Apparatus and method for a communication network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10250285-B2
Application number	US-201114112676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2011
Priority date	Apr 28, 2011
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus, and method for a communication network. Certain embodiments provide an apparatus comprising: a first reader configured to read a user insertable integrated circuit configured to identify a user in a communications network; a second reader configured to read a user insertable integrated circuit configured to identify a user in a communications network; at least one memory storing computer program instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the computer program instructions to cause the apparatus at least to perform: generating a control signal responsive to removal of an integrated circuit from the second reader.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an exterior housing, said exterior housing comprising an aperture;
a first reader enclosed within said exterior housing, said first reader being for reading a first insertable integrated circuit for identifying a user in a first communications network, said first insertable integrated circuit being disposed beneath a power source within said exterior housing, and thereby not being removable from said exterior housing without powering down said apparatus;
a second reader in said exterior housing accessible through said aperture, said second reader being for reading a second user-insertable integrated circuit for identifying the user in the first communications network or in a second communications network, said second reader being able to detect a removal of said second user-insertable integrated circuit therefrom;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform the following:
detect a removal of the second user-insertable integrated circuit from the second reader through said aperture;
generate a control signal in response to detection of the removal; and
carry out a communication function in the first communication network in response to the generated control signal using the first insertable integrated circuit, said first insertable integrated circuit remaining powered when said second user-insertable integrated circuit is removed from the second reader through said aperture.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a detector for detecting removal of the second user-insertable integrated circuit from the second reader.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
provide at least one service, wherein the communication function is to maintain the at least one service in response to the generated control signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein maintenance of the at least one service comprises at least one of:
saving a state of an application associated with the at least one service, and
suspend activities of an application associated with the at least one service.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one service comprises an active communication state.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the active communication state involves use of the first insertable integrated circuit.

7. An apparatus comprising:
an exterior housing, said exterior housing comprising an aperture;
a first reader enclosed within said exterior housing, said first reader being for reading a first insertable integrated circuit for identifying a user in a first communications network, said first insertable integrated circuit being disposed beneath a power source within said exterior housing, and thereby not being removable from said exterior housing without powering down said apparatus;
a second reader in said exterior housing accessible through said aperture, said second reader being for reading a second user-insertable integrated circuit for identifying the user in the first communications network or in a second communications network, said second reader being able to detect a removal of said second user-insertable integrated circuit therefrom;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform the following:
detect a presence of one of said first and second integrated circuits in one of said first and second readers;
cause a transmission of a signal to one of said first and second communication networks requesting a call diversion to divert a call initially directed to a first telephone number associated with one of said first and second integrated circuits to a second telephone number associated with the other of said first and second integrated circuits without user intervention; and
divert a communication directed to one of the first and second integrated circuits to the other of the first and second integrated circuits.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a detector for detecting the presence of one of said first and second integrated circuits,
wherein diversion of the communication is in response to detection of the presence of one of the first and second integrated circuits.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
read identification information from one of said first and second integrated circuits, and
cause the diversion using the identification information.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
cause a communication function to be assigned to one of said first and second integrated circuits.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
connect to a first communication network associated with one of said first and second integrated circuits; and
disconnect from the first communication network and connect to a second communication network associated with the other of said first and second integrated circuits in response to a trigger,
wherein the trigger relates to at least one of a time, a location of the apparatus, and an initiation of a communication.

12. A method comprising:
in an apparatus comprising a first reader enclosed within an exterior housing of the apparatus, said exterior housing comprising an aperture, said first reader being for reading a first insertable integrated circuit for identifying a user in a first communications network, said first insertable integrated circuit being disposed beneath a power source within said exterior housing, and thereby not being removable from said exterior housing without powering down said apparatus, and a second reader in said exterior housing accessible through said aperture, said second reader being for reading a second user-insertable integrated circuit for identifying the user in the first communication network or in a second communications network, said second reader being able to detect a removal of said second user-insertable integrated circuit therefrom, detecting a removal of the second user-insertable integrated circuit from the second reader through said aperture;
generating a control signal in response to detection of the removal; and
carrying out a communication function in the first communication network in response to the generated control signal using the first integrated circuit, said first integrated circuit remaining powered when said second user-insertable integrated circuit is removed from the second reader through said aperture.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
providing at least one service,
wherein the communication function is maintaining the at least one service in response to the generated control signal.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein maintenance of the at least one service comprises at least one of:
saving a state of an application associated with

Assignees

• Maansaari Kirsi
• Kirveskoski Miikka
• Robinson James
• Marshburn Chad
• Danielsen Peter
• Braginski Per
• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Maansaari Kirsi
• Kirveskoski Miikka
• Robinson James
• Marshburn Chad
• Danielsen Peter
• Braginski Per

Classifications

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04B1/3816 Primary

  Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices · CPC title

• G06K7/0069

  including means for detecting correct insertion of the card, e.g. end detection switches notifying that the card has been inserted completely and correctly · CPC title

• H04M2250/66

  user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line · CPC title

• H04W76/19

  Connection re-establishment · CPC title