Quad SIM Mobile Device RF Chain Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Quad SIM mobile devices consume excessive power due to the need for multiple RF chains, leading to reduced performance, as they must switch between SIM cards using different communication protocols, resulting in high overhead costs and power dissipation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where SIM cards using similar communication protocols are grouped on the same RF chain, allowing for slotted idle states to maintain multiple subscriptions active while reducing unnecessary switching and overhead costs, and dynamically switching subscriptions between RF chains based on traffic states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If quad SIM devices use two RF chains to support four SIM cards, then the number of transceivers is reduced to save power, but one SIM card must enter out-of-service state when another enters dedicated traffic state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the four SIM cards into two groups, with each group assigned to a separate RF chain. This allows two SIMs to be actively served on RF chain 1 while another two SIMs are served on RF chain 2, enabling parallel operation without mutual interference. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing multiple subscriptions to remain available simultaneously while using only two RF chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a time-slot dimension by implementing slotted idle states where SIMs can monitor paging channels at different time intervals. This temporal dimension allows SIMs to share RF chains without conflicting, as they access the network at different time slots rather than simultaneously, thereby maintaining subscription availability while reducing the number of required RF chains.
2Device complexity
If dual SIM devices share a common RF chain, then the number of transceivers is reduced to one, but power consumption increases compared to single SIM devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic slotted idle states where SIMs monitor paging channels at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action allows the RF chain to enter low-power states between monitoring intervals, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining dual SIM functionality with a single shared RF chain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If SIM cards use different communication protocols, then protocol diversity is achieved, but switching overhead and power dissipation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol translation layer or intermediary mechanism that enables SIMs using different communication protocols to operate on the same RF chain without direct conflict. This intermediary handles protocol conversion and coordination, allowing protocol diversity while minimizing switching overhead and power dissipation by managing protocol transitions efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and devices are provided for managing quad SIM functionality on a mobile device. The method includes maintaining a first subscription and a second subscription active in slotted idle states on a first RF chain on the mobile device. The first subscription being associated with a first SIM and the second subscription being associated with a second SIM. The method also includes maintaining a third subscription and a fourth subscription active in slotted idle states on a second RF chain on the mobile device. The third subscription being associated with a third SIM and the fourth subscription being associated with a fourth SIM. In the slotted idle states the first, second, third and fourth subscriptions are able to monitor pages in respective paging channel slots. Further, the method includes switching the third subscription to the first RF chain in response to the fourth subscription entering a dedicated traffic state.