Methods and apparatus for controlling power to electrical circuitry of a wireless communication device having a subscriber identity module (SIM) interface

• US 20040121793A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Deu-Ngoc, Joseph T., Weigele, Ingo W.
• Application Number:
  US10/427,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20040121793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/286 during data packet transmission, e.g. high speed packet access [HSPA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling power to electrical circuitry of a wireless communication device having a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) interface are described. In one illustrative embodiment, a method includes the acts of receiving a power down signal from a user interface of the wireless communication device; powering down radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry of the wireless communication device in response to the power down signal; and maintaining power to a SIM interface of the wireless communication device while the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power down signal. A visual display of the device is capable of displaying information (e.g. address book information) from a SIM card while the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power down signal.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power to electrical circuitry of a battery-powered wireless communication device, the method comprising the further acts of:

receiving a power-off signal from a user interface of the wireless communication device;

powering down radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry of the wireless communication device in response to the power-off signal; and

maintaining power to a smart card interface of the wireless communication device when the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power-off signal.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the further acts of:

receiving a power-on signal from the user interface;

prompting for a password or PIN of a smart card in response to receiving the power-on signal; and

powering on the RF transceiver circuitry after receiving the power-on signal.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising the further acts of:

receiving information through the RF transceiver circuitry;

operating the smart card interface to store the information on a smart card; and

retrieving the information when the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power-off signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface circuitry comprises at least one of a keypad and a visual display, the method comprising the further acts of:

receiving information through the RF transceiver circuitry;

operating the smart card interface to store the information on a smart card;

retrieving the information through the smart card interface when the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power-off signal; and

visually displaying the information on the visual display when the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power-off signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface circuitry comprises at least one of a keypad and a visual display, the method comprising the further acts of:

receiving address book information through the RF transceiver circuitry;

operating the smart card interface to store the address book information on a smart card;

retrieving the address book information through the smart card interface when the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power-off signal; and

visually displaying the address book information on the visual display when the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power-off signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart card interface comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) interface for a SIM.

7. A wireless communication device, comprising:

user interface circuitry;

radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry;

microprocessor circuitry;

a smart card interface;

the user interface circuitry configured to receive a power down signal;

the RF transceiver circuitry configured to be powered down in response to the power down signal; and

the smart card interface configured to be maintained with power while the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power down signal.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the user interface circuitry comprises a keyboard or keypad.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the user interface circuitry comprises a visual display.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein a smart card connected to the smart card interface comprises memory for storing information received through the RF transceiver circuitry.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 7, further comprising:

memory of a smart card which stores information received through the RF transceiver circuitry; and

the user interface comprising a visual display which displays the information while the RF transceiver circuitry is powered down from the power down signal.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 7, further comprising:

a battery interface which receives one or more batteries for powering the user interface circuitry, the RF transceiver circuitry, and the smart card interface.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 7, further comprising:

a first regulator coupled to the RF transceiver circuitry; and

a second regulator coupled to the smart card interface.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 7, further comprising:

a first regulator coupled to the RF transceiver circuitry;

a second regulator coupled to the smart card interface; and

a third regulator coupled to the microprocessor circuitry.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the smart card interface comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) interface.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the smart card interface comprises a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard (UMTS) card interface.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 7, further comprising:

the user interface circuitry configured to receive a power-on signal;

the user interface circuitry configured to prompt for a password or PIN of a smart card in response to receiving the power-on signal; and

the RF transceiver circuitry configured to be powered on after receiving the power-on signal.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 7, comprising a mobile station operable in a cellular telecommunication network.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 7, comprising a text message receiving device operable in a cellular telecommunication network.

20. A battery-powered wireless communication device, comprising:

radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry operative in accordance with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication;

the RF transceiver circuitry configured to receive user information over an RF link;

a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) interface for a SIM which stores the user information received through the RF transceiver circuitry;

user interface circuitry configured to receive a power-off signal;

the RF transceiver circuitry configured to be powered off in response to the power-off signal;

the SIM interface configured to be maintained with power while the RF transceiver circuitry is powered off from the power off signal;

the user interface circuitry configured to receive user input signals while the RF transceiver circuitry is powered off; and

microprocessor circuitry configured to retrieve the user information through the SIM interface in response to the user input signals, so that the user information is visually displayed in the visual display while the RF transceiver circuitry is powered off.

21. The battery-powered wireless communication device of claim 20, further comprising:

a first regulator circuit coupled to the RF transceiver circuitry; and

a second regulator circuit coupled to the SIM interface.

22. The battery-powered wireless communication device of claim 20, further comprising:

a first regulator circuit coupled to the RF transceiver circuitry;

a second regulator circuit coupled to the SIM interface; and

a third regulator circuit coupled to the microprocessor circuitry.