Exchange which controls M SIMs and N transceivers and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method for operating a multi-channel subscriber exchange that couples to a network that provides communication and authentication services for subscribers over channels, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing a quantity M of subscriber identity modules (SIMs), where M is an integer number;
controlling a quantity N of transceivers, where N is an integer number less than M;
selecting one of the SIMs and one of the transceivers; and
coupling the selected ones of the SIMs and the transceivers together.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An on-board aircraft telecommunication exchange (32) provides communication and authentication services for M subscriber identity modules (SIMs) using N transceivers (36), where M can be greater than N. Associations between SIMs (56) and transceivers (36) are established when needed. Accordingly, a pool of transceivers 36 is provided to serve the collective needs of many subscribers. A SIM based authentication process is performed (100) using a subscriber'"'"'s original SIM (56). That authentication can be extended to a temporary SIM (106) that is substituted for the original SIM throughout the remainder of a flight. Alternatively, the original SIMs (56) may be locked in place and relinquished when a subscriber provides an appropriate PIN.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a multi-channel subscriber exchange that couples to a network that provides communication and authentication services for subscribers over channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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accessing a quantity M of subscriber identity modules (SIMs), where M is an integer number; controlling a quantity N of transceivers, where N is an integer number less than M; selecting one of the SIMs and one of the transceivers; and coupling the selected ones of the SIMs and the transceivers together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a multi-channel subscriber exchange that couples to a network that provides communication and authentication services for subscribers over channels such that the communication services are provided during incoming and outgoing calls, the method comprising the steps of:
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accessing a quantity M of subscriber identity modules (SIMs), where M is an integer number; controlling a quantity N of transceivers, where N is an integer number less than M; associating a handset with each of the SIMs; selecting one of the SIMs and one of the transceivers at an initiation of one of the calls; identifying one of the handsets associated with the selected one of the SIMs at the initiation of the one of the calls; coupling the identified handset and the selected SIM to the selected transceiver at the initiation of the one of the calls; and decoupling the selected SIM from the selected transceiver at a termination of the one of the calls. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A multi-channel subscriber exchange that couples to a network that provides communication and authentication services for subscribers over channels, the exchange comprising:
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subscriber identity card access ports configured to receive a quantity M of subscriber identity modules (SIMs), where M is an integer number; a quantity N of transceivers, where N is an integer number less than M; and a controller configured to couple one of the quantity N of the transceivers to one of the subscriber identity card access ports. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification