Wireless Module Asynchronous Event Signaling via SIM Card

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mechanisms for routing asynchronous events from a wireless communication terminal to an integrated circuit card, such as a SIM card, are inflexible and error-prone, requiring conversion of AT interface commands and lacking support for unsolicited result codes (URCs), which are not directly associated with AT commands, leading to inefficient CPU and battery usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an asynchronous event communication system that uses definable unsolicited result codes (URCs) for direct signaling between the module and the integrated circuit card, allowing the terminal to report status changes and other events without polling, thereby reducing the need for conversion and enhancing flexibility and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polling mechanisms are used to report events from terminal to SIM card, then event reporting is achieved, but CPU and battery load increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent reporting reliabilityVSAvoidbattery and CPU load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the terminal actively polling the SIM card for events (traditional approach), the SIM card is enabled to push events autonomously to the terminal using unsolicited result codes. This inversion of the communication initiative eliminates continuous polling, significantly reducing CPU and battery consumption while maintaining reliable event reporting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The SIM card is empowered to autonomously generate and send unsolicited result codes to the terminal when events occur, without requiring terminal-initiated polling. This self-service mechanism allows the SIM card to independently manage event notification, reducing the computational burden on the terminal's CPU and battery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If AT interface command conversion is implemented for event routing, then event signaling is achieved, but system complexity and error-proneness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent signaling capabilityVSAvoidcommand conversion complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the event routing functionality from the terminal's command processing layer and implements it directly in the SIM card through native unsolicited result code generation. This eliminates the need for complex AT interface command conversion mechanisms in the terminal, reducing system complexity and error-proneness while maintaining event signaling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Unsolicited result codes serve as an intermediary mechanism that enables direct event signaling from the SIM card to the terminal without requiring AT command conversion. This intermediary approach simplifies the interface between the SIM card and terminal, reducing the complexity associated with command translation and routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If unsolicited result codes are supported directly by the interface system, then asynchronous event reporting is improved, but compatibility with existing AT command structures may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent reporting efficiencyVSAvoidAT command compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the unsolicited result code mechanism with the existing AT command interface structure by implementing URC support within the command interface instance. This integration allows asynchronous event reporting to coexist with traditional AT command structures, maintaining compatibility while enabling efficient unsolicited event notification through a unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2685747B1Method of operating a module for wireless communication or the like wireless communication terminal, module for wireless communication and device of an integrated circuit card and a system of a communication equipment for operating the module

Publication Date: 2018.05.16 GEMALTO M2M GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method of operating a module 100 or the like wireless communication terminal for wireless communication, wherein in operation the module 100 is in signaling relation to a device 3 of an integrated circuit card, wherein - said operation is adapted for signaling between the module 100 and the integrated circuit card device 3 (ICC-device) via an interface system 10, said interface system 10 comprising: - at least one command interface instance 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 adapted for direct command signaling between the module 100 and at least one application 1, 2, and - a card application toolkit 80 (CAT) for direct command signaling between the module 100 and the integrated circuit card device 3 (ICC-device).