Method and apparatus for connection control in a wireless communication system

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed from the perspective of a UE (User Equipment) with a first USIM (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Subscriber Identity Module) and a second USIM. In one embodiment, the method includes the UE transmitting, to a first network node associated with the first USIM, a message carrying information related to a signaling activity between the UE and a second network node associated with the second USIM.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for a User Equipment (UE) including a first Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) and a second USIM, comprising:
 receiving a configuration from a first network node associated with the first USIM allowing the UE to release a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the first network node;   transmitting, to the first network node, a message including an indication to request to suspend or release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE; and   releasing the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE without receiving a command from the first network node to release the RRC connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UE transmits the message in response to occurrence of a signaling activity between the UE and a second network node associated with the second USIM. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the message indicates a cause for the signaling activity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the signaling activity includes one or multiple of the following: establishing or resuming of a RRC connection to a second network node associated with the second USIM, Radio Access Network-based Notification Area (RNA) update, system information acquisition, or request for on demand system information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the message indicates a duration to suspend or release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE, or indicates a duration for the signaling activity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a paging message or a short message to initiate the signaling activity, wherein the cause for the signaling activity is indicated by the paging message or the short message.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein requesting to suspend the RRC connection means requesting to enter RRC_INACTIVE and requesting to release the RRC connection means requesting to enter RRC_IDLE. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message is a UE assistance information message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second configuration, from the first network node, to control whether the UE is allowed to transmit the message to request to suspend or release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UE is not allowed to release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE without receiving the command if transmission of the message is disabled. 
     
     
         11 . A User Equipment (UE) including a first Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) and a second USIM, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute a program code stored in the memory to:
 receive a configuration from a first network node associated with the first USIM allowing the UE to release a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the first network node; 
 transmit, to the first network node, a message including an indication to request to suspend or release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE; and 
 release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE without receiving a command from the first network node to release the RRC connection. 
   
     
     
         12 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein the UE transmits the message in response to occurrence of a signaling activity between the UE and a second network node associated with the second USIM. 
     
     
         13 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the message indicates a cause for the signaling activity. 
     
     
         14 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the signaling activity includes one or multiple of following:
 establishment or resuming of a RRC connection to a second network node associated with the second USIM, Radio Access Network-based Notification Area (RNA) update, system information acquisition, or request for on demand system information.   
     
     
         15 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the message indicates a duration to suspend or release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE, or indicates a duration for the signaling activity. 
     
     
         16 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute a program code stored in the memory to:
 receive a paging message or a short message to initiate the signaling activity, wherein the cause for the signaling activity is indicated by the paging message or the short message.   
     
     
         17 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein requesting to suspend the RRC connection means requesting to enter RRC_INACTIVE and requesting to release the RRC connection means requesting to enter RRC_IDLE. 
     
     
         18 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein the message is a UE assistance information message. 
     
     
         19 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute a program code stored in the memory to:
 receive a second configuration, from the first network node, to control whether the UE is allowed to transmit the message to request to suspend or release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE.   
     
     
         20 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein the UE is not allowed to release the RRC connection between the first network node and the UE without receiving the command if transmission of the message is disabled.