MUSIM Subscriber Identity Sharing for Efficient Bearer Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cellular communication systems struggle to optimize procedures when terminal devices with multiple subscriber identities (MUSIM) due to network nodes being unaware of the co-located identities, leading to inefficient signaling and suboptimal performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where mobility management nodes and network nodes share and store multiple subscriber identifiers during bearer setup, enabling coordinated handling of these identities through messages that include additional identifiers and equipment mappings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If network nodes operate independently without sharing subscriber identifier information, then each node can process its own subscriber identifiers, but the network cannot optimize procedures for terminal devices with multiple subscriber identities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural efficiencyVSAvoidunawareness of co-located identities

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges information from multiple network nodes by collecting subscriber identifiers from different nodes and making them available to all nodes through a shared data structure. This allows the network to recognize terminal devices with multiple subscriber identities and optimize procedures accordingly, resolving the contradiction between independent node operation and collective optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the collection and storage of subscriber identifier information by maintaining separate lists for each network node's identifiers while providing a unified view through the mobility management node. This segmentation approach allows efficient information management while enabling cross-node optimization for MUSIM devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If network nodes transmit and process additional subscriber identifier information, then optimization for MUSIM devices becomes possible, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptimization capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by collecting and storing subscriber identifier information in advance during initial network procedures. The mobility management node maintains ready-to-use lists of subscriber identifiers associated with each network node, so that when MUSIM optimization is needed, the information is already available without requiring additional signaling exchanges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing network nodes to autonomously determine whether a terminal device has multiple subscriber identities based on the shared information, and to independently optimize their procedures accordingly. This reduces the need for centralized control and additional signaling for each optimization decision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system implements comprehensive sharing of multiple subscriber identifiers across all network nodes, then procedural optimization is enabled, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMUSIM capability recognitionVSAvoidinformation sharing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the mobility management node as an intermediary that collects subscriber identifier information from various network nodes and distributes it appropriately. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the information management function, avoiding the complexity of direct peer-to-peer information sharing between all network nodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal data structure at the mobility management node that can store and manage subscriber identifiers for multiple network nodes in a unified manner. This multi-functional approach allows the same mechanism to serve different network nodes and handle various subscriber identifier scenarios without requiring node-specific implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12587828B2Managing multiple subscriber identities in cellular network

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

This document discloses a solution for sharing information on subscriber identifiers in a network. According to an aspect, a method comprises: storing, in a mobility management node, at least two subscriber identifiers; and transmitting, by the mobility management node to a target network node during setup of a bearer for a first subscriber identifier of the at least two subscriber identifiers, a message comprising at least a second subscriber identifier of the at least two subscriber identifiers.