Replacement of externally mounted user interface modules with software emulation of user interface module functions in embedded processor applications

• US 6,799,155 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1999
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lindemann, Brian, Barbour, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US09/459,067
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 703/14, 703/16, 703/23, 703/24, 703/26, 703/27, 455/445, 455/411, 455/458, 455/558, 455/557, 380/273, 235/380, 235/487, 713/182
• US Class Current: 703/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for implementing in embedded software the functionality of one or more external user interface circuits either in a surface mountable integrated circuit or in the main system CPU of a telecommunication unit.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with a communication network, the system comprising:

a) a memory having a plurality of machine instructions and a plurality of unique subscriber identity data stored therein;

b) a processor coupled to said memory, said processor accessing said unique subscriber identity data and executing said plurality of machine instructions to implement a plurality of SIM emulation functions,

wherein the plurality of unique subscriber identity data are stored in said memory using (i) a software data file that includes at least the plurality of unique subscriber identity data and (ii) one or more installation software files, each installation software file generated based at least in part on the software data file.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of SIM emulation functions comprise essentially all functions normally performed by one or more physical SIM cards in a satellite communication network application.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of SIM emulation functions comprise;

i) validating a SIM on the communication network,

ii) assigning a temporary mobile subscriber identifier, and

iii) providing an authentication key.

4. The system recited in claim 3, wherein said assigning a temporary mobile subscriber identifier further comprises causing the communication network to assign a temporary identifier.

5. The system recited in claim 3, wherein said validating the SIM on the communication network fruitier comprises accessing a subscriber identity stored in said memory.

6. The system recited in claim 5, wherein said subscriber identity is stored in said memory in the form of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

7. The system recited in claim 5, wherein said validating the SIM on the communication network further comprises:

accessing said authentication key stored in said memory; and

verifying said subsciber identity in concert with the communication network using said authentication key.

8. The system recited in claim 3, wherein said plurality of SIM emulation functions further comprises:

accessing a Personal Identification Number stored in said memory;

compare one or more numbers entered on a user terminal to said Personal Identification Number;

counting the quantity of said number entries; and

accessing the communication network in response to a positive comparison of said one or more entered numbers to said Personal Identification Number and said quantity of number entries being less than a predetermined maximum quantity.

9. A system for communicating with a communication network, the system comprising:

a) a memory having a plurality of machine instructions and a plurality of subscriber data stored therein, said subscriber data comprising;

i) a unique subscriber identity data, and

ii) an identifying authentication key; and

b) a processor coupled to said memory, said processor executing said plurality of machine instructions to implement a plurality of functions, said functions comprising;

i) validating a subscriber SIM on the communication network, and

ii) transmitting and receiving communications via the communication network,

wherein the unique subscriber identity data are stored in said memory using (i) a software data file that includes at least the unique subscriber identity data and (ii) one or more installation software files, each installation software file generated based at least in part on the software data file.

10. The system recited in claim 9, wherein said plurality of subscriber validating functions further comprises a plurality of SIM emulation functions.

11. The system recited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of SIM emulation functions further comprise:

i) accessing said unique subscriber identity data,

ii) accessing said identifying authentication key data, and

iii) verifying said unique subscriber identity data in concert with a network associated authentication center using said identifying authentication key.

12. The system recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of SIM emulation functions further comprises causing the communication network to assign a temporary mobile subscriber identifier to one of said SIM emulation functions.

13. The system recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of SIM emulation functions further comprises causing said processor to transmit said temporary mobile subscriber identifier in place of said unique subscriber identity data.

14. The system recited in claim 13, wherein said plurality of SIM emulation functions further comprises causing the communication network to assign a different temporary mobile subscriber identifier to said one of SIM emulation functions following the expiration of a period of time.

15. The system recited in claim 14, wherein said transmitting and receiving communications via the communication network further comprises transmitting and receiving radio frequency communications via a satellite communication network.

16. A controller for controlling communication with a telecommunication network, the controller comprising:

a) a unique user data file stored in memory;

b) an environmentally hardened processor coupled to said memory, said processor executing said plurality of machine instructions to implement a plurality of functions, said functions including;

i) receiving radio frequency transmissions,

ii) transmitting radio frequency transmissions, and

iii) validating a SIM on the telecommunication network,

wherein the unique user data file is stored in memory using (i) a software data file that includes at least a plurality of unique subscriber identity data and (ii) one or more installation software files, each installation software file generated based at least in part on the software data file.

17. The controller recited in claim 16, wherein prior to installation in a mobile cellular unit, said processor is exposed to shock, vibration, and temperature extremes in excess of those shock, vibration, and temperature extremes normally experienced by electronic hardware intended for use in similar environments.

18. A method for forming a controller for controlling communication with a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a software data file that includes at least a plurality of unique subscriber identity data;

receiving one or more installation software files, each installation software file generated based at least in part on the software data file;

forming a processor configured to execute at least a plurality of machine instructions to thereby implement a plurality of functions;

coupling a memory to said processor; and

storing the plurality of unique subscriber identity data in said memory using the software data file and one or more of the installation files; and

storing a plurality of machine instructions to implement a plurality of SIM emulation functions using at least the software data file and one or more of the installation software files.

19. The method recited in claim 18, further comprising environmentally hardening said processor.

20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein said environmentally hardening said processor further comprises cyclically exposing said processor to predetermined shock, vibration, and temperature extremes.

21. The method recited in claim 20, wherein said predetermined shock, vibration, and temperature extremes are those extremes normally used to environmentally harden electronic hardware intended for use in similar environments.

22. The method recited in claim 18, further comprising storing an identifying authentication key in said memory.

23. The method recited in claim 22, wherein said plurality of SIM emulation functions further comprises:

i) accessing at least a portion of said unique subscriber identity data;

ii) accessing said identifying authentication key data; and

iii) verifying the accessed unique subscriber identity data in concert with a telecommunications network using said identifying authentication key.

24. The method recited in claim 18, wherein said storing a plurality of machine instructions to implement a plurality of SIM emulation functions further comprises storing a plurality of machine instructions to implement a plurality of functions validating a SIM on the telecommunication network.