Methods for improving performance and reducing power consumption in a dsds device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018124868-A1
Application number	US-201715789396-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	May 3, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for improving performance and reducing power consumption in a dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual standby (DSDS) device. According to one example embodiment, the DSDS device enhances the usage of a single RF resource to be shared between a first SIM and a second SIM of the DSDS device based on one or more entry and exit conditions. The DSDS device allows the first SIM to use the RF resource for a data session while it restricts the second SIM from performing neighbor cell measurements when entry conditions are met. By restricting the neighbour cell measurement operations on the second SIM, the DSDS device enables the first SIM to use the RF resource for an extended time thereby improving data rates in the DSDS device. Further, the DSDS device allows the second SIM to perform neighbor cell measurements when the exit conditions are met.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating by a dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual standby (DSDS) device including a first SIM and a second SIM, the method comprising:
determining whether one or more entry conditions for restricting a use of the second SIM used to perform neighbour cell search and measurement operations are detected when the first SIM is used to perform data communication; imposing restrictions on the use of the second SIM in response to detecting the one or more entry conditions; determining whether one or more exit conditions to remove the restrictions on the use of the second SIM are detected; and removing the restrictions on the use of the second SIM in response to detecting the one or more exit conditions; wherein while the restrictions are imposed on the use of the second SIM, the first SIM is used to the data communication using a radio frequency (RF) resource that is shared for the first SIM and the second SIM.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more entry conditions for restricting the use of the second SIM include at least one of:
a first condition that the first SIM is used in a connected mode to perform data transfer operations; a second condition that the first SIM is used in a connected mode while a data transfer speed is above a first threshold value; a third condition that the second SIM is used while a signal strength of a serving cell greater than a second threshold value; and a fourth condition that the first SIM includes information configured by a network with measurement including a network identity associated with the first SIM or the second SIM.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the imposing of restrictions on the use of the second SIM comprising:
imposing the restrictions on the use of the second SIM in response to detecting a signal strength of a serving cell associated with the second SIM is greater than a threshold value and an additional RF resource is required to perform a data transfer associated with the first SIM.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more exit conditions to remove the restrictions on the use of the second SIM include at least one of:
a first condition that an idle mode is entered after completing a data transfer operation using the first SIM; a second condition that a data transfer speed is below a first threshold value in a connected mode using the first SIM; a third condition that a signal strength of a serving cell associated with the second SIM is less than a second threshold value; a fourth condition that a serving cell measurement event is triggered on the first SIM for a network or cell measurement identities (IDs) added by the network in a measurement configuration; a fifth condition that a change in a cell ID occurring due to a handover or redirection operation associated with the first SIM; and a sixth condition that a threshold time being exceeded by a duration during which the restrictions are imposed on the use of the second SIM.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first SIM and the second SIM are configured to operate on at least one of:
a global system for mobile communication (GSM) network, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network, a long term evolution (LTE) network, and an LTE-advanced (4G) network.

6 . A dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual standby (DSDS) device, the DSDS device comprising:
a memory; a first SIM configured to store information for availing first services from a first network; a second SIM configured to store information for availing second services from a second network; and a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the first SIM and the second SIM, and the controller configured to: determine whether one or more entry conditions for restricting a use of the second SIM used to perform neighbour cell search and measurement operations are detected when the first SIM is used to perform data communication related to the first network; impose restrictions on the use of the second SIM in response to detecting the one or more entry conditions; determine whether one or more exit conditions to remove the restrictions on the use of the second SIM are detected; and remove the restrictions on the use of the second SIM in response to detecting the one or more exit conditions; wherein while the restrictions are imposed on the use of the second SIM, the first SIM is used to the data communication using a radio frequency (RF) resource that is shared for the first SIM and the second SIM.

7 . The DSDS device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more entry conditions for restricting the use of the second SIM include at least one of:
a first condition that the first SIM is used in a connected mode to perform data transfer operations; a second condition that the first SIM is used in a connected mode while a data transfer speed is above a first threshold value; a third condition that the second SIM is used while a signal strength of a serving cell greater than a second threshold value; and a fourth condition that the first SIM includes information configured by a network with measurement including a network identity associated with the first SIM or the second SIM.

8 . The DSDS device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more exit conditions to remove the restrictions on the use of the second SIM include at least one of:
a first condition that an idle mode is entered after completing a data transfer operation using the first SIM; a second condition that a data transfer speed is below a first threshold value in a connected mode using the first SIM; a third condition that a signal strength of a serving cell associated with the second SIM is less than a second threshold value; a fourth condition that a serving cell measurement event is triggered on the first SIM for a network or cell measurement identities (IDs) added by the network in a measurement configuration; a fifth condition that a change in cell ID occurring due to a handover or redirection operation associated with the first SIM; and a sixth condition that a threshold time being exceeded by a duration during which the restrictions are imposed on the neighbour cell search and measurement operations of the second SIM.

9 . A method for operating by a dual subscriber identification module (SIM) dual standby (DSDS) device including a first SIM and a second SIM, the method comprising:
detecting whether a signal strength of a serving cell associated with the second SIM is greater than a threshold value when the first SIM is used to perform data communication with a first network; imposing restrictions on a use of the second SIM used to perform neighbour cell search and measurement operations in response to detecting the signal strength of the serving cell is greater than the threshold value; detecting whether the first SIM is in an idle state; removing the restrictions on the use of the second SIM in response to detecting the first SIM is in the idle state; and wherein while the restrictions are imposed on the use of the second SIM, the first SIM is used to the data communication using a radio frequency (RF) resource that is shared for the first SIM and the second SIM.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
performing a non-idle measurement check to determine whether first measurement results related to first cell measurement operation are available for the first SIM, in response to detecting the first SIM is not in the idle state.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining whether a measurement identity (ID) related to the first cell measurement operation is configured for one of th

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Gupta Ashish Kumar
• Thiruvenkatachari Balaji Srinivasan
• KHACHANE Swapnil Vinod

Classifications

• H04W8/183 Primary

  Processing at user equipment or user record carrier · CPC title

• H04W52/0245

  according to signal strength · CPC title

• H04W52/0232

  according to average transmission signal activity · CPC title

• H04W88/06 Primary

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W36/36

  by user or terminal equipment · CPC title