Telephonic communications – Terminal – Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-14
2001-09-18
Chiang, Jack (Department: 2742)
Telephonic communications
Terminal
Housing or housing component
C379S428030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292561
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to digital mobile phones.
It is conventional in a digital mobile phone that there is a removable subscriber identification module in the form of a card which is fitted into an internal holder.
Such a module which shall hereinafter be referred to as a “subscriber identification module card” is a user replacement module for use by a commercial entity providing a network to ensure that the digital phone is connected to the commercial entities network.
It is possible for a user to have the subscriber identification module card of one commercial network provider as well as the subscriber identification module card of its competitor.
However, in phones currently available, the card is not readily accessible for removal and replacement with an alternate subscriber identification module card.
It can be achieved but, taking at least one instance, for instance, the currently available Nokia 2110 digital phone, to replace the subscriber identification module card of one network and replace it with another, the battery has to be removed, a first external cover has to be pulled out, and an interlocking bracket must be operated to release the locking position of a pivotal support which is pushed into the release position. It is then still a matter of manipulation to be able to remove the subscriber identification module card from the holder.
The actions required mean that the phone has to be turned off so that if one wants to change networks, one then has to go through the additional procedures of closing the phone down, and then starting the phone up again.
At the present time, digital networks are not co-extensive and further, the costs of accessing or using one network as compared to another vary considerably so that there is considerable advantage to an end user to be able to choose the network,
a) upon being within the range of a particular network or being in a position to better be able to receive a particular signal, and
b) alternatively that the price of a call from one network may be quite different to the price of another.
It is currently possible with the same phone to do this but with the effort involved in having to change over subscriber identification module cards, most people will either not consider doing so or will not be bothered in most cases.
The disadvantage of this is that one network provider which wishes to actively compete with other network providers, might then be at a considerable disadvantage because despite providing best prices, their network might not be quite as extensive and they therefore cannot persuade a phone user to use their network because the decision is made on the basis of both access and cost.
What I propose is a solution to this problem which will have particular value to a commercial network provider especially if they do not have such an extensive range and it will provide substantial advantages to users because it will enable them to make a better choice without as many of the current implicit difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one form of this invention there is provided a mobile phone of the type having a subscriber identification module wherein there are provided at least two subscriber identification modules and switch means accessible to the user and adapted for the user to select one or other of the modules.
In preference there is proposed that there is an external holder attachable to an existing mobile digital phone and adapted to take at least two subscriber identification module cards, switch means to provide access to any one of the subscriber identification module cards held in the external holder and means connecting such connected external subscriber identification module card electrically to a subscriber identification module take-off adaptor adapted to be located within an existing internal subscriber identification module card holder of the digital mobile phone.
In a further form the invention can be said to reside in a digital mobile phone of a type having a user removable subscriber identification module card within an internal holder, characterised in that there is within the internal subscriber identification module card holder a take-off card having electrical contacts replicating any subscriber identification module card that would otherwise be therein, and connecting to electrical connections for electrical connection in the phone and having a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection, the wire take-off in each case extending to an outside of the body of the mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder, the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards each having its electrical connections connected to the corresponding wire take-offs connected to the take-off card, and having a switch therewith adapted to change effective active connection from one of the subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder to a second of the subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder.
In another form of this invention this can be said to reside in a digital mobile phone of a type having a user removable subscriber identification module card within an internal subscriber identification module card holder, a take off card having a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection within the holder the wire take-off adapted to extend through to an outside of the body of the mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder attached to the phone casing, the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards with each having its electrical connections connected to the corresponding wire take offs connected to the wire take-off, and having a switch therewith to change effective active connection of the wire take offs from a first of any subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder to a second or other of any subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder.
One of the difficulties with such an arrangement, however, is the question of how one provides such electrical connections from the internal parts of the phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder.
I have carefully examined each of the mobile digital phones currently on the market and I have found that in each case, it is possible to provide a connection using very thin wires in some cases of less than 0.3 mm thickness by having the thin wires follow a path beneath the covers and around corners to the external subscriber identification module cardholder.
In preference the external subscriber identification module card holder will be adhered in an appropriate way to the body of an existing digital phone and the switch would in preference be a mechanical switch.
Further, in preference, within the external card holder, there can be additionally provided electronically accessible memory and programmed software in the memory to provide additional functions as far as the digital mobile phone is concerned.
For instance, it is proposed in preference that such logic would examine through its connections with the digital phone, the best accessible network connection to be used, and also the best from a point of view of cost.
In such a case, there can be the additional feature of an electronics switch operated by the logic so that the user of the phone no longer has to make a decision as to which network to choose but this will be made on the basis of either cost or best signal as the case might be which can be previously selected for the logic to choose.
Further, there can in fact be additional memory to have additional recording of audio signals and any number of additional features can then be incorporated within or connected to the external module to be joined with the functions of the digital phone.
Further in preference there is provided that the wire take-offs are together
Chiang Jack
Funge Systems Inc.
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
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