Multiple Subscriber Identifier Sharing During Cellular Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cellular communication systems struggle to optimize network operations when terminal devices with multiple subscriber identities transition between cells, leading to inefficient resource management and increased signaling due to the network's unawareness of co-located subscription identities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where network nodes share and manage information on multiple subscriber identities during handover procedures, including transmitting unsolicited secondary subscriber identifiers, enabling improved resource allocation and reduced signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the network node transmits only the primary subscriber identifier during handover, then the signaling message size is minimized, but the network cannot optimize resource management for terminal devices with multiple subscriptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidsubscriber identity information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The subscriber identity information is segmented into primary and secondary identifiers. The primary subscriber identifier is transmitted in the basic handover message, while secondary subscriber identifiers are transmitted separately or included optionally, allowing the network to receive complete information without overwhelming the signaling channel with a single large message.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handover message structure is enhanced to be universal, capable of carrying both primary and secondary subscriber identifiers. This multi-functional message format allows the same handover procedure to serve both single-subscription and multi-subscription terminal devices, optimizing resource management across different device types without requiring separate procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the network node includes all subscriber identifiers in the handover message, then complete information is provided for resource optimization, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource management efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transmitting all possible subscriber identifiers in every handover message, the system uses partial action by including only the primary identifier by default and adding secondary identifiers only when necessary for multi-subscription optimization. This selective approach provides sufficient information for most cases while avoiding unnecessary signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The handover message parameters are made dynamic and configurable. The inclusion of secondary subscriber identifiers becomes an optional parameter that can be adjusted based on network conditions, terminal device capabilities, and subscription requirements, allowing flexibility in balancing information completeness against signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the network is unaware of co-located subscription identities, then the handover procedure remains simple, but resource allocation optimization is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover procedure simplicityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary action by identifying and reporting its multiple subscriber identities to the network before the handover procedure begins. This allows the network node to become aware of co-located subscriptions in advance, preparing optimized resource allocation strategies without complicating the actual handover execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal device provides information about its multi-subscription status to the network. This feedback loop enables the network to adapt its resource management and handover procedures to take advantage of the terminal's multiple identities, improving resource allocation while maintaining procedural simplicity through standardized feedback messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12445923B2Managing multiple subscriber identities in cellular network

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

This document discloses a solution for managing multiple subscriber identifiers in a network node. According to an aspect, a method for a first network node comprises: storing at least two subscriber identifiers; triggering a handover procedure for a first subscriber identifier of the at least two subscriber identifiers; and transmitting, during the handover procedure, a handover message to a second network node, the second network node managing a target cell for the handover procedure, wherein the handover message comprises at least a second subscriber identifier of the at least two subscriber identifiers.