Multi-Subscription UE Connection via Shared Link

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems lack efficient methods for establishing connections between user equipment (UE) and base stations using multiple subscriptions via a common communication link, leading to increased latency and resource management complexities.

Innovation Solution

The system enables UE to establish multiple connections with a base station using multiple subscriptions via a shared communication link, where the first connection is established through a random access channel (RACH) procedure, and subsequent connections are established without performing RACH, reducing latency by sharing a common media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) while utilizing separate upper layers for each subscription.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple connections are established using separate communication links for each subscription, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and resource management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidresource management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple communication links into a single shared communication link for establishing connections with multiple subscriptions. The MAC layer and physical layer are shared between multiple subscriptions, while separate logical channels and upper layers are maintained. This reduces device complexity and resource management overhead while maintaining connection reliability through logical separation of subscription contexts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single communication link is designed to serve multiple subscriptions simultaneously through the shared MAC and physical layers. The MAC layer implements multi-subscription support by maintaining separate buffers and scheduling mechanisms for different subscriptions, enabling one communication link to perform multiple functions of serving different subscriptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If RACH procedure is performed for each connection establishment, then connection reliability is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment reliabilityVSAvoidconnection establishment latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The RACH procedure is performed only once for the first subscription to establish the initial connection and synchronize the communication link. Subsequent connections for additional subscriptions leverage this preliminary synchronization, eliminating the need to repeat the RACH procedure and reducing connection establishment latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the RACH procedure execution to a single instance for the first subscription, while subsequent subscriptions share the synchronized communication link. This merging approach maintains connection reliability through proper synchronization while significantly reducing the time required for establishing multiple connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate MAC and physical layers are used for each subscription, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubscription isolation reliabilityVSAvoidlayer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the MAC layer and physical layer into shared resources for multiple subscriptions. Instead of having separate MAC and physical layers for each subscription, a single MAC layer and physical layer are implemented that can handle multiple subscriptions through logical separation, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

While the MAC and physical layers are shared, the patent segments the upper layers and logical channels into separate instances for each subscription. This segmentation maintains subscription isolation and reliability at the logical level, while the physical sharing of lower layers reduces hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11882610B2Establishing connections using multiple subscriber identity modules via a single communication link

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure relate to establishing connections between a user equipment (UE) and a base station via a communication link using multiple subscriptions. In an aspect, a UE configured to communicate using a first subscription and a second subscription may establish a first connection with a base station via a communication link using the first subscription of the UE and may establish a second connection with the base station via the communication link using the second subscription of the UE. The UE may further perform a second connection with the base station via the communication link using the second subscription of the UE.