call feature. In this way, the MUSIM call feature can be flexibly enabled. This allows network resources to be saved.

[0035] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0036] Optionally, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the second instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the second instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the second indication indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the second indication indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the second indication indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the second indication indicates disabling a feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state.

[0041] In a possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the second indication indicates disabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0043] According to a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises an access and mobility management function AMF (or a component, e.g., a circuit or chip, in the AMF) receiving a state of a plurality of USIMs from a terminal device. The AMF determines second indication information based on the state of the plurality of USIMs, the second indication information indicating to enable or disable a paging performance enhancement function and / or to enable or disable a function to avoid collision of paging opportunities, and the terminal device includes a plurality of USIMs. The AMF transmits the second indication information to the terminal device. Thus, the AMF determines whether to enable or disable a MUSIM paging feature, and informs the terminal device whether to enable or disable the MUSIM paging feature by using the second indication information. In this way, the MUSIM paging feature can be flexibly enabled. This allows network resources to be saved.

[0044] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0045] Optionally, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the second instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the second instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0046] In this embodiment of the present application, there are several implementation examples of the second indication information determined by the AMF based on the multi-USIM status, and the following describes the several implementation examples separately.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the second indication indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0048] Optionally, the method further comprises an AMF corresponding to the second USIM sending a subscription request to a session management function SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the subscription request being used to subscribe to the call performance enhancement function.

[0049] Optionally, the method further comprises an AMF corresponding to the second USIM sending a first notification message to a session management function SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the first notification message notifying the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the second indication indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0051] Optionally, the method further comprises an AMF corresponding to the second USIM sending an unsubscription request to an SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the unsubscription request being used to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement feature.

[0052] Optionally, the method further comprises an AMF corresponding to the second USIM sending a second notification message to a session management function SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the second notification message notifying the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function.

[0053] In a possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The second indication information further includes a paging opportunity PO of the first USIM and a PO of the second USIM. The PO of the first USIM is the same as the PO of the second USIM. The AMF sending the second indication information to the terminal device includes an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM sending the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0054] Optionally, the method further includes an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM performing call processing based on a first number of attempts and / or a first call interval, where the first number of attempts is greater than a second number of attempts and the first call interval is longer than the second call interval, the second number of attempts is a number of call attempts of the terminal device before the function for avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the second call interval is a call interval of the terminal device before the function for avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0055] Optionally, the method further comprises an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM sending a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating enabling a function to avoid collision of paging opportunities.

[0056] In a possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF sending the second indication information to the terminal device includes an access and mobility management function AMF corresponding to the first USIM sending the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0057] Optionally, the method further includes: the AMF corresponding to the first USIM performing call processing based on a second attempt number and / or a second call interval, where the second attempt number is a number of call attempts of the terminal device before the function for avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the second call interval is a call interval of the terminal device before the function for avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0058] Optionally, the method further comprises an AMF corresponding to the first USIM sending a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating disabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities.

[0059] In a possible implementation example, the second instruction information indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF sending the second instruction information to the terminal device includes an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM sending the second instruction information to the terminal device.

[0060] In a possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a function of enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF sending the second indication information to the terminal device includes an AMF corresponding to the first USIM sending the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0061] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a communications device, comprising a module or unit configured to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the first aspect, a module or unit configured to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the second aspect, a module or unit configured to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the third aspect, or a module or unit configured to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0062] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a communications device. The device includes a processor. The processor may be coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions in the memory to implement a method according to any possible implementation of the first or third aspect. Optionally, the communications device further includes the memory. Optionally, the communications device further includes a communications interface. The processor is coupled to the communications interface.

[0063] In some implementations, the communication device is a terminal device. When the communication device is a terminal device, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0064] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip disposed in the terminal device. When the communication device is a chip disposed in the terminal device, the communication interface may be an input / output interface.

[0065] Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0066] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a communications device. The device includes a processor. The processor may be coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions in the memory to implement a method according to any possible implementation of the second or fourth aspect. Optionally, the communications device further includes the memory. Optionally, the communications device further includes a communications interface. The processor is coupled to the communications interface.

[0067] In one implementation, the communication device is an AMF. When the communication device is an AMF, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0068] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip disposed on the AMF. When the communication device is a chip disposed on the AMF, the communication interface may be an input / output interface.

[0069] Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0070] According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a processor, the processor including an input circuit, an output circuit and a processing circuit, the processing circuit configured to receive signals via the input circuit and to send signals via the output circuit to enable the processor to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects.

[0071] In a specific implementation process, the processor may be a chip, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the processing circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, various logic circuits, etc. The input signal received by the input circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter, and the input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit, in which case the circuit is used as an input circuit and as an output circuit at different times. The specific implementation of the processor and various circuits are not limited to this embodiment of the present application.

[0072] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided an apparatus, the apparatus including a processor and a memory, the processor configured to read instructions stored in the memory, receive signals via a receiver, and transmit signals via a transmitter, to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects.

[0073] Optionally, there are one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0074] Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory and the processor are separately located.

[0075] In a specific implementation process, the memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM). The memory and the processor may be integrated into one chip, or may be separately arranged on different chips. In the present embodiment of the present application, the type of memory and the arrangement manner of the memory and the processor are not limited.

[0076] It should be understood that the process of exchanging associated data, e.g., transmitting instruction information, may be a process of outputting instruction information from a processor, and receiving instruction information may be a process of the processor receiving input instruction information. Specifically, data output by a processor may be output to a transmitter, and input data received by a processor may be from a receiver. The transmitter and receiver may collectively be referred to as a transceiver.

[0077] The device according to the ninth aspect may be a chip, and the processor may be implemented by using hardware or software. When implemented by using hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc. When implemented by using software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, and may be implemented by reading software code stored in a memory. The memory may be integrated into the processor, or may be located independently outside the processor.

[0078] According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When executed, the computer program is enabled to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects.

[0079] According to an eleventh aspect, a computer readable medium is provided. The computer readable medium stores a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform a method according to any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects.

[0080] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a communication system, the system including the terminal device as described above and the AMF as described above.

[0081] Optionally, the communication system may further include another device, such as a RAN or an SMF, that interacts with the terminal device and / or the AMF. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0082] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a mobile communication system to which an embodiment of the present application applies;

[0083] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0085] [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic interaction diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0087] [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0090] The technical solutions of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0091] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, such as a long term evolution (LTE) system, a LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, a LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX®) communication system, a 5th generation (5G) system, or a new radio (NR) system.

[0092] In the following, the meanings of some terms in this application will be explained and clarified in order to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0093] (1) A terminal device, also referred to as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc., is a device that provides voice / data connectivity to a user, such as a handheld device or a vehicle-mounted device with wireless connectivity. For example, currently, terminals are mobile phones, tablet computers, laptops, palmtop computers, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving and remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) devices, in-vehicle communication devices, or in-vehicle communication chips.

[0094] (2) An access network device is a device in a wireless network, such as a radio access network (RAN) node that connects a terminal to a wireless network. For example, currently, a RAN node is a gNB, a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved NodeB (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a NodeB (NodeB, NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB or a home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP). In a network structure, the network device may include a centralized unit (CU) node, or a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node.

[0095] In some deployments, the base station or transmission point may further include a radio unit (RU). The CU implements some functions of the gNB or transmission point, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB or transmission point. For example, the CU implements functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and the DU implements functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical (PHY) layer. Information at the RRC layer eventually becomes information at the PHY layer or is converted from information at the PHY layer. Therefore, in this architecture, higher layer signals such as RRC layer signals or PHCP layer signals may also be considered to be transmitted by the DU, or transmitted by the DU and RU. It may be understood that the network device may be a CU node, a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. Furthermore, the CU may be classified as a network device in an access network RAN, or the CU may be classified as a network device in a core network CN, but this is not limited herein.

[0096] (3) "Multiple" means two or more, and other quantifiers have the same meaning. In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device or the access network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer operating on the hardware layer, and an application layer operating on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), or a memory (also referred to as a main memory). The operating system may be any one or more types of computer operating systems that implement service processing through processes, such as, for example, a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a Windows operating system. The application layer includes applications such as a browser, an address book, word processing software, and instant messaging software. Furthermore, as long as a program recording the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be executed to execute communication according to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the specific structure of the executing entity of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0097] Furthermore, aspects or features of the present application may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and / or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein encompasses a computer program accessible from any computer-readable component, carrier, or medium. For example, a computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage component (e.g., a hard disk, a floppy disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical disk (e.g., a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD)), or a smart card and a flash memory component (e.g., an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), card, stick, or key drive). Furthermore, various storage media described herein may refer to one or more devices and / or other machine-readable media configured to store information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels, and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or retaining instructions and / or data.

[0098] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a basic 5G system architecture. As shown in Figure 1, the architecture includes an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), a radio access network (RAN), a unified data management (UDM), a policy control function (PCF), a data network (DN), a user plane function (UPF), a UE, an application function (AF), a network slice selection function (NSSF), and an authentication server function (AUSF). Optionally, the architecture further includes a network exposure function (NEF), a network repository function (NRF), and a unified data repository (UDR) (not shown in Figure 1).

[0099] The main functions of the network elements are described as follows:

[0100] AF may be understood as the name of a network element for application functions in the 5G architecture. The network element for application functions mainly forwards the requirements of the application side, such as quality of service (QoS) requirements, to the network side. The AF may be a third-party functional entity, or may be an application service deployed by a carrier, such as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) voice call service.

[0101] UDM may be understood as the name of a unified data management network element in the 5G architecture. The unified data management network element mainly includes the following functions: integrated data management, authentication credential processing in 3GPP authentication and key agreement mechanism, user identity processing, access authorization, registration and mobility management, subscription management, short message service management, etc.

[0102] UDR may be understood as the name of a unified data repository network element in the 5G architecture. The unified data repository network element mainly includes the following functions: storage and retrieval of subscription data, policy data, application data, and other types of data.

[0103] PCF may be understood as the name of a policy control function network element in the 5G architecture. The policy control function network element is mainly responsible for policy control functions, such as session-level or service flow-level charging, QoS bandwidth guarantee and mobility management, and implementing UE policy decisions. In this system, the PCF connected to the AMF is a PCF for access and mobility control (AM PCF), and the PCF connected to the SMF is a PCF for session management (SM PCF). In actual deployment, the AM PCF and the SM PCF may be different PCF entities.

[0104] SMF may be understood as the name of a session management network element in the 5G architecture. The session management network element mainly performs functions such as session management, execution of control policies sent by the PCF, UPF selection, and UE IP address allocation.

[0105] AMF may be understood as the name of a mobility management network element in the 5G architecture. The mobility management network element mainly includes the following functions related to access and mobility, such as connection management, mobility management, registration management, access authentication and authorization, reachability management, and security context management.

[0106] UPF may be understood as the name of a user plane function network element in the 5G architecture. The user plane function network element mainly includes the following functions related to the user plane, such as packet routing and transmission, packet detection, service usage reporting, QoS processing, lawful interception, uplink packet detection, and downlink packet storage.

[0107] (R)AN is a (radio) access network, which corresponds to different access networks in 5G, e.g., wired access network and radio base station access network.

[0108] NSSF may be understood as the name of a network slice selection function network element in the 5G architecture. The network slice selection function network element mainly includes the following functions: selecting a group of network slice instances for the UE, determining possible NSSAIs, determining an AMF set that can serve the UE, etc.

[0109] AUSF may be understood as the name of the authentication server function network element in the 5G architecture. The authentication server function network element mainly includes the following functions: authentication server function, interacting with the unified data management network element to obtain user information, and implementing authentication-related functions such as generating intermediate keys.

[0110] NEF may be understood as the name of a performance-exposing network element in the 5G architecture. The performance-exposing network element mainly includes the following functions: securely opening services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions, such as opening internally or opening to third parties, and converting or translating information exchanged with the AF and information exchanged with internal network functions, such as AF service identifiers and internal 5G core network information, such as data network name (DNN), single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), etc.

[0111] NRF may be understood as the name of a network repository function network element in the 5G architecture. The network repository function network element mainly includes the following functions: service discovery function, NF (network function, NF) text for maintaining available network function instances, and services supported by the network repository function network element.

[0112] The functionality of the interface is described as follows:

[0113] N7 represents the interface between the PCF and the SMF and is configured to deliver PDU session granularity and service data flow granularity control policies.

[0114] N15 represents an interface between the PCF and the AMF and is configured to send UE policies and access control related policies.

[0115] N5 represents the interface between the AF and the PCF and is configured to send application service requests and report network events.

[0116] N4 represents the interface between the SMF and the UPF and is configured to transmit information between the control plane and the user plane, including delivery of forwarding rules, QoS control rules, traffic statistics rules, etc. from the control plane to the user plane, and reporting of user plane information.

[0117] N11 represents an interface between the SMF and the AMF, and is configured to transfer PDU session tunnel information between the RAN and the UPF, transfer control messages sent to the UE, transfer radio resource control information sent to the RAN, etc.

[0118] N2 represents an interface between the AMF and the RAN, and is configured to transmit radio bearer control information from the core network side to the RAN, etc.

[0119] N1 represents an interface between the AMF and the UE, is access-independent, and is configured to send QoS control rules to the UE, etc.

[0120] N8 represents an interface between the AMF and the UDM, which is used by the AMF to obtain subscription data related to access and mobility management and authentication data from the UDM, and is used by the AMF to register the UE's current mobility management related information to the UDM.

[0121] N10 represents an interface between the SMF and the UDM, which is used by the SMF to obtain subscription data related to session management from the UDM, and by the SMF to register the UE's current session-related information to the UDM.

[0122] N12 represents an interface between the AMF and the AUSF, and is used by the AMF to obtain UE authentication parameters, security keys, etc. from the AUSF.

[0123] N22 represents an interface between the AMF and the NSSF, and is used by the AMF to obtain network slice selection assistance information NSSAI that the UE is permitted to use from the NSSF.

[0124] N35 (not shown in FIG. 1) represents an interface between the UDM and the UDR, and is used by the UDM to obtain user subscription data information from the UDR.

[0125] N36 (not shown in FIG. 1) represents an interface between the PCF and the UDR, and is used by the PCF to obtain policy-related subscription data and application data-related information from the UDR.

[0126] N3 represents an interface between the RAN and the UPF and is configured to transmit user plane data between the RAN and the UPF.

[0127] N6 represents an interface between the UPF and the DN and is configured to transmit user plane data between the UPF and the DN.

[0128] N9 represents an interface between multiple UPFs, such as an interface between a visited-policy control function (V-PCF) and a home-policy control function (h-PCF), or an interface between a UPF connected to a DN and a UPF connected to a RAN, and is configured to transmit user plane data between multiple UPFs.

[0129] It can be understood that the architecture in FIG. 1 is only used as an example for the purposes of explanation in this specification, and does not constitute a limitation on this embodiment of the present application.

[0130] In the current MUSIM communication scenario, a terminal device may have multiple card slots, and a terminal user needs to hold multiple USIMs at the same time to contact different user groups or to be used for different communication services. In addition, in the future enterprise scenario, there is a strong demand for one terminal to support multiple USIMs. The multiple different USIMs in the multiple universal subscriber identity modules MUSIMs in a terminal device may belong to the same MNO, or may belong to multiple different MNOs. This is not limited.

[0131] The terminal devices may have different communication capabilities, for example, a single receive single transmit Single Rx / Single Tx UE, a dual receive single transmit Dual Rx / Single Tx UE, and a dual receive dual transmit Dual Rx / Dual Tx UE.

[0132] A single Rx / single Tx UE can only receive signals of one PLMN at a time. Therefore, paging occasion collision may occur. A dual Rx / single Tx UE assigns Rx capability to each USIM, so that it can receive signals of two networks simultaneously and there is no paging collision. However, a dual Rx / single Tx UE has only 1 Tx capability and does not support simultaneous communication with two systems via uplink, so it cannot maintain an RRC connection between two networks. Therefore, when one USIM is in a connected state and is running a service and the other USIM has a paging triggered by a downlink service, a terminal device with 1 Tx capability cannot decide whether to continue running the service of the current USIM or to transition to running the service of the other USIM.

[0133] In the current MUSIM communication scenario, to avoid the above-mentioned problems, the network always enables MUSIM features (including MUSIM paging performance enhancement features and / or MUSIM paging opportunity collision avoidance features) for the terminal device, which results in additional consumption of network resources. The present application provides a communication method and a communication device for flexibly enabling MUSIM features without always enabling the MUSIM features, thereby avoiding unnecessary waste of network resources.

[0134] For the sake of uniformity in the description herein, "enable or disable" in this application may be replaced with "activate or deactivate" or may be understood as "use or not use." This is not particularly limited.

[0135] The following describes a related embodiment in which a terminal device decides to enable or disable a MUSIM feature.

[0136] It should be noted that when sending the first indication information to the AMF, the terminal device can send the first indication information to the AMF only in a connected state. Therefore, the terminal device including USIM1 and USIM2 is used as an example. If USIM1 or USIM2 is in an idle state but needs to send the first indication information to the AMF of USIM1 or USIM2, the USIM1 or USIM2 of the terminal device needs to move to a connected state and then send the first indication information to the AMF of USIM1 or USIM2. In this case, the terminal device needs to consider this as a temporary state caused by reporting the first indication information, instead of considering this as something that requires a decision to enable or disable the MUSIM feature and a report of the operation caused by the state change. For example, if USIM1 is in an idle state and USIM2 is in an idle state or transitions from a connected state to an idle state, the terminal device determines that the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities needs to be enabled, and chooses to send first indication information to the AMF of USIM2, indicating that the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities is enabled. In this case, USIM2 transitions to a connected state, sends the first indication to the AMF of USIM2, and then transitions to an idle state. In this way, the terminal device does not consider USIM2 to enter a connected state because USIM2 reports the first indication information, but determines that the collision avoidance function needs to be disabled because USIM2 is in a connected state.

[0137] It should be noted that the terminal device sends the first instruction information to the AMF in two ways. 1. For a terminal device, when USIM1 or USIM2 is in an idle state but needs to send the first instruction information to the AMF of USIM1 or USIM2, USIM1 or USIM2 of the terminal device may transition to a connected state, send the first instruction information to the AMF of USIM1 or USIM2, and then transition to an idle state. 2. Alternatively, for a terminal device, USIM1 or USIM2 may send the first instruction information to the AMF of USIM1 or USIM2 before entering the idle state, and then transition to an idle state. In this way, USIM1 or USIM2 may not transition to a connected state again and send the first instruction information to the AMF of USIM1 or USIM2 after entering the idle state. The manner in which the terminal device sends the first instruction information to the AMF is not particularly limited.

[0138] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 200 according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the receiving and sending may be performed by including the contents related to the receiving and sending in the interaction procedure of Fig. 2 in messages in an existing standard. For the specific meaning of the message, please refer to the explanation in the standard. Alternatively, the receiving and sending may be performed by using a newly defined message, which is not limited in the present application. As shown in Fig. 2, the method 200 includes the following steps:

[0139] S210: A terminal device determines first instruction information based on states of multiple universal subscriber identity modules USIMs, the first instruction information indicating enabling or disabling a call performance enhancement function and / or enabling or disabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the terminal device includes multiple USIMs.

[0140] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used for indicating to the terminal device service information that triggers calling or filtering the call of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0141] In this specification, a unified description is provided. The call performance enhancement function may also be referred to as a MUSIM call performance enhancement feature. Optionally, the call performance enhancement function may be used to filter a call of a terminal device based on the service information triggering the call. The AMF determines whether to send downlink service information to the terminal device by using a NAS message or user plane data or send a call message to the terminal device based on the service information reported by the terminal device (e.g., USIM1) and the service information triggering the call. For example, the service information reported by the terminal device is an allowed list. In this case, if the service information triggering the call is in the allowed list, the AMF sends a call message to the terminal device, or sends downlink service information to the terminal device by using a NAS message or user plane data, or if the service information triggering the call is not in the allowed list, the AMF does not send a call message to the terminal device, or does not send downlink service information to the terminal device by using a NAS message or user plane data. The service information reported by the terminal device is a blocked list. In this case, if the service information triggering the call is in the block list, the AMF does not send a call message to the terminal device, nor sends downlink service information to the terminal device by using a NAS message or user plane data; or, if the service information triggering the call is not in the block list, the AMF sends a call message to the terminal device, or sends downlink service information to the terminal device by using a NAS message or user plane data. Optionally, the call performance enhancement function may alternatively be that the core network CN obtains the downlink service information of the USIM1, and notifies the terminal device of the downlink service information by using a call message, a NAS message, or user plane data.Then, the terminal device determines, based on the downlink service information of USIM1, whether to continue executing the current service of USIM2 or switch to executing the service of USIM1. Before the terminal device receives the downlink service information of USIM1, USIM2 is in a connected state.

[0142] This specification provides a unified description. The function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities may also be referred to as MUSIM paging opportunity collision avoidance feature. The function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities is used to avoid collision of paging opportunities between multiple USIMs of a terminal device. For example, when a paging is triggered by downlink data or signal, the AMF or RAN increases the number of USIM paging attempts and / or extends the paging interval between any two paging attempts. For another example, the RAN generates (or calculates) a performance enhancement of paging opportunities, such as preparing two paging opportunities for one USIM of a terminal device in one paging cycle (e.g., DRX cycle), paging one USIM of a terminal device in multiple paging opportunities in two consecutive paging cycles (e.g., DRX cycle), randomizing the paging opportunities of one USIM, or setting a paging opportunity offset for one USIM of a terminal device.

[0143] Optionally, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature to avoid collision of call opportunities includes: the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature to avoid collision of call opportunities, the first instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and disable the feature to avoid collision of call opportunities, or the first instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and enable the feature to avoid collision of call opportunities.

[0144] S220: The terminal device sends first indication information to an access and mobility management function AMF. In response, the AMF receives the first indication information.

[0145] S230: First instruction information indicates to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function, and the AMF enables or disables the call performance enhancement function based on the first instruction information, and / or the first instruction information indicates to enable or disable a function to avoid call opportunity collisions, and the AMF enables or disables the function to avoid call opportunity collisions based on the first instruction information.

[0146] In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device determines whether to enable or disable the MUSIM paging feature, and informs the AMF of whether to enable or disable the MUSIM paging feature by using the first indication information, so that the AMF performs a corresponding operation according to the content indicated by the first indication information. In this way, the MUSIM paging feature can be flexibly enabled, which can save network resources.

[0147] The state of the USIM includes a connected state or an idle / inactive state, in other words, a CM-Connected state or a CM-IDLE / RRC-Inactive state, in other words, a RRC-Connected state or an RRC-IDLE / RRC-Inactive state. In the following, an example in which the state of the USIM includes a connected state or an idle / inactive state is used for explanation. The terminal device may determine whether to enable the MUSIM paging feature based on the states of multiple USIMs. In the following, a separate explanation is provided.

[0148] For the call performance enhancement function, the terminal device monitors the status of the multiple USIMs, so that the terminal device can decide to enable or disable the call performance enhancement function based on the status of the multiple USIMs. Optionally, the "status of the multiple USIMs" implicitly includes information about the number of multiple USIMs of the terminal device.

[0149] (1) In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a call performance enhancement function. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the second USIM. The second USIM may be understood as a current USIM.

[0150] For example, the communication performance of the terminal device is assumed to be 1Tx / 1Rx or 1Tx / 2Rx. As an example, two USIMs are used. If the first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the terminal device sets the second USIM to have the call performance enhancement function enabled, and sends the first indication information to the AMF.

[0151] After receiving the first indication information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send a subscription request to the SMF to subscribe to the call performance enhancement function. Optionally, the method 200 further comprises: S240: the AMF sends a subscription request to the session management function SMF, where the subscription request is used to subscribe to the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to enable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the SMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when enabling the call performance enhancement function based on the first indication information, the AMF can subscribe to the call performance enhancement function from the SMF.

[0152] The SMF receives a subscription request from the AMF and enables a call performance enhancement function based on the subscription request. In response to the subscription request, the SMF sends a subscription response message to the AMF.

[0153] Optionally, the SMF enabling the call performance enhancement feature based on the subscription request includes the SMF obtaining a call indication for downlink data or signaling, where the call indication may indicate control plane session management SM signaling, IMS voice, IMS short message, IMS services other than IMS voice and IMS short message, non-IMS services, application IDs, etc.

[0154] Optionally, the SMF obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF generating a paging indication based on the downlink data or signal. Alternatively, the SMF indicates to the UPF to generate a paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0155] Alternatively, after receiving the first indication information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send a notification to the SMF to notify the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function. For example, when downlink data arrives, the SMF does not need to obtain service information of the downlink data and send the service information to the AMF. Optionally, the method 200 further comprises: S250: the AMF sends a first notification message to the session management function SMF, where the first notification message notifies the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, the AMF may notify the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to enable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the AMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when the AMF notifies the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function, the SMF can enable the call performance enhancement function, i.e., can subscribe to the call performance enhancement function from the AMF.

[0156] The SMF receives a first notification message from the AMF and enables a call performance enhancement function based on the first notification message. The SMF sends a first notification response message to the AMF in response to the first notification message.

[0157] Optionally, the SMF enabling the paging performance enhancement function based on the first notification message includes the SMF obtaining a paging indication for downlink data or signaling, where the paging indication may indicate a control plane session management SM signaling, an IMS voice, an IMS short message, an IMS service other than IMS voice and IMS short message, a non-IMS service, an application ID, etc.

[0158] Optionally, the SMF obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF generating a paging indication based on the downlink data or signal. Alternatively, the SMF indicates to the UPF to generate a paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0159] Optionally, the AMF may send a response message to the terminal device for the first indication information.

[0160] (2) Optionally, for the call performance enhancement function, the first indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a state transition of a USIM. The "state transition" includes a transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, a transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc. In other words, when one or more states of the multiple USIMs are transitioned, the terminal device determines the first indication information.

[0161] In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a call performance enhancement function. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state, and the second USIM transitions from the connected state to an idle / inactive state. S220 includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an access and mobility management function AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0162] In other words, if the first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state through a state transition, the terminal device may send first indication information to the AMF of the second USIM to indicate that the call performance enhancement function is enabled.

[0163] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0164] For the behavior of the AMF and SMF, please refer to the explanation in (1). In (2), AMF means the AMF of the second USIM, and SMF means the SMF of the second USIM.

[0165] (3) In another possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM. The second USIM may be understood as a current USIM.

[0166] In other words, the communication performance of the terminal device is assumed to be 1Tx / 1Rx or 1Tx / 2Rx. As an example, two USIMs are used. If the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the terminal device sets the call performance enhancement function to be disabled for the second USIM and sends the first indication information to the AMF.

[0167] After receiving the first indication information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send an unsubscription request to the SMF to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function. Optionally, the method 200 further comprises: S240: the AMF sends an unsubscription request to the session management function SMF, where the unsubscription request is used to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to disable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the SMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when disabling the call performance enhancement function based on the first indication information, the AMF can unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function from the SMF.

[0168] The SMF receives an unsubscription request from the AMF and disables the call performance enhancement function based on the unsubscription request. In response to the unsubscription request, the SMF sends an unsubscription response message to the AMF.

[0169] Optionally, the SMF disabling the call performance enhancement feature based on the unsubscription request includes the SMF not obtaining a call indication for downlink data or signaling, and the call indication may indicate control plane session management SM signaling, IMS voice, IMS short message, IMS services other than IMS voice and IMS short message, non-IMS services, application IDs, etc.

[0170] Optionally, the SMF not obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF not generating the paging indication, or the SMF not indicating to the UPF to generate the paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0171] Alternatively, after receiving the first indication information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send a notification to the SMF to notify the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function. For example, when downlink data arrives, the SMF does not need to obtain service information of the downlink data and send the service information to the AMF. Optionally, the method 200 further comprises: S250: the AMF sends a second notification message to the session management function SMF, where the second notification message notifies the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, the AMF may notify the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to disable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the AMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when the AMF notifies the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function, the SMF may disable the call performance enhancement function, i.e., unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function from the AMF.

[0172] The SMF receives a second notification message from the AMF and disables the call performance enhancement function based on the second notification message. The SMF sends a second notification response message to the AMF in response to the second notification message.

[0173] Optionally, the SMF disabling the paging performance enhancement function based on the second notification message includes the SMF not obtaining a paging indication for downlink data or signaling, and the paging indication may indicate control plane session management SM signaling, IMS voice, IMS short message, IMS services other than IMS voice and IMS short message, non-IMS services, application IDs, etc.

[0174] Optionally, the SMF not obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF not generating the paging indication, or the SMF not indicating to the UPF to generate the paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0175] Alternatively, the call instruction may be a service instruction, service information, or the like.

[0176] Optionally, the AMF may send a response message to the terminal device for the first indication information.

[0177] Optionally, for the call performance enhancement function, the first indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a USIM state transition, where "state transition" includes transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc.

[0178] (4) In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates disabling the call performance enhancement function. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state. S220 includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an access and mobility management function AMF of the second USIM.

[0179] In other words, if the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state through a state transition, the terminal device may send first indication information to the AMF of the second USIM to indicate that the call performance enhancement function is to be disabled.

[0180] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0181] For the behavior of the AMF and SMF, see the explanation in (3). In (4), AMF means the AMF of the second USIM, and SMF means the SMF of the second USIM.

[0182] In another possible implementation example, if the terminal device is a single USIM, the terminal device may disable the call performance enhancement function and send first indication information to the AMF, where the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement function is to be disabled.

[0183] For the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the terminal device monitors the status of the multiple USIMs, so that the terminal device can determine to enable or disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities based on the status of the multiple USIMs. Optionally, the "status of the multiple USIMs" implicitly includes information about the number of multi-USIMs of the terminal device. Optionally, the terminal device may further consider the call opportunities of the USIMs to determine to enable or disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0184] (5) In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as or overlaps with a PO of the second USIM. The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0185] For example, the communication performance of the terminal device is assumed to be 1Tx / 1Rx. Two USIMs are used as an example. If the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the paging opportunities of the two USIMs are the same, the terminal device sets the first USIM or the second USIM to enable a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities, and sends first indication information to the AMF of the first USIM or the AMF of the second USIM.

[0186] After the AMF receives first instruction information indicating to enable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the AMF enabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF performing call processing based on a first number of attempts and / or a first call interval, where the first number of attempts is greater than a second number of attempts and the first call interval is longer than the second call interval, the second number of attempts is the number of call attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the second call interval is the call interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0187] In other words, the AMF may avoid collisions between paging opportunities of the first USIM and the second USIM by increasing the number of attempts and / or increasing the paging interval.

[0188] Optionally, the AMF enabling the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities includes the AMF sending a paging message to the access network device, where the paging message indicates enabling the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. In other words, the AMF may notify the access network device of an instruction to enable the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities, thereby improving the ability of the access network device to avoid collision of paging opportunities. For example, the access network device may prepare two paging opportunities for a USIM in one paging cycle, may paging one USIM of a terminal device in multiple paging opportunities in two consecutive paging cycles (e.g., DRX cycles), may randomize paging opportunities of one USIM, or may set a paging opportunity offset for one USIM of a terminal device.

[0189] Optionally, for the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the first indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a state transition of the USIM, where "state transition" includes transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc.

[0190] (6) In a possible implementation example, the first indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state. The paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as the PO of the second USIM. S220 includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an access and mobility management function AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0191] In other words, if the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state through a state transition, and the paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as the PO of the second USIM, the terminal device may send first indication information to the AMF of the second USIM to indicate that the function of avoiding paging opportunity collision is enabled.

[0192] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0193] For the behavior of AMF and SMF, see the explanation in (5). In (6), AMF means the AMF of the first USIM or the second USIM.

[0194] (7) In another possible implementation example, the first instruction information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in a connected state. The terminal device sending the first instruction information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first instruction information to the AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0195] For example, the communication performance of the terminal device is assumed to be 1Tx / 1Rx. As an example, two USIMs are used. If the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state, the terminal device sets the second USIM to disable a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities, and sends a first indication information to the AMF.

[0196] After the AMF receives first instruction information indicating to disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, optionally, the AMF disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF performing call processing based on a second number of attempts and / or a second calling interval, where the second number of attempts is smaller than the first number of attempts and the second calling interval is shorter than the first calling interval, the second number of attempts is the number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the second calling interval is the calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the first number of attempts is the number of calling attempts of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the first calling interval is the calling interval of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0197] In other words, the AMF requires additional processing (e.g., increasing the number of attempts and / or increasing the call interval), i.e., performing normal call processing for the terminal device.

[0198] Optionally, the AMF disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF sending a paging message to the access network device, where the paging message indicates that the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is disabled. In other words, the AMF may notify the access network device of an instruction to disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, so that the access network device does not need to improve the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0199] Optionally, for the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the first indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a state transition of the USIM, where "state transition" includes transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc.

[0200] (8) In a possible implementation example, the first instruction information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from the idle / inactive state to a connected state. S220 includes the terminal device sending the first instruction information to an access and mobility management function AMF of the first USIM.

[0201] In other words, if the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM transitions from the idle / inactive state to a connected state through a state transition, the terminal device may send first indication information to the AMF of the first USIM to indicate that the function of avoiding call opportunity collisions is disabled.

[0202] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0203] For the behavior of AMF and SMF, see the explanation in (7). In (8), AMF means the AMF of the first USIM.

[0204] In another possible implementation example, if the terminal device is a single USIM, the terminal device may disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities and send first indication information to the AMF, where the first indication information indicates that the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is disabled.

[0205] According to the state of the two USIMs, the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities and the function of enhancing paging performance are mutually exclusive. In this case, one element of the indication information may actually indicate that one feature is enabled and another feature is disabled. The following provides a detailed description.

[0206] Optionally, the first instruction information may indicate enabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities and disabling the function of enhancing call performance, or may indicate disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities and enabling the function of enhancing call performance.

[0207] (9) In a possible implementation example, the first instruction indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing call performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. S220 includes the terminal device sending the first instruction information to an access and mobility management function AMF corresponding to the first USIM or the second USIM.

[0208] Optionally, the first instruction indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing call performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state. The terminal device sends the first instruction information to an access and mobility management function AMF of the second USIM.

[0209] (10) In another possible implementation example, the first instruction indicates to disable a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities and to enable a function for enhancing call performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in a connected state. S220 includes the terminal device sending the first instruction information to an access and mobility management function AMF of the first USIM.

[0210] Optionally, the first instruction indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a function of enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from the idle / inactive state to a connected state. The terminal device sends the first instruction information to an access and mobility management function AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0211] For ease of understanding, the following description is provided with reference to an example in Fig. 3. For ease of description, a first function is introduced in Fig. 3. It is assumed that the first function includes a MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature (or referred to as paging performance enhancement function). As shown in Fig. 3, the procedure includes the following steps:

[0212] 301: Negotiate first capability.

[0213] For example, the first function includes a MUSIM paging capability enhancement feature (or referred to as a paging capability enhancement function). For a terminal device with MUSIM capability, the UE (e.g., USIM1), the AMF, the SMF and the UPF negotiate the MUSIM paging capability enhancement feature, i.e., the paging capability enhancement triggered by the downlink service. The optional paging capability enhancement function may specifically include the SMF / UPF or the AMF detecting the downlink data or signal of the USIM1 to obtain corresponding service information, e.g., a service type. The AMF sends a paging message including the service information to the RAN node. The RAN node further indicates the paging message including the service information to the UE. Alternatively, the AMF informs the UE of the downlink service information by using a NAS message or user plane data, so that the UE can decide whether to continue to execute the service of the currently connected USIM (e.g., USIM2) or to transition to execute the service of the USIM1 based on the downlink service information of the USIM1. Before the UE receives the downlink service information of USIM1, USIM2 is in a connected state.

[0214] Another optional call performance enhancement may specifically include being used to filter the call of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call. The UE reports the service information desired by the USIM to the AMF, for example, through a registration procedure or a service request procedure. The AMF stores the service information. If the USIM in idle state has a downlink service, the AMF determines whether to send a call message to the terminal device or to send the downlink service information to the UE using a NAS message or user plane data based on the service information of the downlink service and the service information. For example, the service information reported by the terminal device is an allowed list. In this case, if the service information that triggers the call is in the allowed list, the AMF sends a call message to the terminal device or sends the downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data, or if the service information that triggers the call is not in the allowed list, the AMF does not send a call message to the terminal device or sends the downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data. The service information reported by the terminal device is a block list. In this case, if the service information triggering the call is in the block list, the AMF does not send a call message to the terminal device or send downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data, or if the service information triggering the call is not in the block list, the AMF sends a call message to the terminal device or sends downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data.

[0215] Optionally, add 302: a service for subscribing to MUSIM call performance enhancement features.

[0216] After the MUSIM call performance enhancement feature is negotiated, two services can be added during subscription to the MUSIM feature between the AMF and SMF to flexibly and dynamically enable or disable the corresponding MUSIM feature.

[0217] Option 1: Add subscription to MUSIM feature to SMF service. Thus, the AMF may subscribe to or unsubscribe from the AMF MUSIM service from the SMF when it determines that the MUSIM feature is transitioned from enabled to disabled or from disabled to enabled.

[0218] 302a: The AMF sends a subscription request to the SMF to subscribe to the service and enable the MUSIM call performance enhancement feature. 302b: The SMF sends a subscription response to the AMF.

[0219] Option 2: Add subscription to MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature to AMF service. 302a: SMF sends subscription request to AMF to subscribe to MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature, i.e. informs SMF when paging performance enhancement feature needs to be enabled or disabled for MUSIM UE, so that SMF decides whether to obtain paging cause based on downlink data. 302b: AMF sends subscription response to SMF. Thus, AMF may inform SMF when it decides that MUSIM feature is transitioned from enabled to disabled or from disabled to enabled.

[0220] 303: The UE determines, based on the status of the multiple USIMs, first indication information.

[0221] For example, the UE determines whether the network requires the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature to be enabled based on at least one of the UE's multi-USIM capability, multi-USIM number, and multi-USIM status. The first indication information indicates to enable or disable the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature.

[0222] In this specification, for the manner in which the UE determines the first indication information, please refer to the above description, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0223] 304: The UE sends first indication information to the AMF.

[0224] For example, the UE sends a request message to the AMF, and the request message carries indication information for enabling / disabling the MUSIM call performance enhancement feature, i.e., first indication information. Optionally, the request message may be a registration request or a service request message, or may be a UL NAS transport message or another NAS message after the UE (USIM) enters a connected state.

[0225] 305: The AMF enables or disables the first function based on the first instruction information.

[0226] For example, the AMF determines that the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature needs to be enabled or disabled based on the first indication information, and determines the SMF network element that needs to be contacted. The SMF corresponding to all established PDU sessions of the USIM may be notified, or only the SMF corresponding to a portion of the established PDU sessions of the USIM may be notified (e.g., the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature is enabled only for a specific NSSAI and / or a specific DN).

[0227] The AMF shall notify the SMF when the MUSIM paging performance enhancement features transition from an enabled state to a disabled state, or when the MUSIM paging performance enhancement features transition from a disabled state to an enabled state.

[0228] Optionally, corresponding to option 1 in 302, in 306a, the AMF sends an unsubscription request to the SMF, and in 306b, the SMF sends an unsubscription response to the AMF.

[0229] Optionally, corresponding to option 2 in 302, in 306a, the AMF sends a notification message to the SMF, and in 306b, the SMF sends a notification response to the AMF.

[0230] 307: The AMF returns a response message to the UE.

[0231] In the following, an example in which the first function includes a MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature is used for explanation. As shown in FIG. 3, the following steps are included:

[0232] 301: Negotiate first capability.

[0233] For example, the first function includes a MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature (or referred to as a function of avoiding paging opportunity collision). The UE and the AMF may negotiate the MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature, i.e., perform the following operations when a paging is triggered by a downlink service. For example, during paging policy performance enhancement, when a paging is triggered by downlink data or signaling, the AMF or RAN increases the number of UE (i.e., USIM) paging attempts and extends the paging interval between any two pagings. For another example, the AMF indicates the paging collision avoidance feature in the paging message to the RAN, so that the RAN generates (or calculates) a performance enhancement of the PO, for example, prepares two POs for one USIM of the UE in one paging cycle (e.g., DRX cycle), paging one USIM of the terminal device in multiple paging opportunities in two consecutive paging cycles (e.g., DRX cycle), randomizes paging opportunities of one USIM, or sets a paging opportunity offset for one USIM of the terminal device.

[0234] 303: The UE determines first indication information based on the status of the multiple USIMs.

[0235] For example, the UE determines whether the network needs to enable the MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature based on the status of the two USIMs and depending on whether the current POs of the two USIMs are the same (the POs of the UE in different cells may be different).

[0236] In this specification, for the manner in which the UE determines the first indication information, please refer to the above description, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0237] 304: The UE sends first indication information to the AMF.

[0238] For example, the UE sends a request message to the AMF, and the request message carries instruction information for enabling / disabling the MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature, i.e., first instruction information. Optionally, the request message may be a registration request or a service request message, or may be a UL NAS transport message or another NAS message after the UE (USIM) enters a connected state.

[0239] 305: The AMF enables or disables the first function based on the first instruction information.

[0240] For example, the AMF determines based on the first indication information that the MUSIM paging opportunity collision avoidance feature needs to be disabled. In this case, when a UE paging is subsequently triggered by downlink data or signaling, the AMF performs the following operations: does not perform paging policy performance enhancement, i.e., performs common UE paging processing, or does not indicate paging collision avoidance in the paging message to the RAN.

[0241] For example, the AMF determines based on the first indication information that the MUSIM paging opportunity collision avoidance feature needs to be enabled. In this case, when the UE paging is subsequently triggered by downlink data or signaling, the AMF performs the following operations: execute paging policy performance enhancement, or optionally indicate paging collision avoidance in the paging message to the RAN.

[0242] 307: The AMF returns a response message to the UE.

[0243] It can be understood that various possible implementations of the first instruction information are applicable to the procedure in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, only some of the implementation examples are used as an example for explanation. In fact, implementation examples of the first instruction information that are not listed are also applicable to Fig. 3. For example, in Fig. 3, the first instruction information indicates to enable the call performance enhancement function and disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the first instruction information indicates to disable the call performance enhancement function and enable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0244] The above describes an embodiment in which a terminal device determines to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function and / or a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which an AMF determines to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function and / or a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities will be described.

[0245] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the receiving and sending may be performed by including the contents related to the receiving and sending in the interaction procedure of Figure 4 in messages in an existing standard. For the specific meaning of the message, please refer to the explanation in the standard. Alternatively, the receiving and sending may be performed by using a newly defined message, which is not limited in the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the method 400 includes the following steps:

[0246] S410: The terminal device sends a status of multiple USIMs to an access and mobility management function AMF, where the terminal device has multiple USIMs, and the status of the multiple USIMs is used to determine second indication information.

[0247] S420: The AMF determines second instruction information based on the status of the multiple USIMs, the second instruction information indicating enabling or disabling a call performance enhancement function and / or enabling or disabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the terminal device includes the multiple USIMs.

[0248] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0249] For a description of the calling performance enhancement function and the function of avoiding calling opportunity collisions, please refer to the description in the method 200. For the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again here.

[0250] Optionally, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the second instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the second instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0251] S430: The AMF sends second instruction information to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the second instruction information from the AMF.

[0252] In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device sends the status of multiple USIMs to the AMF, so that the AMF decides to enable or disable the call performance enhancement function and / or enable or disable the function of avoiding the collision of call opportunities. The AMF notifies the terminal device by using the second indication information, so that the MUSIM features can be flexibly enabled, which can save network resources.

[0253] For the state of the USIM, please refer to the description in the method 200. For the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again in this specification. The AMF may determine whether to enable or disable the call performance enhancement function and / or enable or disable the function of avoiding the collision of call opportunities based on the state of multiple USIMs. The following provides separate descriptions.

[0254] For the call performance enhancement function, the terminal device monitors the status of the multiple USIMs and reports the status of the multiple USIMs to the AMF. The AMF decides to enable or disable the call performance enhancement function based on the status of the multiple USIMs. Optionally, the "status of the multiple USIMs" may implicitly include information about the number of multiple USIMs of the terminal device.

[0255] (1) In a possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The second USIM may be understood as a current USIM.

[0256] For example, assume that the communication performance of the terminal device is 1Tx / 1Rx or 1Tx / 2Rx. As an example, two USIMs are used. If the first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the AMF set sets the call performance enhancement function to be enabled for the second USIM, and sends second indication information to the terminal device.

[0257] After determining the second indication information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send a subscription request to the SMF to subscribe to the call performance enhancement function. Optionally, the method 400 further comprises the AMF sending a subscription request to the session management function SMF, where the subscription request is used to subscribe to the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to enable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the SMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when deciding to enable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF can subscribe to the call performance enhancement function from the SMF.

[0258] The SMF receives a subscription request from the AMF and enables a call performance enhancement function based on the subscription request. In response to the subscription request, the SMF sends a subscription response message to the AMF.

[0259] Optionally, the SMF enabling the call performance enhancement feature based on the subscription request includes the SMF obtaining a call indication for downlink data or signaling, where the call indication may indicate control plane session management SM signaling, IMS voice, IMS short message, IMS services other than IMS voice and IMS short message, non-IMS services, application IDs, etc.

[0260] Optionally, the SMF obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF generating a paging indication based on the downlink data or signal. Alternatively, the SMF indicates to the UPF to generate a paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0261] Alternatively, after determining the second indication information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send a notification to the SMF to notify the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function. Optionally, the method 400 further comprises the AMF sending a first notification message to the session management function SMF, where the first notification message notifies the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, the AMF may notify the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to enable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the AMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when the AMF notifies the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function, the SMF may enable the call performance enhancement function, i.e., subscribe to the call performance enhancement function from the AMF.

[0262] The SMF receives a first notification message from the AMF and enables a call performance enhancement function based on the first notification message. The SMF sends a first notification response message to the AMF in response to the first notification message.

[0263] Optionally, the SMF enabling the paging performance enhancement function based on the first notification message includes the SMF obtaining a paging indication for downlink data or signaling, where the paging indication may indicate a control plane session management SM signaling, an IMS voice, an IMS short message, an IMS service other than IMS voice and IMS short message, a non-IMS service, an application ID, etc.

[0264] Optionally, the SMF obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF generating a paging indication based on the downlink data or signal. Alternatively, the SMF indicates to the UPF to generate a paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0265] (2) Optionally, for the call performance enhancement function, the second indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a state transition of a USIM. The "state transition" includes a transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, a transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc. In other words, when one or more states of the multiple USIMs are transitioned, the AMF determines the second indication information.

[0266] In a possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state, and the second USIM transitions from the connected state to an idle / inactive state. S430 includes an access and mobility management function AMF of the second USIM sending the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0267] In other words, if the first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM transitions from the connected state to an idle / inactive state through a state transition, the access and mobility management function AMF of the second USIM sends second indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the call performance enhancement function is enabled.

[0268] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0269] For the behavior of the AMF and SMF, please refer to the explanation in (1). In (2), AMF means the AMF of the second USIM, and SMF means the SMF of the second USIM.

[0270] (3) In another possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The second USIM may be understood as a current USIM.

[0271] In other words, the communication performance of the terminal device is assumed to be 1Tx / 1Rx. As an example, two USIMs are used. If the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the AMF set sets the call performance enhancement function for the second USIM to be disabled, and sends a second indication information to the terminal device.

[0272] After determining the second indication information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send an unsubscription request to the SMF to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function. Optionally, the method 400 further comprises the AMF sending an unsubscription request to the session management function SMF, where the unsubscription request is used to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to disable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the SMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when deciding to disable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF can unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function from the SMF.

[0273] The SMF receives an unsubscription request from the AMF and disables the call performance enhancement function based on the unsubscription request. In response to the unsubscription request, the SMF sends an unsubscription response message to the AMF.

[0274] Optionally, the SMF disabling the call performance enhancement feature based on the unsubscription request includes the SMF not obtaining a call indication for downlink data or signaling, and the call indication may indicate control plane session management SM signaling, IMS voice, IMS short message, IMS services other than IMS voice and IMS short message, non-IMS services, application IDs, etc.

[0275] Optionally, the SMF not obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF not generating the paging indication, or the SMF not indicating to the UPF to generate the paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0276] Alternatively, the call instruction may be a service instruction, service information, or the like.

[0277] Alternatively, after determining the second indication information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement function, the AMF may send a notification to the SMF to notify the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function. Optionally, the method 400 further comprises the AMF sending a second notification message to the session management function SMF, where the second notification message notifies the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, the AMF may notify the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function. In this specification, to disable the call performance enhancement function, the call performance enhancement function may be added to the AMF service in advance, i.e., a subscription to the call performance enhancement function is added. In this way, when the AMF notifies the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement function, the SMF may disable the call performance enhancement function, i.e., unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement function from the AMF.

[0278] The SMF receives a second notification message from the AMF and disables the call performance enhancement function based on the second notification message. The SMF sends a second notification response message to the AMF in response to the second notification message.

[0279] Optionally, the SMF disabling the paging performance enhancement function based on the second notification message includes the SMF not obtaining a paging indication for downlink data or signaling, and the paging indication may indicate control plane session management SM signaling, IMS voice, IMS short message, IMS services other than IMS voice and IMS short message, non-IMS services, application IDs, etc.

[0280] Optionally, the SMF not obtaining the paging indication of the downlink data or signal includes the SMF not generating the paging indication, or the SMF not indicating to the UPF to generate the paging indication based on the downlink data.

[0281] Optionally, for the call performance enhancement function, the second indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a USIM state transition, where "state transition" includes transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc.

[0282] (4) In a possible implementation example, the second instruction information indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state. S430 includes an access and mobility management function AMF of the second USIM sending the second instruction information to the terminal device.

[0283] In other words, if the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state through a state transition, the AMF of the second USIM sends second indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the call performance enhancement function is disabled.

[0284] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0285] For the behavior of the AMF and SMF, see the explanation in (3). In (4), AMF means the AMF of the second USIM, and SMF means the SMF of the second USIM.

[0286] In another possible implementation example, if the terminal device is a single USIM, the AMF may disable the call performance enhancement function and send second instruction information to the AMF, where the second instruction information indicates that the call performance enhancement function is to be disabled.

[0287] For the case where the first function includes a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities, the terminal device monitors the status of the multiple USIMs and sends the status of the multiple USIMs to the AMF. The AMF decides to enable or disable the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities based on the status of the multiple USIMs. Optionally, the "status of the multiple USIMs" implicitly includes information about the multi-USIM number of the terminal device. Optionally, the AMF may further consider paging opportunities of the USIMs to decide to enable or disable the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities.

[0288] (5) In a possible implementation, the second indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM.

[0289] For example, the communication performance of the terminal device is assumed to be 1Tx / 1Rx. Two USIMs are used as an example. If the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the paging opportunities of the two USIMs are the same, the AMF sets the first USIM or the second USIM to enable a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities, and sends second indication information to the terminal device.

[0290] After the AMF determines the second indication information indicating to enable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, optionally, the method 400 further includes the AMF performing call processing based on a first number of attempts and / or a first calling interval, where the first number of attempts is greater than the second number of attempts and the first calling interval is greater than the second calling interval, the second number of attempts is the number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the second calling interval is the calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0291] In other words, the AMF may avoid collisions between paging opportunities of the first USIM and the second USIM by increasing the number of attempts and / or increasing the paging interval.

[0292] Optionally, the method 400 further includes the AMF sending a paging message to the access network device, where the paging message indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. In other words, the AMF may notify the access network device of an instruction to enable the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities, thereby improving the ability of the access network device to avoid collision of paging opportunities. For example, the access network device may prepare two paging opportunities for a USIM in one paging cycle, may paging one USIM of a terminal device in multiple paging opportunities in two consecutive paging cycles (e.g., DRX cycles), may randomize paging opportunities of one USIM, or may set a paging opportunity offset for one USIM of a terminal device.

[0293] Optionally, for the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the second indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a state transition of the USIM, where "state transition" includes transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc.

[0294] (6) In a possible implementation example, the second indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM. S430 includes an access and mobility management function AMF of the first USIM or the second USIM sending the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0295] In other words, if the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state through a state transition, and the paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as the PO of the second USIM, the AMF of the first USIM or the second USIM sends second indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the function of avoiding paging opportunity collision is enabled.

[0296] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0297] For the behavior of AMF and SMF, see the explanation in (5). In (6), AMF means the AMF of the first USIM or the second USIM.

[0298] (7) In another possible implementation example, the second instruction information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM being in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM being in a connected state.

[0299] For example, the communication performance of the terminal device is assumed to be 1Tx / 1Rx or 1Tx / 2Rx. As an example, two USIMs are used. If the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state, the AMF sets the second USIM to disable a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities, and sends a second indication information to the terminal device.

[0300] After the AMF determines the second instruction information indicating to disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, optionally, the method 400 further includes the AMF performing call processing based on a second number of attempts and / or a second calling interval, where the second number of attempts is smaller than the first number of attempts and the second calling interval is shorter than the first calling interval, the second number of attempts is the number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the second calling interval is the calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the first number of attempts is the number of calling attempts of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the first calling interval is the calling interval of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0301] In other words, the AMF requires additional processing (e.g., increasing the number of attempts and / or increasing the call interval), i.e., performing normal call processing for the terminal device.

[0302] Optionally, the AMF disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF sending a paging message to the access network device, where the paging message indicates that the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is disabled. In other words, the AMF may notify the access network device of an instruction to disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, so that the access network device does not need to improve the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0303] Optionally, for the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the second indication information in this embodiment of the present application may alternatively be triggered by a state transition of the USIM, where "state transition" includes transition from a connected state to an idle / inactive state, transition from an idle / inactive state to a connected state, etc.

[0304] (8) In a possible implementation example, the second instruction information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from the idle / inactive state to a connected state. S430 includes an access and mobility management function AMF of the first USIM sending the second instruction information to the terminal device.

[0305] In other words, if the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM transitions from the idle / inactive state to a connected state through a state transition, the AMF of the first USIM sends second instruction information to the terminal device to indicate that the function of avoiding call opportunity collisions is disabled.

[0306] It can be understood that in this specification, for the purpose of explanation, only one example in which the state of the second USIM is transferred is used. However, the present application is not limited thereto. If the state of the first USIM is transferred, the present application is still applicable.

[0307] For the behavior of AMF and SMF, see the explanation in (7). In (8), AMF means the AMF of the first USIM.

[0308] In another possible implementation example, if the terminal device is a single USIM, the AMF may disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities and send second instruction information to the terminal device, where the second instruction information indicates that the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is disabled.

[0309] According to the state of the two USIMs, the function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities and the function of enhancing paging performance are mutually exclusive. In this case, one element of the indication information may actually indicate that one feature is enabled and another feature is disabled. The following provides a detailed description.

[0310] Optionally, the second instruction information may indicate enabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities and disabling the function of enhancing call performance, or may indicate disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities and enabling the function of enhancing call performance.

[0311] (9) In a possible implementation example, the second instruction information indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing call performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. S430 includes an access and mobility management function AMF of the first USIM or the second USIM sending the second instruction information to the terminal device.

[0312] Optionally, the second indication information indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing call performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from a connected state to an idle / inactive state. The terminal device includes sending the second indication information to an access and mobility management function AMF of the second USIM.

[0313] (10) In another possible implementation example, the second instruction information indicates to disable a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities and to enable a function of enhancing call performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in a connected state. S430 includes an access and mobility management function AMF of the first USIM sending the second instruction information to the terminal device.

[0314] Optionally, the second instruction indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a function of enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM transitions from the idle / inactive state to a connected state. The terminal device includes sending the second instruction information to an access and mobility management function AMF of the first USIM.

[0315] For ease of understanding, the following description is provided with reference to an example in Figure 5. It is assumed that the first function includes a MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature (or referred to as paging performance enhancement function). As shown in Figure 5, the procedure includes the following steps:

[0316] 501: Negotiate first capability.

[0317] For example, the first function includes a MUSIM paging capability enhancement feature (or referred to as a paging capability enhancement function). For a terminal device with MUSIM capability, the UE (e.g., USIM1), the AMF, the SMF and the UPF negotiate the MUSIM paging capability enhancement feature, i.e., the paging capability enhancement triggered by the downlink service. The paging capability enhancement function may specifically include the SMF / UPF or the AMF detecting the downlink data or signal of the USIM1 to obtain corresponding service information, e.g., a service type. The AMF sends a paging message including the service information to the RAN node. The RAN node further indicates the paging message including the service information to the UE. Alternatively, the AMF informs the UE of the downlink service information by using a NAS message or user plane data, so that the UE can decide whether to continue to execute the service of the currently connected USIM (e.g., USIM2) or to transition to execute the service of the USIM1 based on the downlink service information of the USIM1. Before the UE receives the downlink service information of USIM1, USIM2 is in a connected state.

[0318] Another optional call performance enhancement may specifically include being used to filter the call of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call. The UE reports the service information desired by the USIM to the AMF, for example, through a registration procedure or a service request procedure. The AMF stores the service information. If the USIM in idle state has a downlink service, the AMF determines whether to send a call message to the terminal device or to send the downlink service information to the UE using a NAS message or user plane data based on the service information of the downlink service and the service information. For example, the service information reported by the terminal device is an allowed list. In this case, if the service information that triggers the call is in the allowed list, the AMF sends a call message to the terminal device or sends the downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data, or if the service information that triggers the call is not in the allowed list, the AMF does not send a call message to the terminal device or sends the downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data. The service information reported by the terminal device is a block list. In this case, if the service information triggering the call is in the block list, the AMF does not send a call message to the terminal device or send downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data, or if the service information triggering the call is not in the block list, the AMF sends a call message to the terminal device or sends downlink service information to the UE by using a NAS message or user plane data.

[0319] Optionally, add 502: a service for subscribing to MUSIM call performance enhancement features.

[0320] After the MUSIM call performance enhancement feature is negotiated, two services can be added during subscription to the MUSIM feature between the AMF and SMF to flexibly and dynamically enable or disable the corresponding MUSIM feature.

[0321] Option 1: Add subscription to MUSIM feature to SMF service. Thus, the AMF may subscribe to or unsubscribe from the AMF MUSIM service from the SMF when it determines that the MUSIM feature is transitioned from enabled to disabled or from disabled to enabled.

[0322] 502a: The AMF sends a subscription request to the SMF to subscribe to the service and enable the MUSIM call performance enhancement feature. 502b: The SMF sends a subscription response to the AMF.

[0323] Option 2: Add subscription to MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature to AMF service. 502a: SMF sends subscription request to AMF to subscribe to MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature, i.e., informs SMF when paging performance enhancement feature needs to be enabled or disabled for MUSIM UE, so that SMF decides whether to obtain paging cause based on downlink data. 502b: AMF sends subscription response to SMF. Thus, AMF may inform SMF when it decides that MUSIM feature is transitioned from enabled to disabled or from disabled to enabled.

[0324] 503: The UE monitors the status of multiple USIMs.

[0325] Optionally, the UE monitors the multi-USIM number and multi-USIM status, and reports the multi-USIM number and multi-USIM status to the AMF in a timely manner, so that the AMF decides to enable or disable the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature.

[0326] 504: The UE sends the status of multiple USIMs to the AMF.

[0327] For example, the UE sends a request message to the AMF, and the request message holds the state of multiple USIMs. Optionally, the request message may be a registration request or a service request message, or may be a UL NAS transport message or another NAS message after the UE (USIM) enters a connected state.

[0328] 505: The AMF determines second indication information based on the status of the multiple USIMs.

[0329] For example, the AMF determines whether the network needs to enable the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature based on the UE's multi-USIM capability, multi-USIM number, and multi-USIM status. The second indication information indicates to enable or disable the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature. The AMF may further determine the SMF network element that needs to be contacted. The AMF may notify the SMF corresponding to all established PDU sessions of the USIM, or may notify only the SMF corresponding to a part of the established PDU sessions of the USIM (e.g., the MUSIM paging performance enhancement feature is enabled only for a specific NSSAI and / or a specific DN).

[0330] In this specification, for the manner in which the AMF determines the second indication information, please refer to the above description, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0331] The AMF shall notify the SMF when the MUSIM paging performance enhancement features transition from an enabled state to a disabled state, or when the MUSIM paging performance enhancement features transition from a disabled state to an enabled state.

[0332] Optionally, corresponding to option 1 in 502, in 506a, the AMF sends an unsubscription request to the SMF, and in 506b, the SMF sends an unsubscription response to the AMF.

[0333] Optionally, corresponding to option 2 in 502, in 506a, the AMF sends a notification message to the SMF, and in 506b, the SMF sends a notification response to the AMF.

[0334] 507: The AMF returns second indication information to the UE.

[0335] In the following, an example in which the first function includes a MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature is used for explanation. As shown in FIG. 5, the following steps are included:

[0336] 501: Negotiate first capability.

[0337] For example, the first function includes a MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature (or referred to as a function of avoiding paging opportunity collision). The UE and the AMF may negotiate the MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature, i.e., perform the following operations when a paging is triggered by a downlink service. For example, during paging policy performance enhancement, when a paging is triggered by downlink data or signaling, the AMF or RAN increases the number of UE (i.e., USIM) paging attempts and extends the paging interval between any two pagings. For another example, the AMF indicates the paging collision avoidance feature in the paging message to the RAN, so that the RAN generates (or calculates) a performance enhancement of the PO, for example, prepares two POs for one USIM of the UE in one paging cycle (e.g., DRX cycle), paging one USIM of the terminal device in multiple paging opportunities in two consecutive paging cycles (e.g., DRX cycle), randomizes paging opportunities of one USIM, or sets a paging opportunity offset for one USIM of the terminal device.

[0338] 503: The UE monitors the status of multiple USIMs.

[0339] Optionally, the UE detects the PO and multi-USIM status of the USIM, and reports the PO and multi-USIM status of the USIM to the AMF in a timely manner, so that the AMF determines whether the network needs to enable the MUSIM paging collision avoidance feature based on the statuses of the two USIMs and depending on whether the current POs of the two USIMs are the same (the POs of the UE in different cells may be different).

[0340] 505: The AMF determines second indication information based on the status of the multiple USIMs.

[0341] For example, the AMF determines that the MUSIM paging opportunity collision avoidance feature needs to be enabled or disabled based on the second indication information. In this case, when a UE paging is subsequently triggered by downlink data or signaling, the AMF performs the following operations: do not perform paging policy performance enhancement, i.e., perform common UE paging processing, or indicate / do not indicate paging collision avoidance in the paging message to the RAN.

[0342] In this specification, for the manner in which the AMF determines the second indication information, please refer to the above description, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0343] 507: The AMF sends second indication information to the UE.

[0344] It can be understood that the above examples in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5 are only illustrative examples and do not constitute limitations to this embodiment of the present application.

[0345] It can be understood that various possible implementations of the second instruction information are applicable to the procedure in Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, only some of the implementation examples are used as an example for explanation. In fact, implementation examples of the second instruction information that are not listed are also applicable to Fig. 5. For example, in Fig. 5, the second instruction information indicates to enable the call performance enhancement function and to disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the second instruction information indicates to disable the call performance enhancement function and to enable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0346] It should be understood that the sequence numbers of the processes in the above embodiments do not mean the execution order. The execution order of the processes should be determined according to the functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not be construed as any restriction on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0347] The method provided in the embodiment of the present application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

[0348] 6 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 6, the communication device 1000 may include a processing unit 1100 and a transceiver unit 1200.

[0349] In a possible design example, the communication device 1000 may correspond to a terminal device in the embodiment of the above-mentioned method, for example, it may be a terminal device or may be a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) disposed in the terminal device.

[0350] Optionally, the communication device 1000 may correspond to a terminal device in the method according to the embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1000 may include units configured to execute the method executed by the terminal device in the aforementioned method 200. Furthermore, the units in the communication device 1000 and other operations and / or functions described above are intended to separately implement the corresponding procedures of the method 200 in FIG.

[0351] Specifically, the processing unit 1100 is configured to determine first indication information based on the status of a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules USIMs, the first indication information indicating to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function and / or to enable or disable a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the terminal device includes a plurality of USIMs. The transceiver unit 1200 is configured to send the first indication information to an Access and Mobility Management Function AMF.

[0352] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0353] Optionally, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the first instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the first instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0354] Optionally, the first indication information indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The transceiver unit 1200 being configured to send the first indication information to the AMF includes sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0355] Optionally, the first indication information indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The transceiver unit 1200 being configured to send the first indication information to the AMF includes sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or to an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0356] Optionally, the first indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM. The transceiver unit 1200 being configured to send the first indication information to an AMF includes sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0357] Optionally, the first indication information indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The transceiver unit 1200 configuring to send the first indication information to the AMF includes sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0358] Optionally, the first instruction indicates enabling a function to avoid collision of paging opportunities and disabling a function to enhance paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The transceiver unit 1200 being configured to send the first instruction information to an access and mobility management function AMF includes sending the first instruction information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or to an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0359] Optionally, the first instruction indicates disabling a feature to avoid collision of paging opportunities and enabling a feature to enhance paging performance. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The transceiver unit 1200 configured to send the first instruction information to the AMF includes sending the first instruction information to the AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0360] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1200 may be configured to perform a receiving step and / or a transmitting step of a terminal device (or a UE in FIG. 3) in the method 200. For the sake of brevity, multiple examples will not be listed one by one in this specification.

[0361] Optionally, the communication device 1000 may correspond to a terminal device in the method according to the embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1000 may include units configured to execute the method executed by the terminal device in the above-mentioned method 400. Furthermore, the units in the communication device 1000 and other operations and / or functions described above are separately intended to implement corresponding procedures of the terminal device in the method 400 in FIG.

[0362] Specifically, the processing unit 1100 is configured to send a status of the multiple USIMs to an access and mobility management function AMF, where the terminal device includes multiple USIMs, and the status of the multiple USIMs is used to determine second indication information. The transceiver unit 1200 is configured to receive second indication information from the AMF, where the second indication information indicates to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function and / or to enable or disable a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0363] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0364] Optionally, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the second instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the second instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0365] Optionally, the second indication indicates enabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0366] Optionally, the second indication indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0367] Optionally, the second indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM.

[0368] Optionally, the second indication indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state.

[0369] Optionally, the second indication information indicates enabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and disabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0370] Optionally, the second indication information indicates disabling a function for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a function for enhancing paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0371] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1200 may be configured to perform a receiving step and / or a transmitting step of a terminal device (or a UE in FIG. 5) in the method 400. For the sake of brevity, multiple examples will not be listed one by one in this specification.

[0372] It should be further understood that when the communication device 1000 is a terminal device, the transceiver unit 1200 in the communication device 1000 may be implemented by a transceiver, for example, may correspond to the transceiver 2020 in the terminal device 2000 shown in FIG. 7, and the processing unit 1100 in the communication device 1000 may be implemented by at least one processor, for example, may correspond to the processor 2010 in the terminal device 2000 shown in FIG. 7.

[0373] It should be further understood that if the communication apparatus 1000 is a chip in a terminal device, the transceiver unit 1200 in the communication apparatus 1000 may be implemented by an input / output interface.

[0374] Optionally, the communication device 1000 further includes a storage unit. The storage unit may be configured to store instructions or data. The processing unit may retrieve the instructions or data stored in the storage unit to implement corresponding operations. The storage unit may be implemented by at least one memory, and may correspond to, for example, the memory 2030 in the terminal device 2000 of FIG. 7.

[0375] In another possible design example, the communication device 1000 may correspond to an AMF in the embodiment of the above-mentioned method, for example, may be an AMF or may be a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) disposed on the AMF.

[0376] Optionally, the communication device 1000 may correspond to the AMF in the method according to the embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1000 may include a unit configured to execute the method performed by the AMF in the above-mentioned method 200. Furthermore, the units in the communication device 1000 and other operations and / or functions described above are intended to separately implement the corresponding procedures of the method 200 in FIG.

[0377] Specifically, the transceiver unit 1200 is configured to receive first indication information from a terminal device, where the terminal device includes a plurality of USIMs, and the first indication information is determined based on the states of the plurality of USIMs. The processing unit 1100 is configured to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function based on the first indication information, and / or enable or disable a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities based on the first indication information.

[0378] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0379] Optionally, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the first instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the first instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the first instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0380] Optionally, the first indication indicates enabling a call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0381] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a subscription request to a session management function SMF of the second USIM, where the subscription request is used to subscribe to the call performance enhancement function.

[0382] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a first notification message to the SMF of the second USIM, where the first notification message notifies the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement feature.

[0383] Optionally, the first indication indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0384] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send an unsubscription request to the SMF of the second USIM, where the unsubscription request is used to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement feature.

[0385] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a second notification message to an SMF corresponding to the first USIM or an SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the second notification message notifying the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement feature.

[0386] Optionally, the first indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. A paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0387] Optionally, the processing unit 1100 being configured to enable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes performing call processing based on a first number of attempts and / or a first calling interval, where the first number of attempts is greater than a second number of attempts and the first calling interval is greater than the second calling interval, where the second number of attempts is a number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and where the second calling interval is a calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0388] Optionally, when enabling the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating that the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0389] Optionally, the first indication indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0390] Disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the processing unit 1100 being further configured to perform call processing based on a second number of attempts and / or a second calling interval, where the second number of attempts is less than the first number of attempts and the second calling interval is shorter than the first calling interval, the second number of attempts is a number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the second calling interval is a calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, the first number of attempts is a number of calling attempts of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled, and the first calling interval is a calling interval of the terminal device after the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is enabled.

[0391] Optionally, when disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating that the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is to be disabled.

[0392] Optionally, the first instruction indicates enabling a feature to avoid collision of paging opportunities and disabling a feature to enhance paging performance. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

[0393] Optionally, the first instruction indicates disabling a feature for avoiding collision of paging opportunities and enabling a feature for enhancing paging performance. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state. The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

[0394] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1200 may be configured to perform the receiving and / or transmitting steps of the AMF in the method 400 (or the AMF in FIG. 3). For the sake of brevity, multiple examples are not listed one by one in this specification.

[0395] Optionally, the communication device 1000 may correspond to the AMF in the method according to the embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1000 may include a unit configured to execute the method performed by the AMF in the above-mentioned method 400. Furthermore, the units in the communication device 1000 and other operations and / or functions described above are intended to separately implement the corresponding procedures of the method 400 in FIG.

[0396] Specifically, the transceiver unit 1200 is configured to receive the status of the multiple USIMs from the terminal device. The processing unit 1100 is configured to determine second indication information based on the status of the multiple USIMs, the second indication information indicating to enable or disable a call performance enhancement function and / or to enable or disable a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the terminal device includes the multiple USIMs. The transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0397] Optionally, the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate to the terminal device the service information that triggers the call or filter calls of the terminal device based on the service information that triggers the call.

[0398] Optionally, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature and / or to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities comprises the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the call performance enhancement feature, the second instruction information indicating to enable or disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, the second instruction information indicating to enable the call performance enhancement feature and to disable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities, or the second instruction information indicating to disable the call performance enhancement feature and to enable the feature of avoiding collision of call opportunities.

[0399] Optionally, the second indication indicates enabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in a connected state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0400] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a subscription request to a session management function SMF corresponding to the second USIM, where the subscription request is used to subscribe to the call performance enhancement function.

[0401] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a first notification message to a session management function SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the first notification message notifying the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement function.

[0402] Optionally, the second indication indicates disabling the call performance enhancement feature. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0403] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send an unsubscription request to an SMF corresponding to the second USIM, where the unsubscription request is used to unsubscribe from the call performance enhancement feature.

[0404] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a second notification message to a session management function SMF corresponding to the second USIM, the second notification message notifying the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement feature.

[0405] Optionally, the second indication information indicates enabling a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities. The multiple USIMs include a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state. The second indication information further includes a paging opportunity PO of the first USIM and a PO of the second USIM. The PO of the first USIM is the same as the PO of the second USIM.

[0406] Optionally, the processing unit 1100 is further configured to perform call processing based on a first number of attempts and / or a first calling interval, where the first number of attempts is greater than a second number of attempts, the first calling interval is greater than the second calling interval, the second number of attempts is a number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of calling opportunities is enabled, and the second calling interval is a calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of calling opportunities is enabled.

[0407] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating enabling a feature for avoiding collision of paging opportunities.

[0408] Optionally, the second indication indicates disabling a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state.

[0409] Optionally, the processing unit 1100 is further configured to perform call processing based on a second number of attempts and / or a second calling interval, where the second number of attempts is the number of calling attempts of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of calling opportunities is enabled, and the second calling interval is the calling interval of the terminal device before the function of avoiding collision of calling opportunities is enabled.

[0410] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1200 is further configured to send a paging message to the access network device, the paging message indicating to disable a feature for avoiding collision of paging opportunities.

[0411] Optionally, the first instruction indicates enabling a feature to avoid collision of call opportunities and disabling a feature to enhance call performance. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state.

[0412] Optionally, the first instruction indicates disabling a feature to avoid collision of call opportunities and enabling a feature to enhance call performance. The plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM. The first USIM is in an idle / inactive state and the second USIM is in a connected state.

[0413] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1200 may be configured to perform the receiving and / or transmitting steps of the AMF in the method 400 (or the AMF in FIG. 5). For the sake of brevity, multiple examples are not listed one by one in this specification.

[0414] It should be further understood that when the communication device 1000 is an AMF, the transceiver unit 1200 in the communication device 1000 may be implemented by a transceiver, for example, corresponding to the communication interface 1510 shown in FIG. 8, and the processing unit 1100 in the communication device 1000 may be implemented by at least one processor, for example, corresponding to the processor 1520 shown in FIG. 8.

[0415] It should be further understood that if the communication device 1000 is a chip in an AMF, the transceiver unit 1200 in the communication device 1000 may be implemented by an input / output interface.

[0416] Optionally, the communication device 1000 further includes a storage unit. The storage unit may be configured to store instructions or data. The processing unit may retrieve the instructions or data stored in the storage unit to implement corresponding operations. The storage unit may be implemented by at least one memory, and may correspond to the memory 1530 of FIG. 8, for example.

[0417] 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device 2000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The terminal device 2000 may be used in the system shown in FIG. 1 to perform the functions of the terminal device in the embodiment of the above-mentioned method. As shown in the figure, the terminal device 2000 includes a processor 2010 and a transceiver 2020. Optionally, the terminal device 2000 further includes a memory 2030. The processor 2010, the transceiver 2002, and the memory 2030 may communicate with each other through an internal connection path and transfer control signals and / or data signals. The memory 2030 is configured to store a computer program. The processor 2010 is configured to call the computer program from the memory 2030 and run the computer program to control the transceiver 2020 to transmit and receive signals. Optionally, the terminal device 2000 may further include an antenna 2040 configured to transmit uplink data or uplink control signals output by the transceiver 2020 by using a radio signal.

[0418] The processor 2010 and the memory 2030 may be integrated into one processing unit. The processor 2010 is configured to execute program codes stored in the memory 2030 to implement the above-mentioned functions. In a particular implementation, the memory 2030 may alternatively be integrated into the processor 2010 or may be separate from the processor 2010. The processor 2010 may correspond to the processing unit in FIG.

[0419] The transceiver 2020 and the antenna 2040 may correspond to and be referred to as the transceiver unit in Fig. 6. The transceiver 2020 may include a receiver (or referred to as a receiver machine or receiver circuit) and a transmitter (or referred to as a transmitter machine or transmitter circuit). The receiver is configured to receive signals, and the transmitter is configured to transmit signals.

[0420] It should be understood that the terminal device 2000 shown in Fig. 7 can implement each process of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 4. The operations and / or functions of the modules in the terminal device 2000 are intended to separately implement the corresponding procedures in the aforementioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the descriptions in the aforementioned method embodiments. In order to avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are appropriately omitted in this specification.

[0421] The processor 2010 may be implemented in a terminal device and configured to perform the operations described in the above method embodiments, and the transceiver 2020 may be configured to perform the operations of transmitting to or receiving from an access network device performed by the terminal device and described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description in the above method embodiments. Details will not be described again in this specification.

[0422] Optionally, the terminal device 2000 may further include a power supply 2050 configured to provide power to various components or circuits in the terminal device.

[0423] Furthermore, to enhance the functionality of the terminal device, the terminal device 2000 may further include one or more of an input unit 2060, a display unit 2070, an audio circuit 2080, a camera 2090, a sensor 2100, etc., and the audio circuit may further include a speaker 2082, a microphone 2084, etc.

[0424] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1500 according to an embodiment of the present application. The device is configured to implement the functions of the AMF in the above-mentioned method. The device may be an AMF or a device that can be used with the AMF. For example, the device may be installed in the AMF or may be independently located. This is not limited. The device may be a chip system. In this embodiment of the present application, the chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and another discrete component. The device 1500 comprises at least one processor 1520 configured to implement the functions of the AMF in the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0425] Optionally, the device 1500 may further include at least one memory 1530 configured to store program instructions and / or data. The memory 1530 is coupled to the processor 1520. In the present embodiment, a coupling is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be implemented in an electronic, mechanical, or other form, and is used for information exchange between devices, units, and modules. The processor 1520 may cooperate with the memory 1530. The processor 1520 may execute the program instructions stored in the memory 1530. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0426] The device 1500 may further include a communication interface 1510 configured to communicate with another device via a transmission medium to enable the device in the device 1500 to communicate with the other device. In this embodiment of the present application, the communication interface may be a device, a transceiver, an interface, a bus, a circuit, or a pin capable of implementing a transceiver function. For example, the other device may be a terminal device, an SMF, or an access network device. The processor 1520 is configured to receive and transmit data via the communication interface 1510 and implement the method performed by the AMF in the multiple embodiments corresponding to Figures 2 to 5.

[0427] In this embodiment of the present application, the specific connection medium between the communication interface 1510, the processor 1520, and the memory 1530 is not limited. In this embodiment of the present application, the memory 1530, the processor 1520, and the communication interface 1510 are connected by using the bus 1540 in FIG. 8. The bus is represented by using a thick line in FIG. 8. The manner of connection between the other components is merely an example for explanation and is not limited thereto. The bus may be classified into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For the sake of simplicity of illustration, the bus is represented by using only a thick line in FIG. 8, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0428] It should be understood that the communication device shown in FIG. 8 can implement the method performed by the AMF in the embodiments of the present application, for example, each process related to the AMF in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The operations and / or functions of the modules in the communication device are intended to separately implement the corresponding procedures in the aforementioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiments. In order to avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are appropriately omitted in this specification.

[0429] It should be understood that the communication device shown in FIG. 8 is merely a possible architecture of the AMF and should not constitute any limitation to the present application.

[0430] An embodiment of the present application further provides a processing device, the device including a processor and an interface, the processor being configured to execute a method according to any one of the preceding method embodiments.

[0431] It should be understood that the processing device may be one or more chips. For example, the processing device may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on chip (SoC), a central processor unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a micro controller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or another integrated chip.

[0432] In the implementation process, each step of the aforementioned method may be realized by using a hardware integrated logic circuit in a processor or by using an instruction in the form of software. Each step of the method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of the present application may be directly executed and realized by using a hardware processor, or may be executed and realized by using a combination of a software module and hardware in a processor. The software module may be located in a storage medium matured in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and realizes the steps of the aforementioned method in combination with the hardware of the processor. In order to avoid repetition, the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0433] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be an integrated circuit chip and has signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step in the above-mentioned method embodiments may be realized by using a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor, or by using instructions in the form of software. The processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The processor may implement or execute the method, each step and the logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, the processor may be any conventional processor, and so on. Each step in the method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of the present application may be directly executed and realized by using a hardware decode processor, or may be executed and realized by using a combination of a software module and a hardware in the decode processor. The software module may be located in a storage medium that is mature in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads information in the memory and, in combination with the processor's hardware, realizes the steps in the above-mentioned method.

[0434] In the embodiments of the present application, it may be understood that the memory may be volatile or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. Many forms of RAM are available, such as, by way of example and not by way of limitation, static random access memory (static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM, DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct rambus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the methods and systems described herein includes, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0435] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program code, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0436] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program code, and when the program code is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method executed by any network element (terminal device or AMF) in the above embodiment.

[0437] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a system, which includes the terminal device as described above and the AMF as described above.

[0438] As used herein, terms such as "component," "module," and "system" are used to indicate computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software running on a computer. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, a thread of execution, a program, and / or a process running on a computer. As shown in the figure, both a computing device and an application running on a computing device may be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and / or thread of execution, and a component may be located on one computer and / or distributed across two or more computers. Furthermore, these components may be executed by various computer-readable media that store various data structures. For example, a component may communicate by using local and / or remote processing and based on signals including one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components communicating with another component in a local system, in a distributed system, and / or over a network such as the Internet communicating with another system using signals).

[0439] Those skilled in the art may further understand that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps enumerated in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination thereof. Whether these functions are implemented using hardware or software depends on the specific application and the overall system design requirements. Those skilled in the art may use various methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation examples should not be considered as going beyond the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0440] The techniques described herein may be implemented in various ways. For example, the techniques may be implemented by using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. For hardware implementation, a processing unit configured to execute the techniques in a communication device (e.g., a base station, a terminal, a network entity, or a chip) may be implemented in one or more general-purpose processor cores, DSPs, digital signal processing devices, ASICs, programmable logic devices, FPGAs or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor. Optionally, the general-purpose processor may alternatively be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. Alternatively, the general-purpose processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. Alternatively, the processor may be implemented by using a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors with digital signal processor cores, or any other similar configuration.

[0441] All or part of the above-mentioned embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or another programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wire (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave) methods. A computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server or data center that consolidates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state disk (SSD)), etc.

[0442] It should be understood that the term "embodiments" used throughout the specification means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic associated with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Thus, each embodiment throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0443] It should be further understood that in this application, "case" and "if" mean that the UE or base station executes corresponding processing in an objective situation, but do not constitute any limitation on time, do not require the UE or base station to execute a decision function in the implementation example, and do not imply any other limitation.

[0444] Those skilled in the art may appreciate that the various reference numerals in the present application, such as "first" and "second", are merely used as a distinction for ease of description, and are not used to limit the scope or indicate the order of the embodiments of the present application.

[0445] In this application, unless otherwise specified, elements referred to in the singular are intended to mean "one or more" and not "one and only one." In this application, "at least one" is intended to mean "one or more" and "multiple" is intended to mean "two or more," unless otherwise specified.

[0446] Furthermore, in this specification, terms such as "system" and "network" are generally used interchangeably. The term "and / or" in this specification describes only a correspondence relationship to describe related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. A may be singular or plural, and B may be singular or plural.

[0447] The symbol " / " normally indicates an "or" relationship between associated objects.

[0448] The term "at least one of" in this specification refers to all or any combination of the listed items. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" may refer to the following six cases: only A is present, only B is present, only C is present, both A and B are present, both B and C are present, and all of A, B, and C are present. A may be singular or plural, B may be singular or plural, and C may be singular or plural.

[0449] In the embodiments of the present application, it should be understood that "B corresponding to A" indicates that B is associated with A and that B may be determined based on A. However, it should be further understood that determining B based on A does not mean that B is determined based only on A, and B may alternatively be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0450] Those skilled in the art may recognize, with reference to the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, that each unit, each step of the algorithm may be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of electronic hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented by using hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be deemed to go beyond the scope of the present application.

[0451] Those skilled in the art may clearly understand that for the purpose of convenient and simple description, the details of the operation processes of the above-mentioned systems, devices and units may be referred to the corresponding processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0452] In some embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the described device embodiment is merely an example. For example, the unit division is merely a division according to logical functions, and may be other divisions in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not implemented. Furthermore, the shown or described mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be implemented through some interfaces. Indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0453] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separated. The parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, specifically, may be located in one location or may be distributed over multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected based on actual requirements to realize the objectives of the solutions of each embodiment.

[0454] Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of those units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0455] When these functions are implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a separate product, the functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present application may be essentially implemented in the form of a software product, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or some of these technical solutions may be implemented in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes some instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or some of the steps in the method described in the embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes any medium that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0456] The above description is merely a specific implementation example of the present application, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications or replacements that a person skilled in the art can easily think of within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. determining, by the terminal device, a first indication based on a state of a plurality of universal subscriber identity modules USIM; The terminal device sends the first indication information to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF); Equipped with The first indication information indicates that a call performance enhancement function is to be enabled or disabled, and the terminal device includes the plurality of USIMs; A communication method, wherein the call enhancement feature is used to indicate service information that triggers a call to the terminal device.

2. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is enabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in a connected state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the second USIM. The communication method according to claim 1 .

3. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM; 3. A communication method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The first instruction information further indicates enabling or disabling a function for avoiding a collision of call opportunities; If the first indication information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities is enabled, the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and a paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM, The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the first USIM or the AMF corresponding to the second USIM; A communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The first instruction information further indicates enabling or disabling a function for avoiding a collision of call opportunities; When the first instruction information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in a connected state, The terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF includes the terminal device sending the first indication information to the AMF corresponding to the first USIM. A communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. An access and mobility management function AMF receives first indication information from a terminal device, the terminal device having a plurality of USIMs, the first indication information being determined based on a state of the plurality of USIMs; The AMF enables or disables a call performance enhancement function based on the first indication information; Equipped with A communication method, wherein the call enhancement feature is used to indicate service information that triggers a call to the terminal device.

7. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is enabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in a connected state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the second USIM. The communication method according to claim 6.

8. The AMF further comprises sending a first notification message to a Session Management Function (SMF) of the second USIM; The first notification message notifies the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement feature. The communication method according to claim 7.

9. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM; A communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. The AMF further comprises sending a second notification message to an SMF corresponding to the first USIM or an SMF corresponding to the second USIM; The second notification message notifies the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement feature. The communication method according to claim 9.

11. The communication method comprises: The AMF enables or disables a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities based on the first indication information. Further equipped with If the first indication information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities is enabled, the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and a paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM, A communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 10.

12. The AMF enabling or disabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities based on the first instruction information includes the AMF enabling the function for avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the AMF enabling the function for avoiding collision of call opportunities includes: The AMF sends a paging message to an access network device; the call message indicates that a feature for avoiding collisions of the call opportunity is enabled. The communication method according to claim 11.

13. The communication method comprises: The AMF enables or disables a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities based on the first indication information. Further equipped with When the first instruction information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in a connected state, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM, A communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 10.

14. The AMF enabling or disabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities based on the first instruction information includes the AMF disabling a function for avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the AMF disabling the function for avoiding collision of call opportunities includes the AMF sending a call message to an access network device, the call message indicates that a feature for avoiding collisions of the call opportunity is to be disabled. The communication method according to claim 13.

15. A communication device, comprising: the communication device is a terminal device; a processing unit configured to determine a first indication based on a state of a plurality of Universal Subscriber Identity Modules USIM; a transceiver unit configured to send the first indication information to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF); Equipped with The first indication information indicates that a call performance enhancement function is to be enabled or disabled, and the terminal device includes the plurality of USIMs; The communication device, wherein the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate service information that triggers a call to the terminal device.

16. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is enabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in a connected state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The transceiver unit being configured to send the first indication information to the AMF includes sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

16. The communication device of claim 15.

17. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The transceiver unit being configured to send the first indication information to the AMF includes sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

17. A communication device according to claim 15 or 16.

18. The first instruction information further indicates enabling or disabling a function for avoiding a collision of call opportunities; If the first indication information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities is enabled, the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and a paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM, The transceiver unit being configured to send the first indication information to an AMF includes sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

18. A communication device according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

19. The first instruction information further indicates enabling or disabling a function for avoiding a collision of call opportunities; When the first instruction information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in a connected state, The transceiver unit being configured to send the first indication information to the AMF includes sending the first indication information to an AMF corresponding to the first USIM.

18. A communication device according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

20. A communication device, comprising: the communication device is an Access and Mobility Management Function AMF, a transceiver unit configured to receive first indication information from a terminal device, the terminal device having a plurality of USIMs, the first indication information being determined based on a status of the plurality of USIMs; a processing unit configured to enable or disable a call performance enhancement feature based on the first indication information; Equipped with The communication device, wherein the call performance enhancement function is used to indicate service information that triggers a call to the terminal device.

21. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is enabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in a connected state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the second USIM.

21. The communication device of claim 20.

22. The transceiver unit is further configured to send a first notification message to a Session Management Function (SMF) of the second USIM; The first notification message notifies the SMF to enable the call performance enhancement feature.

22. The communication device of claim 21.

23. If the first indication information indicates that the call performance enhancement feature is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM and / or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM; 23. A communication device according to any one of claims 20 to 22.

24. The transceiver unit is further configured to send a second notification message to an SMF corresponding to the first USIM or an SMF corresponding to the second USIM; The second notification message notifies the SMF to disable the call performance enhancement feature.

24. The communication device of claim 23.

25. The processing unit, The method is further configured to enable or disable a function for avoiding collision of calling opportunities based on the first indication information; If the first indication information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of paging opportunities is enabled, the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, the second USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and a paging opportunity PO of the first USIM is the same as a PO of the second USIM, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM or an AMF corresponding to the second USIM, 25. A communication device according to any one of claims 20 to 24.

26. Enabling or disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities based on the first instruction information includes enabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the processing unit is configured to enable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, sending a paging message to an access network device; the call message indicates that a feature for avoiding collisions of the call opportunity is enabled.

26. The communication device of claim 25.

27. The processing unit, The method is further configured to enable or disable a function for avoiding collision of calling opportunities based on the first indication information; When the first instruction information indicates that a function of avoiding collision of call opportunities is to be disabled, and the plurality of USIMs includes a first USIM and a second USIM, the first USIM is in an idle / inactive state, and the second USIM is in a connected state, The AMF is an AMF corresponding to the first USIM, 25. A communication device according to any one of claims 20 to 24.

28. Enabling or disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities based on the first instruction information includes disabling the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, and the processing unit is configured to disable the function of avoiding collision of call opportunities, paging the transceiver unit to transmit a paging message to an access network device; the call message indicates that a feature for avoiding collisions of the call opportunity is to be disabled.

28. The communication device of claim 27.

29. A processor is provided. The processor is coupled to a memory and is configured to read and execute instructions in the memory to enable the processor to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Communications equipment.

30. A processor is provided. The processor is coupled to a memory and is configured to read and execute instructions in the memory to enable the processor to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 14. Communications equipment.

31. A program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

32. A program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out the communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 14.

Images