Systems and methods for using two or more subscriber identification module cards in telematics applications

A system for providing access to a telematics service provider has a network access device and an antenna in communication with the network access device. The antenna provides wireless communication between the processor and the telematics service provider. A processor of the network access device is configured to send an equipment identifier and a subscriber identifier of a network access device to the a telematics service provider, send an equipment identifier of the network access device and the subscriber identifier of a secondary device to the telematics service provider, and determine if data received from the telematics service provider is to be processed by the processor of the network access device or the secondary device.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for using two or more Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards in telematics applications.

2. Description of Related Art

Some mobile telephony systems, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) utilize a SIM card. The SIM card is a removable smart card containing a user's subscription information and phone book. This allows the user to retain their information after switching mobile devices that utilize the SIM card. Additionally, the user can also change mobile operators while retaining the mobile device by simply changing the SIM card to a SIM card that is associated with a different mobile operator.

This plug and play system allows users to utilize different mobile devices using a single account. For example, assume a user buys a new mobile device, such as a mobile phone, to replace an older mobile phone. In order to activate the new mobile phone, the user simply places the SIM card from the old mobile phone into the new mobile phone, and the newer mobile phone is ready for use. Any activity the user has with the new mobile phone will be associated with their account and the user will be billed accordingly.

This is not only useful when buying new equipment, but certain mobile telecommunications operators charge different rates at different times of the day. By allowing the user to simply switch SIM cards in their mobile device, the user can utilize the SIM card from the mobile operator that has the best rates at any given time. If a first mobile operator has better rates during the day and a second mobile operator has better rates during the night, the user can simply utilize the SIM card associated with the first mobile operator during the day and then use the second SIM card associated with the second operator during the night.

With regard to automotive telematics, the telematics system of the automobile may also utilize a SIM card, so that the driver of the automobile can access telematics features from a telematics service provider associated with the SIM card. If the driver of the automobile wishes to utilize another SIM card with the telematics units, such as a SIM card used with the driver's mobile telephone, the driver would have to replace the SIM card of the telematics system with the SIM card of the mobile phone. While this would allow the telematics device of the automobile to make telephone calls, as well as, send and receive other types of communication, the telematics service provider will not be able to communicate with the telematics device because that SIM card that is associated with the telematics service provider has been replaced with the mobile telephone's SIM card. This prevents the telematics service provider from communicating with the telematics device and will minimize the use of the telematics device by the driver, as it is common for the telematics service providers to offer advanced features that mobile phone operators generally do not offer. These advanced features can include the ability to lock and unlock the doors of the automobile, vehicle security features, vehicle navigation features, and numerous other enhancements.

SUMMARY

A system and method for providing access to a telematics service provider has a network access device and an antenna in communication with the network access device. The antenna provides wireless communication between the processor and the telematics service provider. A processor of the network access device is configured to send an equipment identifier and a subscriber identifier of a network access device to the telematics service provider, send an equipment identifier of a secondary device and the subscriber identifier of the network access device to the telematics service provider, and determine if data received from the telematics service provider is to be processed by the processor of the network access device or the secondary device.

Further objects, features and advantages of this system and method will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an automobile10incorporating a system12for accessing a telematics service provider via a network access device is shown. It should be understood that the automobile10can be any type of vehicle, such as a car, truck, sport utility vehicle, tractor trailer, and even aircraft and watercraft.

Referring toFIG. 2, a more detailed illustration of the system12is shown. The system12includes a network access device14and a telematics controller16. The network access device14may include a processor18and storage20. The processor18may be a programmable microprocessor or alternatively may be an application specific integrated circuit, or other known processor. The storage20may be a memory, for example, random access memory, static memory, or other data storage device. The network access device14may also include a transceiver22which includes a transmitter24and a receiver26. Alternatively, the network access device14may include an independent transmitter and receiver. The transceiver22may be in communication with an antenna28. The transceiver22may communicate with a radio tower32, as denoted by line30. The communication30between the network access device14and the radio tower32may comprise one of a plurality of communication modes.

The transceiver24in the network access device14may be used for transmitting up link communications and receiving down link communications to and from a network34and a telematics service provider36over the wireless communication link30. The wireless communication link30may use a wireless protocol such as a standard cellular network protocol such as GSM and the like. To transmit data in the cellular environment, different types of standard bare services exist including, but not limited to, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Short Message Service (SMS), Circuit Switch Data Service (CSD), and High Speed Switched Data Service (HSSD). Further, Standard Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) may be used as well as satellite communications.

The radio tower32may be in communication with the telematics service provider36, including for example, a network server through a network34. The network34may be an analog network such as a plain old telephone service (POTS) or a digital network for example, Ethernet over transmission control protocol/internet protocol. In other examples, the network34could be a satellite based network, a public switch telecommunications network, the internet, and integrated services digital network, and/or other communication networks.

The telematics service provider36may include a service center to perform telematics applications and services to the automobile. For instance, the service center may contain operators, content servers, and content data bases. The content servers for telematics applications and services may include traffic servers, map servers, user profile servers, location information servers, and the like. The content data bases for telematics applications and services may include location information, user profiles, traffic content, map content, point of interest content, usage history, and the like. As such, the telematics service provider36may include one or more servers having a processor38and a memory40. The network access device18may be in communication with the telematics controller16through a communication interface42. In some implementations, the network access device18may be in the same package as the telematics controller16. However, other implementations of the network access device14may be provided in a separate package from the package of the telematics controller16and, therefore, may be located in different areas of the automobile.

Various information may be communicated between the telematics controller16and the network access device14. The telematics controller15may include a processor44and a memory46. The processor44may be a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, or other processor. Further, the storage46may be a memory device for example, random access memory, read only memory, static memory, or may even be a hard drive or optical drive, or other means of data storage. The telematics controller16may be in communication with a plurality of other vehicle sensors and devices through a wire harness or over the vehicle bus, as denoted by lines48. In addition, the telematics controller16may be in communication with the user interface50, as denoted by line52. The user interface50may include a display56and controls54for providing user input such as vehicle parameters into the telematics controller16. Also, the user interface50may include elements such as a keyboard, a keypad, one or more control buttons, indicator lights, one or more speakers, a microphone, or any other user interface type elements for telematics applications and services. Optionally, the telematics controller16may also be connected to a positioning unit. The positioning unit could be a system that determines geographic location of the automobile such as a global positioning system (GPS) or similar device

Further, the telematics controller16may be in communication with other vehicle systems such as an engine control system, the vehicle lock controls, the vehicle safety systems, vehicle entertainment system, or suspension control system to implement the described functions of the telematics controller16or the network access device14based on parameters of such systems.

The telematics controller16may be powered by the vehicle battery60, as denoted by lines62and64. Alternatively, a voltage converter may be provided to convert from the vehicle battery voltage to a different voltage that may be appropriate from running the telematics controller16. The voltage converter may be included in the package for the telematics controller16or alternatively may be in a separate package between the vehicle battery60and a telematics controller16. The vehicle battery60may also provide power to the network access device14. A circuit66may be included between the vehicle battery60and the network access device14. The circuit66may include a voltage converter to change the voltage provided to the network access device14through lines68and70.

In addition, the circuit66may be connected to a network access battery device72. The network access battery device72may be changed while the automobile is running and may for example, be switched to provide power to network access device14when the power from the vehicle system is not available. Further, the circuit66may control the monitoring and periodic powering of the network access device14if the automobile is turned off for a long period of time. Further, the circuit66may control the charging of the network access device battery72at appropriate times according to the environmental variables or the expected use cycle of the vehicle. In order to access telematics service provider36via the network34, the network access device14will likely utilize a SIM card74. The SIM card provides a subscriber identity to the telematics service provider36, enabling the network access device14to receive services from the telematics service provider36.

Additionally, the network access device14can also be in communication with the secondary device76that may be a mobile device. The secondary device76may have a SIM card78, which allows the secondary device76to communicate with the telematics service provider36. It should be understood that the SIM card78of the secondary device76may be in communication with the network access device14either directly, or via the secondary device76as shown. For example, the network access device14may be in communication with a card reader that can directly read the SIM card78or may be in communication either wired or wirelessly with the secondary device76and therefore the SIM card78.

Referring toFIG. 3, a method80for allowing the network access device to utilize the SIM card78of the secondary device76as shown. Reference will be made that the system12ofFIG. 2when describing the method80. The method80may be incorporated in a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by a programmed processor.

The method begins with step82, wherein the network access device14sends an equipment identifier of the network access device14and the subscriber identifier of the network access device14to a telematics service provider36. The equipment identifier and the subscriber identifier of the network access device may be both stored on the SIM card74of the network access device14. However, the equipment identifier may also be stored on the memory20of the network access device14.

When the user brings a secondary device76, such as a mobile device into the vehicle, the network access device14may mate with secondary device76and take on the identity of that secondary device76. More specifically, the network access device14will use the subscriber identifier of secondary device76and not the subscriber identifier of the network access device14. Any calls made are billed to the account associate with the SIM card78of the secondary device76rather than the SIM card74of the network access device14even though the network access device14hardware is being used.

In step84, the network access device sends the equipment identifier of the network access device14and the subscriber identifier of the secondary device76to the telematics service provider36. The subscriber identifier of the secondary device76is stored on the SIM card78of the secondary device76.

The telematics service provider36stores both the subscriber identifier and equipment identifier of the network access device14. This can be performed on first time activation of the network access device14. Subsequently during every registration after, the telematics service provider36may check the current subscriber identifier and equipment identifier that is sent from the network access device14. If the current subscriber identifier does not match the originally stored subscriber identifier, then the telematics service provider36can determine that the network access device14is using another SIM card, such as SIM card78. The telematics service provider36can still contact the network access device14, but the network access device14needs to use the personal SIM account of the SIM card78.

In step86, the network access device14determines if data received from the telematics service provider36is to be processed by the network access device14or the secondary device76. Essentially, the network access device14looks at the data that is received from the telematics service provider36and determines if the data is flagged in such a way so as to indicate that the data is meant for the network access device or the secondary device76. If data is meant to be processed by the network access device14, the processor18of the network access device14processes that data and performs the necessary services. If the network access device14determines otherwise, the data is then sent to the secondary device76for processing.

For example, assume that the secondary device76is a mobile phone and a telephone call for the secondary device76is sent from the telematics service provider36to the network access device14. The network access device14determines that this data is meant to be processed by the secondary device76and sends the data to the secondary device76. In like manner, if the telematics service provider36sends a signal to unlock the doors of the automobile containing the system12, the network access device will receive this data and then determine that it should be processed by the processor18and not by the secondary device76. By so doing, this allows the secondary device to be mated with the network access device14but does not require a separate external antenna for the secondary device to improve communicate with the telematics service provider36or a separate hands free vehicle kit to improve driver awareness. Here, the secondary device76can mate with the network access device14and utilize the antenna and hardware28of the network access device to communicate with the telematics service provider36.