COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR USING A COMMUNICATION SERVICE

• US 20140256302A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Deutschland GmbH (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Chirayil, Beena Joy
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• 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 communication terminal is described including a transceiver, a plurality of subscriber identity modules, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive a signal for each of the subscriber identity modules, a determiner configured to determine, for each subscriber identity module, a rating of the received signal and a controller configured to select a subscriber identity module from the plurality of subscriber identity modules for a communication service based on the ratings and configured to control the transceiver to use the communication service by means of the selected subscriber identity module.

Claims

1. A communication terminal comprising:

a transceiver;

a plurality of subscriber identity modules, wherein the transceiver is configured to

receive a signal for each of the subscriber identity modules;

a determiner configured to determine, for each subscriber identity module, a rating of the received signal; and

a controller configured to select a subscriber identity module from the plurality of subscriber identity modules for a communication service based on the ratings and configured to control the transceiver to use the communication service by means of the selected subscriber identity module.

2. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to select the subscriber identity module or one of the subscriber identity modules for which the transceiver has received the signal with the highest rating.

3. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the rating of the signal is the signal strength at which the transceiver has received the signal or a quality of the signal or a combination of both.

4. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive, for each of the subscriber identity modules, the signal via a communication channel associated with the subscriber identity module.

5. Communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein for each subscriber identity module, the terminal camps on a radio cell and the communication channel associated with the subscriber identity module is a downlink channel of the radio cell.

6. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the transceiver to initiate the communication service by means of the selected subscriber identity module.

7. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein each subscriber identity module of the plurality of subscriber identity modules is associated with a cellular mobile communication network.

8. Communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein the subscriber identity module identifies the communication terminal as a subscriber terminal of the cellular mobile communication network associated with the subscriber identity module.

9. Communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the subscriber identity modules are associated with different cellular mobile communication networks.

10. Communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the subscriber identity modules are at least partially associated with the same cellular mobile communication network.

11. Communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to control the transceiver to use the communication service by means of the cellular mobile communication network associated with selected subscriber identity module.

12. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein using the communication service by means of the selected subscriber identity module includes using the subscriber identity module to identify the mobile when using the communication service.

13. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein using the communication service by means of the selected subscriber identity module includes using the subscriber identity module to perform encryption and decryption of data exchanged in context of the communication service.

14. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication service is dedicated communication connection.

15. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication connection is a circuit switched communication connection or a packet switched communication connection.

16. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication service is exchange of useful data.

17. Communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication service is a voice call or video call or a messaging service.

18. A method for using a communication service comprising:

receiving a signal for each of a plurality of subscriber identity modules;

determining, for each subscriber identity module, a rating of the received signal;

selecting a subscriber identity module from the plurality of subscriber identity modules for a communication service based on the ratings; and

using the communication service by means of the selected subscriber identity module.