SMART CARD; COMMUNICATION DEVICE; METHOD FOR SELECTING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK TO BE USED BY A COMMUNICATION DEVICE; COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

• US 20080146280A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Gruber, Roland, Sasse, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Smart cards, a communication device, methods for selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device, and a computer program product.

Claims

1. A smart card, comprising:

a smart card processing logic selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device using the smart card; and

a smart card memory storing information about at least one communication network to be selected.

2. The smart card of claim 1, wherein the smart card processing logic comprises a programmable smart card processing logic.

3. The smart card of claim 1, wherein the smart card programmable processing logic comprises a smart card microprocessor.

4. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising a subscriber identity module.

5. The smart card of claim 1, wherein the communication network is selected after a predetermined time has elapsed.

6. The smart card of claim 1, wherein the smart card processing logic selects a mobile radio communication network to be used by the communication device.

7. The smart card of claim 6, wherein the smart card processing logic selects a public land mobile communication network to be used by the communication device.

8. The smart card of claim 1, wherein the smart card memory stores at least one priority communication network list.

9. The smart card of claim 8, wherein the smart card memory stores at least one communication network operator controlled priority communication network list.

10. The smart card of claim 8, wherein the smart card memory stores at least one user controlled priority communication network list.

11. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising a smart card interface receiving information about at least one communication network which is available for the communication device.

12. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising a smart card interface providing access to at least one communication network which can be selected to be used by the communication device.

13. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising a smart card interface receiving event information triggering the processing logic to select a communication network to by used by the communication device.

14. A smart card, comprising:

a smart card microprocessor selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device using the smart card;

a subscriber identity module; and

a smart card memory storing information about at least one communication network to be selected.

15. A communication device, comprising:

a communication device processing logic; and

a smart card coupled to the communication device processing logic, the smart card comprising;

a smart card processing logic selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device using the smart card; and

a smart card memory storing information about at least one communication network to be selected.

16. The communication device of claim 15, being a mobile radio communication device.

17. A method for selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device, comprising operating a smart card processing logic selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device using a smart card.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the smart card programmable processing logic comprises a smart card microprocessor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein selecting the communication network comprises selecting a mobile radio communication network to be used by the communication device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein selecting the communication network comprises selecting a public land mobile communication network to be used by the communication device.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the selecting the communication network is carried out using at least one priority communication network list stored in a smart card memory.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the selecting the communication network is carried out using at least one communication network operator controlled priority communication network list stored in a smart card memory.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the communication network is selected after a predetermined time has elapsed.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the selecting the communication network is carried out using at least one user controlled priority communication network list stored in a smart card memory.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the selecting the communication network is carried out using information about at least one communication network which is available for the communication device that is received via a smart card interface.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing at least one communication network which can be selected to be used by the communication device via a smart card interface.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the selecting the communication network is carried out in response to a receipt of event information via a smart card interface.

28. A method for selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device, comprising:

receiving a communication network select signal via a smart card interface; and

operating a smart card processing logic selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device using the smart card in response to the communication network select signal.

29. A computer program product for selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device, when being executed by a smart card processing logic, comprising:

receiving a communication network select signal via a smart card interface; and

operating a smart card processing logic selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device using the smart card in response to the communication network select signal.

30. A smart card, comprising:

a smart card processing means for selecting a communication network to be used by a communication device using the smart card; and

a smart card memory means for storing information about at least one communication network to be selected.