Abstract:
The present invention is directed to electronic and global communication systems, devices, and methods resulting from the realization that global usage of mobile phones may be made easier and more secure by providing a system and method which have multiple subscriber identification modules (SIMs) cards including domestic and international SIM cards that enable businessmen, politicians and others to stay connected with their co-workers when traveling abroad by receiving calls and emails without paying high roaming and international fees.

Description:
PRIORITY DATA 
       [0001]    This patent application is a non-provisional patent application and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/559,066 titled Secure Global Mobile Phone, filed Nov. 12, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/564,820 titled Secure Global Mobile Phone, filed Nov. 29, 2011 which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to electronics systems, and more specifically to global communications systems and devices for connecting thereto. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As globalization continues to grow, people, including businessmen, politicians, and others are required to travel internationally at an increasing rate. While in foreign countries, especially on business trips, people are required to stay connected with their co-workers, and be able to receive calls and e-mails. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, many people purchase secondary, international, phones while traveling abroad, or purchase international SIM cards for use in their phones while traveling abroad. This allows people to communicate with their friends, family, and co-workers, and access the internet and e-mail as well when data plans are purchased. The issue with these solutions is that people must adopt a new phone number while traveling in the country, and those numbers change when they travel from country to country. If users would like to retain use of their domestic, normal phone number, then they must pay high roaming and international fees. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The various embodiments of systems and methods described herein result from the realization that global usage of mobile phones may be made easier and more secure by providing a system and method related to a mobile phone have multiple SIM cards, including a domestic SIM card and an international SIM card. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a system in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram representing an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a system in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a block diagram depicting a method in accordance with one embodiment; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a block diagram depicting a non-transitory computer readable medium in accordance with one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a system  100  in accordance with one embodiment, wherein system  100  comprises at least one processor  102 , at least one display means  104  electronically connected to at least one processor  102 , at least one communications means  106  electronically connected to at least one processor  102 , wherein said communications means  106  is operative to connect to a wireless communications network, at least one means  108  for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules, and computer executable instructions (not shown), operative to determine whether at least one local subscriber identification module  110  and at least one global subscriber identification module  112  are present in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules  108 , wherein the at least one local subscriber identification module  110  is assigned to a traditional phone number and the at least one global subscriber identification module  112  is assigned to a unique global phone number; receive or transmit communications to or from the traditional phone number and the unique global phone number if both the at least one local subscriber identification module  110  and the at least one global subscriber identification module  112  are present in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules; and prevent any communications to or from the unique global phone number if the at least one local subscriber identification module  110  is not present in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules  108 . 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, at least one processor  102  may be any type of processor, including a single or multi core processor. At least one display  104  may be any display device, including, but not limited to, an electronic display device, such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or a light emitting diode display. In some embodiments, at least one display device  104  may comprise of a touch-screen. In some embodiments, display device  104  is electronically connected to processor  102 . In other embodiments, display device  104  is wirelessly connected to processor  104 . In yet further embodiments, display device  104  may include control or user input means, such as, but not limited to, a touch screen, a stylus, and the like. 
         [0013]    At least one communications means  106  may be any type of communications means, including, but not limited to, a wireless communications means or wired communications means, such as a GSM modem, a WiFi module, a Bluetooth module, a Zigbee module, and any other type of communications means used to communicate directly with another device, or indirectly with another device, such as through a local or wide area network. 
         [0014]    In yet another embodiment, system  100  may comprise at least one mobile device, which houses at least one processor  102 , at least one display device  104 , and at least one communications means  106 . The mobile device may be a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a mobile PC, a smart phone, or a standalone mobile device, and the like. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, at least one communications means  106  comprises a communications means for accessing a cellular network, such as a GSM network, a data network, such as a local data network, or a wide area data network, such as the internet. In yet another embodiment, at least one communications means  106  comprises a communications means for accessing a web-enabled device, such as a Bluetooth module for accessing a web-enabled smartphone. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, at least one means  108  for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules may comprise a traditional subscriber identification module (SIM) card tray, or multiple SIM card tray, such as a dual-SIM card tray. In some embodiments, local and global SIM cards  110 ,  112  may comprise traditional SIM cards, micro SIM cards, nano SIM cards, or any other type of subscriber identification module known in the art. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, at least one processor  102  is connected to or integrated into a mobile communications device, such as a mobile phone. In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be stored locally, in whole or in part, such as in the mobile communications device. In other embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be stored remotely, in whole or in part, such as in a central station. The central station may be a cellular telephone/data service provider. The computer executable instructions may take the form of a downloadable application, such as, but not limited to a mobile application. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, a user may be provided with at least one local or global SIM card, as well as access to a downloadable application. In another embodiment, the user may be provided access, or rights to purchase, the downloadable application, and upon purchasing, downloading, or accessing the application, may be provided a local and/or global SIM card. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the traditional phone number comprises a traditional already existing country code, area code, and city number. The unique global phone number comprises a new unique telephone number, which is not assigned to any country, region, state, or city. By having such as new and unique telephone number, a user of said telephone number may benefit from privacy protection and identity theft protection, because their place of residency may not be ascertained. Furthermore, by having both a local phone number and a unique global phone number, a user of said phone numbers may use the permanent local phone number when residing in a home territory, and may use the permanent unique global phone number when traveling abroad. A user of said telephone numbers may give their local number to people they trust, while at the same time being able to give untrusted contacts the unique global phone number, which is untraceable and not tied to any sensitive information, such as bank accounts, credit card accounts, passports, and the like. Often times while traveling abroad, identities are stolen. By being able to provide a unique telephone number that is not tied to any sensitive accounts or data, the likelihood of identity theft occurring is lessened. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, by requiring that both the local SIM card  110  and the global SIM card  112  be present in order to use system  100  to communicate, a user is authenticated and security is heightened. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a system  300  is shown in accordance with one embodiment, wherein system  300  comprises at least one first mobile communications device  302  operative to connect to a global communications network  304  via a local wireless communications network  306 , at least one second mobile communications device  308  operative to connect to a mobile communications network  310 , and at least one home base station  312  operative to connect to global communications network  304 , and to connect to second mobile communications device  308 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, at least one first mobile communications device  302  comprises any type of mobile communications device, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a laptop PC and the like, including but not limited to an international mobile phone. In another embodiment, at least one second mobile communications device  308  comprises any type of mobile communications device, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a laptop PC and the like, including but not limited to a domestic mobile phone. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments a user may take first mobile communications device  302  with them on an international trip, while leaving second mobile communications device  308  at home, connected to home base station  312 . Accordingly, home base station  312  may be operative to connect to or receive second mobile communications device  308 , such as by docking with device  308  or connecting with device  308  wirelessly, such as through Bluetooth® or WiFi, or through a wired connection, such as a USB connection. In a further embodiment, first mobile communications device  302  may be operative to connect to home base station  312  via global communications network  304 . 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, global communications network  304  may comprise the world-wide-web or the internet. Local wireless communications network  306  may comprise a WiFi network supplied by a WiFi or other wireless network router  314 . Home base station  312  and router  314  may be connected to global network  304  via a modem, such as a cable modem, a satellite modem, a GSM modem, a DSL modem, and the like. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, first mobile communications device  302  may be operative to communicate with second mobile communications device  308  via global communications network  304  and home base station  312 . In some embodiments, any or all of the features of first mobile communications device  302  may be deactivated (as in restricted or prohibited). This may include calling functions over cellular phone networks, data transfer, and the like. In one embodiment, first mobile communications device  302  may be activated by communicating with second mobile communications device  308 . This may be done when the user enters a foreign country. 
         [0026]    In yet another embodiment, first mobile communications device  302  may be operative to send or receive communications, such as voice, text, audio-visual, or data communications by connecting to local wireless communications network  306 , accessing global communications network  304  via local wireless communications network  306 , connecting to home base station  312  via global communications network  304 , connecting to second mobile communications device  308  via home base station  312 , accessing mobile communications network  310  via mobile communications device  308 , and using mobile communications network  310  to send or receive a communication. Mobile communications network  310  may comprise a cellular communications network, such as a GSM or CDMA network. Accordingly, second mobile communications device  308  serves as a proxy to first mobile communications device  302  in accessing or connecting to mobile communications network  310 . In a further embodiment, control of second mobile communications device  308  may be remotely controlled through first mobile communications device  302 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, a user of first mobile communications device  302  may be assessed a fee for accessing local wireless communications network  306 . In some embodiments, the fee may be assessed by a telecommunications provider, which may be foreign, such as a cellular phone service provider, and the like. Accordingly, the local wireless communications  306  network may be provided by such a telecommunications provider. 
         [0028]    In accordance with one embodiment, at least one first mobile communications device  302  may be associated with at least one first telephone number, which may be an international number. In another embodiment, at least one second mobile communications device  308  may be associated with at least one second telephone number, which may be a domestic number. 
         [0029]    The various systems and methods described herein may be used to facilitate a user by allowing them to connect their domestic communications device to a home base, and connect to that domestic communications device using an international communications device over a global communications network. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram depicting a method  400  is shown in accordance with one embodiment, wherein method  400  may comprise using at least one processor to perform any or all of the following steps: determining whether at least one local subscriber identification module and at least one global subscriber identification module are present in at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules, wherein the at least one local subscriber identification module is assigned to a traditional phone number and the at least one global subscriber identification module is assigned to a unique global phone number (block  402 ), using at least one communications means to receive or transmit communications to or from the traditional phone number and the unique global phone number if both the at least one local subscriber identification module and the at least one global subscriber identification module are present in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules (block  404 ), and preventing any communications to or from the unique global phone number if the at least one local subscriber identification module is not present in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules (block  406 ). 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be part of or integrated into a mobile communications device, such as, but not limited to, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a laptop, and the like. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, using at least one processor comprises using computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor. In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be stored, in whole or in part, remotely, such as on a server or central station, or locally, such as on a local non-transitory (or transitory) computer readable medium, wherein the local storage means may be connected to, part of, or integrated with the at least one processor and/or the mobile device. In some embodiments, the central station may be a cellular telephone/data service provider. The computer executable instructions may take the form of a downloadable application, such as, but not limited to a mobile application. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, a user may be provided with at least one local or global SIM card, as well as access to a downloadable application. In another embodiment, the user may be provided access, or rights to purchase, the downloadable application, and upon purchasing, downloading, or accessing the application, may be provided a local and/or global SIM card. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, method  400  may implement or be a part of the various embodiments of systems and methods described herein, such as those described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a block diagram depicting a non-transitory computer readable medium  500  is shown in accordance with one embodiment, wherein computer readable medium  500  may comprise computer executable instructions  502  readable by at least one processor  504  and operative to perform any or all of the following steps or functions: determining whether at least one local subscriber identification module and at least one global subscriber identification module are present in at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules, wherein the at least one local subscriber identification module is assigned to a traditional phone number and the at least one global subscriber identification module is assigned to a unique global phone number, using at least one communications means to receive or transmit communications to or from the traditional phone number and the unique global phone number if both the at least one local subscriber identification module and the at least one global subscriber identification module are present in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules, and preventing any communications to or from the unique global phone number if the at least one local subscriber identification module is not present in the at least one means for accepting at least two subscriber identification modules. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, the at least one processor  504  may be part of or integrated into a mobile communications device. In some embodiments, the mobile communications device may comprise a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a smartphone, a laptop, and the like. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the computer executable instructions  502  may be stored, in whole or in part, remotely, such as in a server or central station, or locally, such as in the mobile communications device. In some embodiments, the central station may comprise any type of central station, such as those described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
         [0038]    Non-transitory computer readable medium  500  may comprise any type non-transitory computer readable medium, such as, but not limited to, a hard drive, a flash drive, a solid state drive, computer memory, a compact disc, a DVD, and the like. Computer readable medium  500  may comprise any of the various embodiments described herein, such as those described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, computer executable instructions  502  may comprise the various embodiments of computer executable instructions described herein, such as those described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . Computer executable instructions  502  may be part of, used in, or be included in the various systems and methods described herein. 
       Hardware and Operating Environment 
       [0040]    This section provides an overview of example hardware and the operating environments in conjunction with which embodiments of the inventive subject matter can be implemented. A software program may be launched from a computer readable medium in a computer-based system to execute the functions defined in the software program. Various programming languages may be employed to create software programs designed to implement the system  100  disclosed herein. The programs may be structured in an object-orientated format using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++. Alternatively the programs may be structured in a procedure-oriented format using a procedural language, such as assembly or C. The software components may communicate using a number of mechanisms, such as application program interfaces, or inter-process communication techniques, including remote procedure calls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to any particular programming language or environment. Thus, other embodiments may be realized, as discussed regarding  FIG. 2  below. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram representing an apparatus  200  according to various embodiments. Such embodiments may comprise a computer, a memory system, a magnetic or optical disk, some other storage device, or any type of electronic device or system. The apparatus  200  may include one or more processor(s)  202  coupled to a machine-accessible medium such as a memory  204  (e.g., a memory including electrical, optical, or electromagnetic elements). The medium may contain associated information  206  (e.g., computer program instructions, data, or both) which, when accessed, results in a machine (e.g., the processor(s)  202 ) performing the activities previously described herein. 
         [0042]    The principles of the present disclosure may be applied to all types of computers, systems, and the like, include desktop computers, servers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants, microcomputers, and the like. However, the present disclosure may not be limited to the personal computer. 
         [0043]    While the principles of the disclosure have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.