Baseband Processor Data Bus for Multi-SIM Network Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices often require multiple SIM cards or UICCs to access different wireless networks, leading to inefficiencies in resource usage and increased costs due to duplicative components and complex networking arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A data bus is used to couple multiple baseband processor endpoints to multiple network access cards, allowing each processor to communicate with any network access card, thereby enabling access to multiple networks while reducing pin count, silicon area, and power consumption, and improving scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple SIM cards or UICCs are used to access different wireless networks, then network access versatility is improved, but device complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data bus structure that allows any baseband processor endpoint to communicate with any network access card through a shared communication interface. This multi-functional architecture enables the system to access multiple wireless networks while using a single standardized bus structure, eliminating the need for separate dedicated interfaces for each SIM card or UICC, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining network access versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate communication interfaces into a single shared data bus that interconnects all baseband processor endpoints with all network access cards. By combining multiple dedicated interfaces into one universal bus, the system reduces the overall number of components, simplifies the device architecture, and lowers resource consumption while still supporting access to multiple wireless networks simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple SIM cards or UICCs are used to access different wireless networks, then network access versatility is improved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple separate communication interfaces into a single shared data bus, reducing the total number of active components and their associated power consumption. By having all baseband processor endpoints share a common communication interface with all network access cards, the system eliminates redundant interface circuits and reduces overall power usage while maintaining the ability to access multiple wireless networks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple SIM cards or UICCs are used to access different wireless networks, then network access versatility is improved, but pin count and silicon area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal data bus architecture where a single communication interface structure serves all baseband processor endpoints and all network access cards. This multi-functional design allows the same physical bus structure to handle communications with any combination of SIM cards or UICCs, dramatically reducing the silicon area required compared to having separate dedicated interfaces for each card type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate interface circuits into one shared data bus structure, consolidating what would otherwise require separate pin allocations and silicon real estate for each interface. This merging approach reduces both the pin count on the chip and the overall silicon area required to support multiple network access cards, while preserving full versatility in network access capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for multiple network access by mobile computing devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a data bus is used to couple multiple baseband processor endpoints to multiple network access cards, such that each baseband processor endpoint may communicate over the data bus to any of the network access cards. In an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, the baseband processor endpoint is a modem and the network access cards are subscriber interface module (SIM) cards or universal integrated circuit cards (UICCs). By allowing each of the baseband processor endpoints to use any of the network access cards, different networks may be used for different purposes by the mobile computing device. Further, the use of a single bus in this manner may allow for greater scalability, while also saving pin count, silicon area, board area, and power consumption within the computing device. Such savings ultimately improve the cost of the device.