Service setting for mobile communication terminal

• US 8,180,400 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Shin, Jae Yong, Kang, Sung Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wyche, Myron
• Application Number:
  US11/828,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/415, 455/417, 455/452.1, 455/452.2, 455/435.2, 455/552.1, 455/558, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method for setting a service in a mobile communication terminal including at least first and second user identity cards. The method includes selecting the first identity card to be used for mobile communication, and requesting services directed to the second identity card be forwarded to the first identity card.

Claims

1. A method for setting a service in a mobile communication terminal including at least first and second user identity cards, the method comprising:

receiving signals from first and second networks corresponding to the first user identity card and the second user identity card, respectively, before the first and second identity cards are activated on the mobile terminal;

comparing signal strengths of the signals from the first and second networks;

determining the signal from the first network is stronger than the signal from the second network;

selecting the first user identity card to be used for mobile communication based on the determining step determining the signal from the first network is stronger than the signal from the second network;

temporarily activating the second user identity card;

accessing the second network corresponding to the second user identity card and requesting the second network forward services directed to the second user identity card to the first user identity card; and

activating the first identity card and deactivating the second user identity card before accessing the first network and after requesting the second network forward services directed to the second user identity card to the first user identity card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step is performed automatically by the terminal without user intervention.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises:

displaying a result of the comparing step to a user; and

selecting, by the user, the signal from the first network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second user identity cards include one of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card in the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), and a User Identity Module (UIM) card or Removal User Identity Module (RUIM) card in the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the second user identity card to be used for mobile communication; and

requesting services directed to the first user identity card be forwarded to the second user identity card.

6. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

at least first and second user identity cards;

an RF module configured to receive signals from at least first and second service networks corresponding to the first and second user identity cards, respectively, before the first and second identity cards are activated on the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured to compare a signal strength of the signals from the first and second networks, to determine the signal from the first network is stronger than the signal from the second network, to select the first user identity card to be used for mobile communication based on the determining step determining the signal from the first network is stronger than the signal from the second network, to temporarily activate the second user identity card, to access the second network corresponding to the second user identity card and request the second network forward services directed to the second user identity card to the first user identity card, and to activate the first identity card and deactivate the second user identity card before accessing the first network and after requesting the second network forward services directed to the second user identity card to the first user identity card.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller selects the first user identity card automatically without user intervention.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display information to a user of the terminal,

wherein the controller displays a result of the comparison on the display unit, and receives a signal from the user requesting the signal from the first network be used for communication.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the first and second user identity cards include one of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card in the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), and a User Identity Module (UIM) card or Removal User Identity Module (RUIM) card in the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller selects the second user identity card to be used for mobile communication, and requests services directed to the first user identity card be forwarded to the second card.