Claims:CLAIMS
We Claim:

1. A method of managing multiple subscription and User identities in Multi-SIM devices, the method comprises of:
initiating, by a called party, a call to a calling party of a first user group using a first SIM of a dual-SIM user device;
checking, by a mobile terminal, if the first SIM is available for establishing the call or not;
invoking, by the mobile terminal, a Calling Line ID Restriction (CLIR) supplementary service for a second SIM, if the first SIM is not available; and
establishing the call using the second SIM without displaying the calling line identity of the second SIM on a calling party device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
establishing the call using the first SIM if the first SIM is available for initiating the call; and
displaying calling line ID associated with the first SIM on the calling party device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the CLIR supplementary service is invoked by prefixing a code string to dialed digits or based on network operator specifications.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
setting, by the user, an User-User Information Element (UUI) to the name of the calling party to be shared to the called party;
initiating a call using the second SIM;
activating a Connected Line Presentation Restriction (COLP) supplementary service for the second SIM;
sending the UUI in a SETUP protocol message in a call origination sequence; and
establishing the call using implicit activation of a User-to-User Signaling (UUS) service;
where the calling party name is extracted and displayed on a user device of the called party without providing the calling line ID of the second SIM or the calling party name is displayed along with MSDISDN of the first SIM in UUS information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
activating a Connected Line Presentation Restriction (COLP) supplementary service for the second SIM;
forwarding calls from the first SIM to the second SIM before attempting a call originated from the second SIM; and
establishing the call with the calling party of the first group without displaying the calling line ID of the second SIM even if the calling party is registered for the COLP services.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the COLP service is invoked by one of prefixing a code string to the dialed digits or network operator specific procedure.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
invoking a UUS2 service using a facility protocol message;
sharing a connected line user name with the called party using an User Information Protocol Message; and
displaying connected line user name received in user information message is displayed on the user device of the calling party without displaying the number associated with the second SIM or the calling party name is displayed along with MSDISDN of the first SIM in UUS information.

8. A Multi-Subscriber Identity Module (Multi-SIM) wireless communication device, comprising:
a first SIM;
a second SIM;
a processor;
a memory adapted to store a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the processor are adapted to cause the apparatus to run a targeting application for:
initiating a call to a calling party of a first user group using the first SIM;
checking if the first SIM is available for establishing the call or not;
invoking a Calling Line ID Restriction (CLIR) supplementary service for a second SIM, if the first SIM is not available; and
establishing the call using the second SIM without displaying the calling line identity of the second SIM on a calling party device.

9. The Multi-SIM wireless communication device of claim 8, is further adapted for:
establishing the call using the first SIM if the first SIM is available for initiating the call; and
displaying calling line ID associated with the first SIM on the calling party device.

Dated this the 27th November, 2015

Signature

KEERTHI J S
Patent agent
Agent for the applicant , Description:
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[39 of 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10; Rule 13)

A METHOD OF MANAGING MULTIPLE SUBSCRIPTION AND USER IDENTITIES IN MULTI-SIM USER DEVICES

SAMSUNG R&D INSTITUTE INDIA – BANGALORE Pvt. Ltd.
# 2870, ORION Building, Bagmane Constellation Business Park,
Outer Ring Road, Doddanakundi Circle,
Marathahalli Post,
Bangalore -560037, Karnataka, India
Indian Company

The following Specification particularly describes the invention and the method it is being performed

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for management of Multiple Subscriber Identities (e.g. Multi SIM) in a terminal of a cellular telecommunication network. More, particularly, the invention relates to management of multiple subscriber identity modules for devices capable of communicating using two or more subscriber identities with different group of persons using only specific SIM/Contact number without revealing the identity of the
SIM/contact number of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication systems provide various types of communication content such as, for example, voice, data, and so on. Wireless multiple-access communication systems support communication for multiple mobile devices. Each mobile device can communicate with one or more base stations via transmissions on forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from base stations to mobile devices, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from mobile devices to base stations. Further, communications between mobile devices and base stations can be established via single-input single-output (SISO) systems, multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, and so forth. In addition, mobile devices communicate with other mobile devices in peer-to-peer wireless network configurations.

The dual SIM or multi SIM phones are provided, so that the user is enabled to manage different SIM for different group of people. Here, a group of people in a contact list of phone are associated with one SIM contact number while another group of people are associated with another SIM contact number. A person belonging to one specific group could know only one of the SIM contact number with which that group is associated while being unaware of the other SIM contact number. The user uses only the SIM contact number associated for that group to communicate with the person in that group and hides the other SIM contact numbers. It is possible to have a person in multiple groups and multiple SIM contact numbers of the user associated with that person.

Consider a scenario, where all the people from the user’s office are grouped as “Office Colleagues” and all the people who are the user’s family and friends are grouped as “Personal Contacts”. The user of the dual SIM phone assigns SIM1 MSISDN as identity for communicating with people in “Personal Contacts” and SIM2 MSISDN as identity for communicating with people in “Office Colleagues”. The user does not share SIM1 MSISDN with office colleagues and likewise does not share SIM2 MSISDN with personal contacts unless they are also part of “Office Colleagues” group. The user shares his multiple identities or contact numbers with people who belong to multiple groups.

However with the current design or state of the art, there are use cases where the user of multi-SIM phone is forced to use the SIM contact number associated with one group for communicating with a person listed in another group. In such cases, the user’s desire to hide all but one contact number from a given group of people gets compromised.

According to an example, the phone goes out of network coverage for SIM1 (MSISDN1) associated with group 1 (of contacts) and the user needs to reach one of the contacts in group 1. As the network coverage for SIM2 (MSISDN2) is available, the user uses SIM2 to dial contact number of group 1. But the person in group 1 gets to know the SIM2 (MSISDN2) of the user. In another case, the user has a pre-paid connection with network of SIM1 (MSISDN1) and runs out of currency or balance in an account. The user uses network of SIM2 (MSISDN2) to make a call with a person in group 1. But the person in group 1 gets to know the SIM2 (MSISDN2) of the user.

According to another example, the network of SIM1 (MSISDN1) is barred for CS service and the user needs to reach one of the contacts in group 1. As the network coverage for SIM2 (MSISDN2) is available and CS service of SIM2 is not barred, the user uses SIM2 to dial contact number of group 1. But the person in group 1 gets to know the SIM2 (MSISDN2) of the user. In another case, the network rejects the registration or location update of SIM1 (MSISDN1) and the user needs to reach one of the contacts in group 1. As the SIM2 (MSISDN2) is successfully registered with its network, the user uses SIM2 to dial contact number of group 1. But the person in group 1 gets to know the SIM2 (MSISDN2) of the user.

According to another example, in case of dual SIM dual standby (DSDS) phone, the user is using SIM2 (MSISDN2) to talk to a person in group 2 associated with SIM2 (MSISDN2). Suppose the user wants to put the call on hold and check something with a person in group 1 associated with SIM1. As this is DSDS phone, SIM1 (MSISDN1) protocol stack is inactive because the user cannot use both the SIMs simultaneously to make calls. Hence the user holds the SIM2 (MSISDN2) call and dials the person from group 1. But the person in group 1 gets to know the SIM2 (MSISDN2) of the user.

In case of DSDS phone, the user wants to have a conference call with two people, one from group 1 and another from group 2. As this is DSDS phone only one SIM/protocol stack can be used to communicate with both. One of the SIM (MSISDN) of the user is thus exposed to a person from un-associated group in this case.

All of the above use cases apply to the dual SIM dual active phones as well where Protocols Stack1/Radio 1 serves SIM1 and Protocol Stack2/Radio 2 serves SIM2 exclusively.

In case of DSDS phone, the user forwards the calls from SIM1 (MSISDN1) to SIM2 (MSISDN2) before starting the call on SIM2 (MSISDN2). This is done because once the user starts the call on SIM2 (MSISDN2) SIM1/protocol stack1 gets suspended as there is only single radio in case of DSDS mobile. In such case if a person in group1 calls the user and the person has Connected Line Identity Presentation (COLP) facility enabled then that person gets to know the MSISDN2 of the user during establishment of the forwarded call and the person in group 1 gets to know the SIM2 (MSISDN2) of the user.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating context contamination in dual SIM, according to the prior art illustration. According to the prior art, the user 102 having a dual SIM phone, has first user group (personal) contacts stored in first SIM and second user group (work) contacts stored in second SIM. Consider that the user is unable to contact a person 104 from work group with the second SIM and makes use of the first SIM meant only for the user’s personal contacts to call. In such a case, there will be context contamination where the personal details of the user 102 will be compromised and these personal details will be saved on the work group against the user’s desire. The personal details include the name of the user 102 and the phone number of the user 102 meant only for personal contacts.

Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in MO call case, according to the prior art illustration. According to the prior art, consider that at step 202, the user dials a number from first user group in the contact list. At step 204, it is checked whether the call is possible with the first SIM or not. If yes, then at step 206, the call with first SIM is established. If the call from first SIM is not possible, then at step 208, calling with the second SIM is attempted. If the call is possible with the second SIM, then at step 210, the call with second SIM is established but also displays the second SIM calling line ID of the user on the device of called party. If the call is not possible with the second SIM, then at step 212, the call fails.

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in MT call, according to the prior art illustration. According to the prior art, consider that at step 302, the user dials a number from second user group in the contact list using second SIM. At step 304, all the calls for the first SIM are forwarded to second SIM. Further at step 306, the call with second SIM is established. At step 308, a user from the first user group calls the user on first SIM while the user is already on a call with second SIM. At step 310, the user gets a waiting tone as the user is already on a call established with second SIM. At step 312, the user puts call established with second SIM on hold and receives the call from the calling party of first user group. At step 314, the second SIM identity of the user is displayed on the device of the calling party from the first user group.

In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a method which enables the user to hide all but one contact number from a specific group of people.

The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a system and method to avoid context contamination in Dual SIM/Multi SIM User Equipment’s (UE’s). According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of managing multiple subscription and User identities in Multi-SIM devices, the method comprises of steps of initiating, by a called party, a call to a calling party of a first user group using a first SIM of a dual-SIM user device, checking, by a mobile terminal, if the first SIM is available for establishing the call or not, invoking, by the mobile terminal, a Calling Line ID Restriction (CLIR) supplementary service for a second SIM, if the first SIM is not available, and establishing the call using the second SIM without displaying the calling line identity of the second SIM on a calling party device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises of establishing the call using the first SIM if the first SIM is available for initiating the call, and displaying calling line ID associated with the first SIM on the calling party device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the CLIR supplementary service is invoked by prefixing a code string to dialed digits or based on network operator specifications.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises steps of setting, by the user, an user-user information element (UUI) to the name of the calling party to be shared to the called party, initiating a call using the second SIM, activating a Connected Line Presentation Restriction (COLR) supplementary service for the second SIM, sending the UUI in a SETUP protocol message in a call origination sequence, and establishing the call using implicit activation of UUS service, wherein the calling party name is extracted and displayed on a user device of the called party without providing the calling line ID of the second SIM and/or the calling party name is displayed along with the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSDISDN) of the first SIM in UUS information.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises of activating a Connected Line Presentation Restriction (COLR) supplementary service for the second SIM, forwarding calls from the first SIM to the second SIM before attempting a call originated from the second SIM, and establishing the call with the calling party of the first group without displaying the calling line ID of the second SIM even if the calling party is registered for the COLP services.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the COLR service is invoked by one of prefixing a code string to the dialed digits or network operator specific procedure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises of invoking a UUS2 service using a facility protocol message, sharing a connected line user name with the called party using an User Information Protocol Message, and displaying connected line user name received in user information message is displayed on the user device of the calling party without displaying the number associated with the second SIM and/or the calling party name is displayed along with the MSDISDN of the first SIM in UUS information.

The foregoing has outlined, in general, the various aspects of the invention and is to serve as an aid to better understanding the more complete detailed description which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or application of use described and illustrated herein. It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating context contamination in dual SIM, according to the prior art illustration.

Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in MO call case, according to the prior art illustration.

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in MT call, according to the prior art illustration.

Figure 4 is schematic diagram illustrating non-context contamination in dual SIM, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile originating (MO) call, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile terminating (MT) call, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is schematic diagram illustrating non-context contamination in dual SIM, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile originating (MO) call with user to user signaling (UUS), according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile terminating (MT) call with UUS, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a system and method for preventing context contamination in Dual SIM/Multi-SIM User Equipment (UE). In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The present invention illustrates non-context contamination in dual SIM mobile devices, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile device can be any of mobile electronic gadgets that user can use for communication that can include, but not limited to, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet, and the like. The embodiments of the present invention are described with respect to the mobile phones as the mobile device, but not to limit the scope of the invention.

Figure 4 is schematic diagram 400 illustrating non-context contamination in dual SIM, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the Figure 4 of the present invention, user1 having a dual SIM phone 402, has first user group (personal) contacts stored in first SIM and second user group (work) contacts stored in second SIM. Consider that the user1 having the dual SIM phone 402 is unable to contact a user2 having the mobile phone 404 from work group with the second SIM and makes use of the first SIM meant only for the user’s personal contacts to call. In such a case, there will be no context contamination where the personal details of the user1 with the dual SIM phone 402 will not be compromised. According to the present invention, the user name and number are hidden from the user2 having the mobile phone 404 as represented in 406.

Figure 5 is a flow chart 500 illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile originating (MO) call, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 502, the user dials a number from first user group in the contact list. At step 504, the dual SIM phone checks if establishing of the call is possible with the first SIM. If yes, then at step 506, the dual SIM phone establishes the call with first SIM. If the call from first SIM is not possible, then at step 508, the dual SIM phone tries calling with the second SIM. If the call is possible with the second SIM, then at step 510, the dual SIM phone can invoke calling line identification restriction (CLIR) for second SIM as part of the call. At step 512, once the CLIR is invoked, the call with the second SIM can be established and also the second SIM calling line ID of the user is not displayed on the device of called party. If the call is not possible with the second SIM, then at step 514, the call fails.

Figure 6 is a flow chart 600 illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile terminating (MT) call, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 602, the user dials a number from second user group in the contact list using second SIM. At step 604, all the calls for the first SIM are forwarded to second SIM. At step 606, the user invokes connected line identification restriction (COLR) for second SIM. Further at step 608, the call with second SIM can be established. At step 610, a person from the first user group calls the user on first SIM while the user is already on a call with second SIM. At step 612, the user gets a waiting tone as the user is already on a call established with second SIM. At step 614, the user puts call established with second SIM on hold and receives the call from the calling party of first user group. At step 616, the second SIM identity of the user is not displayed on the device of the calling party from the first user group.

Figure 7 is schematic diagram 700 illustrating non-context contamination in dual SIM, according to another embodiment of the present invention. According to the Figure 7 of the present invention, user1 having a dual SIM phone 702, has first user group (personal) contacts stored in first SIM and second user group (work) contacts stored in second SIM. Consider that the user1 having the dual SIM phone 702 is unable to contact a user2 having the mobile phone 704 from work group with the second SIM and makes use of the first SIM meant only for the user’s personal contacts to call. In such a case, there will be no context contamination where the personal details of the user1 with the dual SIM phone 702 will not be compromised. According to the present invention, only the user name is displayed but the number is hidden from the user2 having the mobile phone 704 as represented in 706.

Figure 8 is a flow chart 800 illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile originating (MO) call with user to user signaling (UUS), according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 802, the user dials a number from first user group in the contact list. At step 804, it is checked whether the call is possible with the first SIM. If yes, then at step 806, the call with first SIM can be established. If the call from first SIM is not possible, then at step 808, calling with the second SIM can be tried. If the call is possible with the second SIM, then at step 810, username of the user can be assigned to user-user information element (MY-UUI). At step 812, calling line identification restriction (CLIR) for second SIM can be invoked as part of the call. At step 814, once the CLIR is invoked, MY-UUI can be assigned to the user-user information element in the setup message. At step 816, the call signaling can be completed using implicit activation of UUS1 and/or UUS2 service. At step 818, the call with second SIM can be established and also the second SIM calling line ID of the user is not displayed on the device of the called party, but instead only the username of the user is displayed on the device of the called party and/or the calling party name along with the MSISDN of the first SIM in UUS information is displayed on the device of the called party. If the call is not possible with the second SIM, then at step 820, the call fails.

Figure 9 is a flow chart 900 illustrating managing multiple subscription and identities in Multi-SIM devices in mobile terminating (MT) call with UUS, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 902, the user dials a number from second user group in the contact list using second SIM. At step 904, all the calls for the first SIM can be forwarded to second SIM. At step 906, the user can invoke connected line identification restriction (COLR) for second SIM. Further at step 908, the call with second SIM can be established. At step 910, a person from the first user group calls the user on first SIM while the user is already on a call with second SIM. At step 912, the user gets a waiting tone as the user is already on a call established with second SIM. At step 914, the user puts call established with second SIM on hold and receives the call from the calling party of first user group. At step 916, the UUS2 service can be invoked using the facility message. The username of the user is shared with the calling party using user information message. At step 918, the second SIM identity of the user is not displayed on the device of the calling party from the first user group but instead displays only the username of the user and/or displays the calling party name along with the MSDISDN of the first SIM in the UUS information.

The present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments; it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Furthermore, the various devices, modules, and the like described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry, for example, complementary metal oxide semiconductor based logic circuitry, firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software embodied in a machine readable medium. For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits, such as application specific integrated circuit.

Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.