Single-Radio Wireless Device Multi-SIM Service Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Single-radio wireless devices cannot simultaneously support active connections to multiple cellular wireless networks, limiting users' ability to access services from different SIMs or eSIMs concurrently without increasing hardware complexity or cost.

Innovation Solution

Implementing linked protocol data unit (PDU) sessions, multiplexed traffic with tunneling headers, and additional dedicated bearers to enable a single-radio wireless device to manage and route traffic from multiple SIMs/eSIMs, allowing parallel access to different cellular networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single-radio wireless device supports multiple SIMs/eSIMs simultaneously, then service accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data traffic into different types (voice, data, SMS) and routes them through different mechanisms (PDU sessions, multiplexed traffic, dedicated bearers) for different SIMs. This allows the single radio to handle multiple SIMs by dividing the processing workload and using different protocol paths, thereby improving service accessibility without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary mechanisms including linked PDU sessions, multiplexed traffic with tunneling headers, and dedicated bearers that act as mediators between the single radio and multiple SIMs. These intermediaries enable the radio to communicate with multiple SIMs simultaneously without requiring multiple physical radios, thus improving versatility while managing complexity through standardized protocol layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple active connections to multiple cellular networks are supported, then service accessibility is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple SIM connections through a single radio by using linked PDU sessions and multiplexed traffic mechanisms. Instead of maintaining separate active connections that would consume more power, the system combines traffic from multiple SIMs into shared protocol paths, enabling service accessibility from multiple networks while reducing overall power consumption compared to multiple simultaneous active connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the single radio can dynamically switch between serving different SIMs based on service requirements. Through mechanisms like dedicated bearers and PDU session management, the system can dynamically allocate radio resources to different SIMs without maintaining all connections in a fully active state simultaneously, thereby improving service accessibility while optimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If hardware complexity is increased to support multiple SIMs, then service accessibility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the single radio universal by enabling it to serve multiple SIMs/eSIMs through software-based mechanisms (PDU sessions, multiplexed traffic, dedicated bearers). This multi-functionality approach allows the same hardware to access multiple cellular networks without requiring multiple physical radios, thereby improving service accessibility while avoiding the increased manufacturing cost that would result from adding additional hardware components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adding multiple physical radios with a software-based protocol solution. By using linked PDU sessions, multiplexed traffic with tunneling headers, and dedicated bearers, the system achieves multi-SIM capability through software protocol management rather than additional hardware, thereby improving service accessibility while keeping manufacturing costs lower than a multi-radio approach would entail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3817418B1Methods and apparatus to support access to services for multiple subscriber identity modules

Publication Date: 2024.11.27 APPLE INC

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AI summary

Apparatus and methods to support parallel access to services of multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and/or electronic SIMs (eSIMs) by a wireless device are disclosed. The wireless device is a single-radio wireless device that includes wireless circuitry that supports an active voice or video connection via a single radio access network of a cellular wireless network at a time. To send or receive data for a second SIM/eSIM, when an active voice or video connection for a first SIM/eSIM uses the wireless circuitry, the single-radio wireless device can i) establish parallel, linked protocol data unit (PDU) sessions for different SIMs, ii) multiplex traffic for different SIMs over a common radio connection with SIM information embedded in protocol headers for routing by network equipment, and/or iii) use an additional dedicated bearer using a first, active SIM for each data network name (DNN) over which to route for a second, suspended SIM.