Smartcard Booting Efficiency via Selective Elementary File Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for accessing contact features in SIM cards during the booting procedure of user equipment are inefficient as they access the header and body parts of all relevant elementary files, even if not all contact features are stored, leading to reduced booting efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves accessing the body part of a master elementary file during booting, selectively accessing the header of Type 1 elementary files only when corresponding records contain valid data, and mapping records in Type 1 files to relevant Type 2 and Type 3 files based on lookup tables to determine which records to access in the body parts of these files.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the prior art method accesses the header and body part of all relevant elementary files during booting, then all contact features are acquired, but the booting efficiency is reduced due to accessing unnecessary files

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebooting efficiencyVSAvoidbooting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively accessing only the necessary header and body parts of elementary files based on the actual contact features present in the SIM card. Instead of accessing all relevant elementary files unconditionally, the method checks the header first to determine if the corresponding contact feature exists, and only accesses the body part when needed. This reduces unnecessary data access operations during the booting procedure, thereby improving booting efficiency and reducing booting time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If all elementary files are accessed during booting, then complete contact information is retrieved, but unnecessary data access increases processing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact information completenessVSAvoiddata access complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the data access process into distinct stages: first accessing and analyzing the header of each elementary file to determine if contact features are present, and then selectively accessing the body part only when the header indicates valid data. This segmented approach ensures that complete contact information is retrieved when needed while avoiding unnecessary access to empty or irrelevant files, thus reducing processing overhead and data access complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the header of Type 1 elementary files is accessed selectively, then unnecessary data access is reduced, but additional header checking operations are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access efficiencyVSAvoidaccess control logic
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing a preliminary check of the header of Type 1 elementary files before accessing their body parts. The header contains information about whether the corresponding contact feature is actually stored in the SIM card. By performing this preliminary header check first, the system can determine in advance whether the subsequent body part access is necessary, thereby improving data access efficiency while the added complexity is minimal and structured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2986036B1Method of accessing contact features in smartcards
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 ACER INC
  • EP2986036B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2986036B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2986036B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

During a booting procedure when reading the contact features of a smartcard, the body part of a master elementary file is accessed. According to the validity and link of each data, the body part of a Type 1 elementary file, a Type 2 elementary file or a Type 3 elementary file is selectively accessed. The efficiency of the booting procedure can be improved by avoiding unnecessarily accessing the body part of unused data in other types of elementary files.