Method and apparatus for switching virtual SIM service contracts when roaming
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for supporting a wireless communication call on a mobile device having a VSIM (Visual Subscriber Indentity Module) internal memory unit having stored therein provisioning data for a first plurality of service contracts, comprising:
- determining whether the mobile device is currently roaming;
determining whether the mobile device is currently conducting a wireless communication call; and
enabling access to a new home system that is currently available to the mobile device when the mobile device is currently roaming and not currently conducting a wireless communication call, wherein enabling access to a new home system comprises;
identifying all new home systems operating in a current location of the mobile device, wherein each home system supports a second plurality of service contracts;
receiving a selection of one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by an identified new home system operating in the current location of the mobile device;
retrieving provisioning data corresponding to the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by the identified new home system;
copying the provisioning data for the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by the identified new home system into an enabled VSIM provisioning data buffer, wherein the provisioning data includes acquisition parameters for communication networks associated with the identified new home system; and
establishing a communication link to the identified new home system using the retrieved provisioning data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method store provisioning data supporting a plurality of service providers in a VSIM internal memory unit of a mobile device. The mobile device may automatically enable provisioning data supporting one of the plurality of service providers stored in the VSIM internal memory unit to conduct a wireless communication so as to avoid roaming fees.
116 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for supporting a wireless communication call on a mobile device having a VSIM (Visual Subscriber Indentity Module) internal memory unit having stored therein provisioning data for a first plurality of service contracts, comprising:
-
determining whether the mobile device is currently roaming; determining whether the mobile device is currently conducting a wireless communication call; and enabling access to a new home system that is currently available to the mobile device when the mobile device is currently roaming and not currently conducting a wireless communication call, wherein enabling access to a new home system comprises; identifying all new home systems operating in a current location of the mobile device, wherein each home system supports a second plurality of service contracts; receiving a selection of one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by an identified new home system operating in the current location of the mobile device; retrieving provisioning data corresponding to the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by the identified new home system; copying the provisioning data for the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by the identified new home system into an enabled VSIM provisioning data buffer, wherein the provisioning data includes acquisition parameters for communication networks associated with the identified new home system; and establishing a communication link to the identified new home system using the retrieved provisioning data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A mobile device comprising:
-
means for storing provisioning data for a first plurality of service contracts in a VSIM (Virtual Subscriber Identity Module) internal memory unit; means for determining whether the mobile device is currently roaming; means for determining whether the mobile device is currently conducting a wireless communication call; and means for enabling access to a new home system that is currently available to the mobile device when the mobile device is currently roaming and not currently conducting a wireless communication call, wherein means for enabling access to a new home system comprises; means for identifying all new home systems operating in a current location of the mobile device, wherein each home system supports a second plurality of service contracts; means for receiving a selection of one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by an identified new home system operating in the current location of the mobile device; means for retrieving provisioning data corresponding to the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts; means for copying the provisioning data for the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts into an enabled VSIM provisioning data buffer, wherein the provisioning data includes acquisition parameters for communication networks associated with the identified new home system; and means for establishing a communication link to the identified new home system using the retrieved provisioning data. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A mobile device, comprising:
- a processor;
an internal memory unit coupled to the processor, the internal memory unit having stored thereon provisioning data for a first plurality of service contracts within a VSIM (Virtual Subscriber Identity Module) memory unit; and a wireless communication transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising; determining whether the mobile device is currently roaming; determining whether the mobile device is currently conducting a wireless communication call; and enabling access to a new home system that is currently available to the mobile device when the mobile device is currently roaming and not currently conducting a wireless communication call, wherein enabling access to a new home system comprises; identifying all new home systems operating in a current location of the mobile device, wherein each home system supports a second plurality of service contracts; receiving a selection of one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by an identified new home system operating in the current location of the mobile device; retrieving provisioning data corresponding to the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts; copying the provisioning data for the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts into an enabled VSIM provisioning data buffer, wherein the provisioning data includes acquisition parameters for communication networks associated with the identified new home system; and establishing a communication link via the wireless communication transceiver to the identified new home system using the retrieved provisioning data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- a processor;
-
14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a mobile device to perform steps comprising:
-
determining whether the mobile device having a VSIM (Virtual Subscriber Identity Module) internal memory unit having stored therein provisioning data for a first plurality of service contracts is currently roaming; determining whether the mobile device is currently conducting a wireless communication call; and enabling access to a new home system that is currently available to the mobile device when the mobile device is currently roaming and not currently conducting a wireless communication call, wherein enabling access to a new home system comprises; identifying all new home systems operating in a current location of the mobile device, wherein each home system supports a second plurality of service contracts; receiving a selection of one of the second plurality of service contracts supported by an identified new home system operating in the current location of the mobile device; retrieving provisioning data corresponding to the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts; copying the provisioning data for the selected one of the second plurality of service contracts into an enabled VSIM provisioning data buffer, wherein the provisioning data includes acquisition parameters for communication networks associated with the identified new home system; and establishing a communication link to the identified new home system using the retrieved provisioning data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification