ME network parameters configuration by UICC

• US 8,489,143 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Dong, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Obayanju, Omoniyi
• Application Number:
  US13/148,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20110319133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/418, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/558
• 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 mobile device is provided having a smart card. The smart card is programmed to generate a new configure command that can be used to configure network related parameters with in the mobile device. The configure command can be used to override existing network related parameters or to add additional network related parameters. The network related parameters may relate to different access points and an identifier may be associated with each set of network parameters to facilitate the subsequent identification of desired network related parameters.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) interface for interfacing with a UICC;

a memory for storing network access data for use in connecting to a remote access point;

a UICC module operable to communicate with said UICC via said UICC interface; and

transceiver circuitry operable to transmit and receive signals for connecting to said remote access point using said stored network access data;

wherein said UICC module is operable to receive a configure command from said UICC via said UICC interface, the configure command including new network access data for a remote access point and wherein the UICC module is operable, in response to receiving said configure command, to store the new network access data in said memory for use in connecting to the remote access point corresponding to the new network access data;

wherein the UICC module is operable to store the new network access data in said memory in addition to existing network access data;

wherein the new network access data includes login data and a unique identifier for distinguishing the new network access data from other network access data stored in said memory; and

wherein the UICC module is operable to receive a further command from the UICC via said UICC interface, the further command requiring access to the network;

in response to receiving said further command, the UICC module is operable to retrieve the stored network access data from said memory so that a connection to the remote access point associated with the stored network access data can be established;

said further command includes the identifier without the login data; and

the UICC module is operable to use the identifier to retrieve the corresponding login data from said memory.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said network access data is stored in a non-volatile portion of memory.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the UICC module is operable to store the new network access data in said memory in place of existing network access data.

4. A devices according to claim 1, wherein the UICC module is operable to receive a further command from the UICC via said UICC interface, the further command requiring access to the network;

and wherein, in response to receiving said further command, the UICC module is operable to retrieve the stored network access data from said memory so that a connection to the remote access point associated with the stored network access data can be established.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said further command is a Launch Browser command or an Open Channel command.

6. A Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) comprising:

an interface for interfacing with a mobile device;

a memory for storing network access data for use by the mobile device to connect to a remote access point; and

a Universal SIM (subscriber Identity Module) Application Toolkit (USAT) module operable to communicate with the mobile device;

wherein the USAT module is operable to generate a configure command including the stored network access data and to pass the generated configure command to the mobile device and wherein the configure command s different from any command used to request a connection to a remote access point and is for causing the mobile device to store the network access data for use in connecting to a remote access point in response to a subsequent command generated by the USAT module;

Wherein the USAT module is operable to generate a configure command that includes login data for the remote access point and an identifier associated with the access point; and

wherein the USAT module is operable to generate a further command and to pass the generated further command to the mobile device, the further command requiring access to the network and including the identifier without the login data.

7. A UICC according to claim 6, wherein the USAT module is operable to maintain information identifying the access points for which the network access point data has been sent in one or more configure commands to the mobile device.

8. A UICC according to claim 7, wherein the USAT module is operable to check the maintained information before generating a configure command for new network access data, and only generates the configure command if the network access data has not already been passed to the mobile device for storage therein.

9. A UICC according to claim 6, wherein said further command is a Launch Browser command or an Open Channel command.

10. A method performed in a mobile device, the method comprising:

holding in memory network access data for use in connecting to a remote access point;

receiving a configure command from a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) associated with the mobile device, the configure command including new network access data for a remote access point; and

storing the new network access data in said memory for use in connecting to the remote access point corresponding to the new network access data;

wherein storing stores the new network access data in said memory in addition to existing network access data;

wherein the new network access data includes login data and a unique identifier for distinguishing the new network access data from other network access data stored in said memory; and

receiving a further command from the UICC, the further command requiring access to the network;

wherein, in response to receiving said further command, retrieving the stored network access data from said memory so that a connection to the remote access point associated with the stored network data can be established;

wherein said further command includes the identifier without the login data and wherein said retrieving uses the identifier to retrieve the corresponding login data from said memory.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said storing stores said network access data in a non-volatile portion of memory.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein storing stores the new network access data in said memory in place of existing network access data.