Method for detection of saturation of files or applications in a SIM card for a mobile communication device

• US 7,107,067 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemplus (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Tuilier, Edmond
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/479,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20040209630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/558, 455/418, 455/419, 455/458, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detection of saturation of files or applications in a mobile communication device (10) connected to a remote control center (12) and a message server SMS-SC (14), characterised in comprising the following principal steps: (a) detection of a data file (38) or data application contained in a SIM card (16), the free space of which is below a certain threshold and (b) generation of an alarm signal after said threshold is reached.

Claims

1. A method of managing saturation of files or applications in a mobile communication apparatus which can be connected to a remote management centre and to a SMS-SC short message server, comprising the following steps:

(a) detecting, for a given file or a given application contained in a SIM card, the fact that the space available is below a certain threshold,

(b) when this threshold is reached, presenting to the subscriber a text message to indicate that the threshold has been reached and suggesting that an action be taken with respect to the SIM card, wherein said action is that the SIM card should be replaced;

(c) transmitting a response of the subscriber to the management center via the short message server;

(d) transmitting from the management centre to the subscriber, via the message server SMS-SC, at least one message proposing the sending of a new SIM card and/or going to a point of sale, and

(e) transmitting the response of the subscriber to the management centre via the message server SMS-SC.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by an application which is loaded in the SIM card.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the application is loaded into the SIM card at the time of its supply or personalisation.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the application is loaded into the SIM card by the remote management centre via the SMS-SC short message server.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the loading of the application into the SIM card is performed in accordance with the following steps:

transmitting from the management centre to the short message server SMS-SC a formatted request containing the application, and

transmitting the application from the short message server SMS-SC to the mobile communication apparatus by means of a message of the E-SMS type.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said text message includes a suggestion that the SIM card should be personalized.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of modifying the memory locations dedicated to each file in the SIM card of the subscriber according to the subscriber'"'"'s personal requirements.