Dual SIM mobile terminal and operating method thereof

• US 8,406,741 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Yunhwan, Baik, Woohyun, Kwak, Wooyoung, Lee, Sungkyu
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US13/376,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20120135715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/45 using multiple identity modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a dual SIM terminal and an operating method thereof for supporting dual standby and single talk using a single baseband. The dual SIM mobile terminal may include a controller which is a single chipset, a dual SIM, and two radio frequency (RF) units, thereby having an effect capable of providing a service at the same level as a dual SIM using two mobile terminals even with one mobile terminal. Furthermore, dual SIM switching is performed according to a state of the network, a pricing system, and a user'"'"'s setting, thereby providing the user'"'"'s desired service.

Claims

1. A dual SIM mobile terminal, comprising:

a dual SIM configured to support different services, the dual SIM including a primary SIM and a secondary SIM;

a first and a second wireless communication unit; and

a controller connected to the dual SIM and the first and second wireless communication units to support double standby and single talk,

wherein the controller performs network synchronization using neighboring cell information of each SIM network if a service requested by the user through the switched SIM is performed and then a service request for the SIM is received again.

2. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller pages a network state or receives a call through the second wireless communication unit when making a phone call through a first wireless communication unit.

3. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller performs switching between SIMs according to a network of the dual SIM and a state of the network, a pricing system of each SIM, and a user'"'"'s setting.

4. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller performs automatic switching to the secondary SIM if a specific service is unavailable in the primary SIM when the user requests the relevant service through the primary SIM.

5. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller searches network synchronization using the stored neighboring cell information of a secondary SIM network if a phone call is initiated to the secondary SIM network subsequent to making a phone call to a primary SIM network in a stop state.

6. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller searches network synchronization using the stored neighboring cell information and band information of a secondary SIM network if a phone call is initiated to the secondary SIM network subsequent to making a phone call to a primary SIM network in a moving state.

7. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller provides a menu for selecting a SIM to implement a specific application if the user implements the relevant application for the first time.

8. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller provides a menu capable of changing a SIM if a state of the relevant network is not good when implementing a specific application with the SIM.

9. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller provides a menu for selecting a SIM and a menu for setting a call forward when the user roams, makes a call, or transmits a message.

10. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller performs a call connection to a SIM set in a group if the relevant group is set with respect to a phone number in a phonebook.

11. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller designates the setting of phonebook storage to a copied SIM if a phonebook of each SIM is copied to a phonebook of the mobile terminal.

12. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller transmits a phone number of the SIM known to the counterpart user if synchronization between dual SIM numbers is performed to make a phone call with a SIM unknown to the counterpart user.

13. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller receives a phone call with the primary SIM if the call forward is set, and transmits an automatic response message if the call forward is not set, when the phone call is received with the secondary SIM during phone conversation with the primary SIM.

14. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller displays that message transmission has been performed through a user interface (UI), and the relevant message is actually transmitted at the timing when a phone conversation is completed if the message transmission is requested with the other SIM number while performing the phone conversation using one SIM network.

15. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller transmits a phone call or message through a SIM number to which roaming is not set if roaming is set to the other SIM number in a network of the dual SIM.

16. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller controls to perform a conference call by concurrently connecting phone calls to dual SIM phone numbers and then combining the two phone calls with each other.

17. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller performs a call connection to a SIM number providing a reduced rate by referring to a prestored pricing table when the user makes a phone call to a specific region or specific number.

18. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller attempts a call connection using the primary SIM if automatic redial is set when a call using the primary SIM is failed.

19. A method of operating a dual SIM mobile terminal, the method comprising:

detecting an active state of the dual SIM, the dual SIM including a primary SIM and a secondary SIM;

automatically performing SIM switching according to a network state of the SIM and a user'"'"'s service request if the initial user'"'"'s service is requested in an active state of the dual SIM;

performing a service requested by the user through the switched SIM; and

performing network synchronization using neighboring cell information of each SIM network if a service requested by the user through the switched SIM is performed and then a service request for the SIM is received again.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein automatic switching is performed to the secondary SIM if a specific service is unavailable in the primary SIM when the user requests the relevant service through the primary SIM.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a menu for selecting a SIM to implement a specific application if the user implements the relevant application for the first time.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a menu capable of changing a SIM if a state of the relevant network is not good when implementing a specific application with the SIM.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a menu for selecting a SIM and a menu for setting a call forward when the user roams, makes a call, or transmits a message.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step performs a call connection to a SIM set in a group if the relevant group is set with respect to a phone number in a phonebook when the user makes a call with one phone number.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step designates the setting of phonebook storage to a copied SIM if a phonebook of each SIM is copied to a phonebook of the mobile terminal.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step transmits a phone number of the SIM known to the counterpart user if synchronization between dual SIM numbers is performed to make a phone call with a SIM unknown to the counterpart user.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step comprises:

checking whether or not call forward is set if a phone call is received during phone conversation with the selected SIM; and

receiving the phone call with the selected SIM if the call forward is set, and transmitting an automatic response message if the call forward is not set.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step comprises:

receiving a transmission request for a specific message from the secondary SIM during phone conversation with the primary SIM;

displaying message transmission complete through a user interface (UI) and storing the relevant message into the outbox according to the message transmission request; and

transmitting the message stored in the outbox if the phone conversation with the primary SIM is completed.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step transmits a phone call or message through a SIM number to which roaming is not set if roaming is set to the other SIM number in a network of the dual SIM.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step controls to perform a conference call by concurrently connecting phone calls to dual SIM phone numbers and then combining the two phone calls with each other.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step performs a call connection to a SIM number providing a reduced rate by referring to a prestored pricing table when the user makes a phone call to a specific region or specific number.

32. The method of claim 19, wherein the SIM switching step attempts a call connection using the primary SIM if automatic redial is set when a call using the primary SIM is failed.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein the service request for the SIM again comprises a service request between same SIMs and a service request between heterogeneous SIMs.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein said performing network synchronization searches network synchronization using the stored neighboring cell information of a secondary SIM network if a phone call is initiated to the secondary SIM network subsequent to making a phone call to a primary SIM network in a stop state.

35. The method of claim 19, wherein said performing network synchronization searches network synchronization using the stored neighboring cell information and band information of a secondary SIM network if a phone call is initiated to the secondary SIM network subsequent to making a phone call to a primary SIM network in a moving state.