Subscriber identity module verification during power management

• US 7,137,003 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hutchison, James A. IV, Summers, Tom, Krishnan, Chidambaram
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moorthy, Aravind K
• Application Number:
  US09/881,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 713/172, 713/300, 713/320, 726/19, 726/36, 455/410
• US Class Current: 713/172
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Power management techniques for a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) of a wireless communication device (WCD) are described tat make use of a unique identifier for the SIM. In particu1ar a processor within the WCD reads a first unique identifier from the SIM when power is initially supplied to the WCD, and stores the first unique identifier within a computer-readable medium within the WCD. During a power management cycle, where power is terminated and then re-supplied to the SIM, the processor again receives a unique identifier from the SIM and compares the second unique identifier with the stored unique identifier. These tecbniques are useful in detecting whether the attached SIM has been exchanged for a different SIM while powered down during a power management cycle.

Claims

1. A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) adapted for and powered by a wireless communication device (WCD), the WCD including a power management routine and a memory, the SIM comprising:

means for storing a first unique identifier;

means for receiving a second unique identifier from the WCD at an initial power up of the WCD, the second unique identifier being entered by a user of the WCD;

means for accessing the first unique identifier at the initial power up of the WCD to compare the first unique identifier to the second unique identifier and to permit access to the SIM by the WCD based an the comparison;

means for automatically receiving the second unique identifier at a subsequent power up of the SIM without the user re-entering the second unique identifier following the SIM having been powered down under control of a power management routine performed by the WCD;

means for comparing the second unique identifier automatically received from the WCD to the first unique identifier following the subsequent power up; and

means for enabling access of the SIM by the WCD) based on the comparison following the subsequent power up.

2. The SIM of claim 1, wherein the first and second unique identifiers comprise Integrated Circuit Card Identifiers (ICCIDS).

3. The SIM of claim 1, wherein the SIM includes an interface circuit for interfacing wit the WCD, the interface circuit terminating power to the SIM during powering down.

4. The SIM of claim 2, wherein the SIM includes an interface circuit for interfacing with the WCD, the interface circuit terminating power to the SIM during powering down.

5. A wireless communication device (WCD) including a power management routine and a memory and adapted for use with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), wherein the SIM stores a first unique identifier, the WCD comprising:

means for storing in the memory a second unique identifier generated in response to a user performing an initial power up of the WCD, wherein the second unique identifier is compared to the first unique identifier stored in the SIM to permitting access to the SIM by the WCD following the initial power up;

means, responsive to the power management routine, for powering down the SIM following the initial power up;

means responsive to the power management routine for powering up the SIM following the powering down;

means for automatically transmitting the second unique identifier to the SIM without the user re-entering the second unique identifier following the powering up by the means responsive to tbe power management routine; and

means for detecting access to the SIM in response to the SIM matching the second unique identifier automatically transmitted from the WCD to the first unique identifier stored in the SIM.

6. The WCD of claim 5, wherein the first and second unique identifiers comprise Integrated Circuit Card Identifiers (ICCIDs).

7. The WCD of claim 6, wherein the SIM includes an interface circuit for interfacing with the WCD, the means for powering up the SIM including means for providing power to the SIM.

8. The WCD of claim 7, wherein the power management routine continues a power management cycle by maintaining power to the SIM when a match between the first and second identifiers occurs, and aborts the power-up process when a match between the first and second identifiers fails.

9. The WCD of claim 8, wherein the power management routine terminates power to the SIM in response to a power down command and on the basis of a voting process.

10. The WCD of claim 9, wherein terminating power to the SIM comprises terminating power to the SIM when to request is pending for service by the SIM and no software module running on the WCD requests maintenance of power to the SIM.

11. The WCD of claim 5, wherein the SIM includes an interface circuit for interfacing with the WCD, the means for powering up the SIM including means for providing power to the SIM.

12. The WCD of claim 5, wherein the power management routine continues a power management cycle by maintaining power to the SIM when a matcb between the first and second identifiers occurs, and aborts the power-up process when a match between the first and second identifiers fails.

13. The WCD of claim 12, wherein the power management routine terminates power to the SIM in response to a power down command and on the basis of a voting process.

14. The WCD of claim 13, wherein terminating power to the SIM comprises terminating power to the SIM when no request is pending for service by the SIM and no software module running on the WCD requests maintenance of power to the SIM.

15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, including a power management routine, stored thereon for causing a WCD including a memory and adapted for use with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) that stores a first unique identifier to:

store in the memory a second unique identifier generated in response to a user performing an initial power up of the WCD, wherein the second unique identifier is compared to the first unique identifier stored in the SIM to permit access to the SIM by the WCD following the initial power up;

power down the SIM in response to the power management routine following the initial power up;

power up the SIM in response to the power management routine following the power down;

automatically transmit the second unique identifier to the SIM without the user re-entering the second unique identifier following the power up in response to the power management routine; and

detecting access to the SIM in response to the SIM matching the second unique identifier automatically transmitted from the WCD to the first unique identifier stored in the SIM.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first and second unique identifiers comprise Integrated Circuit Card Identifiers (ICCIDs).

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the power management routine continues a power management cycle by maintaining power to the SIM when a match between the first and second identifiers occurs and aborts the power-up process when a match between the first and second identifiers fails.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the power management routine terminates power to the SIM in response to a power down command and on the basis of a voting process.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein terminating power to the SIM comprises terminating power to the SIM when no request is pending for service by the SIM and no software module running on the WCD requests maintenance of power to the SIM.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the SIM includes an interface circuit for interfacing with the WCD, the instructions for powering up the SIM including providing power to the SIM.