Method and arrangement for communicating subscriber related data in a wireless communications system

• US 6,615,057 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Pettersson, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Lana
• Application Number:
  US09/305,503
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/419, 455/420, 455/422, 455/466, 455/66, 455/41, 455/88, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement for communication of subscriber identity module related data in a wireless communication system. The arrangement comprises a wireless communication terminal with a subscriber identity unit which includes a subscriber identity module, to which a subscriber identity is assigned. The present invention also relates to a method for communication of subscriber identity module related data in a wireless communication system for implementation in a wireless communication terminal having a subscriber identity unit. The subscriber identity unit is arranged to communicate the subscriber identity module related data, such as, for example the subscriber identity, to the terminal over a local wireless communication link. The arrangement according to the present invention makes it possible to separate the subscriber identity unit from the terminal while the terminal is communicating using the wireless system.

Claims

1. An arrangement for communication of subscriber identity module related data in a wireless communication system, the arrangement comprising:

at least a first portable wireless communication terminal; and

a subscriber identity unit including a subscriber identity module to which a subscriber identity is assigned, and wherein the subscriber identity unit is configured to communicate an authentication, including the subscriber identity module related data, from the subscriber identity unit to the first portable wireless communication terminal over a local wireless communication link, the first portable wireless communication terminal adapted to use the subscriber identity module related data to communicate in the wireless communication system.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber identity module related data includes at least the subscriber identity, and wherein the first portable wireless communication terminal is given authentication in the wireless communication system.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber identity unit can be separated from the first portable wireless communication terminal.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber identity unit is part of a subscriber identity terminal.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber identity unit is part of a second wireless communication terminal.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising at least two wireless communication terminals, and wherein the subscriber identity module is further configured to communicate the subscriber identity module related data to each of the at least two wireless communication terminals at the same time or at different times, selectively.

7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the local wireless communication link operates within a radio frequency range.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the local wireless communication link operates within a frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz.

9. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the local wireless communication link operates within an infrared frequency range.

10. A station for use in a wireless communication system, the station comprising:

a subscriber identity unit having a subscriber identity module to which a subscriber identity is assigned, and wherein the subscriber identity unit is configured to communicate an authentication, including the subscriber identity module related data, from the subscriber identity unit to a first portable wireless communication terminal over a local wireless communication link, wherein the subscriber identity module related data is adapted to be used by the first portable wireless communication terminal to communicate in the wireless communication system.

11. A station according to claim 10, wherein the subscriber identity module related data includes at least the subscriber identity.

12. A station according to claim 10, wherein the station is the subscriber identity unit.

13. A station according to claim 10, wherein the station is a subscriber identity terminal.

14. A station according to claim 10, wherein the station is a wireless communication terminal.

15. A station according to claim 10, wherein the local wireless communication link operates within a radio frequency range.

16. A station according to claim 15, wherein the local wireless communication link operates within the frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz.

17. A station according to claim 10, wherein the local wireless communication link operates within an infrared frequency range.

18. A method for communication of subscriber identity module related data in a wireless communication system for at least a first portable wireless communication terminal using a subscriber identity unit having a subscriber identity module that is configured to communicate an authentication to the first portable wireless communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a subscriber identity to the subscriber identity module;

establishing communication over a local wireless communication link between the subscriber identity unit and the first portable wireless communication terminal;

communicating subscriber identity module related data over the local wireless communication link from the subscriber identity unit to the first portable wireless communication terminal; and

establishing communication between the first portable wireless communication terminal and a wireless communication system using the subscriber identity module related data.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the subscriber identity module related data includes at least the subscriber identity, and the step of communicating the subscriber identity module related data further includes providing authentication to the first portable wireless communication terminal in the wireless communication system.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising separating the subscriber identity unit from the first portable wireless communication terminal.

21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising providing the subscriber identity unit in a subscriber identity terminal.

22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising providing the subscriber identity unit in a second wireless communication terminal.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising communicating the subscriber identity module related data with at least one of at least two wireless communication terminals at a time.

24. A method for communication of subscriber identity module related data in a wireless communication system for at least a first portable wireless communication terminal using a subscriber identity unit having a subscriber identity module that is configured to communicate an authentication to the first portable wireless communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a subscriber identity to the subscriber identity module;

establishing communication over a local wireless communication link between the subscriber identity unit and the first portable wireless communication terminal;

communicating subscriber identity module related data with at least one of at least two wireless communication terminals at a time over the local wireless communication link; and

establishing communication between the first portable wireless communication terminal and a wireless communication system using the subscriber identity module related data; and

routing an incoming call to the one of the wireless communication terminals under control of the subscriber identity unit.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising routing an outgoing call from the one of the wireless communication terminals under control of the subscriber identity unit.

26. A method according to claim 24, further comprising at least one step selected from the following two steps:

routing an incoming call to one of the wireless communication terminals in accordance with a mutual precedence between the wireless communication terminals; and

routing an outgoing call from one of the wireless communication terminals in accordance with the mutual precedence between the wireless communication terminals.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising storing information in a memory of the subscriber identity unit about the mutual precedence.

28. A method according to claim 26, further comprising varying the mutual precedence depending on which type of services are provided.

29. A method according to claim 26, further comprising determining the mutual precedence automatically using the subscriber identity unit.

30. A method according to claim 26, further comprising determining the mutual precedence automatically using the subscriber identity the incoming call.

31. A method according to claim 26, further comprising determining the mutual precedence manually using the wireless communication terminals via a user interface of either the subscriber identity unit or of one of the wireless communication terminals.

32. A method according to claim 24, further comprising communicating the subscriber identity module related data over the local wireless communication link using radio frequency signals.

33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising communicating the subscriber identity over the local wireless communication link within the frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz.

34. A method according to claim 24, further comprising communicating the subscriber identity over the local wireless communication link using infrared frequency signals.

35. An arrangement for communication of subscriber identity module related data in a wireless communication system, the arrangement comprising:

at least a first wireless communication terminal; and

a subscriber identity unit including a subscriber identity module to which a subscriber identity is assigned, and wherein the subscriber identity unit is configured to communicate an authentication, including the subscriber identity module related data, from the subscriber identity unit to the first wireless communication terminal over a local wireless communication link established between the subscriber identity unit and the first wireless communication terminal, wherein the local wireless communication link is arranged to be established while the first wireless communication terminal is communicating in the wireless communication system.

36. A station for use in a wireless communication system, the station comprising:

a subscriber identity unit having, a subscriber identity module to which a subscriber identity is assigned, and wherein the subscriber identity unit is configured to communicate an authentication, including the subscriber identity module related data, from the subscriber identity unit to a first wireless communication terminal over a local wireless communication link, wherein the local wireless communication link is arranged to be established while the first wireless communication terminal is communicating in the wireless communication system.

37. A method for communication of subscriber identity module related data in a wireless communication system for at least a first wireless communication terminal using a subscriber identity unit having a subscriber identity module that is configured to communicate an authentication to the first wireless communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a subscriber identity to the subscriber identity module;

establishing communication over a local wireless communication link between the subscriber identity unit and the first wireless communication terminal; and

communicating subscriber identity module related data over the local wireless communication link from the subscriber identity unit to the first wireless terminal, wherein the local wireless communication link is arranged to be established while the first wireless communication terminal is communicating in the wireless communication system.