APPARATUS FOR SENSING SMART-CARD IN DUAL MODE PORTABLE TERMINAL AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100035579A1
• Filed: 08/03/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: PARK, Dong Cheol, KIM, Jin
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for sensing a smart card in a dual mode portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of smart card modules including identification information for receiving a specific wireless communications protocol, and at least two communications modules for performing wireless communications according to a connected smart card module among the plurality of smart card modules, wherein any one of the at least two communications modules connected to a smart card module having preset identification information is set as a master device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing a smart card of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of smart card modules comprising identification information for receiving a specific wireless communications protocol; and

at least two communications modules for performing wireless communications according to a connected smart card module among the plurality of smart card modules,

wherein one of the at least two communications modules connected to a smart card module having preset identification information is set as a master device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two communications modules is selected by a user as a master device, when a communications module connected to a smart card module for storing preset identification information does not exist.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two communications modules connected to a smart card module having a high preset priority is set as a master device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two communications modules is selected by a user as a master device, when a communications module connected to a smart card module having a high preset priority does not exist.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a common module directly connected to at least one of the at least two communications modules, for performing input and output interfacing according to the control of the communications module which is set as a master device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises a service identifier.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the service identifier comprises a main telephone number.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises a device identifier.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device identifier comprises an Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID).

10. A method for sensing a smart card of a portable terminal comprising at least two communications modules, the method comprising:

confirming a smart card module connected to the at least two communications modules when a power supply of the portable terminal is turned on;

determining whether a smart card module having preset identification information exists among the connected smart card module; and

determining that a communication module connected to the smart card module having preset identification information is a master device, when the smart card module having preset identification information exists.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising setting a communications module selected by a user as a master device, when the smart card module having preset identification information does not exist.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the preset identification information comprises a main telephone number.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the selected master device performs a booting sequence.

14. A method for sensing a smart card of a portable terminal comprising at least two communications modules, the method comprising:

confirming a smart card module connected to the at least two communications modules when a power supply of portable terminal is turned on;

determining whether a smart card module having a preset priority exists among the connected smart card module; and

determining that a communication module connected to the smart card module having the highest priority is a master device, when the smart card module having a preset priority exists.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising setting a communications module selected by a user as a master device, when the smart card module having a preset priority does not exist.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the preset identification information comprises a main telephone number.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected master device performs a booting sequence.