Wireless device and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

A wireless device according to the present invention is a wireless device of a mobile communication network capable of mounting a plurality of subscriber identification modules (SIMs) including a first SIM and a second SIM, and includes a first means configured to establish a first connection with a connection destination base station on the basis of data stored in the first SIM, and a second means configured to establish a second connection with a connection destination base station on the basis of data stored in the second SIM. At least one of the first means and the second means is configured to establish connection with a base station such that the connection destination base station of the first connection and the connection destination base station of the second connection are different from each other.

Description

Wireless device and computer-readable storage medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for selecting a connection destination by a wireless device capable of multiple accesses.

[0002] A wireless device (WD) in a mobile communication network is equipped with a subscriber identity module (SIM). The SIM stores data indicating the operator that issued the SIM, the WD's home public land mobile network (H-PLMN), and the like. The WD typically connects to a base station (BS) in the H-PLMN to communicate. If there are multiple BSs available for connection, the WD selects a BS to connect to from the available BSs according to a predetermined priority. For example, the WD selects the BS with the strongest received signal as the BS to connect to. Alternatively, if the WD is able to connect to both a fifth-generation (5G) BS and a fourth-generation (4G) BS, it will preferentially connect to the 5G BS or the 4G BS according to the settings.

[0003] Currently, WDs capable of mounting multiple SIMs are in use. Furthermore, WDs capable of simultaneously activating multiple SIMs are also in use. By simultaneously activating multiple SIMs, multi-access becomes possible, and the WD can have multiple connections with a BS. In the following description, a wireless connection established with one BS based on one SIM is referred to as "(one) access line." For example, in the case of a WD capable of simultaneously activating two SIMs, two access lines are established by simultaneously activating the two SIMs.

[0004] Non-patent document 1 discloses a switching technology for switching the access line used for communication in a multi-access WD to continue communication, and a steering technology for selecting a high-quality access line to carry out communication.

[0005] 3GPP TR 22.841, v2.0.0, "Study on Upper layer traffic steering, switching and split over dual 3GPP access"

[0006] In the switching and steering technologies disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, it is important that multiple access lines do not connect to the same BS. However, even if two SIMs are issued by different operators, if the H-PLMNs of the two SIMs are the same, the BSs to which the two access lines connect may be the same.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device is a wireless device of a mobile communication network capable of implementing multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs), including a first SIM and a second SIM, and comprises: first means configured to establish a first connection with a destination base station based on data stored in the first SIM; and second means configured to establish a second connection with a destination base station based on data stored in the second SIM, wherein at least one of the first means and the second means is configured to establish a connection with a base station such that the destination base station of the first connection is different from the destination base station of the second connection.

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0009] The present invention relates to a wireless device, a wireless communication device, and a wireless communication system, and is a wireless communication system that can be used in a wireless communication environment.

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a WD according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the WD can accommodate up to two SIMs 3, allowing up to two access lines to be used simultaneously. The SIMs 3 may be physical SIM cards or embedded SIMs (eSIMs) that download data for use. The WD also includes two BB units 2 that perform baseband processing and two radio units 1 that perform radio frequency band processing, corresponding to the two SIMs. The BB units 2 are also referred to as baseband processors. In the following description, when distinguishing between the two SIMs, they are referred to as SIM #1 and SIM #2, as shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, the two BB units 2 and two radio units 1 are referred to as BB unit #1, BB unit #2, radio unit #1, and radio unit #2. Separate antennas for transmitting and receiving radio signals may be provided for radio unit #1 and radio unit #2, respectively. Alternatively, an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals may be shared by radio unit #1 and radio unit #2. Note that, for example, the two BB units 2 do not need to be physically separate devices, and the two BB units 2 may share the same circuits and memories.

[0012] The control unit 4 controls the entire WD. Although not shown, the WD has a user interface such as a touch panel. The BB unit #1 and the wireless unit #1 establish an access line with the BS based on data stored in SIM #1, and the BB unit #2 and the wireless unit #2 establish an access line with the BS based on data stored in SIM #2. In the following description, the access line established based on the data stored in SIM #1 is referred to as the first line, and the access line established based on the data stored in SIM #2 is referred to as the second line.

[0013] In this embodiment, the priority of SIM #1 is higher than the priority of SIM #2. Therefore, the priority of the first line established based on the data stored in SIM #1 is higher than the priority of the second line established based on the data stored in SIM #2. The priority of SIM #3 can be set, for example, by the user of the WD operating the WD. Furthermore, in this embodiment, SIM #1 and SIM #2 can be activated separately. For example, the first line is established when SIM #1 is active, and the first line is not established when SIM #1 is inactive. The same applies to SIM #2. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user can turn the "adjustment function" on and off. When the "adjustment function" is off, the WD does not perform the process of adjusting the BS to which the first line is connected and the BS to which the second line is connected to be different. On the other hand, when the "adjustment function" is on, the WD performs a process to adjust the BS to which the first line is connected so that it is different from the BS to which the second line is connected. The process performed by the WD will be explained below with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

[0014] <Registration process when two SIMs are active> When both SIM #1 and SIM #2 are changed from an inactive state to an active state, or when both SIM #1 and SIM #2 are active when the WD is powered on, the WD performs registration process by establishing a first line based on SIM #1, and registration process by establishing a second line based on SIM #2. Figure 2 is a flowchart of this process.

[0015] The control unit 4 determines whether the adjustment function is on in S10. If the adjustment function is off, the control unit 4 does not perform the adjustment process, and therefore, in S13, the BB unit #1 selects a BS to connect to based on the data stored in SIM #1 and establishes a first line, and the BB unit #2 selects a BS to connect to based on the data stored in SIM #2 and establishes a second line.

[0016] On the other hand, if the adjustment function is on in S10, the control unit 4 causes the BB unit #1 to establish a first line with a high priority in S11. Then, the control unit 4 acquires, from the BB unit #1, specific information identifying the BS to which the first line is connected. The control unit 4 then notifies the BB unit #2 of the BS to which the first line is connected, and causes the BB unit #2 to establish a second line with a lower priority. At this time, the BB unit #2 establishes a second line with a BS different from the BS to which the first line is connected. That is, for example, if the BS to which the first line is connected is BS #1, even if the BS with the highest priority determined based on the data stored in the SIM #2 is BS #1, the BB unit #2 establishes a second line with a BS different from BS #1, for example, a BS with the second highest priority.

[0017] The WD identifies each BS based on, for example, identification information broadcast by the BS. The identification information may be, for example, the BS identifier. Alternatively, the BS identification information may be a combination of the PLMN number of the PLMN to which the BS belongs and the BS identifier. Note that a single BS may be shared by multiple PLMNs. When a single BS is shared by multiple PLMNs, even if the combination of the PLMN number and the BS identifier is used as identification information, the same BS broadcasts multiple pieces of identification information corresponding to each of the multiple PLMNs. Therefore, in such a case, the WD may recognize the same BS as different BSs. Therefore, for example, the identification information may be a combination of the BS manufacturer and a serial number assigned by the manufacturer, like a MAC address. Furthermore, the identification information may be a combination of the latitude and longitude (location information) where the BS is located and an arbitrary number (arbitrary information). The arbitrary number may be used to identify one BS from multiple BSs located in similar locations. The BS can be configured to periodically broadcast specific information.

[0018] In addition, when the BS is functionally divided into a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), and a radio unit (RU), the above-mentioned BS-specific information can be specific information of any one of the CU, DU, and RU. Alternatively, the above-mentioned BS-specific information can be a combination of one or more of the specific information of the CU, DU, and RU. Furthermore, when the CU and DU are separated into a control plane and a data plane, the specific information of the data plane unit can be used.

[0019] Next, a case will be described in which, while only one SIM 3 is in the active state and an access line is established through that SIM 3, another SIM 3 is changed to the active state.

[0020] <Registration process when SIM #2 is activated after the first line is established> As shown in Fig. 3, the control unit 4 determines in S20 whether the adjustment function is on. If the adjustment function is off, the control unit 4 does not perform the adjustment process, and therefore, in S22, the BB unit #2 selects a BS to connect to based on the data stored in SIM #2 and establishes a second line. On the other hand, if the adjustment function is on in S20, the control unit 4 notifies the BB unit #2 of the BS to which the first line is connected in S21, causing the BB unit #2 to establish the second line. At that time, the BB unit #2 establishes the second line with a BS different from the BS to which the first line is connected.

[0021] <Registration Process When SIM #1 is Activated After the Second Line is Established> As shown in FIG. 4 , in S30, the control unit 4 causes BB unit #1 to establish the first line and obtains from BB unit #1 specific information about the BS connected to the first line. In S31, the control unit 4 determines whether the adjustment function is on. If the adjustment function is off, adjustment processing is not necessary, and the processing in FIG. 4 ends. On the other hand, if the adjustment function is on, the control unit 4 notifies BB unit #2 of specific information about the BS connected to the first line. In S32, BB unit #2 determines whether the BS connected to the second line is the same as the BS connected to the first line. If they are not the same, the processing in FIG. 4 ends. On the other hand, if the BS connected to the second line is the same as the BS connected to the first line, BB #2 performs a change process to change the BS connected to the second line to another BS. The change process may be a handover initiated by WD. Alternatively, the change process may be, for example, a process of releasing the current second line and establishing a new second line.

[0022] <When the adjustment function is changed to ON while two lines are established> As explained in Figures 2 to 4, when the adjustment function is OFF, BB units #1 and #2 determine the BS to connect to according to their respective priorities, so the BS to which the first line is connected and the BS to which the second line is connected may be the same. In this case, when the adjustment function is changed to ON, the control unit 4 notifies BB unit #2 of the BS to which the first line is connected. If the BS to which the second line is connected and the BS to which the first line is connected are the same, BB unit #2 performs the above change processing.

[0023] <Handover (HO) when the Adjustment Function is On> When the BS to which the first line is connected is changed due to handover, the BB unit #1 notifies the control unit 4 of the changed BS, and the control unit 4 notifies the BB unit #2 of the changed BS to which the first line is connected. The BB unit #2 performs the change process when the BS to which the second line is connected and the BS to which the first line are connected are the same. On the other hand, the BB unit #2 controls the BS to prevent handover to the BS to which the first line is connected. For example, when the BS to which the second line is connected or a control node in the PLMN to which the BS belongs determines the handover destination, the BB unit #2 reports a low connection quality with the BS to which the first line is connected to the BS to which the second line is connected, or does not report the BS to which the first line is connected, so as to prevent handover to the BS to which the first line is connected. When the BB unit #2 determines the handover destination, the BB unit #2 selects a BS different from the BS to which the first line is connected. Furthermore, when a handover is made to the BS to which the first line is connected, the above change processing is performed.

[0024] <Transition from Idle State to Active State> When transitioning from idle state to active state, the WD also establishes an access line. The flowcharts for this are the same as those explained with reference to FIGS.

[0025] In the above description, when the adjustment function is on, the control unit 4 obtains the BS connected to the first line from the BB unit #1 and notifies the BB unit #2. However, the BS connected to the first line can be directly exchanged between the BB unit #1 and the BB unit #2 without going through the control unit #4. In this case, the control unit 4 only needs to notify the BB unit #1 and the BB unit #2 of the on / off status of the adjustment function. Furthermore, a register indicating whether the adjustment function is on or off can be provided, and the control unit 4 can set information indicating whether the adjustment function is on or off in the register. In this case, the BB unit #1 and the BB unit #2 access the register to determine whether the adjustment function is on or off. Furthermore, the configuration can also be such that specific information of the BS connected to the first line is set in the register.

[0026] Furthermore, while the embodiment has been described using a WD capable of implementing up to two SIMs as an example, this embodiment can also be applied to a WD capable of implementing three or more SIMs. Generally speaking, a WD can implement SIMs #1 to #N (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2), and the priority is set to decrease in the order of SIMs #1 to #N. Furthermore, access lines based on SIMs #1 to #N are referred to as the first line to the Nth line. When all SIMs are active, the WD establishes access lines in the order of the first line to the Nth line. The BS connected to the kth line (k is an integer from 2 to N) is selected so as to be different from the BS connected to each of the first line to the (k-1)th line. Furthermore, when SIM #n (n is an integer from 1 to N) is changed from an inactive state to an active state, the BS connected to the nth line is selected so as to be different from the BS connected to the access line with a higher priority. Furthermore, if the BS connected to any of the first line to the (n-1)th line is changed to the BS to which the nth line is connected, the BS connected to the nth line is changed to a BS different from the BS connected to the first line to the (n-1)th line.

[0027] With the above configuration, it is possible to set up multiple access lines by the WD to connect to different BSs.

[0028] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, priority was set to SIM3. Therefore, when an access line based on a SIM with a higher priority is established or when a handover of the access line based on a SIM with a higher priority occurs, it may be necessary to change the BS to which the access line based on a SIM with a lower priority is connected. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which priority is not set to SIM3, and therefore priority is not set to the access line.

[0029] <Registration process when the adjustment function is on and multiple SIMs are active> In this embodiment, the WD establishes access lines based on each SIM in an arbitrary order. Note that when establishing an access line, the WD connects to a BS different from the BS to which the already established access line is connected. Note that the arbitrary order may be a fixed order or may be determined by the control unit 4 each time.

[0030] <Registration process when the adjustment function is on and one SIM is changed to the active state> When establishing an access line based on the one SIM, the WD connects to a BS different from the BS to which the already established access line is connected.

[0031] <Handover (HO) When Adjustment Function is ON> The WD controls the BS to which the access line is connected after handover to be different from the BS to which the already established access line is connected.

[0032] <Transition from Idle State to Active State When Adjustment Function is On> As in the registration process, when establishing an access line, the WD connects to a BS different from the BS to which the already established access line is connected.

[0033] With the above configuration, it is possible to set up multiple access lines by the WD to connect to different BSs.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the WD can turn the adjustment function on and off, and when the adjustment function is on, it performs an adjustment process to connect multiple access lines to different BSs. However, the adjustment function may be fixed to on and cannot be turned off by the user. Furthermore, if three or more SIMs can be installed, at least two SIMs can be subject to the adjustment process, and the remaining SIMs can be excluded from the adjustment process. For example, in the case of a WD that can install M SIMs #1 to SIM #M (M is an integer greater than or equal to 3), SIM #1 to SIM #m (m is an integer from 2 to M) can be subject to the adjustment process, and SIM #(m-1) to SIM #M can be excluded from the adjustment process. In this case, the BSs to which the m access lines based on SIM #1 to SIM #m are connected are adjusted to be different from each other, but the BSs to which the access lines based on SIM #(m-1) to SIM #M are connected are selected based on the priority of each SIM. Furthermore, in such a case, rather than allowing SIM#1 to SIM#m that are the subject of the adjustment process to be individually set to an active or inactive state, the configuration may be such that the group of SIM#1 to SIM#m can be set to an active or inactive state.

[0035] The present disclosure also provides a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors in an apparatus having one or more processors, causes the apparatus to function as the above-described WD, and a computer-readable storage medium having the computer program stored thereon. The present disclosure also provides a method executed by a WD, a computer program that causes an apparatus having one or more processors to execute the method, and a computer-readable storage medium having the computer program stored thereon.

[0036] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention.

[0037] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-012138, filed January 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A wireless device for a mobile communications network capable of implementing multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs), including a first SIM and a second SIM, comprising: first means configured to establish a first connection with a destination base station based on data stored in the first SIM; and second means configured to establish a second connection with a destination base station based on data stored in the second SIM, wherein at least one of the first means and the second means is configured to establish a connection with a base station such that the destination base station for the first connection is different from the destination base station for the second connection.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first means and the second means is configured to, when the coordination function is on, establish a connection with a base station so that the destination base station of the first connection is different from the destination base station of the second connection.

3. A wireless device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first means and the second means is configured to select a base station different from the destination base station of a connection already established by the other means and establish a connection therewith.

4. A wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second means is configured to, when the first connection has already been established, select a base station different from the destination base station of the first connection to establish the second connection.

5. A wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second means is configured to perform processing to change the destination base station of the second connection when the first means establishes the first connection with the destination base station of the second connection.

6. A wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the destination base station of the first connection and the destination base station of the second connection are each identified by base station identification information.

7. The wireless device according to claim 6, wherein the specific information includes at least one of a base station identifier, a combination of the base station identifier and a public land mobile network (PLMN) number, a combination of the base station manufacturer's identifier and a serial number assigned to the base station by the manufacturer, and a combination of location information and optional information where the base station is located.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by one or more processors of a device having one or more processors, causes the device to function as a wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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