Intelligent user interfaces for multiple SIM cards

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9154601-B2
Application number	US-201313942621-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2013
Priority date	Jul 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2015
Grant date	Oct 6, 2015

Abstract

Various user interfaces and other technologies for interacting with devices that support multiple SIM cards can be implemented. For example, SIM-separated and SIM-aggregated user interface paradigms can be supported. Intelligent selection of an appropriate paradigm can support user preferences, conversation user interfaces, and the like. Other features such as SIM card defaults can help users deal with multiple SIM card scenarios. A consistent, compact user interface for switching SIM cards can be supported. Users can interact with their devices more efficiently and with less frustration. A wide variety of use scenarios are supported.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method implemented at least in part by a computing system, the method comprising:
by the computing system:
presenting a first user interface implementing a subscriber-identity-module-separated user interface paradigm;
presenting a second user interface implementing a subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface paradigm;
receiving user input via at least one of the user interfaces; and
responsive to the user input, navigating to another user interface or performing one or more communications actions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the second user interface implementing the subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface paradigm comprises an interface showing information regarding at least one communication transmitted or received via a first subscriber identity module card and information regarding at least one communication transmitted or received via a second, different subscriber identity module card.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first user interface implementing the subscriber-identity-module-separated user interface paradigm comprises an interface limited to information regarding communications transmitted or received via a single subscriber identity module card.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
choosing which user interface paradigm to present according to input factors.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the input factors comprise a user interface type being displayed; and
choosing which user interface paradigm to present is based at least on the user interface type being displayed.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the input factors comprise a stored user interface paradigm preference; and
choosing which user interface paradigm to present is based at least on the stored user interface paradigm preference.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:
the stored user interface paradigm preference is one or multiple separate stored user interface paradigm preferences, and the multiple separate stored user interface paradigm preferences are associated with different communication types.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:
the first user interface is of a user interface type; and
the second user interface is of the same user interface type;
wherein the method further comprises:
changing user interface paradigm for the same user interface type according to the stored paradigm preference, whereby the same user interface type is presented according to two different user interface paradigms at different times.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein:
the paradigm preference is applicable to messaging; and
the method further comprises:
presenting a conversation user interface implementing a subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface paradigm, even when the paradigm preference indicates subscriber-identity-module-separated preference.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
presenting a user interface comprising a first activatable user interface element representing call initiation for a first subscriber identity module card and a second activatable user interface element representing call initiation for a second subscriber identity module card;
receiving an activation of one of the first user interface element or second user interface element, thereby indicating a selected subscriber identity module card; and
presenting the first user interface implementing the subscriber-identity-module-separated user interface paradigm for the selected subscriber identity module card.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:
the first user interface comprises a call history for the selected subscriber identity module card; and
the method further comprises:
responsive to activation of a represented call in the call history from a contact, placing a call to a number associated with the represented call with the subscriber identity module card selected.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:
the first user interface comprises a call history for the selected subscriber identity module card; and
the method further comprises:
via the first user interface, receiving an indication to place a call with another subscriber identity module card different than the selected subscriber identity module card; and
placing a call with the different subscriber identity module card.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first user interface comprises a conversation list user interface presenting a summary of a plurality of conversations according to a subscriber-identity-module-separated user interface paradigm; and
the second user interface is displayed responsive to activation of a particular conversation out of the plurality of conversations and presents a list of messages for the particular conversation according to a subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface paradigm.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
choosing a default subscriber identity module card for a contact point based at least on a factor selected from the group consisting of:
a subscriber identity module card on which the contact point resides;
a subscriber identity module card from which the contact point was imported; and
a subscriber identity module card most recently involved in communications activity.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
presenting an indication of the default subscriber identity module card on a contact card for the contact point while a different default subscriber identity module card is presented for another contact point on the contact card.

16. A system comprising:
one or more processors;
memory storing one or more user interface paradigm preferences operable to indicate a subscriber-identity-module-separated user interface paradigm or a subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface paradigm;
a user interface paradigm selection engine operable to receive the stored user interface paradigm preferences and a user interface type being displayed and output a chosen user interface paradigm based on user interface paradigm selection rules, wherein the user interface paradigm selection engine supports a subscriber-identity-module-separated user interface paradigm and a subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface paradigm; and
a display operable to present a user interface according to the chosen user interface paradigm;
wherein the system is configured to:
receive user input via the user interface presented according to the chosen user interface paradigm; and
responsive to the user input, navigate to another user interface or perform one or more communications actions.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:
the memory further stores a plurality of user interface definitions comprising user interface definitions implementing a subscriber-identity-module-separated user interface paradigm and user interface definitions implementing a subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface paradigm; and
wherein the user interface presented by the display is presented according to the chosen user interface paradigm as defined in the user interface definitions.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein:
the one or more stored user interface paradigm preferences comprise:
a paradigm preference for calling; and
a paradigm preference for messaging.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:
the user interface paradigm selection engine is configured to choose a subscriber-identity-module-aggregated user interface definition when the user interface type being displayed is a conversation user interface, even though

Assignees

• He Tony
• Chory Susan
• Howard Gregory
• Bergler Peter
• Qin Lijuan
• Arnett Jon
• Lee Janis Jungeun
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• He Tony
• Chory Susan
• Howard Gregory
• Bergler Peter
• Qin Lijuan
• Arnett Jon
• Lee Janis Jungeun

Classifications

• H04B1/3816 Primary

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

• H04M2250/66

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

• G06F21/77

  in smart cards · CPC title

• G06F2221/2117

  User registration · CPC title

• G06F21/34

  involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards · CPC title