Multi-SIM Gap Signaling for Conflicting Time Unit Retention

Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, conflicts between configured multi-sim gaps lead to resource wastage and reduced system throughput due to the existence of unused or unusable gaps.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and apparatus that allows a terminal device to send messages indicating conflicting time units, with optional retention or discard instructions, enabling the network device to determine configuration information for efficient resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal device requests multiple multi-sim gaps to be configured, then the terminal device can support multiple SIM cards with better performance, but resource waste and reduced system throughput occur due to conflicts between configured gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-sim gap configuration capabilityVSAvoidresource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary identification of conflicting time units before sending the request message to the network device. By pre-processing the gap configuration requests and identifying conflicts in advance, the terminal device can provide the network device with a refined set of non-conflicting gaps, thereby avoiding resource waste while maintaining multi-SIM functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device provides feedback information to the network device regarding identified conflicts between requested multi-sim gaps. This feedback mechanism allows the network device to make informed decisions about gap configuration, resolving conflicts before they lead to resource waste and system throughput reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal device requests multiple multi-sim gaps to be configured, then the terminal device can support multiple SIM cards with better performance, but system throughput is reduced due to unusable conflicting gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-sim gap configuration capabilityVSAvoidsystem throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary identification of conflicting time units before sending the request message to the network device. By pre-processing the gap configuration requests and identifying conflicts in advance, the terminal device can provide the network device with a refined set of non-conflicting gaps, thereby avoiding resource waste while maintaining multi-SIM functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device provides feedback information to the network device regarding identified conflicts between requested multi-sim gaps. This feedback mechanism allows the network device to make informed decisions about gap configuration, resolving conflicts before they lead to resource waste and system throughput reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If the terminal device sends a message indicating conflicting time units with retention instructions, then resource utilization is optimized, but the message complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidmessage structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The message structure is segmented into distinct components: an indication information field for identifying conflicts, a retention indication field for specifying which gaps to retain, and the original gap configuration requests. This segmentation allows the network device to process different aspects of the conflict resolution independently, managing complexity while optimizing resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The indication information is applied locally to specific conflicting time units rather than globally to all requested gaps. This allows precise control over which gaps are retained or discarded, optimizing resource utilization without requiring complex global message structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20260020006A1Communication method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: A terminal device sends a first message to a network device, where the first message indicates a plurality of time units expected by the terminal device, the plurality of time units include M conflicting time units, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The first message includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates to retain a part of the M time units, or the first indication information indicates to retain all of the M time units.