WO2014182196A1

WO2014182196A1 - Device for selection and connection of mobile communication operator

Info

Publication number: WO2014182196A1
Application number: PCT/RU2014/000317
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vladimir Aleksandrovich ELIN
Original assignee: Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo "Intersoft Evraziya"
Priority date: 2013-05-08
Filing date: 2014-04-30
Publication date: 2014-11-13

Abstract

A device for selection and connection of a mobile service operator (a Dynamic Multi SIM cassette), comprising a flat carrier (1) with a plastic surface and a group of SIM cards (2) of several mobile operators, located on one side of the carrier (1), as well as a power supply (3) and a processor (microprocessor) (4) connected with the said SIM cards (2) through contacts (5) with the possibility for each of the SIM cards (2) to be individually connected to a wireless radio communication channel. Contacts (5) represent convex contact pads. Microprocessor (4) is adapted to be connected to a cellular telephone, smartphone, tablet computer by means for data transmission through a wireless channel, and to select one of the SIM cards (2) for establishing radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber. Besides, microprocessor (4) is adapted to automatically check and compare the communication quality and the economic efficiency of initializing each of the SIM cards (2) when this SIM card is selected for establishing radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber. Carrier (1) is made with pockets (6) for installing the SIM cards (2) individually and furnished with contacts (5) for connecting the SIM cards (2) to microprocessor (4). The device is furnished with controls (7) (a keyboard) connected to power supply (3) and controller (4), installed on the carrier (1) on the side of the SIM cards (2). The invention claimed provides the possibility of effective and dynamic change of the SIM card initialization configuration at the user side without having to use extra equipment and open the box-like elements. The SIM cards in the pockets can be easily replaced without accessing and opening the telephone set.

Description

Device for selection and connection of mobile communication operator

Field of the Invention

The invention (a Dynamic Multi SIM cassette) relates to the field of mobile (cellular) communication, specifically, to devices having the capability of selecting a subscriber identification module, that is a SIM card, and is designed for the effective and dynamic change of the SIM card initialization configuration at the user side.

Prior art

A telephone set is known comprising a means for taking-in a SIM card on which identification number data is stored, with a device for taking-in a SIM card and with a reader device, a means for registration of the said SIM card in the enabling telephone system, using the said identification number, and a processor receiving identification numbers simultaneously with the enabling telephone system; in order that calls related to the respective telephone numbers are received by the said telephone, the telephone set is adapted to use several SIM cards, and the telephone set comprises a means for taking-in a SIM card for each additional SIM card on which the information on the one respective identification number is stored, associated with a means for registration of the said SIM card in the enabling telephone system, using its own identification number, and with a reader device connected with the respective inputs of the devices for taking-in a SIM card through a common communication unit, and a common device for communication with an aerial, connected with the respective other inputs of all the devices for taking-in a SIM card (RU No. 27767).

The disadvantages of this device include the necessity of providing a complex special housing for the telephone set for several SIM cards, the complexity of selecting the optimal network and initializing the respective SIM card. The device cannot provide connection/disconnection of SIM cards without disassembling the housing.

A method and device are known for conducting telephone conversations in several telephone networks, using a single mobile telephone, in which the respective network connection is established and supported, SIM cards of various mobile telephone networks are connected through the mobile telephone and several SIM cards integrated in the mobile telephone, and the code block is recognized, used for dialing the telephone number, thereby the selected mobile telephone network is recognized, the telephone number is dialed of the SIM card connected with code block, and its parallel network connection is established through a transmitter connected between the mobile telephone keyboard with numeral keys and the SIM cards. Before continuing the processing of the telephone number dialed and thereby getting through to the respective telephone network identified through a code block, the transmitter first receives and processes the first four digits. The device for implementing this method, using a mobile telephone, is made with a keyboard, SIM card, and conventional electric circuits. At that, the SIM card can be inserted on the back side of the apparatus in a provided jack furnished with contacts, and a permanent connection can be established with the respective mobile telephone network through the electric circuits and SIM card. Several integrated SIM cards are connected with the mobile telephone casing, establishing and supporting permanent connection with the respective mobile telephone network, and a transmitter is connected between the keyboard with numeral keys and the SIM cards, enabling recognition of a code block and the mobile telephone network denoted by it, and dialing of the telephone number of the SIM card connected with the code block. The transmitter is adapted to redirect incoming calls to calls areas corresponding to networks. Several built-in jacks are provided on the back side of the device. The contacts corresponding to the jacks are adapted to be activated when a SIM card is inserted. A buried jack with contacts is provided on the back side of the device, in which several stacked SIM cards can be inserted. The SIM cards are stacked to form a single unit, with the contacts adapted to be slided in gaps between the SIM cards. Network keys are provided on the front of the device near the keyboard, display and other functional keys, made as light buttons lighting when the respective mobile telephone network is accessed. The network keys are adapted to be activated when the transmitter failed, designed for establishing a connection through the selected SIM card. The transmitter is adapted to being set according to the code blocks to be recognized. A combined SIM card is connected to the mobile telephone casing, adapted to function as SIM cards corresponding to other mobile networks ( U No. 2008144412). The disadvantages of this device include the necessity of providing a special complex housing for the telephone set for several SIM cards, the complexity of selecting and connecting the optimal network and the respective SIM card. To enable simultaneous parallel initialization of several SIM cards, the device must have the respective number of physical radio channels - transmitters and receivers — according to SIM cards initialized simultaneously.

A cellular mobile telephone is known, comprising a casing, a display, display keys, a built-in or external areal, a dynamic speaker, a microphone, a telephone interface (for connecting a charging device or head set etc.), a printed circuit board carrying electronic components, a battery etc., as well as an installation space for a SIM card, the number of installation spaces for SIM cards being at least two. It comprises a multisection attachment with spaces for SIM cards, connected to the interface connector, the number of installation spaces for SIM cards being at least one. Besides, it comprises a multisection attachment with one or more spaces for SIM cards, connected inside the telephone, at the butt end of the cellular telephone, for instance, or near the battery inside the telephone (RU No. 2004135144).

The disadvantages of this device include the necessity of providing a special housing for the telephone set for several SIM cards, the complexity of changing-over and selecting the optimal network and initializing the respective SIM card.

A cellular telephone is known, comprising an aerial, a receiving device and a transmitting device, a monitoring and control device with readonly and random- access memory, a subscriber identification unit, a keyboard, a display, and a power supply interconnected through a system bus comprising a data bus, an address bus, and a control bus, characterized in that it comprises several subscriber identification units combined in a unit connected with a controller which, in turn, is connected with the monitoring and control device through the system bus, with a numeral key corresponding to each subscriber identification unit in accordance with the numerical order of the subscriber identification unit's installation space, and each of the subscriber units can be activated or deactivated at user's will. The user selects one of the calls received simultaneously by pressing the respective digital key of the telephone (RU No. 2319322). The disadvantages of this device include the necessity of providing a complex special housing for the telephone set for several SIM cards, the complexity of the manual selection of the optimal network and initialization of the respective SIM card. To support simultaneous incoming calls, the device must have the respective number of receiving/transmitting paths (channels).

A cellular telephone or other communication means is known, capable of being operated in several different-operator local cellular communication networks simultaneously. A cellular telephone or other communication means capable of being operated in several different-operator cellular communication networks of the same or different standard simultaneously. Such type of a GSM telephone works with SIM cards of different operators with different telephone numbers simultaneously. A cellular telephone or other communication means has a telephone number common for various operators, with several separate channels (RU N° 2004101378).

The disadvantages of this device include the necessity of providing a special housing for the telephone set for several SIM cards, the complexity of selecting the optimal network and initializing the respective SIM card. For that, the device must have several receiving/transmitting paths. Otherwise, operation in several cellular communication networks or networks supporting different communication standards is impossible.

A cellular telephone in which the part comprising a section for installation of

SIM cards is extended to have several SIM-card sections can be considered as the most similar technical solution. The number of sections can be 2 or more and depends on the mobile telephone size. A manual contact selector for the SIM card electronic circuit leading to the telephone common circuit is integrated in the device housing, which selector enables connection of the telephone set electronic circuit with the required SIM card installed in the telephone set. An extra electronic function is integrated in the device electronic chip, designed for the connection of the required SIM card, depending of the subscriber's selection made by inputting commands from the telephone keyboard. Selection of the telephone connection to the required SIM card can be carried out automatically by integration of an electronic function for determination of the optimal connection in the cellular telephone, which function determines during connection with each of the operators in the signal registration/no signal registration mode the quality of communication and then selects of all the operators the one communication with which is most optimal (RU No. 2003128087, prototype).

The disadvantages of this device include the necessity of providing a special complex housing for the telephone set with access for installation of several SIM cards, the impossibility to use a group of SIM cards with several telephones, and the lack of means and algorithms for selecting the optimal network and the respective SIM card.

Summary of the invention

The engineering problem of the invention consists in providing an effective device for selecting and connecting a mobile communication operator, and extending the range of devices for selecting and connecting a mobile communication operator.

The technical result providing solution of the problem set consists in that no complication of telephone set design or change of the telephone set is required for the optimal selection of a mobile (cellular) communication operator from the same telephone set by the user, and the device (a group carrier of SIM cards) used for that purpose is not associated with a single particular telephone set, but can be transferred, moved, or stored independently of the telephone set, with the possibility of programmable and functional interfacing for functioning with the telephone set the user currently has at hand.

The essence of the invention is that the device for selection and connection of a mobile service operator comprises a flat carrier and a group of SIM cards located on one side of the carrier, as well as a power supply and a processor installed on the other side of the carrier, the processor being associated with the said SIM cards with the possibility for each of the SIM cards to be individually connected to a wireless radio communication channel.

With that, the device comprises a group of SIM cards of several mobile operators and the microprocessor is adapted to be individually connected to a mobile radio device by means for data transmission through a wireless channel and to select one of the SIM cards for establishing a radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber. Besides, the microprocessor is adapted to automatically check and compare the communication quality and the economic efficiency of initializing each of the SIM cards when this SIM card is selected for establishing radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber.

Preferably, the carrier is made with pockets for installing SIM cards individually and is furnished with contacts for connecting SIM cards to microprocessor.

The device is furnished with controls in the form of a keyboard connected to power supply and controller, installed on the carrier on the side of the SIM cards, and the power supply is made as a battery or as a converter adapted to be powered from an AudioJack microphone input and a converter adapted to be powered from an NFC carrier in a passive device mode, or a combination thereof.

With that, the pockets are adapted to accommodate Mini-SIM cards dimensioned 25x15x0.76mm and/or Micro-SIM cards dimensioned 15x12x0.76mm, and/or Nano-SIM cards dimensioned 12.3x8.8 x0.67mm.

Preferably, the means for data transmission through a wireless channel are made as Near Field Communication switching means or means for data transmission through a SMART Bluetooth channel.

With that, the microprocessor is assembled in a 3mm to 4mm thick package, and the flat carrier is made with a 87x54mm dimension of a bank card and a 3mm to 4mm thickness.

Short description of drawings

Fig. 1 shows a device for selection and connection of a mobile communication operator, a view on the side of installation of SIM cards, and fig. 2 - an elevational view of fig. 1.

A device for selection and connection of a mobile service operator (a Dynamic Multi SIM cassette), comprising a flat carrier 1 with a plastic surface and a group of SIM cards 2 of several mobile operators, located on one side of the carrier 1, as well as a power supply 3 and a processor (microprocessor) 4 connected with the said SIM cards 2 through contacts 5 with the possibility for each of the SIM cards 2 to be individually connected to a wireless radio communication channel, power supply 3 and the processor 4 being installed on the other side of the carrier. Contacts 5 represent convex contact pads.

Microprocessor 4 is adapted to be connected to an individual mobile radio device, that is to a mobile (cellular) telephone, smartphone, or tablet computer (not shown) by means for data transmission through a wireless channel, and to select one of the SIM cards 2 for establishing radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber.

With that, microprocessor 4 is adapted to automatically check and compare the communication quality and the economic efficiency of initializing each of the SIM cards 2 when this SIM card is selected for establishing a radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber.

Carrier 1 is made with pockets 6 for installing the SIM cards 2 individually and furnished with contacts 5 for connecting the SIM cards 2 to microprocessor 4.

The device is furnished with controls 7 connected to power supply 3 and controller 4, installed on the carrier 1 on the side of the SIM cards 2. Controls 7 are made as a keyboard.

The pockets 6 are adapted to accommodate Mini-SIM cards 2 dimensioned 25x15x0.76mm and/or Micro-SIM cards 2 dimensioned 15xl2x0.76mm, and/or Nano-SIM cards 2 dimensioned 12.3x8.8 x0.67mm.

The means for data transmission through a wireless channel are made as Near

Field Communication (NFC) switching means - short range wireless high-frequency communication technology, or means for data transmission through a SMART Bluetooth channel.

The power supply 3 can be made as an autonomous battery. In other cases, the power supply can represent a combined device providing power supply for the cassette from a standard Audio Jack connector and/or NFC interface carrier signal, when the cassette is a passive NFC device. For that, unit 3 can be made as a converter adapted to be powered from an AudioJack microphone input and a converter adapted to be powered from an NFC carrier in a passive device mode, or a combination thereof.

The microprocessor 4 is assembled in a 3mm to 4mm thick package. The flat carrier 1 is made with a 87x54mm dimension of a bank card and a 3mm to 4mm thickness.

So, the device (a Dynamic Multi SIM cassette) represents a compact cassette for quite a comfortable installation/ removal of SIM cards 2, interacting with an interface SIM card installed in a mobile telephone/smartphone. Contacts 5 of SIM cards 2 are installed in the Dynamic Multi SIM cassette, and also a controller 4 performing readout of information from the SIM cards 2 installed on the carrier 1 , and an exchange function with the interface SIM card installed in a mobile telephone/smartphone. The Dynamic Multi SIM cassette communicates with the SIM card through a wireless data exchange channel (NFC, Bluetooth). The Dynamic Multi SIM cassette, similar to other NFC devices, is transported in a common case with a mobile telephone/smartphone (one of the options).

Detailed description of the invention

Preferred embodiment

The device for selection and connection of a mobile service operator (a

Dynamic Multi SIM cassette) functions as follows.

Onto carrier 1 - a 87x54mm credit card size plate with a 3mm to 4mm thickness, with a plastic surface made as a pocket 6, several various SIM cards are laid down, in particular, mini SIM and nana SIM cards. On the outer side of carrier 1 , that is where pockets 6 for SIM cards are located, convex contact pads (contacts) 5 are located for reliable connection and contact with each individual SIM card 2 laid down in such a pocket 6.

A special microprocessor 4 is assembled on 3mm to 4mm thick carrier 1 with its own control and data transmission infrastructure providing alternate individual connection of SIM cards 2 located in pockets 6 thanks to initialization of the Near Field Communication switching channel or means for data transmission through a SMART Bluetooth switching channel to the virtual SIM card inserted in the SIM jack of a smartphone, mobile telephone, tablet computer or other devices operating with SIM card 2 technology.

Co-operation with a telephone set is carried out thanks to the operation of a special MultiSIM.Soft control software enabling connection through the integrated interface of a smartphone or other device with a smartphone virtual SIM card through a switching channel, providing thereby a unified functional device, but with a greater number of SIM cards of different voice communication mobile operators, Internet providers etc.

So, interfacing with a telephone set (with its own telephone set SIM card) can preferably be carried out through a NFC channel (protocol), when the Dynamic Multi SIM cassette is located in the immediate vicinity of the mobile telephone or smartphone, in the case of the mobile telephone or smartphone itself, for instance.

Near Field Communication, NFC - short range wireless high-frequency communication technology enabling data exchange between devices located approximately at a 10cm distance. The NFC protocol can support communication with the existing SIM cards, readers or other NFC cards, and is therefore compatible with the existing structure of contactless cards, which is already used in the public transport and payment systems. NFC means are able to simultaneously receive and transmit data. Currently, the NFC is aiming at being used in mobile telephones.

In other cases, interfacing with a telephone set can be carried out using the

Bluetooth protocol, when data from the Dynamic Multi SIM cassette are available at a distance up to 20 meters from it. In this connection, an encryption mode shall be activated in between the Dynamic Multi SIM cassette and its data transmission module, using the Bluetooth protocol, and the smartphone itself in which this code will be automatically decrypted.

In both cases the Dynamic Multi SIM.Soft cassette control software performs a special function of optimization of subscriber's costs while maintaining the acceptable quality level, stable voice communication, acceptable digital data transfer rate through the Internet etc.

So, unlike existing devices having a group of SIM cards, the invention claimed provides the possibility of effective and dynamic change of the SIM card initialization configuration at the user side without having to use extra equipment and open the box-like elements of a mobile telephone/smartphone. The SIM cards in the pockets 6 can be easily replaced without accessing and opening the telephone set. Unlike various known means, the claimed device - a Dynamic Multi SIM cassette - is not an appliance for cloning cards and supports a specific operation mode of a specific operator while a card is in the device. In this respect, the Dynamic Multi SIM device does not infringe any rights of the cellular operator, and can hope for cooperation with cellular operators.

Industrial applications

The present invention is embodied with multipurpose equipment extensively employed by the industry.

Claims

1. A device for selection and connection of a mobile communication operator, comprising a flat carrier and a group of SIM cards located on one side of the carrier, as well as a power supply and a processor installed on the other side of the carrier, the processor being connected with the said SIM cards with the possibility for each of the SIM cards 2 to be individually connected to a wireless radio communication channel.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a group of SIM cards of several mobile operators and the microprocessor is adapted to be individually connected to a mobile radio device by means for data transmission through a wireless channel, and to select one of the SIM cards for establishing radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the microprocessor is adapted to automatically check and compare the communication quality and the economic efficiency of initializing each of the SIM cards when this SIM card is selected for establishing radio communication of the mobile radio device with the required subscriber.

4. A device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the carrier is made with pockets for installing the SIM cards individually and is furnished with contacts for connecting the SIM cards to the microprocessor.

5. A device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that it is furnished with controls connected to the power supply and a controller, made as a keyboard installed on the carrier on the side of the SIM cards.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the power supply is made as a battery or as a converter adapted to be powered from an AudioJack microphone input and a converter adapted to be powered from an NFC carrier frequency in a passive device mode, or a combination thereof.

7. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the pockets are adapted to accommodate Mini-SIM cards dimensioned 25xl5x0.76mm) and/or Micro-SIM cards dimensioned 15x12x0.76mm, and/or Nano-SIM 12.3x8.8 x0.67mm.

8. A device according to any of claims 1-3, 6,7, characterized in that the means for data transmission through a wireless channel are made as Near Field Communication switching means or means for data transmission through a SMART Bluetooth channel.

9. A device according to any of claims 1-3, 6,7, characterized in that the microprocessor is assembled in a 3mm to 4mm thick package.

10. A device according to any of claims 1-3,6,7, characterized in that the flat carrier is made with a 87x54 mm dimension of a bank card and a 3 mm to 4 mm thickness.