Abstract:
An apparatus and method for controlling a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card in a wireless terminal is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of communication units, a plurality of SIM card socket units, a switching unit and a controller. The communication units are configured to perform communication through different communication networks. The switching unit is configured to couple the communication units to the SIM card socket units. The controller is configured to control the switching unit to couple one of the communication units to one of the SIM card socket units based on a type of a SIM card inserted into the SIM card socket unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 28, 2011, and assigned Serial No. 10-2011-0125427, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and method for controlling a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card in a wireless terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a SIM card in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units, whereby the SIM card can be inserted into and used by the wireless terminal regardless of a type of the SIM card. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A Duos terminal having a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication unit and a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) communication unit separately requires a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for each communication unit to be inserted into a SIM card socket unit for CDMA and a SIM card socket unit for GSM included in the Duos terminal. 
         [0004]    However, since the SIM card socket unit for CDMA and the SIM card socket unit for GSM are fixed, only a SIM card for CDMA should be inserted into the SIM card socket unit for CDMA, and only a SIM card for GSM should be inserted into the SIM card socket unit for GSM. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is an object to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a SIM card in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units, whereby SIM cards can be inserted into and used by the wireless terminal regardless of the types of the SIM cards. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a SIM card in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units, whereby a plurality of SIM cards for the same communication unit can be used by the wireless terminal. 
         [0007]    Further another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a SIM card in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units, whereby a SIM card for one communication unit can be inserted into another communication unit and used by the wireless terminal regardless of a type of the SIM card. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for controlling a SIM card in a wireless terminal. The apparatus includes a plurality of communication units, a plurality of SIM card socket units, a switching unit and a controller. The communication units are configured to perform communication through different communication networks. The switching unit is configured to couple the communication units to the SIM card socket units. The controller is configured to control the switching unit to couple one of the communication units to one of the SIM card socket units based on a type of a SIM card inserted into the SIM card socket unit. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a SIM card in a wireless terminal. The method includes determining a type of a SIM card inserted into one of a first SIM card socket unit and a second SIM card socket unit of the wireless terminal. The SIM card has a type corresponding to one of a first communication unit and a second communication unit in the wireless terminal. The method further includes, if a SIM card having a type corresponding to the first communication unit is inserted into the second SIM card socket unit, coupling the first communication unit to the second SIM card socket unit. 
         [0010]    According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless terminal is provided that includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit, a first SIM card socket unit, a switching unit and a controller. The first communication unit is configured to perform communication through a first communication network. The second communication unit is configured to perform communication through a second communication network. The switching unit is configured to couple the communication units to the first SIM card socket unit. The controller is configured, when a first SIM card is inserted into the first SIM card socket unit, to select one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit based on a type of the first SIM card and to control the switching unit to couple the selected communication unit to the first SIM card socket unit. 
         [0011]    Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a process of using a plurality of SIM cards for the same communication unit in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a process of using a SIM card for a communication unit by inserting the SIM card into a SIM card socket unit for another communication unit in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1 through 3 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged wireless terminal. Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers are used to refer to like elements throughout the drawings. 
         [0017]    In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the example described is that a plurality of communication units is two communication units, wherein a first communication unit is a GSM communication unit and a second communication unit is a CDMA communication unit. However, it will be understood that the plurality of communication units may comprise any suitable number of communication units and that each communication unit may comprise any suitable type of communication unit. In addition, although it is described as an example that a switching unit includes a first switching unit and a second switching unit, a communication unit may be connected to a SIM card for the communication unit inserted into a socket unit for another communication unit even through a switching operation of a single switching unit. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the wireless terminal includes a controller  110 , a GSM communication unit  120  for performing communication through a GSM network, a CDMA communication unit  130  for performing communication through a CDMA network, a switching unit  180  including a first switching unit  140  and a second switching unit  150 , a SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 , and a SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 . 
         [0020]    The controller  110  controls the overall operation of the wireless terminal. 
         [0021]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 , the controller  110  controls the first switching unit  140  and the second switching unit  150  to connect to each other so that the CDMA communication unit  130  is connected to the SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 . 
         [0022]    In addition, when a SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 , the controller  110  controls the first switching unit  140  and the second switching unit  150  to connect to each other so that the GSM communication unit  120  is connected to the SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 . 
         [0023]    In addition, when SIM cards for the GSM communication unit  120  are inserted into both the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120  and the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 , the controller  110  controls the first switching unit  140  to connect the GSM communication unit  120  to the SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120  and controls the first switching unit  140  and the second switching unit  150  to connect to each other so that the GSM communication unit  120  is connected to the SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 . In this case, the controller  110  controls the CDMA communication unit  130  to be turned off. 
         [0024]    In addition, when the switching unit  180  is configured with a single switching unit, the controller  110  may control the switching unit  180  so that the GSM communication unit  120  is connected to a SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 , and the CDMA communication unit  130  is connected to a SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 . 
         [0025]    The switching unit  180  is located between at least two communication units and at least two SIM card socket units to connect a communication unit to a SIM card for a corresponding communication unit and may include the first switching unit  140  and the second switching unit  150 . 
         [0026]    The first switching unit  140  is located between the GSM communication unit  120  and the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 , and if a SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 , the GSM communication unit  120  is connected through the first switching unit  140  to the SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 . 
         [0027]    Otherwise, if a SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 , the first switching unit  140  is connected to the second switching unit  150  so that the GSM communication unit  120  is connected to the SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 . 
         [0028]    The second switching unit  150  is located between the CDMA communication unit  130  and the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 , and if a SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 , the CDMA communication unit  130  is connected through the second switching unit  150  to the SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 . 
         [0029]    Otherwise, if a SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 , the second switching unit  150  is connected to the first switching unit  140  so that the CDMA communication unit  130  is connected to the SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 . 
         [0030]    In addition, when the switching unit  180  is configured with a single switching unit, the switching unit  180  may connect the GSM communication unit  120  to a SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130  and connect the CDMA communication unit  130  to a SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 . 
         [0031]    A SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  or a SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for the GSM communication unit  120 . 
         [0032]    A SIM card for the CDMA communication unit  130  or a SIM card for the GSM communication unit  120  is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for the CDMA communication unit  130 . 
         [0033]    An operation of controlling a SIM card in the wireless terminal is described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a process of using a plurality of SIM cards for the same communication unit in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0035]    Hereinafter, this embodiment is described in detail with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in step  201 , the wireless terminal is turned on. In step  202 , the controller  110  determines whether a first SIM card for GSM is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM. If the first SIM card for GSM is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM, the controller  110  proceeds to step  203  and registers the first SIM card for GSM inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM in a GSM network. 
         [0037]    In step  204 , the controller  110  determines whether a SIM card for CDMA is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA. If the SIM card for CDMA is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA, the controller  110  proceeds to step  205  and registers the SIM card for CDMA in a CDMA network. 
         [0038]    However, if the controller  110  detects that a second SIM card for GSM is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA in step  206 , the controller  110  proceeds to step  207  and controls the first switching unit  140  and the second switching unit  150  to connect to each other so that the GSM communication unit  120  is connected to the second SIM card for GSM inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA. In step  208 , the controller  110  controls the second SIM card for GSM inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA to be registered in the GSM network. 
         [0039]    At this time, the controller  110  controls the CDMA communication unit  130  to be turned off to prevent current consumption. 
         [0040]    By the process of  FIG. 2 , the SIM cards for GSM may operate as dual SIM cards for GSM by being inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM and the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA in the wireless terminal including the GSM communication unit  120  and the CDMA communication unit  130 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a process of using a SIM card for a communication unit by inserting the SIM card into a SIM card socket unit for another communication unit in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0042]    Hereinafter, this embodiment is described in detail with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in step  301 , the wireless terminal is turned on. In step  302 , the controller  110  determines whether a SIM card for GSM is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM. If the SIM card for GSM is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM, the controller proceeds to step  303  and registers the SIM card for GSM inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM in a GSM network. 
         [0044]    However, if the controller  110  detects that a SIM card for CDMA instead of the SIM card for GSM is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM in step  304 , the controller  110  proceeds to step  305  and controls the first switching unit  140  and the second switching unit  150  to connect to each other so that the CDMA communication unit  130  is connected to the SIM card for CDMA inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM. In step  306 , the controller  110  controls the SIM card for CDMA inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM to be registered in a CDMA network. 
         [0045]    In step  307 , the controller  110  determines whether a SIM card for CDMA is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA. If the SIM card for CDMA is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA, the controller  110  proceeds to step  308  and registers the SIM card for CDMA inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA in the CDMA network. 
         [0046]    However, if the controller  110  detects that a SIM card for GSM instead of the SIM card for CDMA is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA in step  309 , the controller  110  proceeds to step  310  and controls the first switching unit  140  and the second switching unit  150  to connect to each other so that the GSM communication unit  120  is connected to the SIM card for GSM inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA. In step  311 , the controller  110  controls the SIM card for GSM inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA to be registered in the GSM network. 
         [0047]    By the process of  FIG. 3 , even if a SIM card for CDMA is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  160  for GSM and a SIM card for GSM is inserted into the SIM card socket unit  170  for CDMA in the wireless terminal including the GSM communication unit  120  and the CDMA communication unit  130 , the SIM cards may operate by being connected to the corresponding communication network. 
         [0048]    As is apparent from the foregoing description, the proposed apparatus and method for controlling a SIM card in a wireless terminal including a plurality of communication units allow a user to use a plurality of SIM cards for the same communication unit in the wireless terminal and use a SIM card for a communication unit by inserting the SIM card into a SIM card socket unit for another communication unit regardless of the types of the SIM cards. 
         [0049]    Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.