APPARATUS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SIMS

• US 20130260831A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UROS Technology S.A.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Uros Oy
• Inventors: UHARI, Tommi
• Granted Patent: US 10,154,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An apparatus is removably attachable to an electronic device associated with wireless communication. The apparatus includes an operational circuitry which includes contact means, memory means and data processing means. The contact means is for electrical coupling between the electronic device and the operational circuitry. The memory means is capable of storing subscriber-identity-module-specific data of at least two subscriber identity module associated with at least one operator of wireless communication for causing the apparatus to act as a plurality of the subscriber identity modules of the at least one operator when in use.

Claims

1. An apparatus which is configured to be

removably attachable to an electronic device associated with wireless communication;

the apparatus comprises an operational circuitry which comprises contact means, memory means and data processing means;

the contact means is for electrical coupling between the electronic device and the operational circuitry;

the memory means is capable of storing subscriber-identity-module-specific data of at least two subscriber identity modules associated with at least one operator of wireless communication for causing the apparatus to act as a plurality of the subscriber identity modules of the at least one operator when using the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory means is capable of storing instructions, that, when executed by the processing means, cause the apparatus to:

act as a plurality of the subscriber identity modules of the at least one operator on the basis of the stored subscriber-identity-module-specific data in the memory means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of separate subscriber identity module chips wherein the operational circuitry comprises electrical circuits of the subscriber identity module chips, each of the subscriber module chips acting as a subscriber identity module.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an emulating integrated circuit means which is configured to emulate each of the plurality of the subscriber identity modules of the at least one operator of wireless communication in a virtual form.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one memory of the emulating integrated circuit being divided into different sections each section being for different operator.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive selection data through the contact means, and the memory means is capable of storing instructions, that, when executed by the processing means, cause the apparatus to use the at least one subscriber identity module on the basis of the selection data for mobile communication.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive at least one identifier referring to at least one subscriber identity module through the contact means, and the memory means is capable of storing instructions, that, when executed by the processing means, cause the apparatus to use the at least one subscriber identity module on the basis of the at least one identifier for mobile communication.

8. An apparatus which is capable of accepting at least one card in a removably attachable manner, each of the at least one card comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 1;

and

the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card comprises

contact electrodes for electrical coupling between the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card and the at least one card;

one or more processors;

the one or more memories of the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card storing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card to;

obtain data from the at least one subscriber identity module and control the use of at least one subscriber identity module of a plurality of subscriber identity modules of at least one operator of wireless communication associated with the at least one card for wireless communication.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card comprises an interface associated with a plurality of subscriber identity modules of wireless communication;

the one or more memories store instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card to;

obtain selection ground data from the interface; and

control the use of at least one subscriber identity module associated with the at least one card on the basis of the selection ground data.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card comprises a selector circuit;

the one or more memories of the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card store instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus the apparatus capable of accepting at least one card to;

form at least one identifier addressing at least one subscriber identity module on the basis of the selection ground data and output the formed at least one identifier to the selector circuit;

the selector circuit being configured to select the least one subscriber identity module in use on the basis of the at least one identifier.

11. A method of manufacturing the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising:

storing, in the at least one memory of the apparatus, subscriber-identity-module-specific data of a plurality of subscriber identity modules associated with at least one operator of wireless communication for causing the apparatus to act as a plurality of the subscriber identity modules of the at least one operator when using the apparatus.

12. The method according to claim 11, the method comprising storing, in the at least one memory of the apparatus, instructions, that, when executed by the processing means, cause the apparatus to:

act as a plurality of subscriber identity modules of the at least one operator of wireless communication on the basis of the stored subscriber-identity-module-specific data in the at least one memory.

13. A method of manufacturing the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of subscriber identity module chips in a carrier structure of the apparatus and forming electrical coupling between the contact pins and the plurality of subscriber identity module chips.

14. A method of manufacturing the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising:

storing subscriber-identity-module-specific data of a plurality of subscriber identity modules in the at least one memory of at least one emulating integrated circuit of the apparatus for emulating the subscriber identity modules in the apparatus virtually.

15. A method of manufacturing the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising:

receiving authorization for use of one or more subscriber identity module chips from the at least one operator of the at least one subscriber identity module chip.

16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive selection data through the contact means, and the memory means is capable of storing instructions, that, when executed by the processing means, cause the apparatus to use the at least one subscriber identity module on the basis of the selection data for mobile communication.

17. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive at least one identifier referring to at least one subscriber identity module through the contact means, and the memory means is capable of storing instructions, that, when executed by the processing means, cause the apparatus to use the at least one subscriber identity module on the basis of the at least one identifier for mobile communication.