Intelligent SIM selection supporting rich context of input factors

• US 9,131,364 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, Gregory, Chory, Susan, He, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US14/079,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20150017962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/558
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Various user interfaces and other technologies for interacting with devices that support multiple SIM cards can be implemented. For example, intelligent handling of SIM card selection can help users deal with multiple SIM card scenarios. A user interface for overriding SIM card selection can be supported. Users can interact with their devices more efficiently and with less frustration. A wide variety of use default SIM card scenarios are supported. SIM cards can be selected based on any of a rich set of input factors.

Claims

1. A method implemented at least in part by a computing system, the method comprising:

selecting a default subscriber identity module (SIM) card;

displaying a user interface depicting a plurality of contact points for a contact and an activatable user interface element for initiating communications with a particular contact point for the contact;

receiving an activation of the user interface element;

responsive to activation of the user interface element, initiating communications with the particular contact point via the default SIM subscriber identity module card; and

for another of the contact points of the contact, presenting a different subscriber identity module card as a default.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

selecting the default subscriber identity module card comprises selecting a subscriber identity module card most recently used for the contact.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

propagating the default subscriber identity module card to a different contact point for the contact.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

selecting the default subscriber identity module card comprises selecting a subscriber identity module card involving communication activity with the particular contact point.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

selecting the default subscriber identity module card comprises selecting a subscriber identity module card from which an incoming message was received from the contact point.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

selecting the default subscriber identity module card comprises selecting a subscriber identity module card based on a source account from which the contact originated.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining that communication activity with other contacts originating from the source account is predominantly conducted with a particular subscriber identity module;

wherein selecting the default subscriber identity module card comprises selecting the particular subscriber identity module responsive to the determining.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that communications in a particular time period are conducted on a given subscriber identity module; and

selecting the default subscriber identity module card comprises selecting the given subscriber identity module.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a last name of the contact matches that of a device user;

wherein selecting the default subscriber identity module card comprises, responsive to determining that the last name of the contact matches that of the device user, selecting a subscriber identity module card associated with personal activity.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the user interface comprises a label of the default subscriber identity module card proximate information for the contact.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the label of the default subscriber identity module card is displayed as part of a subscriber identity module card indicator-switcher user interface element collection.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving an indication to override the default subscriber identity module card via a user interface element in the collection.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

overriding the selected default subscriber identity module card based on signal strength associated with the default subscriber identity module card.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

overriding the selected default subscriber identity module card based on content of a message associated with the contact or contact point.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

overriding the selected default subscriber identity module card based on do not disturb functionality.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

overriding the selected default subscriber identity module card based on billing arrangements.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing a mapping of contact points to default subscriber identity module cards in a table;

wherein selecting the default subscriber identity module card consults the table.

18. A system for implementing default subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, the system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

a subscriber identity module card default engine configured to output a default subscriber identity module card; and

a default subscriber identity module card table, wherein the default subscriber identity module card table comprises a mapping between contact points and a default subscriber identity module, wherein the default subscriber identity module card table supports different default subscriber identity modules for different contact points of a same contact.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the subscriber identity module card default engine is configured to select a default subscriber identity module based on communications activity with the contact.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions causing a computer to perform a method of selecting a default subscriber identity module (SIM) card for a contact point associated with a contact, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of input factors comprising a source of the contact point;

selecting a default subscriber identity module card for the contact point based on the source of the contact point, wherein the selecting further supports factors comprising a subscriber identity module card on which the contact point resides, a subscriber identity module card from which the contact point was imported, and a subscriber identity module card most recently involved in communications activity with the contact point; and

subsequently overriding the default subscriber identity module card selected for the contact point, wherein the overriding supports factors comprising explicit selection received from a user interface and signal strength associated with the default subscriber identity module card.