Method for Roaming Management in a Mobile Radio Unit, Infotainment System for a Motor Vehicle, and Motor Vehicle

• US 20160302171A1
• Filed: 06/17/2016
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: TAFELMAYER, Robert, KRAUSS, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,104,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18554 using the position provided by an existing geolocalisation system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/005 Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method is provided for roaming management in a mobile radio unit, in the memory of which a plurality of different individually activatable identity profiles are stored. The identity profiles includes different options for the mobile radio unit to access different mobile radio networks. In the method, the suitability of a currently active identity profile is automatically verified according to predefined rules and taking into account the current position of the mobile radio unit, and a decision is made as to whether a switch to a currently inactive identity profile should be made. An estimated destination of the mobile radio unit is additionally taken into account when making a decision about switching profiles.

Claims

1. A method for roaming management in a mobile radio unit having a memory in which are stored a plurality of different individually activatable identity profiles, said identity profiles comprising different options for the mobile radio unit to access different mobile radio networks, the method comprising the acts of:

automatically checking a suitability of a currently active identity profile according to prescribed rules and taking into account a current position of the mobile radio unit, and making a decision about whether to switch to a currently inactive identity profile, wherein

the decision about whether to switch to the currently inactive identity profile takes into account an estimated movement destination of the mobile radio unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a navigation destination active in a navigation unit that is functionally coupled to the mobile radio unit is used as the estimated movement destination that is taken into account.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

a probable movement destination is used as the estimated movement destination that is taken into account,

the probable movement destination that is used is a movement destination selected based on prescribed rules using current movement circumstance parameters from a database that comprises earlier movement destinations for the mobile radio unit together with associated movement circumstance parameters thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile radio unit is a transmission and reception unit of an infotainment system in a motor vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the memory of the mobile radio unit containing the plurality of different individually activatable identity profiles comprises a SIM card, the SIM card storing a plurality of IMSIs that each represent an individual identity profile.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the memory of the mobile radio unit containing the plurality of individually activatable identity profiles comprises a plurality of SIM cards, each storing an IMSI representing an individual identity profile.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current position of the mobile radio unit is determined via satellite-assisted position finding by a position finding unit functionally coupled to the mobile radio unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current position of the mobile radio unit is determined via position-related data from network equipment components that interchange data with the mobile radio unit.

9. An infotainment system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a mobile radio unit having transmission and reception capability, a memory of the mobile radio unit storing a plurality of different individually activatable identity profiles, said identity profiles comprising different options for the mobile radio unit to access different mobile radio networks;

a navigation unit functionally coupled to the mobile radio unit; and

a control unit operatively coupled to the mobile radio unit and to the navigation unit, the control unit being configured to;

automatically check a suitability of a currently active identity profile according to prescribed rules and taking into account a current position of the mobile radio unit, and make a decision about whether to switch to a currently inactive identity profile, wherein

the decision about whether to switch to the currently inactive identity profile takes into account an estimated movement destination of the mobile radio unit.

10. The infotainment system according to claim 9, wherein a navigation destination active in a navigation unit that is functionally coupled to the mobile radio unit is used as the estimated movement destination that is taken into account.

11. The infotainment system according to claim 9, wherein:

a probable movement destination is used as the estimated movement destination that is taken into account,

the probable movement destination that is used is a movement destination selected based on prescribed rules using current movement circumstance parameters from a database that comprises earlier movement destinations for the mobile radio unit together with associated movement circumstance parameters thereof.

12. The infotainment system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile radio unit is a transmission and reception unit of an infotainment system in a motor vehicle.

13. The infotainment system according to claim 9, wherein the memory of the mobile radio unit containing the plurality of different individually activatable identity profiles comprises a SIM card, the SIM card storing a plurality of IMSIs that each represent an individual identity profile.

14. The infotainment system according to claim 9, wherein the memory of the mobile radio unit containing the plurality of individually activatable identity profiles comprises a plurality of SIM cards, each storing an IMSI representing an individual identity profile.

15. The infotainment system according to claim 9, wherein the current position of the mobile radio unit is determined via satellite-assisted position finding by a position finding unit functionally coupled to the mobile radio unit.

16. The infotainment system according to claim 9, wherein the current position of the mobile radio unit is determined via position-related data from network equipment components that interchange data with the mobile radio unit.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an infotainment system for the motor vehicle, the infotainment system comprising;

a mobile radio unit having transmission and reception capability, a memory of the mobile radio unit storing a plurality of different individually activatable identity profiles, said identity profiles comprising different options for the mobile radio unit to access different mobile radio networks;

a navigation unit functionally coupled to the mobile radio unit; and

a control unit operatively coupled to the mobile radio unit and to the navigation unit, the control unit being configured to;

automatically check a suitability of a currently active identity profile according to prescribed rules and taking into account a current position of the mobile radio unit, and make a decision about whether to switch to a currently inactive identity profile, wherein

the decision about whether to switch to the currently inactive identity profile takes into account an estimated movement destination of the mobile radio unit.