Electronic device for managing protocol between communication circuit and processor, and operation method of electronic device

Abstract

In an electronic device and an operation method of the electronic device according to an embodiment, the electronic device may comprise a communication circuit supporting cellular communication. The electronic device may comprise a processor. The electronic device may comprise a memory for storing data related to a protocol of data exchanged by the communication circuit and the processor. The communication circuit may obtain information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The communication circuit may generate information indicating a version of the protocol on the basis of the information of the cellular network connected to the electronic device. The communication circuit may transmit the information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor. The communication circuit may receive, from the processor, control data generated according to the version of the protocol. The communication circuit may be configured to perform transmission and / or reception of data through the cellular communication on the basis of the control data.

Description

Electronic devices and methods of operating electronic devices for managing protocols between communication circuits and processors

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and a method of operating the electronic device, and relates to a technique for managing a protocol between a communication circuit and a processor.

[0002] Various electronic devices such as smart phones, tablet PCs, portable multimedia players (PMPs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop personal computers, and / or wearable devices are becoming widespread.

[0003] An electronic device may be connected to a cellular network and may perform cellular communication. The electronic device may include a mobile broadband device to perform cellular communication. A mobile broadband device may refer to a device that provides the electronic device with a connection to a cellular network. The mobile broadband device may be embedded within the electronic device, or, when placed externally to the electronic device, may be connected to the electronic device and provide a connection that enables the electronic device to perform cellular communication.

[0004] The electronic device may provide voice call or video call services to the user via cellular communication.

[0005] An electronic device may be connected to a mobile broadband device to perform cellular communication. The electronic device and the mobile broadband device may exchange control data generated according to a protocol (e.g., the mobile broadband interface model (MBIM)) related to data exchanged between the electronic device and the mobile broadband device, and may perform and / or control cellular communication based on the control data.

[0006] Protocol versions are developed based on the generation of the cellular network (e.g., 3G networks, Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, New Radio (NR) networks) or the capabilities supported by the cellular network (e.g., edge computing, network slicing).

[0007] The MBIM (Mobile Broadband Interface Model) protocol may include MBIM 1.0, which supports LTE networks, MBIM 2.0, which supports NR networks that support NSA (non-standalone) mode but not SA (standalone) mode, MBIM 3.0, which supports NR networks that support Phase 1 of SA mode (or 3GPP NR Rel. 15) but not Phase 2 of SA mode (or 3GPP NR Rel. 16), and MBIM 4.0, which supports NR networks that support Phase 2 of SA mode (or 3GPP NR Rel. 16). Control data generated according to the protocol may increase in size as the protocol version increases. In one example, control data generated according to a higher version of the protocol may have a larger size than control data generated according to a lower version of the protocol. This is because as the generations of cellular networks and / or the features they support increase, they contain more data related to the features they support.

[0008] However, in a situation where an electronic device generates and / or uses control data through a higher version of a protocol, the cellular network connected to the electronic device may not support functions corresponding to the higher version of the protocol. For example, the electronic device generates and / or uses control data according to MBIM 4.0, which supports an NR network supporting Phase 2 (or 3GPP NR Rel. 16) of the SA mode, but the cellular network connected to the electronic device is an LTE network and may not support NR. Even if the electronic device generates and / or uses control data according to MBIM 1.0, it can perform cellular communication smoothly. However, by generating and / or using control data according to MBIM 4.0, the electronic device may control the mobile broadband device by further including data related to functions not supported by the cellular network in the control data. Since the control data is generated according to MBIM 4.0, it may include data related to functions not supported by the cellular network. If the control data includes data related to functions not supported by the cellular network, the speed of the cellular communication may decrease as the time required to transmit and / or receive the control data increases, and the memory efficiency may be reduced by the data related to functions not supported by the cellular network.

[0009] The technical problems to be achieved in this document are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0010] An electronic device according to one embodiment may include a communication circuit supporting cellular communication. The electronic device may include a processor. The electronic device may include a memory that stores data related to a protocol of data exchanged between the communication circuit and the processor. The communication circuit may obtain information about a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The communication circuit may generate information indicating a version of the protocol based on the information about the cellular network connected to the electronic device. The communication circuit may transmit the information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor. The communication circuit may receive control data generated according to the version of the protocol from the processor. The communication circuit may be configured to transmit and / or receive data via the cellular communication based on the control data.

[0011] According to an example, a method of operating an electronic device may include an operation in which a communication circuit of the electronic device generates information indicating a version of a protocol of data exchanged between the communication circuit and a processor of the electronic device based on information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The method of operating the electronic device may include an operation in which the communication circuit transmits information indicating the version of the generated protocol to the processor. The method of operating the electronic device may include an operation in which the communication circuit receives control data generated according to the version of the generated protocol from the processor. The method of operating the electronic device may include an operation in which the communication circuit performs transmission and / or reception of data via the cellular communication based on the control data.

[0012] A computer-readable recording medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device according to an example, cause the electronic device to perform, the instructions may include instructions for obtaining information on a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The instructions may generate information indicating a version of the protocol based on the information on the cellular network connected to the electronic device. The instructions may transmit the information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor. The instructions may receive control data generated according to the version of the protocol from the processor. The instructions may include instructions for performing transmission and / or reception of data via the cellular communication based on the control data.

[0013] An electronic device and an operating method thereof according to one embodiment can determine and / or change a protocol version related to data exchanged between a communication circuit and a processor based on information from a cellular network. The determined and / or changed protocol version may be the lowest version among protocol versions capable of generating data related to a generation of the cellular network and / or a function supported by the cellular network. Accordingly, the electronic device can reduce (or prevent) an increase in delay time and / or a decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission and / or use of control data generated according to a higher version than the determined protocol version.

[0014] The effects that can be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the description below.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an example.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of determining a version of a protocol between a processor and a communication circuit based on information from a cellular network in an electronic device according to an example.

[0018] Figure 4 is an operational flowchart illustrating an operating method of an electronic device according to an example.

[0019] FIG. 5 is an operational flowchart illustrating an example of determining a protocol version based on information from a cellular network in an operating method of an electronic device according to an example.

[0020] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of an electronic device according to an example.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with the electronic device (104) or a server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

[0022] The processor (120) may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program (140)) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) and perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together with the main processor (121). For example, when the electronic device (101) includes the main processor (121) and the auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

[0023] The processor (120) (e.g., processing circuit) may be implemented as one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips and may perform various data processing operations. The processor (120) may include at least one electrical circuit and may individually or collectively perform distributed processing of instructions (or programs, data) stored in the memory (130). The processor (120) may include a processor assembly including one or more processing circuits. The processor (120) may include any processing circuit operative to control the performance and operations of one or more components of the electronic device (101) (e.g., the memory (130), the display module (160), the sensor module (176) (e.g., a sensor), the camera module (180) (e.g., an image sensor), and / or the communication module (190) (e.g., a communication circuit)). For example, the processor (120) (e.g., an application processor (AP)) may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) (e.g., a single chip or chipset). For example, the processor (120) may be implemented as multiple cores (or at least one core circuit), multiple chips, or multiple chipsets. For example, the processor (120) may include one or more processing circuits. For example, the processor (120) may include one or more processing circuits configured to individually and / or collectively perform various functions of the present disclosure. As a non-limiting example, at least a portion of the processor (120) may be included in a first chip of the electronic device (101), and at least another portion of the processor (120) may be included in a second chip of the electronic device (101) that is different from the first chip of the electronic device (101).

[0024] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, in the electronic device (101) itself where artificial intelligence is performed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.

[0025] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0026] The program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0027] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0028] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0029] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. According to one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.

[0030] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0031] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0032] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0033] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0034] The haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0035] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0036] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0037] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0038] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0039] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

[0040] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device via the at least one selected antenna. In some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

[0041] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. In one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

[0042] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).

[0043] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102 or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least a part of the service. One or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a portion of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a portion of a response to the request. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using distributed computing or mobile edge computing, for example. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server utilizing machine learning and / or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0044] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an example.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) may include a communication circuit (e.g., wireless communication circuit (192) of FIG. 1) (210). In some examples, the electronic device (100) may also include a processor (e.g., processor (120) of FIG. 1) (220) and / or a memory (e.g., memory (130) of FIG. 1) (230).

[0046] The memory (230) can store instructions that can be executed by the communication circuit (210) and / or the processor (220). The operations of the communication circuit (210) and / or the processor (220) described below can be performed according to the execution of the instructions stored on the memory (230).

[0047] The communication circuit (210) is a communication circuit that supports cellular communication and can provide communication with an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device (104) of FIG. 1) to the electronic device (101) through cellular communication. The cellular communication may include at least one of 3rd generation cellular communication (3G), 4th generation cellular communication (4G), and / or 5th generation cellular communication (5G).

[0048] The communication circuit (210) may include various components for performing cellular communication. According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may include at least one of a communication processor that performs processing related to a communication function, a transceiver that modulates a signal received from the communication processor, and a front-end module that amplifies the modulated signal and filters signals of a specific frequency band.

[0049] The communication circuit (210) may be referred to as an MBB (mobile broadband) device. In FIG. 2, the communication circuit (210) is illustrated as a component of the electronic device (101). However, the communication circuit (210) may be implemented outside the electronic device (101) and connected to the electronic device (101) through various methods (e.g., USB).

[0050] The processor (220) may be an entity capable of controlling various components of the electronic device (101). The processor (220) may also be referred to as an application processor. According to one example, the processor (220) may perform various functions based on data transmitted and / or received via cellular communication. The processor (220) may be operatively or electrically connected to the communication circuit (210) to control the communication circuit (210). According to one example, the processor (220) may be connected to the communication circuit (210) via at least one channel. The at least one channel may include a data channel, which is a path through which user data (e.g., IP data) is exchanged, and / or a control channel, which is a path through which control data is exchanged. Control data may refer to data including at least one data (or parameter) for controlling the communication circuit (210) to perform cellular communication by the processor (220).

[0051] The processor (220) may generate control data for controlling the communication circuit (210) and transmit the control data to the communication circuit (210). The control data may include commands for the communication circuit (210) to perform functions related to cellular communication (e.g., short messaging service (SMS), subscribe identity module (SIM) control, data transmission and / or reception functions, unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) transmission and / or reception functions). The control data may be generated according to a protocol related to data exchanged between the processor (220) and the communication circuit (210). The protocol may be a protocol for exchanging data (including control data) between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (320). According to one example, the protocol related to data exchanged between the processor (220) and the communication circuit (210) may be a protocol for exchanging data between the processor (220) and the communication circuit (210) when the processor (220) operates under a specific operating system (e.g., Windows). TM ) may be referred to as MBIM (mobile broadband interface model).

[0052] The version of the protocol related to the data exchanged between the processor (220) and the communication circuit (210) is developed according to the generation of the cellular network (e.g., 3G network, LTE network, NR network) or the function supported by the cellular network (e.g., edge computing, network slice). According to one example, the MBIM protocol may include MBIM 1.0 supporting an LTE network, MBIM 2.0 supporting an NR network that supports an NSA (non-standalone) mode but does not support an SA (standalone) mode, MBIM 3.0 supporting an NR network that supports Phase 1 (or 3GPP NR Rel. 15) of the SA mode but does not support Phase 2 (or 3GPP NR Rel. 16) of the SA mode, and MBIM 4.0 supporting an NR network that supports Phase 2 (or 3GPP NR Rel. 16) of the SA mode. Control data generated according to a protocol may increase in size as the protocol version increases. For example, control data generated according to a higher protocol version may be larger than control data generated according to a lower protocol version. This is because, as cellular network generations and / or the functions supported by the cellular network increase, they contain more data related to the functions supported by the cellular network.

[0053] However, in a situation where the electronic device (101) generates and / or uses control data through a higher version of the protocol, the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) may not support a function corresponding to the higher version of the protocol. For example, the electronic device (101) generates and / or uses control data according to MBIM 4.0, which supports an NR network that supports Phase 2 (or 3GPP NR Rel. 16) of the SA mode, but the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) is an LTE network and may not support NR. Even if the electronic device (101) generates and / or uses control data according to MBIM 1.0, it can smoothly perform cellular communication. However, by generating and / or using control data according to MBIM 4.0, it may control the communication circuit (210) by further including data related to a function not supported by the cellular network in the control data. Since the control data is generated according to MBIM 4.0, it may include data related to a function not supported by the cellular network. If the control data further includes data related to functions not supported by the cellular network, the speed of the cellular communication may decrease as the time required for transmission and / or reception of the control data increases, and the efficiency of the memory (130) may be lowered by the data related to functions not supported by the cellular network.

[0054] Furthermore, a change in the protocol related to data exchanged between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may be implemented by an update (or change) of the firmware or operating system of the processor (220) or the electronic device (101). In one example, the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) may be changed while the electronic device (101) is set to generate and / or use control data according to MBIM 1.0. If the changed cellular network supports NR, the electronic device (101) may be able to generate and / or use control data according to MBIM 1.0 and may not be able to smoothly use the functions provided by the cellular network. In order for the electronic device (101) to smoothly use the functions provided by the changed cellular network, the protocol must be changed through an update of the firmware or operating system. However, updating the firmware or operating system may take a long time, and may cause inconvenience to the user of the electronic device (101) by not being able to perform cellular communication during the time required.

[0055] Hereinafter, an example is described in which the speed of cellular communication can be increased and / or the efficiency of memory (130) can be increased by determining or changing the version of the protocol of data exchanged between a communication circuit (210) and a processor (220) based on information of a cellular network connected to an electronic device (101), and generating and / or using control data using the determined or changed version of the protocol.

[0056] The communication circuit (210) can determine the protocol version based on information about the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101). The cellular network information may include the generation of the cellular network and / or the functions supported by the cellular network. Determining the protocol version may include changing the protocol version negotiated (or agreed upon) between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220).

[0057] The communication circuit (210) may negotiate with the processor (220) to transmit and / or receive control data using a specific version of the protocol as the electronic device (101) boots. In one example, the version of the protocol used by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may be the same as the version of the protocol used previously (e.g., the most recently used protocol version). Alternatively, the version of the protocol used by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may be the same as the version of a preset protocol.

[0058] The communication circuit (210) can perform cellular communication based on control data generated according to a protocol version, and can receive (or acquire) information of a cellular network based on a signal transmitted (or broadcasted) by a cellular network or a base station (or node) included in the cellular network.

[0059] A signal transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) may include information indicating the generation of the cellular network. In one example, the information indicating the network generation may be included in the MBIMDataClass field included in the signal, and may be implemented as shown in Table 1.

[0060] Field Information MBIMDataClass HSDPA Indicates that the cellular network supports high-speed downlink packet access (supports 3rd generation cellular communication) MBIMDataClass HSUPA Indicates that the cellular network supports high-speed uplink packet access (supports 4th generation cellular communication) MBIMDataClass LTE Indicates that the cellular network supports LTE (supports 4th generation cellular communication) MBIMDataClass 5G_NSA Indicates that the cellular network supports NR's NSA mode MBIMDataClass 5G_SA Indicates that the cellular network supports NR's SA mode

[0061] The signal transmitted (or broadcast) by the base station may include a Master Information Block (MIB) and / or a System Information Block (SIB).

[0062] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) can receive SIB 1 transmitted (or broadcast) by the base station (or node) and check the identification information of the cellular network included in SIB 1. The communication circuit (210) can check the information of the cellular network by referring to the memory stored in the communication circuit (210) or the mapping data stored in the memory (230). According to one example, the mapping data may refer to data in which the identification information of the cellular network and the generation of the cellular network (or the function supported by the cellular network) are mapped, and may be implemented as shown in Table 2. Checking the identification information of the cellular network included in SIB 1 is only one embodiment and is not limited thereto. According to one example, the communication circuit (210) can check the identification information of the cellular network by using various signals including the identification information of the cellular network, rather than SIB 1.

[0063] Cellular network identification information Cellular network information Cellular network 1 Supports only LTE, Cellular network 2 Supports NSA mode of NR. Does not support SA mode of NR. Cellular network 3 Supports SA mode of NR.

[0064] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may check information of a cellular network by referring to system information transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) without referring to mapping data.

[0065] The communication circuit (210) can determine (or select) the lowest version among the versions of the protocol capable of generating data related to the generation of the cellular network and / or the functions supported by the cellular network as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting the control data.

[0066] According to one example, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports only LTE, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network supporting LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0067] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 2.0) of protocols (e.g., MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports the NSA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports the NSA mode of NR and does not support the SA mode.

[0068] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of a protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports Phase 1 of the SA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 1 (or Rel. 15) of the SA mode of NR and does not support Phase 2 (or Rel. 16).

[0069] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 4.0) of a protocol that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports Phase 2 of the SA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 2 (or Rel. 16) of the SA mode of NR.

[0070] The communication circuit (210) may transmit information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220). Transmitting the information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220) may be for changing the version of a previously used protocol.

[0071] For example, in a situation where the communication circuit (210) receives control data generated using a first version of the protocol, the communication circuit (210) may stop data exchange between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) and / or negotiate the version of the protocol in order to change the version of the protocol.

[0072] The communication circuit (210) may transmit a protocol end message (e.g., MBIM close message) to the processor (220) to change the protocol version. The processor (220) may receive the protocol end message from the communication circuit (210) and transmit a response message (e.g., MBIM close done message) to the communication circuit (210). The processor (220) may transmit a protocol start message (e.g., MBIM open message) to the communication circuit (210) to activate cellular communication. The communication circuit (210) may receive the protocol start message from the processor (220) and transmit a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message) to the processor (220).

[0073] The communication circuit (210) and processor (220) may perform negotiation of a version of the protocol after transmitting and / or receiving a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message).

[0074] During the protocol version negotiation process, the processor (220) can transmit information indicating the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0075] In one example, the processor (220) may transmit information indicating the highest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0076] According to one example, the communication circuit (210), in the process of performing negotiation on a version of a protocol determined based on information of a cellular network, may receive information from the processor (220) indicating a version of a protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0) that the processor (220) can support.

[0077] The communication circuit (210) can determine the version of the protocol based on information of the cellular network and the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support. For example, if the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) only supports LTE, the communication circuit (210) can determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among the protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with the cellular network that supports LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0078] The communication circuit (210) may transmit information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220). The version of the protocol (e.g., MBIM 1.0) included in the information indicating the version of the determined protocol transmitted by the communication circuit (210) and the version of the protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0) that the processor (220) can support, transmitted by the processor (220), may be different from each other. For example, if the processor (220) transmits information indicating the highest version among the versions of the protocol that the processor (220) can support and receives information from the cellular network indicating that a version lower than the highest version should be used, the version of the determined protocol may be a version lower than the determined version.

[0079] The communication circuit (210) can induce the processor (220) to complete negotiation with the determined version by transmitting information indicating the determined version to the processor (220).

[0080] The communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may complete negotiation to generate and / or exchange control data using a protocol version determined based on cellular network information. The communication circuit (210) may receive a control message generated according to the determined protocol version from the processor (220) and perform cellular communication based on the control message.

[0081] Control messages generated according to the determined protocol version may exclude data supported by a higher version of the determined protocol. For example, if the determined protocol version is MBIM 1.0, data supported by MBIM 4.0, which is a higher version of the determined protocol (e.g., data related to the network slicing function) may not be included in the control message. Therefore, if the determined protocol version is lower than the version of the previously set protocol, the increase in delay time and / or decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission of control data generated according to a higher version can be reduced (or prevented) by transmitting and / or using control data generated according to a lower version.

[0082] The control message generated according to the version of the determined protocol may exclude data related to functions not supported by the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101). For example, if the version of the predetermined protocol is MBIM 4.0 and the connected cellular network is a cellular network that only supports LTE (or a cellular network that does not support NR), if the version of the protocol is newly determined to be MBIM 1.0, data related to functions of MBIM 4.0 (e.g., network slicing function) that are not supported by the cellular network that only supports LTE (e.g., single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI)) may not be included in the control message. Accordingly, the electronic device (101) may reduce (or prevent) an increase in delay time and / or a decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission and / or use of control data generated according to a version higher than the version of the determined protocol.

[0083] The above-described operation can be performed in a situation where the electronic device (101) is connected to a cellular network after booting. However, the electronic device (101) according to the present disclosure can perform the above-described operation when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) is changed.

[0084] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may perform cellular communication based on control data generated according to the first version of the protocol while connected to the first cellular network (or the initial cellular network). The communication circuit (210) may acquire (or receive) information about the changed cellular network as the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) changes. The communication circuit (210) may determine whether to change the version of the protocol based on the information about the changed cellular network. The communication circuit (210) may determine whether the version of the protocol corresponding to the generation of the cellular network and / or the function supported by the cellular network and the version of the protocol of the data exchanged by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) are the same based on the information about the cellular network, and if they are not the same, may determine to change the version of the protocol.

[0085] In one example, the communication circuit (210) may decide to change the version of the protocol if the generation of the changed cellular network (e.g., an LTE network) is lower than the generation of the previously connected cellular network (e.g., an NR network) (or lower than the generation of the cellular network corresponding to the first version of the protocol).

[0086] The communication circuit (210) may transmit a protocol end message (e.g., MBIM close message) to the processor (220) to change the protocol version when it determines to change the protocol version. The processor (220) may receive the protocol end message from the communication circuit (210) and transmit a response message (e.g., MBIM close done message) to the communication circuit (210). The processor (220) may transmit a protocol start message (e.g., MBIM open message) to the communication circuit (210) to activate cellular communication. The communication circuit (210) may receive the protocol start message from the processor (220) and transmit a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message) to the processor (220).

[0087] The communication circuit (210) and processor (220) may perform negotiation of a version of the protocol after transmitting and / or receiving a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message).

[0088] During the protocol version negotiation process, the processor (220) can transmit information indicating the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0089] According to one example, the communication circuit (210), in the process of performing negotiation on the version of the protocol determined based on information of the cellular network, may receive information from the processor (220) indicating a version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support. The communication circuit (210) may transmit the information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220). The version of the protocol included in the information indicating the version of the determined protocol transmitted by the communication circuit (210) and the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support, transmitted by the processor (220), may be different from each other. For example, if the processor (220) transmits information indicating the highest version among the versions of the protocol that the processor (220) can support and receives information from the cellular network indicating that a version lower than the highest version should be used, the version of the determined protocol may be a version lower than the determined version.

[0090] The communication circuit (210) can induce the processor (220) to complete negotiation with the determined version by transmitting information indicating the determined version to the processor (220).

[0091] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of determining a version of a protocol between a processor and a communication circuit based on information from a cellular network in an electronic device according to an example.

[0092] A communication circuit (e.g., communication circuit (210) of FIG. 2) may, in operation 301, determine a change in the version of the protocol based on information from the cellular network.

[0093] The communication circuit (210) may determine whether the version of the protocol corresponding to the generation of the cellular network and / or the function supported by the cellular network and the version of the protocol of data exchanged between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (e.g., the processor (220) of FIG. 2) are the same based on information of the cellular network, and if they are not the same, may determine to change the version of the protocol.

[0094] The communication circuit (210) can determine the protocol version based on information about the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101). The cellular network information may include the generation of the cellular network and / or the functions supported by the cellular network. Determining the protocol version may include changing the protocol version negotiated (or agreed upon) between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220).

[0095] The communication circuit (210) may negotiate with the processor (220) to transmit and / or receive control data using a specific version of the protocol as the electronic device (101) boots. In one example, the version of the protocol used by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may be the same as the version of the protocol used previously (e.g., the version of the most recently used protocol). Alternatively, the version of the protocol used by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may be the same as the version of a preset protocol.

[0096] The communication circuit (210) can perform cellular communication based on control data, and can receive (or acquire) information of a cellular network based on a signal transmitted (or broadcasted) by a cellular network or a base station (or node) included in the cellular network.

[0097] A signal transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) may include information indicating the generation of the cellular network. In one example, the information indicating the generation of the network may be included in the MBIMDataClass field included in the signal.

[0098] The signal transmitted (or broadcast) by the base station may include a System Information Block (SIB) and a Master Information Block (MIB).

[0099] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) can receive SIB 1 transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) and check the identification information of the cellular network included in SIB 1. The communication circuit (210) can check the information of the cellular network by referring to the memory stored within the communication circuit (210) or the mapping data stored in the memory (230). According to one example, the mapping data may refer to data in which the identification information of the cellular network and the generation of the cellular network (or the function supported by the cellular network) are mapped. Obtaining information indicating the generation of the cellular network by checking the identification information of the cellular network included in SIB 1 is only one embodiment and is not limited thereto. According to one example, the communication circuit (210) can check the identification information of the cellular network by using various signals including the identification information of the cellular network, rather than SIB 1.

[0100] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may check information of a cellular network by referring to system information transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) without referring to mapping data.

[0101] The communication circuit (210) can determine (or select) the lowest version among the versions of the protocol capable of generating data related to the generation of the cellular network and / or the functions supported by the cellular network as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting the control data.

[0102] According to one example, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports only LTE, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network supporting LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0103] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 2.0) of protocols (e.g., MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports the NSA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports the NSA mode of NR and does not support the SA mode.

[0104] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of a protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports Phase 1 of the SA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 1 (or Rel. 15) of the SA mode of NR and does not support Phase 2 (or Rel. 16).

[0105] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 4.0) of a protocol that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports Phase 2 of the SA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 2 (or Rel. 16) of the SA mode of NR.

[0106] The communication circuit (210) may transmit a protocol termination message to the processor (220) in operation 303.

[0107] The communication circuit (210) may transmit a protocol end message (e.g., MBIM close message) to the processor (220) to change the version of the protocol. For example, if the communication circuit (210) determines that the version of the protocol should be changed, it may transmit the protocol end message to the processor (220), and if it determines that the version of the protocol should not be changed (e.g., if the current version of the protocol is the same as the version of the protocol determined based on information from the cellular network), it may not transmit the protocol end message to the processor (220).

[0108] A processor (e.g., processor (220) of FIG. 2) may, at operation 305, transmit a first response message to the communication circuit (210).

[0109] The processor (220) may receive a protocol termination message from the communication circuit (210) and transmit a first response message (e.g., an MBIM close done message) to the communication circuit (210). For example, the processor (220) may transmit the first response message in response to receiving the protocol termination message.

[0110] The processor (220) may, in operation 307, transmit a start message of the protocol to the communication circuit (210).

[0111] The processor (220) may transmit a protocol start message (e.g., an MBIM open message) to the communication circuit (210) to activate cellular communication. For example, the processor (220) may transmit the protocol start message in response to receiving the first response message.

[0112] The communication circuit (210) may transmit a second response message to the processor (220) at operation 309.

[0113] The communication circuit (210) may receive a protocol start message from the processor (220) and transmit a second response message (e.g., an MBIM open done message) to the processor (220).

[0114] The processor (220) may, in operation 311, transmit information indicating version information of a protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0115] The communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may perform negotiation (310) of a version of the protocol after transmitting and / or receiving a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message).

[0116] During the protocol version negotiation process, the processor (220) can transmit information indicating the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0117] In one example, the processor (220) may transmit information indicating the highest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0118] According to one example, the communication circuit (210), in the process of performing negotiation on a version of a protocol determined based on information of a cellular network, may receive information from the processor (220) indicating a version of a protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0) that the processor (220) can support.

[0119] The communication circuit (210) can determine the version of the protocol based on information of the cellular network and the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support. For example, if the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) only supports LTE, the communication circuit (210) can determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among the protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with the cellular network that supports LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0120] The communication circuit (210) may transmit information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220) in operation 313.

[0121] According to one example, the communication circuit (210), in the process of performing negotiation on the version of the protocol determined based on information of the cellular network, may receive information from the processor (220) indicating a version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support. The communication circuit (210) may transmit the information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220). The version of the protocol included in the information indicating the version of the determined protocol transmitted by the communication circuit (210) and the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support, transmitted by the processor (220), may be different from each other. For example, if the processor (220) transmits information indicating the highest version among the versions of the protocol that the processor (220) can support and receives information from the cellular network indicating that a version lower than the highest version should be used, the version of the determined protocol may be a version lower than the determined version.

[0122] The communication circuit (210) can induce the processor (220) to complete negotiation with the determined version by transmitting information indicating the determined version to the processor (220).

[0123] The processor (220) and the communication circuit (210) can exchange control messages generated according to the version of the determined protocol in operation 315 and perform cellular communication based on the control messages.

[0124] The communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may complete negotiation to generate and / or exchange control data using a protocol version determined based on cellular network information. The communication circuit (210) may receive a control message generated according to the determined protocol version from the processor (220) and perform cellular communication (e.g., via a cellular network) based on the control message.

[0125] Control messages generated according to the determined protocol version may exclude data supported by a higher version of the determined protocol. For example, if the determined protocol version is MBIM 1.0, data supported by MBIM 4.0, which is a higher version of the determined protocol (e.g., data related to the network slicing function) may not be included in the control message. Therefore, if the determined protocol version is lower than the version of the previously set protocol, the increase in delay time and / or decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission of control data generated according to a higher version can be reduced (or prevented) by transmitting and / or using control data generated according to a lower version.

[0126] The control message generated according to the determined protocol version may exclude data related to functions not supported by the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101). For example, if the determined protocol version is MBIM 1.0 and the connected cellular network is a cellular network that only supports LTE (or a cellular network that does not support NR), data related to functions not supported by the cellular network that only supports LTE (e.g., network slicing function) may not be included in the control message. Accordingly, the electronic device (101) may reduce (or prevent) an increase in delay time and / or a decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission and / or use of control data generated according to a higher version than the determined protocol version.

[0127] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method (400) of an electronic device according to an example.

[0128] An electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 2) may, in operation 410, determine a protocol version based on information of a cellular network. For example, the electronic device (101) (or communication circuit (210)) may obtain information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) and, based on the obtained network information, generate information indicating a protocol version.

[0129] The electronic device (101) may determine whether the version of the protocol corresponding to the generation of the cellular network and / or the function supported by the cellular network and the version of the protocol of data exchanged by the communication circuit (e.g., the communication circuit (210) of FIG. 2) and the processor (e.g., the processor (220) of FIG. 2)) are the same based on information of the cellular network, and if they are not the same, may determine to change the version of the protocol.

[0130] When the electronic device (101) decides to change the version of the protocol, it may decide to change the version of the protocol to a version of the protocol corresponding to the generation of the cellular network and / or the function supported by the cellular network based on information of the cellular network.

[0131] The communication circuit (210) may negotiate with the processor (220) to transmit and / or receive control data using a specific version of the protocol as the electronic device (101) boots. In one example, the version of the protocol used by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may be the same as the version of a previously used protocol (e.g., the most recently used version of the protocol). Alternatively, the version of the protocol used by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may be the same as the version of a preset protocol.

[0132] The electronic device (101) can perform cellular communication based on control data, and can receive (or acquire) information of a cellular network based on a signal transmitted (or broadcasted) by a cellular network or a base station (or node) included in the cellular network.

[0133] A signal transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) may include information indicating the generation of the cellular network. In one example, the information indicating the generation of the network may be included in the MBIMDataClass field included in the signal.

[0134] The signal transmitted (or broadcast) by the base station may include a system information block (SIB).

[0135] According to one example, the electronic device (101) can receive SIB 1 transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) and check the identification information of the cellular network included in SIB 1. The electronic device (101) can check the information of the cellular network by referring to the memory stored in the communication circuit (210) or the mapping data stored in the memory (230). According to one example, the mapping data may refer to data in which the identification information of the cellular network and the generation of the cellular network (or the function supported by the cellular network) are mapped. Checking the identification information of the cellular network included in SIB 1 is only one embodiment and is not limited thereto. According to one example, the communication circuit (210) can check the identification information of the cellular network by using various signals including the identification information of the cellular network, rather than SIB 1.

[0136] According to one example, the electronic device (101) may check information of a cellular network by referring to system information transmitted (or broadcast) by a base station (or node) without referring to mapping data.

[0137] The electronic device (101) can determine (or select) the lowest version among the versions of the protocol capable of generating data related to the generation of the cellular network and / or the functions supported by the cellular network as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting the control data.

[0138] According to one example, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports only LTE, the electronic device (101) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with the cellular network supporting LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0139] According to one example, the electronic device (101) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 2.0) of protocols (e.g., MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports the NSA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports the NSA mode of NR and does not support the SA mode.

[0140] According to one example, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 1 (or Rel. 15) of the SA mode of NR and does not support Phase 2 (or Rel. 16), the electronic device (101) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of the protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with the cellular network supporting Phase 1 of the SA mode of NR as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0141] According to one example, the electronic device (101) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 4.0) of a protocol that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports Phase 2 of the SA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 2 (or Rel. 16) of the SA mode of NR.

[0142] The electronic device (101) may transmit information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220) in operation 420. For example, the electronic device (101) (or the communication circuit (210)) may transmit the generated information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor (220).

[0143] The communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) may perform negotiation (310) of a version of the protocol after transmitting and / or receiving a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message).

[0144] The processor (220) may transmit information indicating a version of a protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210) during a protocol version negotiation process. For example, the communication circuit (210) may receive information indicating at least one version of a protocol that the processor (220) supports, and the communication circuit (210) may determine a version of the protocol based on the acquired cellular network information and the information indicating at least one version of a protocol that the processor (220) supports.

[0145] In one example, the processor (220) may transmit information indicating the highest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0146] According to one example, the communication circuit (210), in the process of performing negotiation on a version of a protocol determined based on information of a cellular network, may receive information from the processor (220) indicating a version of a protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0) that the processor (220) can support.

[0147] The communication circuit (210) can determine the version of the protocol based on information of the cellular network and the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support. For example, if the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) only supports LTE, the communication circuit (210) can determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among the protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with the cellular network that supports LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0148] The communication circuit (210) may transmit information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220). The version of the protocol (e.g., MBIM 1.0) included in the information indicating the version of the determined protocol transmitted by the communication circuit (210) and the version of the protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0) that the processor (220) can support, transmitted by the processor (220), may be different from each other. For example, if the processor (220) transmits information indicating the highest version among the versions of the protocol that the processor (220) can support and receives information from the cellular network indicating that a version lower than the highest version should be used, the version of the determined protocol may be a version lower than the determined version.

[0149] The communication circuit (210) can induce the processor (220) to complete negotiation with the determined version by transmitting information indicating the determined version to the processor (220).

[0150] The electronic device (101) may receive control data generated according to the version of the determined protocol in operation 430. For example, the electronic device (101) (or the communication circuit (210)) may receive control data generated according to the version of the indicated protocol from the processor (220).

[0151] Control messages generated according to the determined protocol version may exclude data supported by a higher version of the determined protocol. For example, if the determined protocol version is MBIM 1.0, data supported by MBIM 4.0, which is a higher version of the determined protocol (e.g., data related to the network slicing function) may not be included in the control message. Therefore, if the determined protocol version is lower than the version of the preset protocol, by transmitting and / or using control data generated according to the lower version, an increase in delay time and / or a decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission and / or use of control data generated according to the higher version can be reduced (or prevented).

[0152] The control message generated according to the determined protocol version may exclude data related to functions not supported by the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101). For example, if the determined protocol version is MBIM 1.0 and the connected cellular network is a cellular network that only supports LTE (or a cellular network that does not support NR), data related to functions not supported by the cellular network that only supports LTE (e.g., network slicing function) may not be included in the control message. Accordingly, the electronic device (101) may reduce (or prevent) an increase in delay time and / or a decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission and / or use of control data generated according to a higher version than the determined protocol version.

[0153] The electronic device (101) may perform cellular communication based on control data at operation 440. For example, the electronic device (101) (or the communication circuit (210)) may transmit and / or receive data via a cellular network based on the control data.

[0154] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation (410) of determining a version of a protocol based on information of a cellular network in an operating method of an electronic device according to an example.

[0155] An electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 2) can, in operation 501, determine whether a cellular network supports NR (new radio).

[0156] The electronic device (101) may determine the version of the protocol as MBIM 1.0 if it is determined in operation 503 that the cellular network does not support NR (new radio) (operation 501-N).

[0157] According to one example, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports only LTE, the electronic device (101) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with the cellular network supporting LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0158] The electronic device (101), in operation 505, can check whether the cellular network supports NR (new radio) (operation 501-Y), and whether the cellular network supports SA (stand-alone) mode.

[0159] The electronic device (101) may determine the version of the protocol as MBIM 2.0 if it is determined in operation 507 that the cellular network does not support SA mode (operation 505-N).

[0160] If the cellular network does not support the SA mode, the cellular network may support the NSA mode. The SA mode may refer to a mode in which the electronic device (101) can perform cellular communication through connection with a base station supporting NR without connection with a base station supporting LTE. The NSA mode may refer to a mode in which the electronic device (101) can perform cellular communication by being connected to a base station supporting LTE and a base station supporting NR.

[0161] The electronic device (101), if it is confirmed in operation 509 that the cellular network supports the SA mode (operation 505-Y), can check whether the cellular network supports Phase 2 of the SA mode.

[0162] The electronic device (101) may determine the version of the protocol as MBIM 3.0 if the cellular network does not support Phase 2 of the SA mode (operation 509-N) in operation 511.

[0163] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of a protocol (e.g., MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports Phase 1 of the SA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 1 (or Rel. 15) of the SA mode of NR and does not support Phase 2 (or Rel. 16).

[0164] The electronic device (101) may determine the version of the protocol as MBIM 4.0 if the cellular network supports Phase 2 of the SA mode (operation 509-Y) at operation 513.

[0165] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 4.0) of a protocol that can be used for cellular communication with a cellular network that supports Phase 2 of the SA mode of NR, as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data, when the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) supports Phase 2 (or Rel. 16) of the SA mode of NR.

[0166] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method (600) of an electronic device according to an example.

[0167] An electronic device (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 2) may perform cellular communication based on a control message generated according to a first version of the protocol, at operation 610.

[0168] According to one example, an electronic device (101) may perform cellular communication based on control data generated according to a first version of the protocol while connected to a first cellular network.

[0169] The communication circuit (210) can obtain (or receive) information on the changed cellular network as the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) changes.

[0170] The electronic device (101) can determine, in operation 620, whether to change the protocol version based on information from the cellular network.

[0171] An electronic device (101) may determine whether to change the version of a protocol based on information about a changed cellular network. The electronic device (101) may determine whether the version of a protocol corresponding to the generation of the cellular network and / or the function supported by the cellular network and the version of the protocol of data exchanged by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) are identical based on information about the cellular network, and if they are not identical, may determine to change the version of the protocol.

[0172] In one example, the electronic device (101) may decide to change the version of the protocol if the generation of the changed cellular network (e.g., an LTE network) is lower than the generation of the previously connected cellular network (e.g., an NR network) (or lower than the generation of the cellular network corresponding to the first version of the protocol).

[0173] The electronic device (101) may control the communication circuit (210) to transmit information indicating the changed protocol version to the processor (220) based on the decision to perform a change in the protocol version at operation 630.

[0174] The electronic device (101) may control the communication circuit (210) to transmit a protocol end message (e.g., MBIM close message) to the processor (220) for changing the protocol version, as the electronic device (101) determines to change the protocol version. The processor (220) may receive the protocol end message from the communication circuit (210) and transmit a response message (e.g., MBIM close done message) to the communication circuit (210). The processor (220) may transmit a protocol start message (e.g., MBIM open message) to the communication circuit (210) for activating cellular communication. The electronic device (101) may control the communication circuit (210) to receive the protocol start message from the processor (220) and transmit a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message) to the processor (220).

[0175] The communication circuit (210) and processor (220) may perform negotiation of a version of the protocol after transmitting and / or receiving a response message (e.g., MBIM open done message).

[0176] During the protocol version negotiation process, the processor (220) can transmit information indicating the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0177] In one example, the processor (220) may transmit information indicating the highest version (e.g., MBIM 3.0) of the protocol that the processor (220) can support to the communication circuit (210).

[0178] According to one example, the communication circuit (210) may receive information from the processor (220) indicating a version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support during the process of performing negotiation on a version of the protocol determined based on information of the cellular network.

[0179] The communication circuit (210) can determine the version of the protocol based on information of the cellular network and the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support. For example, if the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101) only supports LTE, the communication circuit (210) can determine (or select) the lowest version (e.g., MBIM 1.0) among the protocols (e.g., MBIM 1.0, MBIM 2.0, MBIM 3.0, MBIM 4.0) that can be used for cellular communication with the cellular network that supports LTE as the version of the protocol to be used for generating and transmitting control data.

[0180] The electronic device (101) can control the communication circuit (210) to transmit information indicating the version of the determined protocol to the processor (220). The version of the protocol included in the information indicating the version of the determined protocol transmitted by the communication circuit (210) and the version of the protocol that the processor (220) can support, transmitted by the processor (220), may be different from each other. For example, if the processor (220) transmits information indicating the highest version among the versions of the protocol that the processor (220) can support and receives information from the cellular network indicating that a version lower than the highest version should be used, the version of the determined protocol may be a version lower than the determined version.

[0181] The communication circuit (210) can induce the processor (220) to complete negotiation with the determined version by transmitting information indicating the determined version to the processor (220).

[0182] The electronic device (101) can control the communication circuit (210) to receive control data generated according to the changed protocol version in operation 640.

[0183] Control messages generated according to the determined protocol version may exclude data supported by a higher version than the determined protocol version. For example, if the determined protocol version is MBIM 1.0, data supported by MBIM 4.0, which is a higher version than the determined protocol version (e.g., data related to the network slicing function) may not be included in the control message. Therefore, if the determined protocol version is lower than the version of the previously set protocol, the increase in delay time and / or decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission of control data generated according to the higher version can be reduced (or prevented) by transmitting and / or using control data generated according to the lower version.

[0184] The control message generated according to the determined protocol version may exclude data related to functions not supported by the cellular network connected to the electronic device (101). For example, if the determined protocol version is MBIM 1.0 and the connected cellular network is a cellular network that only supports LTE (or a cellular network that does not support NR), data related to functions not supported by the cellular network that only supports LTE (e.g., network slicing function) may not be included in the control message. Accordingly, the electronic device (101) may reduce (or prevent) an increase in delay time and / or a decrease in memory efficiency that may occur due to the transmission and / or use of control data generated according to a higher version than the determined protocol version.

[0185] The electronic device (101) can control the communication circuit (210) to perform cellular communication based on the control data in operation 650.

[0186] According to an example, an electronic device (101) may include a communication circuit (210) that supports cellular communication. The electronic device (101) may include a processor (220). The electronic device (101) may include a memory (230) that stores data related to a protocol of data exchanged between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220). The communication circuit (210) may obtain information on a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The communication circuit (210) may generate information indicating a version of the protocol based on the information on the cellular network connected to the electronic device. The communication circuit (210) may transmit the information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor (220). The communication circuit (210) may receive control data generated according to the version of the protocol from the processor (220). The above communication circuit (210) may be set to transmit and / or receive data via the cellular communication based on the control data.

[0187] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the control data may be generated according to the version of the protocol so that data supported by a version higher than the version of the protocol is excluded.

[0188] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the control data may be generated according to the version of the protocol so that data related to functions not supported by the cellular network is excluded.

[0189] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the communication circuit (210) may be configured to transmit and / or receive a message to the processor (220) excluding data supported by a version higher than the determined protocol version.

[0190] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the communication circuit (210) may transmit and / or receive control data generated according to a protocol version of the data to the processor (220) as the electronic device is booted. The communication circuit (210) may receive information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The communication circuit (210) may determine whether to change the protocol version of the data based on the information of the cellular network. When the communication circuit (210) determines to change the protocol version of the data, it may transmit information indicating the changed protocol version of the data to the processor (220). The communication circuit (210) may receive control data generated according to the changed protocol version from the processor (220).

[0191] The above communication circuit (210) may be configured to transmit and / or receive data via the cellular communication based on control data generated according to the version of the changed protocol.

[0192] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the communication circuit (210) may determine whether to change the protocol version of the data based on information of the changed cellular network when the cellular network connected to the electronic device is changed. When the communication circuit (210) determines to change the protocol version of the data, the communication circuit (210) may transmit information indicating the changed protocol of the data to the processor (220). The communication circuit (210) may receive control data generated according to the changed protocol version from the processor (220). The communication circuit (210) may be configured to perform transmission and / or reception of data via the cellular communication based on the control data generated according to the changed protocol version.

[0193] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the information of the cellular network may include information indicating the generation of the cellular network and / or functions supported by the cellular network.

[0194] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the version of the protocol may be determined based on the generation of the cellular network and / or the functions supported by the cellular network.

[0195] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the protocol of the data may include a mobile broadband interface model (MBIM).

[0196] In an electronic device (101) according to an example, the communication circuit (210) may determine the version of the protocol as MBIM (mobile broadband interface model) 1.0 when the cellular network supports LTE (long-term evolution) and does not support NR (new radio). The communication circuit (210) may determine the version of the protocol as MBIM 2.0 when the cellular network supports NR's NSA mode and does not support SA mode. The communication circuit (210) may be configured to determine the version of the protocol as MBIM 3.0 when the cellular network supports NR's SA mode.

[0197] According to an example, a method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation in which a communication circuit (210) of the electronic device generates information indicating a version of a protocol of data exchanged between the communication circuit (210) and a processor (220) of the electronic device based on information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation in which the communication circuit (210) transmits information indicating the version of the generated protocol to the processor (220). The method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation in which the communication circuit (210) receives control data generated according to the version of the generated protocol from the processor (220). The method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation in which the communication circuit (210) performs transmission and / or reception of data through the cellular communication based on the control data.

[0198] In an operating method of an electronic device (101) according to an example, the control data may be generated according to the version of the protocol so as to exclude data supported by a version higher than the version of the protocol.

[0199] In an operating method of an electronic device (101) according to an example, the control data may be generated according to the version of the protocol so that data related to a function not supported by the cellular network is excluded.

[0200] The method of operating an electronic device (101) according to an example may further include an operation of transmitting and / or receiving a message to the processor (220) excluding data supported by a version higher than the version of the protocol.

[0201] According to an example, a method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation of transmitting and / or receiving control data generated according to a protocol version of the data to the processor (220) as the electronic device is booted. The method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation of receiving information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation of determining whether to change a protocol version of the data based on the information of the cellular network. The method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation of transmitting information indicating a changed protocol of the data to the processor (220) as a decision is made to change the protocol version of the data. The method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation of receiving control data generated according to the changed protocol version from the processor (220). The method of operating an electronic device (101) may further include an operation of performing transmission and / or reception of data through the cellular communication based on the control data generated according to the changed protocol version.

[0202] According to an example, a method of operating an electronic device (101) may include an operation of determining whether to change a protocol version of data based on information of a changed cellular network when a cellular network connected to the electronic device is changed. The method of operating the electronic device (101) may include an operation of transmitting information indicating a changed protocol of the data to the processor (220) when a decision is made to change the protocol version of the data. The method of operating the electronic device (101) may include an operation of receiving control data generated according to the changed protocol version from the processor (220). The method of operating the electronic device (101) may include an operation of performing transmission and / or reception of data through the cellular communication based on the control data generated according to the changed protocol version.

[0203] In an operating method of an electronic device (101) according to an example, the information of the cellular network may include information indicating the generation of the cellular network and / or functions supported by the cellular network.

[0204] In an operating method of an electronic device (101) according to an example, the version of the protocol may be determined based on the generation of the cellular network and / or the function supported by the cellular network.

[0205] In an operating method of an electronic device (101) according to an example, the protocol of the data may include a mobile broadband interface model (MBIM). The operation of determining the version of the protocol may include an operation of determining the version of the protocol as mobile broadband interface model (MBIM) 1.0 when the cellular network supports long-term evolution (LTE) and does not support new radio (NR). The operation of determining the version of the protocol may include an operation of determining the version of the protocol as MBIM 2.0 when the cellular network supports the NSA mode of NR and does not support the SA mode. The operation of determining the version of the protocol may include an operation of determining the version of the protocol as MBIM 3.0 when the cellular network supports the SA mode of NR.

[0206] In one example, a computer-readable recording medium storing instructions for causing an electronic device to perform operations when executed by a processor (220) of the electronic device, the instructions may include instructions for obtaining information on a cellular network connected to the electronic device. The instructions may generate information indicating a version of the protocol based on the information on the cellular network connected to the electronic device. The instructions may transmit the information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor (220). The instructions may receive control data generated according to the version of the protocol from the processor (220). The instructions may include instructions for performing transmission and / or reception of data through the cellular communication based on the control data.

[0207] Electronic devices according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may take various forms. Electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliances. Electronic devices according to embodiments of this document are not limited to the aforementioned devices.

[0208] The various embodiments of this document and the terminology used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, phrases such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” each include all possible combinations of the items listed together in that phrase. Terms such as “first,” “second,” or “first” or “second” may be used simply to distinguish the corresponding component from other corresponding components and do not limit the corresponding components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another component (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0209] The term "module" as used in this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be an integral component, or a minimum unit or part of such a component that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0210] Various embodiments of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., a program (140)) including one or more commands stored in a storage medium (e.g., an internal memory (136) or an external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)) may call at least one command among the one or more commands stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one command called. The one or more commands may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-transitory' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily on the storage medium.

[0211] According to one embodiment, the method according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be provided as included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) through an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0212] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include a single or multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0213] In a first example, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device may include a communication circuit supporting cellular communication. The communication circuit may acquire information about a cellular network connected to the electronic device, determine a protocol version for exchanging data between the communication circuit and a processor based on the acquired cellular network information, transmit generated information indicating the protocol version to the processor, receive control data generated according to the indicated protocol version from the processor, and transmit and / or receive data via cellular communication based on the control data.

[0214] In the second example, the electronic device provided in the first example is provided. Control data is generated according to the version of the indicated protocol, and data supported by a version higher than the protocol version may be excluded from the control data.

[0215] In a third example, an electronic device as provided in Examples 1 and 2 is provided. Control data is generated according to the version of the indicated protocol, and data related to functions not supported by the cellular network may be excluded from the control data.

[0216] In a fourth example, an electronic device provided in Examples 1 to 3 is provided. The communication circuit can transmit a protocol termination message to a processor, receive a first response message from the processor, receive a protocol start message from the processor, transmit a second response message to the processor in response to receiving the protocol start message, and transmit generated information indicating a protocol version to the processor.

[0217] In a fifth example, an electronic device provided in Examples 1 to 4 is provided. The communication circuitry may transmit and / or receive control data generated according to an initial version of the protocol to and / or from the processor when the electronic device boots. The generation of information indicating the protocol version may include determining whether to change the protocol version based on information obtained from a cellular network, and the information indicating the protocol version may indicate a changed version of the protocol.

[0218] In a sixth example, an electronic device provided in any of the first to fifth examples is provided. The communication circuitry may transmit and / or receive control data generated according to an initial version of the protocol to and / or from the processor when the electronic device boots. The generation of information indicating the version of the protocol may include determining whether to change the version of the protocol when a cellular network is changed, and if it is determined to change the version of the protocol, transmitting information indicating the changed version of the protocol to the processor, receiving control data generated according to the changed version of the protocol from the processor, and transmitting and / or receiving data via cellular communication based on the control data generated according to the changed version of the protocol.

[0219] In a seventh example, an electronic device as provided in examples 1 to 6 is provided. The information about the cellular network may include the generation of the cellular network and / or the functions supported by the cellular network.

[0220] In the eighth example, an electronic device as provided in Examples 1 to 7 is provided. The protocol version may be determined based on the generation of the cellular network and / or the functionality supported by the cellular network.

[0221] In the ninth example, an electronic device provided in Examples 1 to 8 is provided. The protocol may include a Mobile Broadband Interface Model (MBIM) protocol.

[0222] In a tenth example, an electronic device provided in examples 1 to 9 is provided. The communication circuit can determine the protocol version as MBIM 1.0 when the cellular network supports LTE and does not support NR, determine the protocol version as MBIM 2.0 when the cellular network supports the NSA mode of NR and does not support the SA mode of NR, and determine the protocol version as MBIM 3.0 when the cellular network supports the SA mode of NR.

[0223] In an eleventh example, an electronic device provided in Examples 1 through 10 is provided. The communication circuitry may receive information indicating at least one version of a protocol supported by the processor. Generating the information indicating the protocol version may include determining the protocol version based on information obtained from the cellular network and the received information indicating at least one version of the protocol supported by the processor.

[0224] In the twelfth example, an electronic device according to any one of the first to eleventh examples is provided. The electronic device may include at least one of a processor and a memory storing data related to a protocol.

[0225] In a thirteenth example, a method of operating an electronic device is provided. The method of operating an electronic device may include: acquiring information about a cellular network connected to the electronic device; determining, based on the acquired information about the cellular network, a version of a protocol for exchanging data between a communication circuit and a processor; transmitting generated information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor; receiving, from the processor, control data generated according to the indicated version of the protocol; and transmitting and / or receiving data via cellular communication based on the control data.

[0226] In Example 14, a method of operating the electronic device provided in Example 13 is provided. Control data is generated according to the version of the indicated protocol, and data supported by a version higher than the protocol version may be excluded from the control data.

[0227] In a fifteenth example, a computer-readable recording medium storing instructions is provided. The instructions, when executed by at least one processor of the electronic device, may cause the electronic device to obtain information about a cellular network connected to the electronic device, determine a version of a protocol for exchanging data between a communication circuit and the processor based on the obtained information about the cellular network, transmit generated information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor, receive control data generated according to the indicated version of the protocol from the processor, and transmit and / or receive data via cellular communication based on the control data.

Claims

1. In electronic devices, A communication circuit (210) supporting cellular communication; Processor (220); and It includes a memory (230) that stores data related to the protocol of data exchanged by the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220), The above communication circuit (210) Obtain information about the cellular network connected to the above electronic device, Based on information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device, information indicating a version of the protocol is generated, Transmit the generated information indicating the version of the above protocol to the processor (220), Receive control data generated according to the indicated version of the above protocol from the processor (220), An electronic device configured to transmit and / or receive data via cellular communication based on said control data.

2. In paragraph 1, The above control data is An electronic device produced according to a version of the above protocol, excluding data supported by a version higher than the indicated version of the above protocol.

3. In clauses 1 and 2, The above control data is, An electronic device produced in accordance with the indicated version of the above protocol, excluding data relating to functions not supported by the above cellular network.

4. In clauses 1 to 3, The above communication circuit (210) Send a protocol termination message to the processor, Receive a first response message from the above processor, From the above processor, a protocol start message is received, In response to receiving the above protocol start message, transmit a second response message to the processor, An electronic device configured to transmit generated information indicating a version of said protocol to said processor.

5. In clauses 1 to 4, The above communication circuit (210) When the electronic device is booted, control data generated according to the initial version of the protocol is transmitted and / or received to the processor (220), Generating information indicating the version of the above protocol, Based on the acquired information of the above cellular network, determine whether to change the version of the protocol of the above data, Including generating information indicating the version of the above protocol, Information indicating the version of the above protocol, an electronic device indicating a changed version of the above protocol.

6. In clauses 1 to 5, The above communication circuit (210) Transmitting and / or receiving control data generated according to the version of the processor to the processor, If it is determined that the cellular network connected to the above electronic device has changed, it determines whether to change the version of the protocol of the above data based on the information of the changed cellular network, If it is decided to change the version of the protocol of the above data, information indicating the changed protocol of the above data is transmitted to the processor (220), Receive control data generated according to the version of the above changed protocol from the processor (220), and An electronic device configured to transmit and / or receive data via cellular communication based on control data generated according to a version of the above-mentioned changed protocol.

7. In clauses 1 to 6, Information on the above cellular network An electronic device comprising information indicating the generation of said cellular network and / or the capabilities supported by said cellular network.

8. In clauses 1 to 7, The version of the above protocol is An electronic device determined based on the generation of said cellular network and / or the capabilities supported by said cellular network.

9. In clauses 1 to 8, The protocol of the above data is An electronic device comprising a mobile broadband interface model (MBIM).

10. In paragraph 9, The above communication circuit (210) If the above cellular network supports LTE (long-term evolution) and does not support NR (new radio), the version of the protocol is determined as MBIM (mobile broadband interface model) 1.0, If the above cellular network supports the NSA mode of NR and does not support the SA mode, the version of the protocol is determined as MBIM 2.0, An electronic device configured to determine the version of the protocol as MBIM 3.0, if the above cellular network supports SA mode of NR.

11. In clauses 1 to 10, The above communication circuit (210) Receiving information from the processor indicating at least one version of a protocol supported by the processor, An electronic device wherein generating information indicating a version of the protocol comprises determining a version of the protocol based on acquired information of the cellular network and information indicating at least one version supported by the processor.

12. In the method of operating an electronic device, An operation in which the communication circuit (210) of the electronic device generates information indicating a version of a protocol of data exchanged between the communication circuit (210) and the processor (220) based on information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device; An operation in which the above communication circuit (210) transmits information indicating the version of the protocol to the processor (220); An operation in which the above communication circuit (210) receives control data generated according to the version of the above protocol from the processor (220); An operating method of an electronic device, wherein the communication circuit (210) includes an operation of transmitting and / or receiving data via cellular communication based on the control data.

13. In paragraph 12, The above control data is, A method of operating an electronic device generated according to a version of the above protocol, such that data related to functions not supported by the above cellular network are excluded.

14. In clauses 12 to 13, The above control data is, A method of operating an electronic device generated according to a specified version of the above protocol such that data relating to functions not supported by the above cellular network are excluded.

15. A computer-readable recording medium storing instructions that cause an electronic device to perform operations when executed by a processor (220) of the electronic device, The above instructions are, Obtain information about the cellular network connected to the above electronic device, Based on information of a cellular network connected to the electronic device, information indicating a version of a protocol for data exchange between a communication circuit and a processor of the electronic device is generated, Transmit the generated information indicating the version of the above protocol to the processor (220), Receive control data generated according to the indicated version of the above protocol from the processor (220), A recording medium including instructions for performing transmission and / or reception of data via cellular communication based on the control data.

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