Multi-SIM Operator Determination for Cell Residency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-card mobile terminals face complexity and performance degradation due to each SIM card needing to select and register with different cells, even if they belong to the same service operator, leading to system instability and increased battery power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine if multiple SIM cards in a mobile terminal belong to the same service operator by acquiring IMSI, extracting HPLMN or EHPLMN, and comparing affiliated countries and operators, allowing cards to register with the same operator's network if they share the same service country, and causing them to reside in the same cell.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If each SIM card selects and registers with different cells respectively, then each card can independently access the network, but the system complexity increases and performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent network access capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement and registration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cell selection and registration processes for multiple SIM cards into a unified process. When multiple SIM cards belong to the same service operator, they share the same cell selection results and registration information, eliminating redundant measurements and registrations while maintaining independent network access capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal cell selection mechanism that serves multiple SIM cards simultaneously. The cell selection and registration function is designed to handle both cases: when SIM cards belong to different operators (independent processing) and when they belong to the same operator (shared processing), making the system multi-functional and adaptable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If each SIM card performs independent cell selection and registration, then network coverage is maximized, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines redundant frequency scanning and cell measurement operations for SIM cards of the same operator. By sharing measurement results and cell selection outcomes, the system maintains comprehensive network coverage monitoring while significantly reducing the total power consumption associated with repeated radio frequency measurements and registration procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If each SIM card registers with its own residency cell, then individual card functionality is ensured, but system stability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual card functionalityVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the residency cell determination for multiple SIM cards of the same operator, ensuring they reside in the same cell. This approach maintains individual card functionality for network access while improving system stability by reducing measurement complexity, idle standby difficulties, and synchronization maintenance burdens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2640158B1Service operator determining method and residing method for multi-card mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2016.10.12 SPREADTRUM COMMUNICATION (SHANGHAI) CO LTD
  • EP2640158B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2640158B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2640158B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A service operator determining method and residing method for a multi-card mobile terminal. The residing method for a multi-card mobile terminal comprises: when a part of or all cards belong to the same service operator, enabling the cards that belong to the same service operator to reside in the same cell. In the embodiment of the present invention, through obtaining an IMSI corresponding to each card and extracting an HPLMN or an EHLMN corresponding to each card, it is quickly and correctly determined, according to the information stored in the card, whether multiple cards in the same mobile terminal belong to the same service operator. Hence, when the multiple cards belong to the same service operator, the mobile terminal enables the cards that belong to the same service operator to reside in the same cell during the start up, cell reselection or network recovery, thereby simplifying the implementation of measurement, idle standby mode, and synchronous measurement, making the system more stable, and optimizing the performance of the mobile terminal.