Communication system and method for providing a communication function

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a communication system (100) comprising: - a first slot (110) configured for a plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) using a communication profile associated with the first slot (110); - a second slot (120) configured for a plurality of second communication forms (T, M) using a communication profile associated with the second slot (120); - a configuration module (130) configured to variably assign a respective communication profile (A, B) for a communication to the first slot (110) and the second slot (120) based on at least one assignment criterion, wherein the at least one assignment criterion relates to an availability of at least one communication form (D) of the plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) and / or a plurality of second communication forms (T, M); and - a communication module (140) configured to carry out the communication via the first slot (110) or the second slot (120) with the communication profile (A, B) assigned by the configuration module (130).

Description

The present disclosure relates to a communication system, a means of transportation having such a communication system, a computer-implemented method for providing a communication function, and a storage medium for executing the method. The present disclosure relates in particular to a demand-dependent assignment of eSIM profiles to slots, such as a main slot and auxiliary slot of a dual SIM technology.Prior ArtToday, a plurality of communication profiles are often present in modern vehicles in order to enable vehicle-based services, a user-specific communication, etc. The use of multiple communication profiles may result in conflicts, particularly if both communication profiles cannot be used simultaneously. For example, an incoming telephone call on one of the communication profiles can interrupt a data connectivity of the other communication profile, since the latter is degraded or suspended by the incoming call. This may result in interruptions in vehicle-based services, for example, which in turn results in user unsatisfaction.Methods for handling parallel connections or connection requests in terminals with a plurality of SIMs or eSIM profiles are known from US 2013 / 0329639 A1, US 2015 / 0094071 A1, US 2018 / 0359629 A1, WO 2022 / 045705 A1, WO 2023 / 115303 A1 and US 2018 / 0115978 A1.Disclosure of the InventionIt is an object of the present disclosure to provide a communication system, a traveling means including such a communication system, a computer-implemented method for providing a communication function, and a storage medium for executing the method, which can ensure a communication capability of various forms of communication. In particular, it is an object of the present disclosure to avoid interruption of communication in the case of multiple slots, e.g. in a modem.This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.According to an independent aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system, in particular for a means of transport, is specified. The communication system comprises a first slot (also referred to as "main slot") which is configured for a plurality of first communication forms using a (first) communication profile assigned to the first slot; a second slot (also referred to as "auxiliary slot") which is configured for a plurality of second communication forms using a (second) communication profile assigned to the second slot; a configuration module which is configured to assign a respective communication profile for communication to the first slot and the second slot variably on the basis of at least one assignment criterion, wherein the at least one assignment criterion relates to an availability of at least one communication form of the plurality of first communication forms and / or plurality of second communication forms; and a communication module configured to perform the communication via the first slot or the second slot with the communication profile assigned by the configuration module.According to the invention, the communication profiles are flexibly allocated during operation to two slots with different capabilities, so that an availability of communication forms or services such as telephony, messaging and data connectivity can be ensured in a targeted manner. For example, both slots can be set up for telephony, but only one of the two slots can be set up for data connectivity. Now, if a communication profile in the slot without data connectivity receives a call and handles it, a communication profile in the slot with data connectivity degrades so that the data connectivity is interrupted (e.g., in the case of dual-SIM dual standby, DSDS). The communication system can now change or exchange the assignment of the communication profiles to the slots upon receiving the call, so that the communication profile which receives the call is assigned to the slot with data connectivity and the data connectivity is maintained. As a result, in this example, both desired services, namely telephony and data connectivity, can be provided simultaneously. The embodiments of the present disclosure may thus enable the user to be provided with communication forms or services whenever they are needed.The configuration module and the communication module may comprise software components / algorithms configured to be executed on at least one processor and thereby to execute the functionalities of the respective module.The configuration module and the communication module can be realized in a common software and / or hardware module. Alternatively, the configuration module and the communication module can each be realized in separate software and / or hardware modules.The embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to a first slot and a second slot. However, the present disclosure is not limited to two slots, and there may be n number with n>2 slots that may be implemented in embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the communication system may include a main slot and a plurality of sub slots.The term "slot" as used in the context of the present disclosure refers to a (e.g., software-based) module that is configured or enabled for certain communication forms or services such as telephony, messaging and data connectivity (fixed) and to which communication profiles are assigned to establish network connections. In classical systems, slots are the physical slots into which SIM cards are inserted to establish network connections. In the present disclosure, the slots may be software-based "slots" that are assigned eNB profiles, for example. However, the present disclosure is not limited to software-based "slots", and in other embodiments may be SIM cards plugged into physical slots, which are then "swapped" (or their assignment) by software.Preferably, the first slot is a DDS (Dedicated Data Subscription) slot. DDS means that the communication profile associated with the first slot ("main slot") is used for data connections.Preferably, the second slot is a non-dedicated data subscription (NDDS) slot. NDDS means that the communication profile associated with the second slot ("minor slot") is not used for data connections.Preferably, the communication system is configured for dual-SIM dual standby, DSDS. In the case of DSDS, both communication profiles can be reached permanently as long as telephone is not being made. As soon as telephony is carried out via a communication profile, the other communication profile is temporarily unavailable for the duration of the telephone call; it falls into the standby mode, i.e. the communication profile is degraded or suspended.Preferably, the plurality of first forms of communication for which the first slot is enabled is selected from the group comprising or consisting of telephony (or voice calls, e.g. via a telephone plan), messaging (e.g. SMS) and data connectivity (or data usage, e.g. via a data plan).Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of second communication forms for which the second slot is enabled is selected from the group comprising or consisting of telephony (or voice calls, e.g. via a telephone plan), messaging (e.g. SMS) and data connectivity (or data usage, e.g. via a data plan).Preferably, the plurality of first communication forms for which the first slot is enabled and the plurality of second communication forms for which the second slot is enabled differ at least in part. For example, the plurality of first communication forms may include or be telephony, messaging, and data connectivity, and the plurality of second communication forms may include or be telephony and messaging (i.e., no data connectivity).Preferably, a number of the plurality of first communication forms is greater than a number of the plurality of second communication forms. For example, the plurality of first communication forms may be three communication forms (e.g., telephony, messaging, and data connectivity), and the plurality of second communication forms may be two communication forms (e.g., telephony and messaging).Preferably, one communication profile (e.g., the communication profile in the first slot) degrades when the other communication profile (e.g., the communication profile in the second slot) receives and handles a call. In the degraded or suspended state, the communication profile is still logically registered in the network, but no longer physically registered, and the services of the degraded or suspended communication profile are no longer available.The configuration module is configured to variably assign a respective communication profile for a communication to the first slot and the second slot based on at least one assignment criterion, wherein the at least one assignment criterion relates to an availability of at least one communication form of the plurality of first communication forms and / or plurality of second communication forms.Preferably, the at least one communication form relates to a data connectivity. In other words, the availability may relate to the data connectivity, wherein it may be ensured, for example, that the data connectivity is maintained and is not interrupted, e.g., by a degradation of a communication profile.In some embodiments, the configuration module may be configured to assign the communication profile for communication such that data connectivity is possible and / or maintained in a call. In other words, it may be ensured that the data connectivity is maintained and is not interrupted, e.g., by degradation of a communication profile when a call is received.The term "communication profile" as used within the scope of the present disclosure includes in particular SIM profiles, but also other common and future communication profiles which enable a communication function.Each of the two slots is assigned a respective communication profile, wherein the assignment can be changed or exchanged during operation. For example, a first communication profile can be assigned to the first slot, and a second communication profile can be assigned to the second slot. This assignment can be changed or interchanged by assigning the second communication profile to the first slot and the first communication profile to the second slot.Preferably, the first communication profile is a first SIM (subscriber identity module) profile, in particular a first eSIM (embedded subscriber identity module) profile. Additionally or alternatively, the second communication profile can be a second SIM profile, in particular a second eSIM profile.An eSIM is a virtualized SIM card profile installed on a permanently device-mounted eUICC chip. Once an eSIM profile is installed on an eUICC, it operates in the same way as a physical SIM card, including a unique ICCID and a network authentication key generated by a communication service provider.The communication service provider may be a manufacturer, manager, etc. of the communication profile and may in particular be a network operator of a mobile network (mobile network operator (MNO)). The communication service provider may, for example, enable communication in a mobile network according to the LTE (Long-Term Evolution) standard and / or the 5G standard.Preferably, one communication profile of the first and second communication profiles is a global SIM or eSIM, and the other communication profile of the first and second communication profiles is a user-specific SIM or eSIM. The global SIM or eSIM may differ from a user-specific SIM or eSIM in that the global SIM or eSIM does not have a local IP and / or has greater latencies and / or does not correspond to KYC (know-four customer). The global SIM or eSIM can be assigned to the vehicle and / or a vehicle manufacturer, for example, whereas the user-specific SIM or eSIM can be assigned to the user.Preferably, the communication system comprises or is a modem. Communication may be performed using the selected slot and the communication profile associated with the slot. In particular, the modem can be a single modem, so that not both communication profiles can be used simultaneously. However, the variable assignment of the communication profile to the slots of the modem according to the invention makes it possible to ensure that the user is always provided with communication forms or services when these are required.According to a further independent aspect of the present disclosure, a means of transport, in particular a vehicle, is specified. The traveling means includes the communication system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.The means of transportation may be, but is not limited to, a vehicle (e.g., a motor vehicle), a ship, or an aircraft (e.g., a drone for passenger traffic). For example, the means of transport can also be a shoe or other portable utensil (e.g. wearables, articles of clothing, etc.). The term vehicle comprises cars, trucks, buses, motor homes, bicycles, etc., which serve for transporting persons, goods, etc. In particular, the term includes motor vehicles for transporting persons.According to a further independent aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for providing a communication function, in particular for a means of transportation, is specified. The method comprises assigning, based on at least one assignment criterion, a first communication profile to a first slot and a second communication profile to a second slot, wherein the first slot is configured for a plurality of first communication forms and the second slot is configured for a plurality of second communication forms, and wherein the at least one assignment criterion relates to an availability of at least one communication form of the plurality of first communication forms and / or plurality of second communication forms; and carrying out the communication via the first slot or the second slot with the assigned communication profile.The method of providing a communication function may implement the aspects of the communication system described in this document.According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a software (SW) program is provided. The SW program may be arranged to be executed on one or more processors and thereby to execute the method described in this document for providing a communication function.According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided. The storage medium may comprise a SW program which is configured to be executed on one or more processors and thereby to execute the method described in this document for providing a communication function.According to a further independent aspect of the present disclosure, a software with program code is specified. The software is configured to perform the method for providing a communication function when the software runs on one or more software-controlled devices.According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes one or more processors; and at least one memory coupled to the one or more processors and including instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform the method described herein for providing a communication function.A processor or a processor module is a programmable arithmetic unit, that is to say a machine or an electronic circuit, which controls other elements in accordance with transferred commands and in the process advances an algorithm (process).Brief Description of the DrawingsExemplary embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in the figures and are described in more detail below. The following are shown: FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle having a communication system according to embodiments of the present disclosure, FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate demand-dependent allocation of communication profiles to slots according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for providing a communication function according to embodiments of the present disclosure.Embodiments of the DisclosureUnless otherwise noted, the same reference numerals are used below for the same and identically acting elements.FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle 10 having a communication system 100 for providing a communication function in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.In the example of FIG. 1, the communication system 100 is integrated in a vehicle 10. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the communication system 100 may also be present in a mobile terminal or other portable utensil (e.g., wearables, garments, etc.), for example. The term "mobile terminal" includes in particular smartphones, but also other mobile telephones or cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet PCs and all common and future electronic devices which are equipped with a communication technology.The communication system 100 comprises a first slot 110 configured for a plurality of first communication forms using a communication profile associated with the first slot 110; a second slot 120 configured for a plurality of second communication forms using a communication profile associated with the second slot 120; a configuration module 130 configured to variably associate a respective communication profile for communication with the first slot 110 and the second slot 120 based on at least one association criterion, wherein the at least one association criterion relates to availability of at least one communication form of the plurality of first communication forms and / or plurality of second communication forms; and a communication module 140 configured to perform the communication via the first slot 110 or the second slot 120 with the communication profile associated by the configuration module.This results in a flexible assignment of the communication profiles to the slots 110, 120 during operation, so that an availability of communication forms or services can be ensured in a targeted manner. The communication profiles may be eNB profiles, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto,The forms of communication may include, but are not limited to, telephony (or voice calls, e.g., via a telephone plan), messaging (e.g., SMS), and / or data connectivity (or data usage, e.g., via a data plan).In some embodiments, the plurality of first communication forms and the plurality of second communication forms are at least partially different. For example, the plurality of first communication forms for which the first slot 110 is enabled may include telephony, messaging, and data connectivity, and the plurality of second communication forms for which the second slot 120 is enabled may include telephony and messaging but not data connectivity.In some embodiments, the communication system is configured for dual-SIM dual standby, DSDS. In the case of DSDS, both communication profiles in both slots 110, 120 are permanently accessible as long as telephone is not being made. As soon as telephony is carried out via a communication profile, the other communication profile is temporarily unavailable for the duration of the telephone call; it falls into the standby mode, i.e. the communication profile is degraded or suspended. The configuration module 130 may be configured to change the assignment of the communication profiles to the slots 110, 120 such that a data connectivity is possible and / or maintained in a call. In other words, it may be ensured that the data connectivity is maintained and is not interrupted, e.g., by degradation of a communication profile when a call is received on another communication profile.In some embodiments, the communication module 140 comprises or is a modem. In particular, the modem can be a single modem, so that not both communication profiles A, B can be used without limitation at the same time. However, the flexible assignment of the communication profile to the slots 110, 120 according to the invention makes it possible to ensure that the user is always provided with communication forms or services when these are required.FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show a demand-dependent assignment of communication profiles A, B according to embodiments of the present disclosure.The first communication profile A may be a first eNB profile and the second communication profile B may be a second eNB profile.In the example of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the communication forms of the first slot 110 consist of telephony T, messaging M, and data connectivity D. The communication forms of the second slot 120 consist of telephony T and messaging M, without data connectivity.The first communication profile A in the first slot 110 may degrade when the second communication profile B in the second slot 120 receives and handles a call. In the degraded or suspended state, the first communication profile A is still logically registered in the network, but no longer physically registered, and the services of the degraded or suspended first communication profile A are no longer available.Assuming that the first communication profile A or the first slot 110 is currently selected for the communication and data communication takes place, for example, as part of cloud-assisted navigation or entertainment streaming via the data connectivity D of the first slot 110 and the associated first communication profile A. If the second communication profile B receives a call in this state, as is illustrated in FIG. 2A, the assignment of the communication profiles A, B to the slots 110, 120 can be interchanged, so that the data connectivity D is maintained and now takes place via the second communication profile B in the first slot 110.However, the present disclosure is not limited to this example, and various other application cases are conceivable. For example, the second communication profile B or the second slot 120 can currently be selected for the communication and entertainment streaming is now to be started. Then, the assignment of the communication profiles A, B to the slots 110, 120 may be swapped to enable the data connectivity D for streaming using the second communication profile B.In some embodiments, one of the communication profiles (e.g., the first communication profile A) may be a global SIM or eSIM, and the other communication profile (e.g., the second communication profile B) may be a user-specific SIM or eSIM.The global SIM or eSIM may differ from a user-specific SIM or eSIM in that the global SIM or eSIM does not have a local IP and / or has greater latencies and / or does not correspond to KYC (know-four customer). The global SIM or eSIM can be assigned to the vehicle and / or a vehicle manufacturer, for example, whereas the user-specific SIM or eSIM can be assigned to the user.FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of a method 300 for providing a communication function, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 300 may be implemented by appropriate software executable by one or more processors (e.g., a CPU).The method 300 comprises, in block 310, assigning, based on at least one assignment criterion, a first communication profile to a first slot and a second communication profile to a second slot, wherein the first slot is configured for a plurality of first communication forms and the second slot is configured for a plurality of second communication forms, and wherein the at least one assignment criterion relates to an availability of at least one communication form of the plurality of first communication forms and / or plurality of second communication forms; and in block 320, performing the communication via the first slot or the second slot with the assigned communication profile.According to the invention, the communication profiles are flexibly allocated during operation to two slots with different capabilities, so that an availability of communication forms or services such as telephony, messaging and data connectivity can be ensured in a targeted manner. For example, both slots can be set up for telephony, but only one of the two slots can be set up for data connectivity. Now, if a communication profile in the slot without data connectivity receives a call and handles it, a communication profile in the slot with data connectivity degrades so that the data connectivity is interrupted (e.g., in the case of dual-SIM dual standby, DSDS). The communication system can now change or exchange the assignment of the communication profiles to the slots upon receiving the call, so that the communication profile which receives the call is assigned to the slot with data connectivity and the data connectivity is maintained. As a result, in this example, both desired services, namely telephony and data connectivity, can be provided simultaneously. The embodiments of the present disclosure may thus enable the user to be provided with communication forms or services whenever they are needed.Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in more detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a large number of possible variations exist. It is also clear that embodiments mentioned by way of example represent only examples which are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications or the configuration of the invention. Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, wherein the person skilled in the art, having knowledge of the disclosed inventive idea, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as, for example, further explanations in the description.

Claims

A communication system (100) comprising: - a first slot (110) configured for a plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) using a communication profile associated with the first slot (110); - a second slot (120) configured for a plurality of second communication forms (T, M) using a communication profile associated with the second slot (120); a configuration module (130) configured to variably assign a respective communication profile (A, B) for a communication to the first slot (110) and the second slot (120) based on at least one assignment criterion, wherein the at least one assignment criterion relates to an availability of at least one communication form (D) of the plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) and / or plurality of second communication forms (T, M); and a communication module (140) configured to perform the communication via the first slot (110) or the second slot (120) with the communication profile (A, B) assigned by the configuration module (130).The communication system (100) of claim 1, wherein: - the plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) comprise telephony (T), messaging (M) and data connectivity (D); and / or - the plurality of second communication forms comprise telephony (T) and messaging (M).The communication system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a number of the plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) is greater than a number of the plurality of second communication forms (T, M).The communication system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication system (100) is configured for dual-SIM dual standby.Communication system (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the availability of the at least one communication form (D) relates to an availability of a data connectivity, and wherein the configuration module (120) is configured to assign the communication profile (A, B) for the communication in such a way that a data connectivity is possible and / or is maintained in the case of a call.Communication system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication profiles (A, B) ARE SIM profiles, in particular eSIM profiles.The communication system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication module (140) comprises or is a modem, and wherein the communication is via the modem.Means of transport, in particular vehicle (10), comprising the communication system (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 7.A computer implemented method (300) for providing a communication function, comprising: - assigning (310), based on at least one assignment criterion, a first communication profile to a first slot (110) and a second communication profile to a second slot (120), wherein the first slot (110) is configured for a plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) and the second slot (120) is configured for a plurality of second communication forms (T, M), and wherein the at least one assignment criterion relates to an availability of at least one communication form (D) of the plurality of first communication forms (T, M, D) and / or plurality of second communication forms (T, M); and performing (320) the communication via the first slot (110) or the second slot (120) with the associated communication profile (A, B).A storage medium comprising a software program arranged to be executed on one or more processors and thereby to execute the method (300) according to claim 9.

Images