Patent Description:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications, and more particularly, to techniques for coordinating connection(s), for example, between a user equipment (UE) having multiple subscriber identification modules (SIMs) and one or more network entities (e.g., base stations (BSs)).

As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there exists a need for further improvements in NR and LTE technology. These improvements should be applicable to other multi-access technologies and the telecommunication standards that employ these technologies.

Some features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled "Detailed Description" one will understand how the features of this disclosure provide advantages that include improved performance of user equipments (UEs) operating with multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs).

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of this disclosure and the description may admit to other equally effective aspects.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for coordination between a user equipment (UE) and one or more network entities (e.g., base stations (BSs)) to allow necessary interruptions on a first link associated with a first subscriber identification module (SIM) of the UE in order to establish or use a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE. The techniques described herein may enable a UE with multiple SIMs to communicate on multiple links for multiple SIMs by establishing patterns of gaps that allow necessary interruptions on one link and/or reduced UE capability to receive on both links.

Advantageously, dynamically updating gap patterns, as proposed herein, allow a multi-SIM UE and/or network entity to adapt to changing needs of the different SIM links. For example, gap patterns may be adjusted based on relative traffic loading between multiple universal SIMs (USIMs).

The following description provides examples of techniques for optimizing an enhanced coordination of communication of a UE in a communication system, and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims.

As shown in <FIG>, the wireless communication network <NUM> may include a user equipment (UE) <NUM> that supports (or operates with) multiple subscriber identification module (SIMs) and is configured to perform operations <NUM> of <FIG>. Similarly, the wireless communication network <NUM> may include a base station (BS) <NUM> configured to perform operations <NUM> of <FIG> to assist a UE <NUM> performing operations <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, the UE <NUM> includes a Coordination Manager <NUM> and the BS <NUM> includes a Coordination Manager <NUM>. The Coordination Manager <NUM> and the Coordination Manager <NUM> may be configured to perform an enhanced coordination of communication, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wireless communication network <NUM> may include a number of BSs 110a-z (each also individually referred to herein as BS <NUM> or collectively as BSs <NUM>) and other network entities. A BS may be a station that communicates with UEs. Each BS <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area, sometimes referred to as a "cell". In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to a coverage area of a Node B (NB) and/or a Node B subsystem serving this coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used. In NR systems, the term "cell" and next generation NodeB (gNB), new radio (NR) BS, <NUM> NB, access point (AP), or transmission reception point (TRP) may be interchangeable.

Wireless communication network <NUM> may also include relay stations (e.g., relay station <NUM>10r), also referred to as relays or the like, that receive a transmission of data and/or other information from an upstream station (e.g., aBS <NUM> or a UE 120r) and sends a transmission of the data and/or other information to a downstream station (e.g., a UE <NUM> or a BS <NUM>), or that relays transmissions between UEs <NUM>, to facilitate communication between devices.

Certain wireless networks (e.g., LTE) utilize orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) on the downlink (DL) and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink (UL).

NR may utilize OFDM with a CP on the UL and DL and include support for half-duplex operation using TDD.

In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled, wherein a scheduling entity (e.g., a BS) allocates resources for communication among some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell. BSs are not the only entities that may function as a scheduling entity.

In <FIG>, a solid line with double arrows indicates desired transmissions between a UE and a serving BS, which is a BS designated to serve the UE on the DL and/or UL.

<FIG> illustrates example components of BS <NUM> and UE <NUM> (e.g., in the wireless communications network <NUM> of <FIG>), which may be used to implement aspects of the present disclosure. For example, antennas <NUM>, processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or controller/processor <NUM>, which includes Coordination Manager <NUM>, of the UE <NUM> and/or antennas <NUM>, processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or controller/processor <NUM>, which includes Coordination Manager <NUM>, of the BS <NUM> may be used to perform the various techniques and methods described herein.

The transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols, such as for the primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and cell-specific reference signal (CRS). A transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor <NUM> may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, the control symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbol streams to the modulators (MODs) 232a-232t in transceivers. Each modulator may further process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a DL signal. DL signals from modulators 232a-232t may be transmitted via the antennas 234a-234t, respectively.

At the UE <NUM>, the antennas 252a-252r may receive the DL signals from the BS <NUM> and may provide received signals to the demodulators (DEMODs) in transceivers 254a-254r, respectively. Each demodulator may condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a respective received signal to obtain input samples. A MIMO detector <NUM> may obtain received symbols from all the demodulators in transceivers 254a-254r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols.

On the UL, at UE <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive and process data (e.g., for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) from a data source <NUM> and control information (e.g., for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) from the controller/processor <NUM>. The symbols from the transmit processor <NUM> may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor <NUM> if applicable, further processed by the demodulators in transceivers 254a-254r (e.g., for SC-FDM, etc.), and transmitted to the BS <NUM>. At the BS <NUM>, the UL signals from the UE <NUM> may be received by the antennas <NUM>, processed by the modulators <NUM>, detected by a MIMO detector <NUM> if applicable, and further processed by a receive processor <NUM> to obtain decoded data and control information sent by the UE <NUM>.

A scheduler <NUM> may schedule UEs for data transmission on the DL and/or UL.

The controller/processor <NUM> and/or other processors and modules at the UE <NUM> may perform or direct the execution of processes for the techniques described herein. For example, the controller/processor <NUM> of the UE <NUM> may be configured to perform operations <NUM> of <FIG>. Similarly, the controller/processor <NUM> and/or other processors and modules at the BS <NUM> may perform or direct the execution of processes for the techniques described herein. For example, the controller/processor <NUM> of the BS <NUM> may be configured to perform operations <NUM> of <FIG>.

A scheduling entity (e.g., a BS <NUM>) allocates resources for communication among some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell. BSs <NUM> are not the only entities that may function as a scheduling entity. In some examples, a UE <NUM> may function as a scheduling entity and may schedule resources for one or more subordinate entities (e.g., one or more other UEs <NUM>), and the other UEs <NUM> may utilize the resources scheduled by the UE <NUM> for wireless communication. In some examples, a UE <NUM> may function as a scheduling entity in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, and/or in a mesh network. In a mesh network example, UEs <NUM> may communicate directly with one another in addition to communicating with a scheduling entity.

In some examples, the communication between the UEs <NUM> and BSs <NUM> is referred to as the access link. The access link may be provided via a Uu interface. Communication between devices may be referred as the sidelink.

In some examples, two or more subordinate entities (e.g., UEs <NUM>) may communicate with each other using sidelink signals. Generally, a sidelink signal may refer to a signal communicated from one subordinate entity (e.g., UE <NUM>) to another subordinate entity (e.g., another UE <NUM>) without relaying that communication through the scheduling entity (e.g., UE <NUM> or BS <NUM>), even though the scheduling entity may be utilized for scheduling and/or control purposes. One example of sidelink communication is PC5, for example, as used in V2V, LTE, and/or NR.

Various sidelink channels may be used for sidelink communications, including a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH). The PSDCH may carry discovery expressions that enable proximal devices to discover each other. The PSCCH may carry control signaling such as sidelink resource configurations, resource reservations, and other parameters used for data transmissions, and the PSSCH may carry the data transmissions. The PSFCH may carry feedback such as channel state information (CSI) related to a sidelink channel quality. In some systems (e.g., NR Release <NUM>), a two stage SCI may be supported. Two stage SCI may include a first stage SCI (SCI-<NUM>) and a second stage SCI (e.g., SCI-<NUM>). SCI-<NUM> may include resource reservation and allocation information, information that can be used to decode SCI-<NUM>, etc. SCI-<NUM> may include information that can be used to decode data and to determine whether the UE is an intended recipient of the transmission. SCI-<NUM> and/or SCI-<NUM> may be transmitted over PSCCH.

New Radio (NR) concurrent radio-access technology (RAT) operation generally refers to operating multiple simultaneous active connections with at least one connection being on NR. For example, the two connections may involve Long Term Evolution (LTE) and NR connections, or both NR connections. Multi subscriber identification module (multi-SIM) devices are able to connect to multiple networks independently without network awareness. Different user equipment (UE) behaviors may occur based on different implementations like dual-SIM dual active (DSDA) or dual-SIM dual standby (DSDS). DSDS generally refers to a dual-SIM deployment where two SIM cards of the UE may not be able to simultaneously generate traffic. DSDA on the other hand refers to a dual-SIM deployment where both SIM cards of the UE may be active at the same time. As used herein, a SIM generally refers to both virtual and hardware implementations of a SIM. In other words, each SIM may be implemented using hardware (e.g., a physical SIM card) on the multi-SIM device, or implemented virtually using a remote database.

Dual SIM (DSM) receivers allow the different SIMs to support a variety of different combination options. For example, DSIM devices could support the following:.

In some cases, in a multi-SIM deployment, each SIM of the UE can belong to the same network carrier. For example, two or more SIMs (also referred to herein as subscribers or SUBs) belonging to the same operator can be in the following modes:.

In conventional multi-SIM deployments, in scenarios where the UE is performing a low priority activity via a first SIM and another high priority activity is triggered on the same or different SIM of the UE, the high priority activity may be delayed, significantly impacting the performance of the UE. For example, assume an out of service indication is triggered on a SIM while another (or same) SIM is performing a closed subscriber group (CSG) autonomous search function. In this example, the recovery from the out of service may be delayed due to the CSG autonomous search, which may involve performing measurements for multiple CSG cells, performing a full band scan to obtain a given CSG cell, etc. These measurements and band scans may utilize radio frequency (RF) resources of the UE, causing tune aways and increasing the delay time for out of service recovery on the SIM in which the out of service indication is triggered on.

In some examples, in scenarios where a packet switch (PS) call/throughput is triggered on a SIM while another (or same) SIM is performing a CSG autonomous search function, the triggered SIM may experience throughput degradation due to the CSG autonomous search function. In some examples, in scenarios where a SIM is not running throughput but the network sends measurement to the SIM for NR addition while another (or same) SIM is performing CSG autonomous search function, there may be a delay in NR measurements, additions/deletions/configurations, etc., in the triggered SIM, due to tune aways triggered from the CSG autonomous search function. In some examples, in scenarios where a network is running a timer for a given NR configuration on a SIM and there is a delay on that configuration, the network may delete NR object(s) and deactivate NR from that SIM.

Aspects of the present disclosure present techniques to dynamically change gap patterns allowing necessary interruptions on a first link associated with a first subscriber identification module (SIM) of a user equipment (UE) in order to establish or use a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE. The techniques may allow the UE and/or a network entity to adapt the gap patterns to changing scenarios, such as changing traffic patterns and link quality.

As described above, in concurrent radio access technology(C-RAT) and multi-SIM scenarios, a UE may not have the capability to receive data or signaling simultaneously on both access links. This may happen, for example, when a UE has only a single receive chain. Accordingly, when a UE is capable of receiving on both links simultaneously, it may not use full capability on each link due to the sharing of receive elements.

<FIG> illustrates an example multi-SIM deployment for a UE, in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be practiced. As shown in <FIG>, multiple universal SIMs (here, USIM A and USIM B) may share common radio resources. While in a connected mode in RANI with USIM A, the UE may need to suspend operation in RANI to be able to monitor (and respond to) paging of USIM B in RAN2. However, without coordination with the network, when suspending operation in RAN1 to monitor paging in RAN2, the UE may miss some packets transmitted by the network to the UE during this time.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a solution that allows for coordination between a UE and a network entities (e.g., base station(s) (BS(s))) to establish patterns of gaps that may allow for necessary interruptions on one link and/or reduced UE capability to allow the UE to receive on both links. The techniques may generally apply to coordinate communications on any type of multiple links.

<FIG> illustrates another example multi-SIM deployment for a UE, in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be practiced. As illustrated in <FIG>, multiple links of a UE may be of different radio access technologies (RATs) and/or BSs, and the techniques may also apply to coordinate gaps for multiple links to the same BS (e.g., when two USIMs are from the same operator).

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating example operations <NUM> for wireless communication by a UE, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The operations <NUM> may be performed, for example, by UE <NUM> of <FIG> or <FIG> equipped with multiple SIMs (e.g., USIM A and USIM B as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>).

The operations <NUM> may be implemented as software components that are executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM> of <FIG>). Further, the transmission and reception of signals by the UE in operations <NUM> may be enabled, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., antennas <NUM> of <FIG>). In certain aspects, the transmission and/or reception of signals by the UE may be implemented via a bus interface of one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM> of <FIG>) obtaining and/or outputting signals.

Operations <NUM> begin, at block <NUM>, by a UE establishing a first link with a network entity, such as the BS(s) shown in <FIG>, which may be of any RAT. The first link is associated with a first SIM of the UE. For example the first SIM may be USIM A as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, the UE coordinates with the network entity to establish at least one pattern of gaps to interrupt communications on the first link, to allow for communications on a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE. For example, the second SIM may be USIM B as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, the UE dynamically changes the at least one pattern of gaps. For example, the UE may request or suggest a new pattern of gaps (different from the established pattern of gaps) to the network entity.

At block <NUM>, the UE communicates with the network entity on the first and the second links in accordance with the dynamically changed at least one pattern of gaps. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the UE may "leave" one USIM (e.g., USIM A) in order to monitor for/respond to a page for the other USIM (e.g., USIM B).

<FIG> illustrates example operations <NUM> for wireless communication by a network entity and may be considered complementary to operations <NUM> of <FIG>. The operations <NUM> may be performed, for example, by a BS (e.g., a gNB, eNB, or of any generation) to coordinate gap patterns with a multi-SIM UE (performing operations <NUM> of <FIG>).

The operations <NUM> may be implemented as software components that are executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM> of <FIG>). Further, the transmission and reception of signals by the network entity in operations <NUM> may be enabled, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., antennas <NUM> of <FIG>). In certain aspects, the transmission and/or reception of signals by the network entity may be implemented via a bus interface of one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) obtaining and/or outputting signals.

Operations <NUM> begin, at <NUM>, by a network entity establishing a first link with a UE. The first link is associated with a first SIM of the UE, such as USIM A as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the network entity coordinates with the UE to establish at least one pattern of gaps to interrupt communications on the first link, to allow for the UE to communicate on a second link. The second link is associated with a second SIM of the UE, such as USIM B as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the network entity dynamically changes the at least one pattern of gaps. For example, the change of the pattern of gaps may be in response to requests from the UE, or, in other implementations, according to suggestions or schemes previously provided by the UE (such as during the initial coordination).

At <NUM>, the network entity communicates with the UE on at least the first link in accordance with the dynamically changed at least one pattern of gaps. In some cases, the network entity communicates with the UE on both the first link associated with the first SIM and on the second link associated with the second SIM.

Operations <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> may be understood with reference to <FIG>, which illustrates the example coordination of gap patterns as described herein. In other words, the dual-SIM UE of <FIG> may perform operations <NUM>, while one of the gNBs of <FIG> may perform operations <NUM>.

<FIG> is a call flow diagram illustrating an approach for dynamically changing patterns of gaps for communication on a second link, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, at <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, the UE may establish a first link, Link <NUM> (e.g., for USIM A), and a second link, Link <NUM> (e.g., with USIM B), with one or more gNBs (which may be of the same or different RATs). While <FIG> depicts a UE establishing Link <NUM> and Link <NUM> with one or more BSs or gNBs, in other implementations, the UE may establish Link <NUM> and Link <NUM> with a same BS.

The UE may then coordinate with the gNB(s) to establish gap pattern(s). As illustrated, in some cases, at <NUM>, the UE may suggest one or more gap pattern(s) to the gNB (allowing for communications on the second link). In some cases, the UE may inform the gNB(s) of a need to use a second link, as an alternative or in addition to, explicitly suggesting gap patterns. At <NUM>, the gNB(s) may configure the UE with one or more gap patterns. For example, the gNB(s) may configure the UE (via radio resource control (RRC) signaling) with one or more gap patterns determined based, at least in part, on the UE's suggestion (and/or the configured gap patterns may be determined based on other factors).

The gap patterns (in some cases, suggested or requested by the UE), or at least one pattern of gaps, may be periodic, aperiodic, or semi-persistent. Where a UE suggests gap patterns that are aperiodic, the UE may intend for (e.g., need) such gap patterns to apply once (e.g., and subsequently revert back to a previous gap pattern).

In some cases, the gap patterns may be defined (and, in some cases, requested by the UE) at a slot or mini-slot granularity. In some other cases, the one or more suggested (or requested) gap patterns may include slots or mini-slots for each of the first and the second SIMs. For example, when a UE does not have a preference for the first or the second SIM for the suggested gap patterns, the gap patterns may include slots or mini-slots for each of the first and the second SIMs. In some other cases, the suggested (or requested) gap patterns may include one or more gaps preferred for a downlink (DL), or one or more gaps preferred for an uplink (UL), such as at each time granularity (e.g., for time division duplex (TDD) cases).

The UE further suggests a minimum amount of time duration to be served on each link in a given period or a maximum latency for each period. In such cases, the UE may also request a maximum latency for each time period from the gNB.

In some cases, the UE may suggest one or more patterns of gaps based, at least in part, on predicted traffic patterns of the first SIM and/or second SIM. In some cases, the UE may suggest one or more patterns of gaps based, at least in part, on observed traffic patterns for the first SIM and/or second SIM. In some cases, the UE may suggest one or more patterns of gaps based, at least in part, on quality of service (QoS) requirements of traffic for the first SIM and/or second SIM.

As noted above, the gNB(s) may determine the gap patterns (e.g., based on a UE's request or suggestion) and signal the gap patterns to the UE (e.g., via RRC signaling). In some cases, gap configurations (patterns) may be identified by an index. In other cases, the gap pattern configuration may take into account at least one of: (<NUM>) reference signal transmissions on at least one of the first or second link or (<NUM>) feedback transmissions on at least one of the first or second link. For example, the reference signal may be a sounding reference signal (SRS) or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS). The feedback transmissions may include the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmissions.

In some cases, the gap pattern configured by the gNB(s) may include a first set of gaps dedicated for each of the first and the second SIMs and a second set of flexible gaps. Flexible gaps are gaps that may be used by either the first or the second SIMs for communication. If a collision of potential communications on the first and the second SIMs occurs on a flexible gap, the UE may decide which of the first or the second SIMs to communicate with during the flexible gap. For example, based on protocol data unit (PDU) priority, the UE may inform a collision to a working link (such as Link <NUM>) via physical (PHY) or medium access control (MAC) signaling. The UE may reschedule or retransmit the colliding communication of the other SIM. For example, when Link <NUM> is for a dynamic or configured grant, Link <NUM> may reschedule or retransmit the PDU. In other instances, when the transmission is a configured grant, the UE may reschedule or retransmit on its own.

In some cases, the UE may perform the gap configuration in one preferred link first and subsequently perform the gap configuration on the other link based, at least in part, on the configuration received from the first configured link. For example, once a gap pattern for the preferred link has been established, remaining gaps may be used for the other link.

In some cases, the UE may dynamically change the gap patterns by requesting a change to the gNB using RRC signaling with an explicit indication of the requested change. Alternatively, in some other cases, the UE may dynamically change the gap patterns by requesting a change to the gNB using MAC or PHY signaling indicating an index of a requested pattern.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in some cases, at <NUM>, the UE dynamically changes the gap pattern(s) by requesting activation or deactivation of one or more of the gap patterns. At <NUM>, the gNB signals the UE activation/deactivation of one or more of the gap patterns (e.g., either in response to the UE's request or separately). The gNB may use RRC, MAC, or PHY signaling to activate or deactivate the gap pattern(s). Similarly, the UE may request activation/deactivation via RRC, MAC, or PHY signaling.

In some cases, dynamically changing the gap pattern may be based, at least in part, on a UE requesting an aperiodic gap via at least one of MAC or PHY signaling indicating at least one of a duration of a requested gap or an expected return time. In other instances, dynamically changing the gap pattern may be based, at least in part, on a UE informing a gNB, via at least one of the MAC or PHY signaling, when a transmission returns early from one link. This may apply to both aperiodic and periodic gap patterns.

In some cases, the techniques described herein may apply to a master cell group (MCG) and a secondary cell group (SCG), either together or separately, when a UE is in a Dual Connectivity (DC) mode. For example, the links may be established (and gap patterns coordinated with) with at least one of Link <NUM> or Link <NUM> established with a master node (MN). In some cases, at least one of Link <NUM> and Link <NUM> may be established with a secondary node (SN). In some implementations, for a master cell group (MCG), a UE may communicate and coordinate with the MN via one of Link <NUM> or Link <NUM>. For a secondary cell group (SCG), the UE may send requests to the MN that then coordinates with the SN before the SN responds to the UE. Alternatively, the UE may communicate and coordinate with the SN directly.

<FIG> illustrates a communications device <NUM> that includes various components operable, configured, or adapted to perform operations for the techniques disclosed herein, such as the operations illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. In some examples, communications device <NUM> may be a user equipment (UE), such as UE <NUM> described with respect to <FIG> and <FIG> and equipped with multiple subscriber identification modules (SIMs) (e.g., universal SIM (USIM) A and USIM B as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>).

Communications device <NUM> includes a processing system <NUM> coupled to a transceiver <NUM>.

Processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> via a bus <NUM>. In certain aspects, the computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> is configured to store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform the operations illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, or other operations for performing the various techniques discussed herein.

In certain aspects, computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> stores code <NUM> for establishing; code <NUM> for coordinating; code <NUM> for dynamically changing; and code <NUM> for communicating.

In some cases, code <NUM> for establishing may include code for establishing a first link with a network entity, the first link associated with a first SIM of the UE. In some cases, code <NUM> for coordinating may include code for coordinating with the network entity to establish at least one pattern of gaps to interrupt communications on the first link to allow for communications on a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE. In some cases, code <NUM> for dynamically changing may include code for dynamically changing the at least one pattern of gaps. In some cases, code <NUM> for communicating may include code for communicating on the first and second links, in accordance with the dynamically changed at least one pattern of gaps.

In certain aspects, the processor <NUM> has circuitry configured to implement the code stored in the computer-readable medium/memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> includes circuitry <NUM> for establishing; circuitry <NUM> for coordinating; circuitry <NUM> for dynamically changing; and circuitry <NUM> for communicating.

In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for establishing may include circuitry for establishing a first link with a network entity, the first link associated with a first SIM of the UE. In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for coordinating may include circuitry for coordinating with the network entity to establish at least one pattern of gaps to interrupt communications on the first link to allow for communications on a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE. In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for dynamically changing may include circuitry for dynamically changing the at least one pattern of gaps. In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for communicating may include circuitry for communicating on the first and second links, in accordance with the dynamically changed at least one pattern of gaps.

In some cases, the operations illustrated in <FIG>, as well as other operations described herein, may be implemented by one or more means-plus-function components. For example, in some cases, such operations may be implemented by means for determining and means for providing.

In some cases, means for establishing, means for coordinating, means for dynamically changing, and means for communicating, includes a processing system, which may include one or more processors, such as the receive processor <NUM>, the transmit processor <NUM>, the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> of the UE <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the communication device <NUM> in <FIG>.

The transceiver <NUM> may provide a means for receiving or transmitting information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information related to SR, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the communications device <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> may correspond to a single antenna or a set of antennas. The transceiver <NUM> may provide means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the communications device <NUM>.

Means for receiving or means for obtaining may include a receiver (such as the receive processor <NUM>) or antenna(s) <NUM> of the UE <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Means for transmitting or means for outputting may include a transmitter (such as the transmit processor <NUM>) or antenna(s) <NUM> of the UE <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

Notably, <FIG> is just use one example, and many other examples and configurations of communications device <NUM> are possible.

<FIG> illustrates a communications device <NUM> that includes various components operable, configured, or adapted to perform operations for the techniques disclosed herein, such as the operations illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. In some examples, communications device <NUM> may be a base station (BS) (e.g., gNB), such as BS <NUM> described with respect to <FIG> and <FIG>.

In some cases, code <NUM> for establishing may include code for establishing a first link with a UE, the first link associated with a first subscriber identification module (SIM) of the UE. In some cases, code <NUM> for coordinating may include code for coordinating with the UE to establish at least one pattern of gaps to interrupt communications on the first link to allow for the UE to communicate on a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE. In some cases, code <NUM> for dynamically changing may include code for dynamically changing the at least one pattern of gaps. In some cases, code <NUM> for communicating may include code for communicating with the UE on at least the first link, in accordance with the dynamically changed at least one pattern of gaps.

In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for establishing may include circuitry for establishing a first link with a UE, the first link associated with a first subscriber identification module (SIM) of the UE. In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for coordinating may include circuitry for coordinating with the UE to establish at least one pattern of gaps to interrupt communications on the first link to allow for the UE to communicate on a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE. In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for dynamically changing may include circuitry for dynamically changing the at least one pattern of gaps. In some cases, circuitry <NUM> for communicating may include circuitry for communicating with the UE on at least the first link, in accordance with the dynamically changed at least one pattern of gaps.

In some cases, means for establishing, means for coordinating, means for dynamically changing, and means for communicating, includes a processing system, which may include one or more processors, such as the receive processor <NUM>, the transmit processor <NUM>, the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> of the BS <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the communication device <NUM> in <FIG>.

Means for receiving or means for obtaining may include a receiver (such as the receive processor <NUM>) or antenna(s) <NUM> of the BS <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Means for transmitting or means for outputting may include a transmitter (such as the transmit processor <NUM>) or antenna(s) <NUM> of the BS <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

For example, processors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, and/or controller/processor <NUM> of the UE 120a and/or processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or controller/processor <NUM> of the BS 110a shown in <FIG> may be configured to perform operations <NUM> of <FIG> and/or operations <NUM> of <FIG>.

Means for receiving may include a transceiver, a receiver or at least one antenna and at least one receive processor illustrated in <FIG>. Means for transmitting, means for sending or means for outputting may include, a transceiver, a transmitter or at least one antenna and at least one transmit processor illustrated in <FIG>. Means for including, means for providing, means for determining, means for staying, means for blocking, and means for initiating may include a processing system, which may include one or more processors, such as processors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, and/or controller/processor <NUM> of the UE <NUM> and/or processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or controller/processor <NUM> of the BS <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In some cases, rather than actually transmitting a frame a device may have an interface to output a frame for transmission (a means for outputting). For example, a processor may output a frame, via a bus interface, to a radio frequency (RF) front end for transmission. Similarly, rather than actually receiving a frame, a device may have an interface to obtain a frame received from another device (a means for obtaining). For example, a processor may obtain (or receive) a frame, via a bus interface, from an RF front end for reception.

In the case of a user terminal, a user interface (e.g., keypad, display, mouse, joystick, etc.) may also be connected to the bus.

For example, such a computer program product may comprise a computer-readable medium having instructions stored (and/or encoded) thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform the operations described herein, for example, instructions for performing the operations described herein and illustrated in <FIG> and/or <FIG>.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for wireless communication by a user equipment, UE, comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory including instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
establish a first link with a network entity, the first link associated with a first subscriber identification module, SIM, of the UE (<NUM>);
coordinate with the network entity to establish at least one pattern of gaps to interrupt communications on the first link to allow for communications on a second link associated with a second SIM of the UE (<NUM>);
dynamically change the at least one pattern of gaps (<NUM>); and
communicate on the first and second links, in accordance with the dynamically changed at least one pattern of gaps (<NUM>),
wherein in order to coordinate, the memory further includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to at least one of:
inform the network entity of the need for gaps to use the second link;
or suggest one or more patterns of gaps to use the second link;
and wherein the apparatus is characterized by the at least one processor causing the UE to suggest at least one of:
a minimum amount of time duration to be served on each link in a given period; or
a maximum latency for each period.