Multi-SIM Radio Resource Synchronization During Active Calls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-SIM wireless devices that share a radio resource face challenges in maintaining network synchronization and access to supplemental services when an active communication session occurs on one SIM, leading to out-of-service states and increased time for re-acquisition on the other SIM, resulting in reduced battery life and service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

The system detects active communication sessions on one SIM and calculates radio idle time periods to determine if they exceed a threshold, allowing the device to tune the shared radio resource to the frequency of the second SIM during idle times, receive and process signals, and maintain system information for seamless reconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a shared radio resource is used between multiple SIMs, then device cost and power consumption are reduced, but network synchronization and service availability are lost during active communication sessions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidservice availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting active communication sessions and calculating radio idle time periods in advance. Before the idle period begins, the system determines whether it will exceed a threshold duration and prepares to tune the radio resource to the second SIM's frequency, ensuring seamless synchronization without service interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches the shared radio resource between different SIMs based on real-time conditions. During active communication sessions, the radio remains allocated to the first SIM, but during calculated idle periods exceeding a threshold, the radio dynamically retunes to the second SIM's frequency to maintain synchronization, then switches back when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the radio resource is occupied during an active communication session, then call quality is maintained, but the device enters an out-of-service state on the other network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall qualityVSAvoidnetwork access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by calculating radio idle time periods during active communication sessions and retuning to the second network periodically during these idle windows. This allows the device to maintain call quality on the first network while periodically accessing the second network for synchronization and service updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The calculated radio idle time periods act as an intermediary mechanism that enables dual-network access. During these idle periods, the radio resource serves as a mediator that can switch between supporting the active call on the first network and maintaining synchronization with the second network, resolving the conflict between call quality and network accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If initial system and network acquisition steps are performed after an active session ends, then network reconnection is achieved, but additional time and radio resource usage are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork reconnectionVSAvoidre-acquisition time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary synchronization actions during calculated radio idle time periods before the active communication session ends. By retuning to the second SIM's frequency during these idle periods and performing necessary synchronization operations in advance, the device avoids the need for lengthy initial acquisition steps after the session ends, significantly reducing re-acquisition time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9204382B1Systems and methods for using a channel access scheme of a first network to synchronize with a second network during an active call on a multi-SIM device

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Embodiment methods and devices enable use of a shared radio resource on a multi-SIM wireless communication device to maintain session information on a service associated with one SIM during unused time slots of an active communication session associated with another SIM. During the session, a processor may calculate radio idle time periods in the active communication session, determine whether any of the radio idle time periods will exceed a predetermined threshold duration, and retune the shared radio resource to receive search samples on a frequency of the non-active network during radio idle time periods that exceed the predetermined threshold duration. Search samples may be stored for processing between radio idle time periods in order to maintain session information on a service associated with one SIM and provide service information to applications executing on the device during the active communication session.