SIM Update Blocking in Automotive Telematics Control Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automotive telematics systems cannot effectively block SIM card updates during emergency calls or other critical situations, as cellular carriers are unaware of these events and may perform updates, disrupting essential communications.

Innovation Solution

A SIM-enabled cellular device, such as an automotive Telematics Control Unit (TCU), enters a disable-SIM-card-updates mode during emergency calls, blocking Short Message Service (SMS), Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) packet, and Access Point Name (APN) packet updates, ensuring that SIM card updates are not performed during such times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cellular carriers perform SIM updates at any point in time, then SIM card updates can be performed efficiently, but updates may occur during emergency calls disrupting critical communications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSIM update efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting emergency call states before SIM updates are initiated, and proactively blocks update messages before they can disrupt critical communications. The TCU identifies when an emergency call is in progress and prevents SIM update interference in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the TCU monitors cellular network messages to detect emergency call states, and uses this information to dynamically control SIM update blocking. The system continuously receives feedback from the network about call status and adjusts its blocking behavior accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If SIM updates are blocked during emergency calls, then communication reliability is maintained, but the device complexity increases due to additional blocking logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidblocking logic complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The TCU performs self-service by autonomously detecting emergency call states through monitoring cellular messages and automatically making decisions about blocking SIM updates. The system serves itself by implementing the blocking logic without requiring external control or manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking mechanism is designed to handle multiple types of SIM update messages (SMS SIM, BIP packet, APN packet) through a universal blocking approach. The same blocking logic applies across different message types and emergency call scenarios, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of time

If cellular carriers are made aware of emergency calls to block updates, then update timing can be optimized, but loss of information occurs as emergency call details must be communicated to carriers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate timing optimizationVSAvoidemergency call information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The TCU acts as an intermediary between the emergency call function and SIM update processing. It monitors cellular messages to detect emergency states and mediates by blocking SIM updates locally without requiring the cellular carrier to be aware of or handle emergency call information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts the emergency call detection and SIM update blocking functionality from the cellular carrier network and implements it locally in the TCU. This removes the need for information exchange with the carrier about emergency calls, as the blocking decision is made independently within the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11611650B2Situational blocking of SIM updates and/or requests

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

While a SIM-enabled cellular device is in a disable-SIM-card-updates mode of operation during which SIM-card updates should be disabled, the SIM-enabled cellular device blocks updates of a cellular Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card of the SIM-enabled cellular device. Upon determining that the SIM-enabled cellular device is no longer in the disable-SIM-card-updates mode, the SIM-card updates are no longer blocked. SIM-card updates may be blocked by blocking the following types of messages received by the SIM-enabled cellular device from a cellular network: Short Message Service (SMS) SIM, Short Message Service (SMS) SIM update, Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) packet update, and Access Point Name (APN) packet update. The SIM-enabled cellular device may be an automotive Telematics Control Unit (TCU). The automotive TCU may enter the disable-SIM-card-updates mode due to an automotive telematics emergency call. The automotive-telematic-emergency call may include a call-back period during which the TCU remains available to receive an emergency call back from a telematics service center.