Multimode wireless device system provision validation and acquisition method and apparatus

• US 20040022216A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shi, Guangming Carl
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• 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

An apparatus and method are disclosed for system provisioning in a multimode wireless communication device. A multimode wireless communication device may store multiple system provision information internally, or combine system provision information stored internally with removable memory devices, which store additional system provision information. The multimode wireless device may simultaneously have access to a plurality of valid system provision information for a plurality of systems. The wireless device attempts to validate one of the plurality of stored system provision information using a hierarchy. The hierarchy may be established by a phone manufacturer or may be programmed by a service provider or a user. The wireless device attempts to validate system provision information based on the hierarchy. Once a system provision is validated, the device activates service or registers in the system. If a less desirable system is acquired, the device may periodically attempt to validate preferred systems.

Claims

1. A method of activating an operating mode of a wireless communication device having a plurality of operating modes, the method comprising:

retrieving first system provision information;

determining whether the first system provision information is valid;

retrieving second system provision information;

determining whether the second system provision information is valid; and

activating a system mode corresponding to a one of the first and second system provision information if the corresponding system provision information is determined to be valid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the second system provision is performed only if the first system provision information is determined to be invalid.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

repeating the acts of retrieving system provision information according to a predetermined hierarchy and determining whether the retrieved system provision information is valid until a first of;

the retrieved system provision is determined to be valid;

or

all system provision information has been retrieved and determined to be invalid; and

activating a system mode corresponding to the system provision if it is determined to be valid.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating an emergency service operation mode if the first system information and second system provision information are determined to be invalid.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a maintenance service mode if the first system information and second system provision information are determined to be invalid.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the first system provision information if a mode of the wireless communication device does not correspond to the first system provision; and

periodically determining, if the first system provision is retrieved, whether the retrieved first system provision information is valid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the system mode of one of the first and second system provision is determined according to a predetermined hierarchy.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined hierarchy is stored within a removable storage medium.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined hierarchy is stored within the wireless communication device

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first system provision information is stored in a first memory device of the wireless communication device, the first memory device comprising a non-volatile memory device within the wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first memory comprises removable storage media connected to the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first system provision information is stored in a removable storage device connected to the wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the removable storage device is a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the removable storage device is a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system provision information is stored in a second memory device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first memory device is distinct from the second memory device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is a wireless phone.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises:

a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mode; and

a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mode.

19. A multimode communication device comprising:

a memory having a plurality of system provision information stored therein; and

a processor electrically connected to the memory, the processor configured to determine an operating mode of the multimode communication device in part by retrieving and determining validity of the plurality of system provision information,

wherein the processor retrieves and determines the validity of the system provision information, and wherein the processor determines the operating mode of the multimode communication device based at least in part on a predetermined hierarchy.

20. The multimode communication device of claim 19, wherein the processor retrieves a first system provision information, determines its validity and determines whether the operating mode corresponds to the first system provision information prior to retrieving a second system provision information.

21. The multimode communication device of claim 19, wherein the processor retrieves the system provision information and determines the validity for all available system modes prior to determining the operating mode of the communication device.

22. The multimode communication device of claim 19, wherein the memory comprises:

a non-volatile memory within the multimode communication device; and

a removable storage device electrically connected to the multimode communication device.

23. The multimode communication device of claim 22, wherein the removable storage device comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

24. The multimode communication device of claim 22, wherein the removable storage device comprises a User Identity Module (UIM).

25. The multimode communication device of claim 19, wherein the operating mode is determined to be an emergency operation mode if all of the system provision information stored in the memory is determined to be invalid.

26. The multimode communication device of claim 19, wherein the operating mode is determined to be a maintenance operation mode if all of the system provision information stored in the memory is determined to be invalid.

27. The multimode communication device of claim 19, wherein the operating mode is one of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mode, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mode, a General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) mode, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mode, and an Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) mode.

28. A wireless communication device having a plurality of operating modes, the wireless communication device comprising:

means for retrieving a first system provision information;

means for determining whether the first system provision information is valid;

means for retrieving a second system provision information;

means for determining whether the second system provision information is valid; and

means for activating a system mode corresponding to a valid one of the first and the second system provision information

29. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, the processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of activating an operating mode of a wireless communication device having a plurality of operating modes, the method comprising:

retrieving first system provision information;

determining whether the first system provision information is valid;

retrieving second system provision information;

determining whether the second system provision information is valid; and

activating a system mode corresponding to a valid one of the first and the second system provision information.