SIM Card With Integrated Transceivers for Feature Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users are required to purchase costly mobile phones with multiple features they may not need, and upgrading is necessary to access additional features unsupported by their current device, leading to inefficient use of resources and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A communication system where a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) with additional wireless transceivers and application program interfaces (APIs) is used to enable a phone to access various services, such as GPS, Bluetooth, and NFC, by interacting with the phone's APIs and allowing users to operate these features through a user-friendly interface without the need for built-in hardware in the phone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile phone includes built-in hardware for multiple features (GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, FM radio), then the phone supports more features, but the cost of the phone increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the feature support functionality from the main phone hardware by implementing it in the SIM card. The SIM card contains a separate processor and memory that can execute feature-specific applications independently from the phone's main processor, allowing features to be distributed across multiple SIM cards rather than built into the phone itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The SIM card is transformed into a multi-functional device that not only stores subscriber identity information but also provides feature-specific processing capabilities. The processor in the SIM card can execute various applications (GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, FM radio) making a single SIM card universal for multiple features that would traditionally require separate hardware components in the phone.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile phone includes built-in hardware for multiple features, then the phone supports more features, but the number of hardware components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the feature processing functionality into the SIM card, combining identity storage and feature execution capabilities in a single component. The SIM card's processor and memory work together to provide both subscriber authentication and feature-specific operations, eliminating the need for separate hardware components for each feature in the phone.
Solution Approach 2:
The SIM card acts as an intermediary between the user and the feature services. Instead of the phone's main processor directly handling all feature operations, the SIM card's processor mediates by executing feature applications locally and communicating results back to the phone, reducing the hardware burden on the main device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a subscriber wants to access a feature unsupported by their current phone, then they gain access to new functionality, but they must upgrade to new equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to new features by allowing subscribers to download and install feature applications onto their SIM cards. Instead of requiring static hardware upgrades, the SIM card's memory can be updated with new applications, enabling flexible addition of features (GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.) without replacing the phone or SIM card hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The phone system prepares for new features by maintaining compatibility with the SIM card's extended functionality. The phone's operating system includes preliminary support for SIM-based feature execution, so when new feature applications are downloaded to the SIM card, they can be immediately activated without equipment upgrades.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system includes a phone and a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). The phone includes a user input interface, a first wireless transceiver and a first application program interface. The SIM is plugged into the phone and includes storage, a second wireless transceiver, and a second application program interface. The phone uses a service-subscriber key stored in the storage of the SIM to access a plurality of services provided by a wireless network using the first transceiver according to a first communication protocol. The first application program interface, in response to a user selection via the user input interface, interacts with the second application program interface. The phone communicates with a node using the second wireless transceiver according to a second communication protocol by way of the interaction between the first application program interface and the second application program interface.