Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-25
2002-10-15
Urban, Edward F. (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S411000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06466804
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to mobile telecommunications systems utilizing a subscriber information module, and in particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for remote multiple access to services of a subscriber identity module card by multiple subscriber devices in a GSM system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system and in other telecommunications systems, a mobile device includes hardware and software specific to a radio interface, along with subscriber specific data located in a subscriber identity module, or “SIM”. The SIM can either be a smart card having physical dimensions similar to the well-known size of credit cards, or alternately can be “cut” to a much smaller format, commonly referred to as a “plug-in SIM”. In either case, the SIM card contains and organizes information, such as identity information identifying the subscriber as a valid subscriber, subscriber supplied information, such as telephone numbers, for example, operator specific information, and a certain subset of mobility management state information, such as information about the last public land mobile network in which the mobile device was registered. In this way, when inserted within a mobile device in a cellular network, the SIM card enables the mobile device to be personalized, or associated with subscriber specific information. However, once the SIM card is removed, the mobile device cannot be used, except, if permitted by the network, for emergency related transmissions.
FIG. 1
(Prior Art) is a schematic diagram of known system architecture of a SIM card interface within a mobile device. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, a SIM card
100
interfaces with a software component portion
102
of a mobile device through an electrical interface
104
that is coupled to a SIM physical data interchange layer
106
of software component portion
102
. Software component portion
102
also includes a SIM authentication and ciphering unit
108
, a SIM command/response interface
110
, and a SIM physical presence detection unit
112
.
Commands corresponding to authentication and ciphering requests that are received and transmitted internally by the mobile device are converted by SIM command/response interface
110
to a standardized command format. The standardized command is then transmitted to SIM authentication and ciphering unit
108
for authentication and cipher key generation, and is then transmitted to SIM physical data interchange layer
106
. Commands corresponding to requests other than authentication and ciphering requests that are received and transmitted internally by the mobile device are converted by SIM command/response interface
110
to a standardized command format, and the standardized command is then transferred directly to physical data interchange layer
106
. Physical data interchange layer
106
formats the standardized command received from either SIM authentication and ciphering unit
108
or directly from SIM command/response interface
110
into physical data according to GSM required electronic signals and transmission protocols. The physical data is then transmitted from SIM physical data interchange layer
106
to SIM card
100
through electrical interface
104
.
Upon receiving the command, SIM card
100
subsequently transmits physical data corresponding to a response to the command from SIM card
100
to physical data interchange layer
106
, through electrical interface
104
. Physical data interchange layer
106
formats the physical data into a standardized response. The standardized response, if made in response to an authentication and ciphering command, is transmitted to SIM authentication and enciphering unit
108
for authentication and cipher key generation, and then to SIM command/response interface
110
, which converts the: standardized response to a format required internally by the mobile station. Standardized responses to commands corresponding to requests other than authentication and ciphering requests are transmitted directly from physical data interchange layer
106
to SIM command/response interface
110
, which converts the standardized response to a format required internally by the mobile device.
Throughout the internal command and response generation process described above, electrical interface
104
continuously transmits a physical presence signal to a physical presence detection unit
112
to indicate that SIM card
100
is inserted and is in electrical contact with electrical interface, and that SIM card
100
is functioning properly. Once the physical presence signal is interrupted, such as when SIM card
100
has been removed or fails, and is therefore no longer detected by physical presence unit
112
, physical presence detection unit
112
transmits an interrupt signal indicating the absence of SIM card
100
, and service access to the mobile device is interrupted.
The SIM card, as defined by GSM specifications, has been further enhanced in terms of information organization and functionality for use with other services. For example, work for the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Association (TIA/EIA)
136
Enhanced General Packet Radio Services (EGPRS) for TIA/EIA
136
proposes the use of the European GSM SIM card plus enhancements for use by the American time division multiple access (TDMA) proposed high-speed wireless data service. The current GSM definition of the SIM card will likely be expanded to include other services as well, such as third generation mobile voice and data services.
One of the disadvantages that will result as the SIM card is utilized in more and more subscriber devices, is that a separate SIM card will be required for use in each subscriber device, and therefore a user of multiple SIM card enabled devices will be required to utilize a multiple number of SIM cards. Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus that enables multiple SIM card enabled subscriber devices to be utilized using a single SIM card.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5457680 (1995-10-01), Kamm et al.
patent: 6092133 (2000-07-01), Erola et al.
patent: 6198920 (2001-03-01), Diviak et al.
patent: 6202008 (2001-03-01), Beckert et al.
patent: 6226623 (2001-05-01), Schein et al.
patent: 6230002 (2001-05-01), Floden et al.
patent: 6311165 (2001-10-01), Coutts et al.
“Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2+); General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Service Description; Stage 1”, (European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), European Standard (Telecommunications series).
“Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2+); Specification of the Subscriber Identity Module—Mobile Equipment (SIM—ME) interface”, (European Telecommunications Standards Institute, (ESTI) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) specifications).
Kotzin Michael D.
Pecen Mark E.
Skov Andersen Niels P.
Craver Charles
Motorola Inc.
Soldner Michael C.
Urban Edward F.
Vaas Randall S.
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