WO2025168239A1

WO2025168239A1 - Integrated paging for m-sim

Info

Publication number: WO2025168239A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/083749
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brajesh Soni
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2024-02-08
Filing date: 2024-11-27
Publication date: 2025-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-08

Abstract

A method comprising: at a first apparatus, transmit, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and receive, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

Description

INTEGRATED PAGING FOR M-SIM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, India Provisional Application No. 202441008599, filed February 8, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for on-demand labelling for integrated paging for multi-subscriber identity module (M-SIM).

BACKGROUND

[0003] With developments of communication technologies, a technology named “discontinuous reception (DRX)” has been proposed in order to save power. DRX is a technique that allows a User Equipment (UE) to turn off its transceiver for a duration of a DRX cycle when there are no packets to be received. In other words, within such duration, the UE does not need to receive the packet and does not performing monitoring on channels. In order to save power, a discontinuous reception/discontinuous transmission (DRX/DRX) has been proposed. Further, in order to improve communication capacity, a Multi-SIM (MUSIM) User Equipment (UE) is proposed, which support dual transmitter/receiver capabilities. In addition, a network may transmit a paging message to a terminal a User Equipment (UE) to notify the UE of incoming data or signaling messages. Therefore, it is worth studying on a paging procedure where the UE supports connections with a plurality of networks.

SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to: transmit, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second i apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and receive, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to: receive, from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and transmit, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a further second apparatus. The further second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the further second apparatus to: receive, from a second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of a first apparatus; and transmit, to the second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method implemented at a first apparatus. The method comprises: transmitting, at the first apparatus and to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and receiving, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method implemented at a second apparatus. The method comprises: receiving, at the second apparatus and from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method implemented at a further second apparatus. The method comprises: receiving, at the further second apparatus and from a second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of a first apparatus; and transmitting, at the further second apparatus and to the second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

[0010] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0011] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises: means for receiving, from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0012] In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a further second apparatus. The further second apparatus comprises: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of a first apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

[0013] In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0014] In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fifth aspect.

[0015] In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the sixth aspect.

[0016] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented; [0019] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate schematic diagrams of example scenarios of DRX according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of M-SIM UE behaviors for Paging and measurement according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a signaling flow of integrated paging according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of M-SIM UE behaviors for Paging and measurement according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a further second apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0026] FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0029] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0030] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0031] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second” and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0032] As used herein, “at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>” and “at least one of <a list of two or more elements>” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0033] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0034] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/ or combinations thereof. [0035] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:

(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and

(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

(i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and

(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor s) or a portion of a microprocessor s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0036] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0037] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0038] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0039] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0040] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0041] As used herein, the term "paging information" may refer to data transmitted by a network to signal a terminal device about an incoming call, message, or data session. For example, in a wireless communication system, paging information could include the identity of the terminal device being paged, along with necessary parameters for the device to respond to the network's call. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other paging information in other domains.

[0042] As used herein, the term "integrated paging" may refer to a telecommunications process that combines paging message handling across multiple network elements to optimize the notification of terminal devices about incoming communications. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other integrated paging in other domains.

[0043] As used herein, the term "setup response" may refer to a message indicating that a terminal device acknowledges and responds to a network's request to establish a communication link or session. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other types of setup responses in other domains.

[0044] As used herein, the term "capability information" may refer to data that describes the functional attributes and supported features of a network device or terminal device. For example, in a mobile communication system, capability information might encompass a smartphone's supported radio access technologies, frequency bands, and advanced features like VoLTE or carrier aggregation. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other forms of capability information in other domains.

[0045] As used herein, the term "system information block" may refer to a set of data broadcasted by a network node, such as a base station, in a cellular network, containing operational parameters and configurations for terminal devices to access and utilize the network services. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other types of system information blocks in other domains.

[0046] As used herein, the term "public land mobile network" (PLMN) may refer to any wireless communication system established and maintained by a service provider to offer telecommunication services to the general public over land areas. For example, a PLMN might comprise multiple cellular networks operated by different telecommunications companies, providing voice, short message service (SMS), and data services to mobile phones and devices. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other forms of wireless communication networks in other domains.

[0047] As used herein, the term “RRC connected state” or “RRC connected mode” used herein may refer to a state in which service radio bearer and data radio bearer are allocated for the terminal device. The term “RRC idle state” or “RRC idle mode” used herein may refer to a state where the terminal device is switched on but does not have any established RRC connection. The term “RRC inactive state” or “RRC inactive mode” used herein may refer to a state when there is an RRC connection that has been suspended.

[0048] As used herein, the term “discontinuous reception (DRX)” or “discontinuous transmission (DTX)” used herein refers to a method used in mobile communication to conserve the battery of the mobile device. As used herein, the term "security agreement" may refer to a formal arrangement between entities, typically within a communication network, that establishes the protocols and measures for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. For example, a security agreement between a mobile network operator and a subscriber might outline the encryption standards, authentication procedures, and data protection policies to be employed for safeguarding the subscriber's communications and personal information. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other forms of security agreements in other domains.

[0049] As used herein, the term "paging occasion (PO)" may refer to a specific time slot or period designated by a communication network for transmitting paging messages to terminal devices. This is used to alert these devices about incoming calls, messages, or data sessions, particularly when the devices are in an idle or power-saving mode. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other scheduling mechanisms in other domains.

[0050] As used herein, the term "access procedure" may refer to the sequence of steps or operations that a terminal device follows to establish a connection with a communication network, enabling the exchange of data or access to network services. For example, in a cellular network, the access procedure might involve steps such as cell selection, random access channel (RACH) initiation, authentication, and bearer establishment, through which a device transitions from an idle state to an active state for communication. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other forms of access procedures in other domains.

[0051] As used herein, the term "identity information" may refer to data that uniquely identifies a network device or terminal device within a communication system. This can include identifiers such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), or temporary identifiers assigned by the network. For example, when a smartphone attempts to connect to a cellular network, its identity information is used for authentication and to facilitate the provision of services. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other forms of identity information in other domains. [0052] As used herein, the term "connection reconfiguration" may refer to the process of altering the parameters or settings of an existing communication link between a network and a terminal device to adapt to changing network conditions, user requirements, or system configurations. For example, in a mobile network, connection reconfiguration could involve modifying the radio bearer settings, adjusting the quality of service (QoS) attributes, or switching the serving cell during a handover. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other forms of connection modifications in other domains.

[0053] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a first apparatus 110, a second apparatus 120, and a second apparatus 130, can communicate with each other.

[0054] In the example of FIG. 1, the first apparatus 110 may be a terminal device, such as UE, the second apparatus 120 and the further second apparatus 130 may be network devices, such as base stations serving the first apparatus 110. The apparatus 110 may be configured a dual transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) multi-SIM. For example, the apparatus 110 may be configured to have simultaneous connections at two different networks. By way of example, a SIM 1001 in the apparatus 110 may be connected with the apparatus 120-1 and a SIM 1002 in the apparatus 110 may be connected with the apparatus 120-2.

[0055] It is to be understood that the number of apparatuses and their connections shown in FIG. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of apparatuses configured to implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional apparatuses may be located in the serving cell , and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100.

[0056] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 110 operating as a terminal device and the second apparatus 120, or further second apparatus 130 operating as a network device. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0057] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 is a terminal device and the second apparatus 120, or further second apparatus 130 is a network device, a link from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a link io from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the second apparatus 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the first apparatus 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the first apparatus 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the second apparatus 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0058] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and/or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple- Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and/or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0059] The present disclosure addresses the inefficiency in Dual Transmi tter/Recei ver Multi- SIM (MUSIM) User Equipment (UE), which usually requires separate monitoring of Paging Occasions (POs) for each SIM, leading to increased power consumption. According to some solution, it need release of the Secondary Cell Group (SCG) in Connected Mode Discontinuous Reception (C-DRX) mode for one network to connect to another, causing resource inefficiencies. The proposed solution introduces integrated paging, allowing a MUSIM UE to receive paging for both SIMs without the need for separate PO monitoring, thereby enhancing power savings and maintaining simultaneous RRC connections without compromising network accessibility. This innovative approach overcomes the limitations of current technologies by optimizing resource utilization and improving the battery life of multi-SIM devices.

[0060] The first apparatus 110 may be configured with a connected mode DRX (C-DRX). In this case, the first apparatus 110 is allowed to periodically enter “sleep” state (off duration) during which PDCCH need not be monitored. In order to monitor PDCCH for possible downlink/uplink data, the first apparatus 110 is allowed to wake up periodically and stay “awake” (on duration) for a certain amount of time before going to “sleep” again. Additionally, the first apparatus 110 may be required to wake up occasionally to monitor PDCCH, this is for example to receive a possible re-transmission. [0061] Each DRX cycle may include DRX on period and off period. There are two types of DRX cycles defined: long DRX Cycle and short DRX Cycle. The network can control a start location of the long DRX Cycle using the RRC parameter drx-LongCycleStartOffset. This offset value may be defined in milliseconds i.e., the offset is defined such that the long DRX cycle may start at a subframe boundary. Additionally, the network can configure start of the “on duration” at slot level granularity within a subframe. The parameter drx-SlotOffset may define a start of “on duration” relative to the start of subframe boundary. After a long DRX Cycle starts, the apparatus 110 may stay active for a duration oi^drx-onDurationTimer" and if there is no PDCCH received during this time, the apparatus 110 may go to DRX sleep state, until the start of next “on duration”.

[0062] FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic diagram of an example scenarios of basic DRX operation. The network can configure start of the “ON Duration” at slot level granularity within a subframe. An offset 220 which is indicated by the parameter drx-SlotOffset may define a start of “ON Duration” relative to the start of subframe boundary. Once a Long DRX Cycle 210 starts, the first apparatus 110 stays active for a duration 230 of “drx-onDurationTimer” and if there is no Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) received during this time, the first apparatus 110 goes to DRX sleep state for a period 240 which is opportunity for DRX, until the start of next ‘ON Duration’ . The same pattern continues into the next long DRX Cycle 250, as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0063] FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic diagram of an example scenarios of DRX long cycle with inactivity timer. The difference between FIG. 2B and FIG. 2A is the PDDCH reception 260 during “ON Duration”. As shown in FIG. 2B, it is highly likely that the device is scheduled again. There is a parameter which is used to keep the UE in active state after being scheduled. This timer is called DRX Inactivity Timer and is configured by RRC as drx-InactivityTimer 270. The first apparatus 110 may start this timer every time PDCCH indicates a new UL or DL transmission, and UE stays in active state and keep monitoring for PDCCH during running time 270 of drx-InactivityTimer. The same pattern continues into the next long DRX Cycle 250. [0064] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of M-SIM UE behaviors for paging and measurement according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE may monitor paging or measurement occasions 311-1 to 311-4 for an SIM and 321-1 to 321-4 for another SIM. For example, the UE may monitor both POs 321-2 and 311-2 within the DRX Cycle 350. As FIG. 3 shows, UE is expected to turn on both Rx receiver for paging and measurement at paging or measurement occasions 311-1 to 311-4 and 321-1 to 321-4 during ON-duration in the DRX cycle. [0065] Reference is made to FIG. 4, which illustrates a signaling flow 400 of integrated paging according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the signaling flow 400 may be implemented in the communication environment 100 shown in FIG. 1. For example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 may act as the terminal device 410. In some embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may act as the network device 430 and the third apparatus 130 may act as the network device 420. Alternatively, the second apparatus 120 may act as the network device 420 and the third apparatus 130 may act as the network device 430.

[0066] In some example embodiments, the network device 430 transmits (4005) first capability information to the terminal device 410. In other words, the terminal device 410 may receive (4005) the first capability information from the network device 430. The first capability information from the network device 430 may indicate an integrated paging capability of the network device 430. In some example embodiments, the network device 420 also transmits (4010) second capability information to the terminal device 410. In other words, the terminal device 410 may also receive (4010) the second capability information from the network device 420. The second capability information from the network device 430 may indicate an integrated paging capability of the network device 430. For example, if the network device 430 and the network device 420 can support integrated paging, these network devices may broadcast their capabilities over system information, respectively. In other words, the first and second capability information may be transmitted in system information blocks. It is noted that the order of the transmission 4005 and the transmission 4010 shown in FIG. 4 is only an example not limitation. For example, the transmission 1010 may be taken place before or after the transmission 4005 or at the same time with the transmission 4005. In some example embodiments, the terminal device 410 having integrated paging capabilities may indicate its capabilities and interest of the integrated paging via one of: an initial access, a registration or handover (HO) procedure.

[0067] In some example embodiments, the capability information () is transmitted in a system information block. In some example embodiments, the network device 430 and the network device 420 can broadcast integrated paging capabilities over SIB1. Table 1 shows an example of transmitted System Information Block 1 (SIB1) . In some other example embodiments, the network device 430 and the network device 420 may transmit (4005 and 4010) integrated paging capability information over another SIB. Table 1

[0068] The terminal device 410 transmits (4015) a paging information to the network device 430. In other words, the network device 430 receives (4015) the paging information from the terminal device 410. The paging information includes a request for integrated paging and an identity of the network device 420. It is noted the identity of the network device 420 may be any proper type of identities. The terminal device 410 has a first connection with the network device 430 and a second connection with the network device 430. In some example embodiments, the paging information further indicates a public land mobile network of the terminal device 410. Table 2 shows an example of information elements (IES) included in the paging information.

Table 2

Integrated? aginginfo { Request for Integrated Paging, Registered PLMN, gNB ID};

[0069] In some embodiments, the terminal device 410 with multi-SIM supporting integrated paging and interested in feature configuration and usage may transmits (4015) the paging information and other information via a RRC message, for example, rrcSetupComplete message. Table 3 shows an example of IEs included in the rrcSetupComplete message. [0070] In some other example embodiments, the paging information is transmitted (4015) in a message prior to security agreement. Alternatively, the paging information is transmitted (4015) in a message post security agreement.

[0071] The network device 430 transmits (4020) a request to the network device 420. In other words, the network device 420 receives (4020) a request from the network device 430. For example, after the network device 430 receives integrated paging request from the terminal device 410, the network device 430 transmits (4020) the integrated paging configuration request including an identity of the terminal device 410, such as Mobile Subscriber Identity / Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (MSI/TMSI), to the network device 420. Table 4 shows an example of integrated paging configuration request.

[0072] The network device 420 transmits (4025) a paging configuration to the network device 430. In other words, the network device 430 receives (4025) a paging configuration from the further network device 420. For example, after the network device 420 receives integrated paging request including the identity of the terminal device 410 (such as MSI/TMSI) from the network device 430, the network device 420 may validate the request and integrated paging configuration confirmation to the network device 430. Table 5 shows an example of integrated paging configuration response.

Table 5

Integrated Paging Configuration Response) ConfigAcceptance BOOLEAN, }

[0073] The network device 430 transmits (4030) a setup response for the integrated paging to the terminal device 410. In other words, the terminal device 410 receives (4030) the setup response from the network device 430. In some example embodiments, the setup response may be transmitted in a RRC message, such as, an RRC reconfiguration. Table 6 shows an example of RRC reconfiguration. In this way, it can increase the DRX opportunity for one of the SIM for multi-SIM UE without any compromise on accessibilities.

Table 6

RRC RECONFIGURATION { IntegratedPagingAcceptance enum; }

[0074] In some example embodiments, the integrated paging may be established in the terminal device 410. Table 7 shows an example of paging record.

Table 7 _

[0075] In some example embodiments, the terminal device 410 stops (4035) monitoring a paging occasion associated with the network device 420. For example, once integrated paging interest and configuration is achieved successfully, the terminal device 410 stops monitoring a paging occasion from initiating SIM or the further network device 420. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, before the integrated paging is established, the terminal device 410 may monitor the PO 511-1 for the paging from the network device 420 and the PO 521-1 for the paging from the network device 430. After the integrated paging is established, the terminal device 410 may stop monitoring the PO(s) for the network device 420 and may only monitor the PO 521-2 which is associated with the network device 430 within the DRX cycle 550. The terminal device 410 may still skip the PO for the network device 420 and may only monitor the PO 521- 3 which is associated with the network device 430 within the next DRX cycle. In some example embodiments, after the integrated paging is finished, the terminal device 410 may monitor POs associated with the network deice 420 and the network device 430, such as, the PO 511-2 for the paging from the network device 420 and the PO 521-4 for the paging from the network device 430. In this way, power can be further saved at the terminal device 410.

[0076] In some example embodiments, if the network device 420 needs to page the terminal device 410, the network device 420 transmits (4040) a paging message to the network device 430. For example, if the network device 420 receives the paging from core network or generates a radio access network (RAN) paging, the network device 420 sends the paging message including UE ID (i.e., the ID of the terminal device 410), such as IMSI/TMSI which the integrated paging configuration was configured to the network device 430.

[0077] In some example embodiments, the network device 430 transmits (4045) a paging information to the terminal device. In other words, the terminal device 410 receives (4045) the paging message from the network device 430.

[0078] In some example embodiments, the terminal device 410 determines whether the paging message is used for the network device 420. For example, the terminal device 410 may determine whether identity information in the paging message matches an identity of the network device 420. As an example, after receiving the paging message from the network device 430, the terminal device 410 checks the identity. If the identity information in the paging message matches the identity of the network device 420 (for example, the paging message includes the identity of the network device 420), the terminal device 410 may determine that the paging message is used for the network device 420. In other words, the terminal device 410 may determine (4050) the indication about the paging for the network device 420. In this case, if the paging message is used for the network device 420, the terminal device 410 initiates (4055) a paging response for the network device 420. For example, the terminal device 410 may trigger an access procedure for the network device 420. For example, if the paging identity indicates the paging arrival for SIM associated with the network device 420 or the further network device 420, the terminal device 420 internally start a post paging procedure namely Random-Access Channel (RACH). By way of example, the terminal device 420 may transmits a preamble (such as, message 1 in four step RACH or message A in two step RACH) to the network device 420. In this way, the integrated paging can be achieved, thereby saving energy and avoiding latency.

[0079] In some example embodiments, the network device 420 transmits (4060) an updated paging configuration to the network device 430. In some example embodiments, if terminal device 410 or the network device 420 is doing TMSI updating, the integrated paging configuration can be updated with further network device 420. In some other example embodiments, if the terminal device 410 or the network device 430 is doing a handover or cell (re)selection, the integrated paging configuration may be updated with the network device 420. For example, the network device 430 may give a higher priority to a network device which is offering integrated paging over others. As another example, the network device 430 can provide UEs capabilities, peer gNB’s IDs (such as, ID of the network device 420) and interest of integrated paging, to a target network device. The target network device may provide its interest and (if interest/capabilities are share) configuration to the terminal device 410 in a target to source transparent container. Similar way, the terminal device 410 and network can share the capabilities, interest and configuration during cell re-selection.

[0080] In some example embodiments, the node which is acting as anchoring node for paging for SIMs is referred to as the "anchoring node." In the above example embodiments, the network device 430 acts as the anchoring node. Following the configuration and confirmation of integrated paging, as mentioned in example embodiments, the terminal device 410 monitors paging from the anchoring node, with the skip of PO for the other SIM. The following Table 8 shows combinations of Radio Resource Control (RRC) states for SIM1001 and SIM 10022, and anchoring node for integrated paging. For example, if both the SIM 1001 and the SIM 1002 are in idle state, either of the second apparatus 120 or the third apparatus 130 can act as the network device 430 which is the anchoring node. Alternatively, if the SIM 1001 is in connected state and the SIM 1002 is in idle state, the second apparatus 120 can act as the network device 430. Similarly, if the SIM 1001 is in idle state and the SIM 1002 is in connected state, the third apparatus 130 can act as the network device 430. As another example, if both the SIM 1001 and the SIM 1002 are in connected state, either of the second apparatus 120 or the third apparatus 130 can act as the network device 430 which is the anchoring node.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example method 600 implemented at a first apparatus 110 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 600 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0082] At block 610, the first apparatus 110 transmits, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus.

[0083] At block 620, the first apparatus 110 receives, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0084] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, first capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the second apparatus; and receiving, from the further second apparatus, second capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the further second apparatus.

[0085] In some example embodiments, at least one of: the first capability information or the second capability information is transmitted in a system information block.

[0086] In some example embodiments, the paging information further indicates a public land mobile network of the first apparatus.

[0087] In some example embodiments, the paging information is transmitted in a radio resource control setup complete message, or the paging information is transmitted in a message prior to security agreement or post security agreement.

[0088] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: stopping monitoring a paging occasion associated with the further second apparatus.

[0089] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: receiving a paging message from the second apparatus; determining whether the paging message is used for the further second apparatus; and based on a determination that the paging message is used for the further second apparatus, triggering an access procedure for the further second apparatus.

[0090] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: determining whether identity information in the paging message matches an identity of the further second apparatus; and based on a determination that the identity information in the paging message matches the identity of the further second apparatus, determining that the paging message is used for the further second apparatus.

[0091] In some example embodiments, the setup response is transmitted in a radio resource control connection reconfiguration.

[0092] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

[0093] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at a second apparatus 120 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0094] At block 710, the second apparatus 120 receives, from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus.

[0095] At block 720, the second apparatus 120 transmits, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[0096] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: transmitting, to the further second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of the first apparatus; and receiving, from the further second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

[0097] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, first capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the second apparatus.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the first capability information is transmitted in a system information block.

[0099] In some example embodiments, the paging information further indicates a public land mobile network of the first apparatus.

[00100] In some example embodiments, the paging information is transmitted in a radio resource control setup complete message, or the paging information is transmitted in a message prior to security agreement or post security agreement.

[00101] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: receiving from the further second apparatus, a paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, the paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus.

[00102] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: receiving, from the further second apparatus, an updated integrated paging configuration comprising an updated identity of the first apparatus.

[00103] In some example embodiments, the setup response is transmitted in a radio resource control connection reconfiguration.

[00104] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

[00105] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a further second apparatus 130 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the further second apparatus 130 in FIG. 1.

[00106] At block 810, the further second apparatus 130 receives, from a second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of a first apparatus.

[00107] At block 820, the further second apparatus 130 transmits, to the second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

[00108] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: transmitting, to the second apparatus, a paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus.

[00109] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: transmitting, to the second apparatus, an updated integrated paging configuration comprising an updated identity of the first apparatus.

[00110] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

[00111] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 600 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 600. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[00112] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and receiving, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[00113] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises at least one of means for receiving, from the second apparatus, first capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the second apparatus; and means for receiving, from the further second apparatus, second capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the further second apparatus.

[00114] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises at least one of the first capability information or the second capability information is transmitted in a system information block.

[00115] In some example embodiments, the paging information further indicates a public land mobile network of the first apparatus.

[00116] In some example embodiments, the paging information is transmitted in a radio resource control setup complete message, or the paging information is transmitted in a message prior to security agreement or post security agreement.

[00117] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for stopping monitoring a paging occasion associated with the further second apparatus.

[00118] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving a paging message from the second apparatus; means for determining whether the paging message is used for the further second apparatus; and means for based on a determination that the paging message is used for the further second apparatus, triggering an access procedure for the further second apparatus.

[00119] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining whether identity information in the paging message matches an identity of the further second apparatus; and means for based on a determination that the identity information in the paging message matches the identity of the further second apparatus, determining that the paging message is used for the further second apparatus.

[00120] In some example embodiments, the setup response is transmitted in a radio resource control connection reconfiguration. [00121] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

[00122] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 600 or the first apparatus 110. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the first apparatus.

[00123] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 700 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[00124] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

[00125] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for: transmitting, to the further second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of the first apparatus; and receiving, from the further second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

[00126] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, first capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the second apparatus.

[00127] In some example embodiments, the first capability information is transmitted in a system information block.

[00128] In some example embodiments, the paging information further indicates a public land mobile network of the first apparatus.

[00129] In some example embodiments, the paging information is transmitted in a radio resource control setup complete message, or the paging information is transmitted in a message prior to security agreement or post security agreement.

[00130] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the further second apparatus, a paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, the paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus.

[00131] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from the further second apparatus, an updated integrated paging configuration comprising an updated identity of the first apparatus.

[00132] In some example embodiments, the setup response is transmitted in a radio resource control connection reconfiguration.

[00133] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

[00134] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 700 or the second apparatus 120. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the second apparatus.

[00135] In some example embodiments, a further second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 800 (for example, the further second apparatus 130 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The further second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the further second apparatus 130 in FIG. 1.

[00136] In some further example embodiments, the further second apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, a paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus.

[00137] In some further example embodiments, the further second apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, an updated integrated paging configuration comprising an updated identity of the first apparatus.

[00138] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

[00139] In some example embodiments, the further second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 800 or the further second apparatus 130. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the further second apparatus.

[00140] FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a device 900 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 900 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 900 includes one or more processors 910, one or more memories 920 coupled to the processor 910, and one or more communication modules 940 coupled to the processor 910.

[00141] The communication module 940 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 940 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 940 may include at least one antenna. [00142] The processor 910 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 900 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[00143] The memory 920 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 924, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and/or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 922 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[00144] A computer program 930 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 910. The instructions of the program 930 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 930 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 924. The processor 910 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 930 into the RAM 922.

[00145] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 930 so that the device 900 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 8. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[00146] In some example embodiments, the program 930 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 900 (such as in the memory 920) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 900. The device 900 may load the program 930 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 922 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[00147] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[00148] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non- transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[00149] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[00150] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[00151] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a readonly memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[00152] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[00153] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to: transmit, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and receive, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is caused to at least one of: receive, from the second apparatus, first capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the second apparatus; and receive, from the further second apparatus, second capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the further second apparatus.

3. The first apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of: the first capability information or the second capability information is transmitted in a system information block.

4. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-3, wherein the paging information further indicates a public land mobile network of the first apparatus.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the paging information is transmitted in a radio resource control setup complete message, or wherein the paging information is transmitted in a message prior to security agreement or post security agreement.

6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-5, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: stop monitoring a paging occasion associated with the further second apparatus.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-6, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: receive a paging message from the second apparatus; determine whether the paging message is used for the further second apparatus; and based on a determination that the paging message is used for the further second apparatus, trigger an access procedure for the further second apparatus.

8. The first apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine whether identity information in the paging message matches an identity of the further second apparatus; and based on a determination that the identity information in the paging message matches the identity of the further second apparatus, determine that the paging message is used for the further second apparatus.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-8, wherein the setup response is transmitted in a radio resource control connection reconfiguration.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-9, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and wherein both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

11. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to: receive, from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and transmit, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

12. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the further second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of the first apparatus; and receive, from the further second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

13. The second apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: transmit, to the first apparatus, first capability information indicating an integrated paging capability of the second apparatus.

14. The second apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first capability information is transmitted in a system information block.

15. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-14, wherein the paging information further indicates a public land mobile network of the first apparatus.

16. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-15, wherein the paging information is transmitted in a radio resource control setup complete message, or wherein the paging information is transmitted in a message prior to security agreement or post security agreement.

17. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-16, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: receive, from the further second apparatus, a paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus; and transmit, to the first apparatus, the paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus.

18. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-17, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: receive, from the further second apparatus, an updated integrated paging configuration comprising an updated identity of the first apparatus.

19. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-18, wherein the setup response is transmitted in a radio resource control connection reconfiguration.

20. The second apparatus of any of claims 11-19, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and wherein both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

21. A further second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the further second apparatus to: receive, from a second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of a first apparatus; and transmit, to the second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

22. The further second apparatus of claim 21, wherein the further second apparatus is caused to: transmit, to the second apparatus, a paging message comprising the identity of the first apparatus.

23. The further second apparatus of any of claims 21-22, wherein the further second apparatus is caused to: transmit, to the second apparatus, an updated integrated paging configuration comprising an updated identity of the first apparatus.

24. The further second apparatus of any of claims 21-23, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, the second apparatus is an anchoring network device, and the further second apparatus is a further network device, and wherein both the second apparatus and the further second apparatus are in idle mode or connected mode, or the second apparatus is in connected mode and the further second apparatus is in idle mode.

25. A method implemented at a fist apparatus, comprising: transmitting, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and receiving, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

26. A method implemented at a second apparatus, comprising: receiving, from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

27. A method implemented at a third apparatus, comprising: receiving, from a second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of a first apparatus; and transmitting, to the second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

28. A first apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and mean for receiving, from the second apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

29. A second apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a first apparatus, paging information comprising a request for integrated paging and an identity of a further second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus has a first connection with the second apparatus and a second connection with the further second apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a setup response for the integrated paging.

30. A further second apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration request comprising an identity of a first apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, an integrated paging configuration.

31. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of any of claims 25-27.