Virtual SIM Interface Inversion for Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication terminals with multiple virtual SIMs require periodic polling to detect changes in SIM status, leading to power consumption and delay in notification of status changes, as they operate with a pull interface mechanism.
Innovation Solution
Converting the interface between the communication subsystem and the subscriber identity subsystem from a pull interface to a push interface, allowing the communication subsystem to automatically signal changes in virtual SIMs, enabling immediate notification of status changes without the need for periodic polling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic polling is used to detect SIM status changes, then the communication terminal can detect when a SIM has been inserted or removed, but power is consumed and there is delay in notification of status changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional polling mechanism by implementing an event-driven architecture where the SIM card actively notifies the modem of status changes. Instead of the modem continuously querying the SIM card (pull interface), the SIM card pushes notifications to the modem when insertion or removal occurs. This inversion eliminates the need for periodic polling while ensuring reliable status detection, thereby reducing power consumption without compromising detection reliability.
2Reliability
If periodic polling is used to detect SIM status changes, then the communication terminal can detect when a SIM has been inserted or removed, but there is delay in notification of status changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the SIM card proactively notify the modem of status changes before the modem would have detected them through polling. The event-driven mechanism triggers immediate notification upon SIM insertion or removal, eliminating the waiting period inherent in periodic polling. This ensures real-time status detection and enables the communication terminal to respond instantly to SIM changes.
3Reliability
If the modem actively polls the SIM slots periodically, then the communication terminal can maintain network communication connectivity, but resources are wasted on unnecessary polling operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the SIM card to autonomously notify the modem of status changes without requiring the modem to initiate polling operations. The SIM card's event-driven notification mechanism allows the system to maintain network communication connectivity reliably while eliminating resource wastage associated with periodic polling. The modem only performs actions when genuinely needed, based on actual SIM status changes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Communication terminals capable of implementing each of a set of multiple virtual subscriber identity modules by executing software code, each virtual subscriber identity module relating to a subscriber identity and being capable of participating in a data exchange to authenticate that identity. The terminal includes a communication subsystem for communicating with a network in accordance with a subscriber identity relating to a cooperating one of the virtual subscriber identity modules; and a subscriber identity subsystem configured for interfacing between the virtual subscriber identity modules and the communication subsystem so as to enable each of the virtual subscriber identity modules to cooperate with the communication subsystem in accordance with its subscriber identity; the subscriber identity subsystem being configured to automatically signal the communication subsystem when the set of virtual subscriber identity modules capable of being implemented by the terminal changes.