Apparatuses and Methods for Coordinating Operations of Multiple Wireless Communications Modules with Multiple Subscriber Numbers

• US 20110235587A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Via Telecom Inc. (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Wang, Sheng-Hung, Liu, Chia-Hsun, Zhang, Ker, I, Amelia Hungmei, Su, Huai-Wen, Yang, Hong-Kui, Gu, Jian
• Granted Patent: US 9,332,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless communications device is provided with a plurality of card slots, a first wireless communications module, and a second wireless communications module. The card slots are inserted with at least one subscriber identity card. The first wireless communications module performs wireless transceiving in compliance with at least a first wireless technology. The second wireless communications module determines at least a first subscriber number and a second subscriber number from the at least one subscriber identity card, and enables the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module using the first subscriber number. Also, the second wireless communications module performs wireless transceiving in compliance with at least a second wireless technology using the second subscriber number.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a plurality of card slots, inserted with at least one subscriber identity card;

a first wireless communications module performing wireless transceiving in compliance with at least a first wireless technology; and

a second wireless communications module determining at least a first subscriber number and a second subscriber number from the at least one subscriber identity card, enabling the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module using the first subscriber number, and performing wireless transceiving in compliance with at least a second wireless technology using the second subscriber number.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communications module further determines a total number of the at least one subscriber identity card, and determines a card type for each one of the at least one subscriber identity card.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 2, wherein the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module is enabled and performed, respectively, according to the total number and the card type of the at least one subscriber identity card.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module operate in a standby mode in response to the determining of the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communications module further determines whether a predetermined communication mode is applicable, and the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module is enabled and performed, respectively, according to the predetermined communication mode.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the at least one subscriber identity card comprises any combination of the following:

one or more single-mode subscriber identity cards; and

one or more dual-mode subscriber identity cards.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless technology and the second wireless technology comprise any combination of the following:

a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) technology;

a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology;

an Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology;

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) technology;

a High Speed xlink Packet Access (HSxPA) technology;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology;

an LTE-Advanced technology;

a Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) technology;

a TD-LTE technology;

a TD-LTE-Advanced technology;

an Interim Standard 95 (IS-95) technology;

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) 1x technology;

a CDMA2000 1x Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data (CDMA2000 1x EV-DO) technology; and

a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) technology.

8. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a plurality of card slots, inserted with at least one subscriber identity card;

a first wireless communications module performing wireless transceiving in compliance with at least a first wireless technology;

a second wireless communications module performing wireless transceiving in compliance with at least a second wireless technology; and

an application processor determining at least a first subscriber number and a second subscriber number from the at least one subscriber identity card, and enabling the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module using the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number, respectively.

9. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the application processor further determines a total number of the at least one subscriber identity card, and determines a card type for each one of the at least one subscriber identity card.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 9, wherein the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module is enabled according to the total number and the card type of the at least one subscriber identity card.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module operate in a standby mode after being enabled.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the application processor further determines whether a predetermined communication mode is applicable, and the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module is enabled according to the predetermined communication mode.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the at least one subscriber identity card comprises any combination of the following:

one or more single-mode subscriber identity cards; and

one or more dual-mode subscriber identity cards.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the first wireless technology and the second wireless technology comprise any combination of the following:

a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) technology;

a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology;

an Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology;

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) technology;

a High Speed xlink Packet Access (HSxPA) technology;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology;

an LTE-Advanced technology;

a Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) technology;

a TD-LTE technology;

a TD-LTE-Advanced technology;

an Interim Standard 95 (IS-95) technology;

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) 1x technology;

a CDMA2000 1x Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data (CDMA2000 1x EV-DO) technology; and

a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) technology.

15. A method for coordinating operations of multiple wireless communications modules in a wireless communications device with multiple subscriber numbers, comprising:

providing a first wireless communications module and a second wireless communications module in compliance with at least a first wireless technology and at least a second wireless technology, respectively;

detecting at least one subscriber identity card inserted into a plurality of card slots;

determining at least a first subscriber number and a second subscriber number from the at least one subscriber identity card; and

enabling the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module for wireless transceiving using the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number, respectively.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a total number of the at least one subscriber identity card, and determining a card type for each one of the at least one subscriber identity card.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module is enabled according to the total number and the card type of the at least one subscriber identity card.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module operate in a standby mode after being enabled.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether a predetermined communication mode is applicable, wherein the wireless transceiving of the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module is enabled according to the predetermined communication mode.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one subscriber identity card comprises any combination of the following:

one or more single-mode subscriber identity cards; and

one or more dual-mode subscriber identity cards.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first wireless technology and the second wireless technology comprise any combination of the following:

a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) technology;

a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology;

an Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology;

a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) technology;

a High Speed xlink Packet Access (HSxPA) technology;

a Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology;

an LTE-Advanced technology;

a Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) technology;

a TD-LTE technology;

a TD-LTE-Advanced technology;

an Interim Standard 95 (IS-95) technology;

a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) 1x technology;

a CDMA2000 1x Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data (CDMA2000 1x EV-DO) technology; and

a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) technology.