Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-31
2001-01-23
Hunter, Daniel S. (Department: 2749)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S558000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178324
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to radio communication systems and particularly, but not exclusively, to systems such as the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), and the Digital Cellular System (DCS) 1800.
In general, in such a system, the user has a mobile station constituted by a mobile terminal which cooperates with a subscriber identity module (referred to as a “SIM card” in the GSM Standard). Generally, the SIM card is a smart card designed to be inserted into a mobile terminal to enable the terminal to be used.
More precisely, the invention relates to a method enabling the operation of a subscriber identity module to be adapted to one or more interfaces of the mobile terminal with which it co-operates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, mobile terminals offer certain facilities, in particular making it possible to access services. Such facilities are, for example:
storing data of the telephone directory type, thereby facilitating access both to “basic” services and to “operator added value” services (such as, in particular, interactive services);
performing operations on “additional” services (such as, for example, call forwarding, incoming calls only, etc.); and
in mobile radio networks offering a telephony service, a service for transmitting short alphanumeric messages, together with the storing short alphanumeric messages to be transmitted or to be received by the mobile terminals.
Originally, the data relating to such facilities was stored in the mobile terminal itself. Subsequently, to obtain greater flexibility, it was proposed to store this data in the subscriber identity module.
Thus, GSM Recommendation 11.11 recommends storing the data relating to the facilities in predefined memory zones of the SIM card in the same manner as the data relating to subscriber identity is stored to ensure that the card is compatible with the various types of GSM mobile terminals suitable for receiving it.
By means of the European Telecommunications Standard (ETS), the interface between the subscriber identity module and the mobile terminal ensures that these two elements are interoperable independently of the respective manufacturers and of the operators. Thus, it is possible to take advantage of the facilities from any mobile terminal that is suitable for co-operating with such a subscriber identity module.
However, a major drawback remains. When the subscriber identity module sends a command to one or more interfaces, it does not, prior to sending the command, make sure that the type(s) of interface used can recognize the command that is sent, in particular as regards the type of graphics display. As a result, it is possible that the subscriber identity module might send commands to the terminal with which it co-operates, but that cannot be recognized by the terminal.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A particular object of the present invention is to mitigate that major drawback of the prior art.
More precisely, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of adapting the operation of a subscriber identity module to one or more interfaces of a mobile radio communication terminal. Another object of the invention is to provide a subscriber identity module and a mobile terminal that enable such a method to be implemented.
An additional object of the invention is to provide such a method, such a subscriber identity module, and such a mobile terminal that make it possible to optimize the use of the resources available on the mobile terminal used.
Another additional object of the invention is to provide such a method, such a subscriber identity module, and such a mobile terminal that make it possible to ignore the differences in the types of mobile terminals used.
These objects and others that appear below are achieved by the invention by means of a method of adapting the operation of a subscriber identity module as a function of “interface” information concerning at least one of the interface(s) of a mobile radio communications terminal with which said subscriber identity module co-operates the method comprising the following steps:
said subscriber identity module transmits an interface information acquisition command to said terminal;
said terminal receives and executes said interface information acquisition command so as to generate a reply containing interface information;
said terminal transmits said reply to said subscriber identity module; and
said subscriber identity module receives said reply and adapts its operation as a function of the contents of said reply.
The general principle of the invention is thus based on adding an interface information acquisition command enabling a subscriber identity module to retrieve the information concerning one or more interfaces used by the mobile terminal with which it co-operates. The interfaces define, in particular, the ergonomic characteristics of the terminal.
The interface information acquisition command which is stored in the subscriber identity module is independent of the type of terminal with which the subscriber identity module is to co-operate.
Clearly, the subscriber identity module may send different successive interface information acquisition commands at different times, so as, in particular, to obtain different kinds of interface information.
In a preferred implementation of the invention, said interface information belongs to the group comprising:
the type of display of said terminal;
the size of the screen of said terminal;
the size in text terms of the screen of said terminal;
the type of keypad of said terminal;
the range of sound frequencies that said terminal is capable of generating; and
the range of sound frequencies that said terminal is capable of receiving.
Naturally, this list is not limiting.
It should be noted that the invention does not put any constraints on the form and the type of the interface information. Similarly, the invention does not put any constraint on the number and the types of the interfaces used by the mobile terminal.
Clearly, a reply may contain various kinds of interface information.
Advantageously, said interface information acquisition command is a command additional to a set of commands in the protocol for dialog between said terminal and said subscriber identity module.
Advantageously, during a prior step, said terminal indicates to said subscriber identity module whether or not it is capable of executing said interface information acquisition command.
This prevents the subscriber identity module from sending unnecessarily a command that cannot be recognized by the interfaces used by the mobile terminal. The prior step corresponds, for example, to an initialization step or to a step performed at any other time, in particular when the subscriber identity module needs interface information. It is advantageous to be aware of whether or not the terminal is capable of executing the interface information acquisition command. This applies particularly before the subscriber identity module sends a command to the terminal to implement the interface(s) about which the information has been gathered.
The invention also provides a subscriber identity module of the type designed to co-operate with a mobile radiocommunications terminal. This subscriber identity module includes:
means for transmitting an acquisition command to said terminal to acquire “interface” information concerning the or at least one of the interface(s) of said terminal;
means for receiving a reply sent to it by said terminal in response to transmission of said acquisition command, said reply containing interface information; and
means for adapting its operation as a function of the contents of said reply.
Thus, the subscriber identity module is adapted to be capable of executing the above-mentioned method of adapting the operation of a subscriber identity module as a function of “interface” information concerning the or at least one of the interface(s) of a mobile radiocommunications terminal with which said subscriber identity module co-operates.
Furthermore, the additi
Choquet Christophe
Hubbe Pascal
Lelong-Gilbert Anne-Ga{umlaut over (e)}lle
Alcatel
Hunter Daniel S.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Wyche Myron K.
LandOfFree
Method of adapting the operation of a subscriber identity... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of adapting the operation of a subscriber identity..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of adapting the operation of a subscriber identity... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2451631