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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
The method of the invention for automatic selection of configuration
profile to a mobile phone. One or more configuration profiles are
predefined in the mobile phone and one configuration profile is
defined in a card inserted in the mobile phone. The method has the
steps of switching on the mobile phone, comparing the configuration
profile of the card with the configuration profile information in
the mobile phone, and selecting a configuration profile to the mobile
phone as a consequence of the comparison.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method for selection of configuration profile to a mobile
phone, whereby one or more configuration profiles are predefined
in the mobile phone and one configuration profile is defined in
a card inserted in the mobile phone, comprising: a) switching on
the mobile phone, determining whether a configuration profile in
the mobile phone is active, b) when the configuration profile in
the mobile phone is determined to be active, comparing the configuration
profile of the card with the configuration profile in the mobile
phone, determining that the configuration profile of the mobile
phone is not matching the configuration profile of the card, asking
a user to select either the configuration profile of the mobile
phone or the configuration profile of the card, and c) the user
selecting a configuration profile to the mobile phone as a consequence
of the comparison.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein in step b), the mobile phone identifies
the configuration profile of the card by means of a country code
and a network code.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein in step c), no change of configuration
profile is made in the phone, if there already is an active predefined
configuration profile in the mobile phone that has the same country
code and network code as that defined in the card.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein before step b), the current card
on the mobile phone is switched to a new one.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein each configuration profile is
identified by a country code and an operator code.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the card is a Subscriber Identity
Module (SIM).
7. A method for automatic selection of configuration profile to
a mobile phone, whereby one or more configuration profiles are predefined
in the mobile phone and one configuration profile is defined in
a card inserted in the mobile phone, comprising: a) switching on
the mobile phone, b) comparing the configuration profile of the
card with the configuration profile information in the mobile phone,
and c) selecting a configuration profile to the mobile phone as
a consequence of the comparison, and in step c) the user of the
mobile phone being asked if the user wants to activate a configuration
profile in the mobile phone that corresponds to that defined in
the card if there is no active configuration profile in the mobile
phone and, upon acceptance by the user, the configuration profile
is activated in said way.
8. A method for automatic selection of configuration profile to
a mobile phone, whereby one or more configuration profiles are predefined
in the mobile phone and one configuration profile is defined in
a card inserted in the mobile phone, comprising: a) switching on
the mobile phone, b) comparing the configuration profile of the
card with the configuration profile information in the mobile phone,
and c) selecting a configuration profile to the mobile phone as
a consequence of the comparison, and in step c) the user being asked
if the user wants to activate a configuration profile in the mobile
phone that corresponds to that defined in the card if the active
configuration profile in the mobile phone and that defined in the
card do not correspond to each other and, upon acceptance by the
user, the configuration profile in the mobile phone is activated
in said way.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
PRIOR APPLICATIONS
This is a U.S. national phase patent application that claims priority
from PCT/SE2003/001900, filed 5 Dec. 2003, that claims priority
from Swedish Patent Application No. 0300139-3, filed 20 Jan. 2003.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention is concerned with a method for automatic selection
of a configuration profile to a mobile phone.
BACKGROUND ART
Modem mobile phones contain a multitude of new technologies and
services. For most of these it is necessary for the subscriber to
have a correct configuration of the phone to be able to use the
new technologies and services. Such a configuration involves setting
a number of parameters to correct values. The exact parameters to
be set vary depending on the technology. Only for WAP, a number
of specific parameters exist, such as IP-addresses and ports for
WAP Gateways, disconnection times, connection type preferences,
home page addresses, username and password etc. For other technologies,
other parameters exist. These parameters can be stored either on
the SIM card or in the phone itself.
The structure of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
is defined in the standards. The IMSI is specified in IUT-T recommendation
E.212. The Mobile Country Code (MCC) as well as the Mobile Network
Code (MNC) and the Mobile Station Identification Number (MSIN) are
contained in the IMSI. The MCC, MNC and MSIN together form the IMSI.
The MCC uniquely identifies the country that the IMSI belongs to.
The values assigned to MCC have been defined by ITU-T on a global
basis to guarantee this uniqueness.
The assignment of values to MNC is the responsibility of the national
regulatory authorities. The values of MNC need to be unique for
each MCC. Thus the combination of the MNC and MCC forms a globally
unique identification for a specific network.
Network operators are then normally responsible for the assignment
of the Mobile Station Identification Number (MSIN).
The actual parameters that are to be set are very technical and
mean nothing or little to most subscribers. It is therefore difficult
for the subscriber to correctly set the parameters. Hence, a lot
of subscribers do not have correct settings of these parameters.
This means that the subscribers will not be using the services or
they might even think that a specific technology is useless since
they could never understand how to use it.
To add to the difficulties, as well as the parameter naming, the
way for the subscriber to enter the correct configuration parameters
vary from phone to phone.
Having incorrect parameter settings often leads to inability to
use the technology or services depending on it. Depending on which
setting is faulty, the technology might be possible to use but work
less than optional. This means that the subscribers will not use
the technology and related services. When the subscribers do not
have correct settings and thus do not use the new technologies and
services, the operators are not making as much money on these services
as they could and want.
Modern phones reduce the problem by having pre-defined configuration
profiles that collect the parameters into a logical structure of
name-value pairs for the parameters and their respective values.
Since such a configuration profile already with the technologies
available today can contain a large number of parameters, it is
reasonable but not necessary to sub-group a configuration set into
logical configuration set into a logical page with name--value pairs.
Since this still does not make the purpose of the individual parameters
obvious for the subscriber, additional functionality is possible.
It is possible to predefine configurations sets for different operators
and assign names that match the operators. The task of the subscriber
is then reduced to selecting the predefined configuration profile
that matches his operator or service provider.
Such a configuration profile can often be complemented with a number
of predefined services, or links to services, that use the technology.
Examples of such pre-defined services could be short-cuts or bookmarks
to download portals for ring tones, gaming server addresses, pre-installed
applications that communicate over the network etc. Having such
predefined services increases the chance of getting the subscriber
to start using the new technology.
However, even that final step requires some understanding from
the subscriber regarding the services and technologies. The subscriber
has to actively search for these profiles and realize that he is
interested in this area to make the selection.
THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to develop a solution, which enables
the subscriber to select the right configuration profile in an easy
and user friendly way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method of the invention for automatic selection of configuration
profile to a mobile phone, in which one or more configuration profiles
are predefined in the mobile phone and one configuration profile
is defined in a card inserted in the mobile phone, is characterized
by the steps of switching on the mobile phone, comparing the configuration
profile of the card with the configuration profile information in
the mobile phone, and selecting a configuration profile to the mobile
phone as a consequence of the comparison.
Said card is preferably a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and
the preferable embodiments of the invention are presented in the
sub claims.
Thus, the invention involves phone based support for automatic
selection of configuration profiles. This is a new solution compared
with a solution that handles SIM controlled automated settings.
The invention gives a possibility of getting usage of new network
technology to increase even though the subscribers do not have any
specific technology competence.
The solution of the invention removes almost entirely the need
for the subscriber to understand the technology or the configuration
principles of the phone itself. When a SIM is inserted in the phone,
the phone can detect country and operator codes from the SIM. This
information exists in the International Mobile Subscriber Identity
(IMSI). The configuration profiles that have been predefined in
the phone can then be compared against the data about operator that
is provided on the SIM. The idea is to have the country code and
operator code internal identifiers for the configuration profiles.
When the subscriber inserts the SIM into the phone, the phone compares
the operator information on the SIM with the information in the
currently active configuration profile set. If these do not match,
the phone asks the user if he wants to activate settings for the
current network operator. If so configured, this could be done with
or without user configuration.
In this way, the phone gets automatically configured to fit the
subscribers network and services.
In the SIM-controlled scenario mentioned, it is the SIM that has
been provided by the operator that detects that the user has a new
phone. The subscription is assumed to have stayed the same or actually
be a new one where this functionality is present. The SIM then initiates
a request for downloading correct settings for the specific phone
model from the network. The SIM based model can thus better adapt
to configuration changes in the network. The basic principle is
that that solution makes the SIM detect a new phone. The configuration
data would be provided by the operator.
In the solution of the invention, the phone detects a new SIM and
chooses a preconfigured configuration profile. Note that the phone
would have difficulties to dynamically download new configuration
profile data unless provided by the phone manufacturer.
The subscriber can start using the services immediately after purchasing
a new phone without having any in-depth knowledge of either one
of the technology, the parameters or his new phone. The operator
can thus expect a large subscriber base to start using new technologies
when new handsets reach the market.
FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a flow scheme of the method of the invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The basic principle is that the phone performs a comparison between
the Mobile Country Code (MCC) and the Mobile Network Code (MNC)
on the SIM and the corresponding values for the currently active
configuration profiles whenever the phone is switched on or when
a new SIM card is inserted in the mobile phone (Step 1 of FIG. 1).
The phone then checks (in step 2 of FIG. 1) if there is a currently
active configuration profile in the phone.
If the phone has no active configuration profile, the phone compares
the MCC+MNC of SIM with all predefined configuration profiles in
the phone and if a profile matches, the phone optionally asks the
subscriber if he wants to activate it. The user can then be given
the option of not having to answer this question again. Upon the
acceptance of the user, the matching configuration profile is activated
in step 3 of FIG. 1.
If the phone, on the contrary, has an active configuration profile,
and if that active profile has the same identity (MCC+MNC) as that
on the SIM, which is stated in step 4 of FIG. 1, no action shall
be taken (step 5 of FIG. 1).
If, however, the identity of the configuration profile does not
match the identity as given by the information on the SIM, the user
is asked if he wants to switch active configuration profile, e.g.
if he wants to activate a configuration profile in the mobile phone
that corresponds to that defined in the card. If the user accepts,
the active configuration profile is switched in step 6 of FIG. 1.
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