IC Card Proactive Command Buffering and Reset Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the GSM and 3GPP mobile phone systems, unsent Proactive commands accumulate in SIM and USIM cards when the mobile phone terminal does not send a Fetch command, leading to involuntary data loss or accumulation, disrupting communication services.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a command generation unit, storage unit, notification unit, and discard unit in the IC card allows for the generation, storage, notification, and controlled discarding of Proactive commands, enabling their re-sending after a reset, using specific command formats like the T-1 protocol to manage accumulated commands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UIM sends Proactive commands to the ME, then communication functionality is improved, but data loss occurs when commands accumulate and are reset

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProactive command deliveryVSAvoidProactive command data
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by notifying the ME in advance that Proactive commands are accumulated in the UIM, before the ME actually requests them. This is achieved through the notification unit that sends a notification command to the ME when commands are stored in the buffer, allowing the ME to prepare for upcoming data transfer and preventing loss during reset operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through the notification mechanism where the UIM informs the ME about accumulated Proactive commands. The ME can then respond with a Fetch command to retrieve the commands, creating a feedback loop that ensures commands are transferred before potential reset events occur, thus preventing data loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the UIM stores accumulated Proactive commands, then command availability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProactive command throughputVSAvoidUIM structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the UIM into distinct functional units: a command generation unit for creating Proactive commands, a buffer for storing them, and a notification unit for informing the ME. This modular segmentation allows the system to handle accumulated commands efficiently while keeping each component's complexity manageable and well-defined.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2500825B1IC card
Publication Date: 2017.06.28 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP2500825B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2500825B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2500825B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an IC card, which interprets and executes a command instruction from an external device (1), and returns the execution result as a response, includes a command generation unit (22) configured to generate a request command which requests the external device (1) to execute a specific operation in response to a specific command instruction from the external device (1), a storage unit (22) configured to store the generated request command in a memory (25), a notification unit (22) configured to notify the external device (1) of generation of the request command when a response to the specific command instruction is sent, and notify the external device (1) of the request command when the external device (1) instructs to fetch the request command, and a discard unit (22) configured to discard the request command in the memory (25) when the external device (1) instructs to discard the request command.