Apparatuses and methods for coordinating operations associated with multiple subscriber identities

Abstract

A mobile communication device including a Radio Frequency (RF) device and a controller is provided. The controller provides a Packet-Switched (PS) data service using a first subscriber identity via the RF device, establishes a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection using a second subscriber identity via the RF device to enable the mobile communication device to enter an RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity, receives a notification of an incoming Circuit-Switched (CS) Mobile Terminated (MT) call for the second subscriber identity via the RF device, and (after receiving the notification of the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity) keeps the mobile communication device in the RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity while providing the PS data service using the first subscriber identity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 a Radio Frequency (RF) device; and   a controller, configured to:   provide a Packet-Switched (PS) data service using a first subscriber identity via the RF device;   establish a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection using a second subscriber identity via the RF device to enable the mobile communication device to enter an RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity;   receive a notification of an incoming Circuit-Switched (CS) Mobile Terminated (MT) call for the second subscriber identity via the RF device; and   after receiving the notification of the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity, keep the mobile communication device in the RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity while providing the PS data service using the first subscriber identity.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the RRC connection, associated with the second subscriber identity via the RF device, by periodically sending a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) on the RRC connection. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile communication device of  claim 2 , wherein, the PDU is a control PDU. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communication device of  claim 3 , wherein the control PDU is a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) control PDU. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the PS data service is provided for a predetermined Application (APP), and the establishing of the RRC connection using the second subscriber identity via the RF device is performed based on the predetermined APP being in a whitelist for a gamming mode of the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communication device of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined APP is a gaming APP. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a user input to reject the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity, and after rejecting the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity, keep the mobile communication device in the RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity while providing the PS data service using the first subscriber identity. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a user input to accept the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity, and establish a voice call for the second subscriber identity via the RF device using a second generation ( 2 G) Radio Access Technology (RAT) or a third generation ( 3 G) RAT. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile communication device of  claim 8 , wherein the RRC connection is established using a fourth generation ( 4 G) RAT. 
     
     
         10 . A method for coordinating operations associated with multiple subscriber identities, executed by a controller of a mobile communication device which comprises a Radio Frequency (RF) device, the method comprising:
 providing a Packet-Switched (PS) data service using a first subscriber identity via the RF device;   establishing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection using a second subscriber identity via the RF device to enable the mobile communication device to enter an RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity;   receiving a notification of an incoming Circuit-Switched (CS) Mobile Terminated (MT) call for the second subscriber identity via the RF device; and   after receiving the notification of the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity, keeping the mobile communication device in the RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity while providing the PS data service using the first subscriber identity.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 maintaining the RRC connection, using the second subscriber identity via the RF device, by periodically sending a Protocol Data Unit (PDU).   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, the PDU is a control PDU. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the control PDU is a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) control PDU. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the PS data service is provided for a predetermined Application (APP), and the establishing of the RRC connection using the second subscriber identity via the RF device is performed based on the predetermined APP being in a whitelist for a gamming mode of the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined APP is a gaming APP. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input to reject the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity; and   after rejecting the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity, keeping the mobile communication device in the RRC connected mode associated with the second subscriber identity while providing the PS data service using the first subscriber identity.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input to accept the incoming CS MT call for the second subscriber identity; and   establishing a voice call for the second subscriber identity via the RF device using a second generation (2G) Radio Access Technology (RAT) or a third generation (3G) RAT.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the RRC connection is established using a fourth generation (4G) RAT.