Hardware Activation of Dual USIM Multimode Mobile Terminal

• US 20120040670A1
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chin, Tom, Shi, Guangming, Lee, Kuo-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 8,977,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/005 Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for hardware activation of dual USIM TD-SCDMA multimode mobile terminals. The technique effectively provides for efficient power consumption. In one aspect, a mobile terminal may register dual mobile identifiers on a first radio access technology (RAT) using a first hardware module. If a call is set up, the mobile terminal activates a second hardware module and registers the unused mobile identifier with the second RAT.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

activating a first module for communicating with a first radio access technology (RAT), while a second module for communicating with a second RAT is de-activated;

registering at least first and second mobile identifiers with the first RAT using the first module;

initiating a call with the first mobile identifier using the first module;

activating the second module; and

registering the second mobile identifier with the second RAT using the second module.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to activating the second module, monitoring for paging messages for both the first and second mobile identifiers using the first RAT module.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a call with the second mobile identifier using the second module.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

terminating the call with the second mobile identifier;

terminating the call with first mobile identifier;

de-activating the second module; and

registering the second mobile identifier with the first RAT using the first module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second mobile identifiers comprise at least one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second RAT comprise at least one of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second modules comprise a hardware module comprising a protocol processor, baseband hardware, and radio frequency (RF) hardware.

8. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for activating a first module for communicating with a first radio access technology (RAT), while a second module for communicating with a second RAT is de-activated;

means for registering at least first and second mobile identifiers with the first RAT using the first module;

means for initiating a call with the first mobile identifier using the first module;

means for activating the second module; and

means for registering the second mobile identifier with the second RAT using the second module.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for, prior to activating the second module, monitoring for paging messages for both the first and second mobile identifiers using the first RAT module.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for initiating a call with the second mobile identifier using the second module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for terminating the call with the second mobile identifier;

means for terminating the call with first mobile identifier;

means for de-activating the second module; and

means for registering the second mobile identifier with the first RAT using the first module.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second mobile identifiers comprise at least one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second RAT comprise at least one of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA).

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second modules comprise a hardware module comprising a protocol processor, baseband hardware, and radio frequency (RF) hardware.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for;

activating a first module for communicating with a first radio access technology (RAT), while a second module for communicating with a second RAT is de-activated;

registering at least first and second mobile identifiers with the first RAT using the first module;

initiating a call with the first mobile identifier using the first module;

activating the second module; and

registering the second mobile identifier with the second RAT using the second module.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising code for:

prior to activating the second module, monitoring for paging messages for both the first and second mobile identifiers using the first RAT module.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising code for:

initiating a call with the second mobile identifier using the second module.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising code for:

terminating the call with the second mobile identifier;

terminating the call with first mobile identifier;

de-activating the second module; and

registering the second mobile identifier with the first RAT using the first module.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first and second mobile identifiers comprise at least one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first and second RAT comprise at least one of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA).

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first and second modules comprise a hardware module comprising a protocol processor, baseband hardware, and radio frequency (RF) hardware.

22. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

activate a first module for communicating with a first radio access technology (RAT), while a second module for communicating with a second RAT is de-activated;

register at least first and second mobile identifiers with the first RAT using the first module;

initiate a call with the first mobile identifier using the first module;

activate the second module; and

register the second mobile identifier with the second RAT using the second module.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

prior to activating the second module, monitor for paging messages for both the first and second mobile identifiers using the first RAT module.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

initiate a call with the second mobile identifier using the second module.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

terminate the call with the second mobile identifier;

terminate the call with first mobile identifier;

de-activate the second module; and

register the second mobile identifier with the first RAT using the first module.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and second mobile identifiers comprise at least one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and second RAT comprise at least one of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA).

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and second modules comprise a hardware module comprising a protocol processor, baseband hardware, and radio frequency (RF) hardware.