SMART CARD MODULE SUPPORTING AUTHENTICATION AND SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO FUNCTION FOR A WIRELESS DEVICE

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a removable module for a wireless device, and particularly but not exclusively to a cellular wireless wide area networking modem module that provides the function of a phone and cellular data modem and which in addition integrates a 'smartcard chip ¹ to support the identification of a specific subscriber to a network such as a GSM or UMTS cellular network..

Background

A UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) is a smartcard with an embedded processor and storage which securely stores the cellular subscriber information and authentication information and which runs an application to identify the subscriber to the cellular network. The UICC supports a number of applications including a GSM 11.11 Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile Equipment (SIM-ME) application to allow connection to a 2G GSM cellular network and a 3GPP TS 31.102 Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USlM) application to allow connection to a 3G UMTS cellular network. In addition the UICC supports the GSM 11.14 SlM Application Toolkit for the Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile Equipment and is also capable of supporting the 3GPP TS 31.103 IP Multimedia Services Identification Module (ISIM) application to allow identification and authentication to the 3GPP Release 5 IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and to support the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The UICC card is specific to the GSM and UMTS 3GPP cellular networks, but other types of SIM card are also in use for other types of cellular network.

Details of such UICC cards and other SIM cards, and the relevant authentication and encryption procedures, will be familiar to a person skilled in the art.

Summary

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a module for use in a wireless electronic device and being removable therefrom, the module comprising: an antenna connector for connecting the antenna of the wireless termina! to the module and transferring radio frequency signals over a wireless interface; a first storage means storing user authentication information for use in authenticating a user of the wireless terminal to a wireless cellular network; a second storage means storing communications code for processing information to be transferred over said wireless interface; and a processor arranged to execute said communications code in order to process information for communicating between the wireless terminal and said cellular network via said antenna connector.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a smart card module for use in a wireless electronic device and being removable therefrom, the module comprising: an antenna connector for connecting the antenna of the wireless device to said module; a memory storing user authentication information for use in authenticating a user of the wireless terminal to a 3G cellular network; and a modem for communicating between the wireless device and the 3G cellular network.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module for use in a wireless electronic device and being removable therefrom, the module comprising: an antenna connector for connecting the antenna of the wireless device to said module; a memory storing user authentication information for use in authenticating a user of the wireless terminal to a UMTS cellular network; and a modem for communicating between the wireless device and the UMTS cellular network.

The present Invention thus combines, within a single self-contained module, the subscriber authentication functionality of a smart card module such as a UlCC card or other SiM card with a removable modem module such as a GSM, UMTS multimode cellular modem module, to allow this module to be made specific to a single cellular subscriber on a specific cellular network service.

The inventors have recognised that adding this module, referred to in embodiments as a 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module', to a wireless electronic device such as a mobile phone will allow a cellular modem connection in combination with a cellular voice service or cellular data service to be easily provided. For example, whilst a user may be familiar with the procedure for replacing a SlM card or similar module, they may be reluctant to upgrade their mobile electronic device or mobile phone to handle new or different radio access technologies.

The invention allows a user to update his phone or other wireless electronic device to handle new or different radio access technologies without having to replace it. At the same time, because radio function is incorporated into a module having the functionality as a UICC card or similar, then this can be achieved by a mechanism which is already familiar to the user. Preferably no separate UICC card or other SIM card is required.

Said communications code may include code for performing both voice and data transfer functions. Said communications code may comprise code for supporting multiple radio access standards. Said multiple radio access standards comprise at least one 2G standard and at least one 3G standard. Said communications code may comprise code for performing signal processing. Said communications code may comprise code for performing at least one of: equalisation, channel estimation, channel encoding, channel decoding, modulating, demodulating, voice codec, a RAKE receiver algorithm, a MIMO algorithm, cell measurement, and power control.

The module may comprise a thermal connector for dissipating heat generated by said processor. Said thermal connector may also be ground terminal. The module may comprise a plurality of signal connectors for transferring data between the module and the wireless terminal. The module may comprise a power connector for receiving power from the wireless terminal.

The module may be adapted for insertion behind a battery in a battery compartment of the wireless terminal. The module may be adapted for use in one of: a laptop computer, mobile internet device, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal music player, a digital camera, a games machine, and a video player. The module may have the dimensions 30mm x 25mm x 2mm.

The module in addition to providing the cellular voice and data modem function may perform the function of a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), and may support the applications of: GSM 11.11 Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile Equipment (SIM-ME) application to allow connection to a 2G GSM cellular network; may support the 3GPP TS 31.102 Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) application to allow connection to a 3G UMTS cellular network; may support the GSM 11.14 SIM Application Toolkit for the Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile Equipment; may support the 3GPP TS 31.103 IP Multimedia Services Identification Module (ISIM) application to allow identification and authentication to the 3GPP Release 5 IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and to support the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); and may in addition support other identification and authentication services as defined in the future by the 3GPP cellular standard.

The first storage means may store authentication code for performing an authentication algorithm using said user authentication information, and the processor may be arranged to execute said authentication code in order to authenticate said user to a cellular network. The first storage means may store

encryption code for performing an encryption algorithm using said user authentication information, and the processor may be arranged to execute said encryption code.

The first and second storage means may be comprised within the same memory unit. The first and second storage means may be comprised in different memory units.

The processor may be programmed as a soft baseband modem, and the module further comprises mixing circuitry configured to mix between radio frequency and baseband. The module may further comprise at least one of: filter circuitry, amplifier circuitry configured to ampiify said radio frequency signals, analogue-to- digital converter circuitry, and digital-to-analogue converter circuitry.

The wireless device may comprise a user interface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product for operating a removable module in a wireless electronic device, the program comprising code which when executed by a processor performs the steps of: retrieving user authentication information from a memory of the module and performing a user authentication procedure using said user authentication information to authenticate the user to a cellular network; and processing information to be transferred over a wireless interface, via an antenna connector of said module which connects with an antenna of the wireless device, in order to communicate between the wireless terminal and said cellular network via said antenna connector.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' being inserted into a mobile phone or other mobile consumer device,

Figure 2 illustrates a 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' being inserted into a laptop computer,

Figure 3 illustrates a mechanism for clicking a 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' into a user terminal, Figure 4 illustrates a mechanism for slotting a 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' into a user terminal,

Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary set of connectors on a 'Universal Subscriber

Identity cellular Modem Module ¹ ,

Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary architecture of a 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module',

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates how a 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 is typically inserted into a mobile phone or other mobile consumer device 2. The battery cover 6 is removed from the main body 4 of the device 2, revealing the battery 8. Behind the battery 8 is a slot or recess which carries the module 10. When the battery 8 and cover 6 are replaced, the module 10 is covered helping to protect it and keep it in place. As discussed in relation to Figures 3 and 4, an additional mechanism may be provided for holding the module 10 in place.

Figure 2 illustrates how the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 may be inserted into a laptop computer 12. Here the module 10 is fitted in a slot or recess behind the battery compartment 14. When the battery and battery cover (not shown) are replaced, the module 10 is covered helping to protect it

and keep it in place. Again, as discussed in relation to Figures 3 and 4, an additional mechanism may be provided for holding the module 10 in place.

In fact, the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' can preferably be fitted into any one of a laptop computer, mobile internet device, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal music player, a digital camera, a games machine, and a video player, or practically any other user device having a suitable host connector and being equipped with a suitable wireless antenna. This advantageously allows any consumer device to be used like a mobile phone, including data and voice capabilities. The 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 is a user-installable module which preferably provides a complete cellular modem and phone function including the identification ad authentication for the provisioning of a specific cellular service to the user into any mobile device having an appropriate host connector and an appropriate wireless antenna.

Figure 3 shows a mechanism for "clicking" the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 into a host device. Here, one edge of the module 10 clips under a ledge 18 on a surface 17 of the host device, helping to keep the electrical contacts 15 of the module 10 pressed against electrical contacts 16 on the surface 17.

Figure 4 shows a mechanism for slotting the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 into a host device. Here, the module 10 slides beneath a guiding portion 20 of the host device, which again keeps the contacts 15 of the module pressed against the contacts 16 on the surface 17 of the module 10.

Figure 5 illustrates an example set of electrical contacts 15 for connecting between the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 and the mobile device or phone (i.e. host device) into which the module is insertable.

These include a row of contacts 15a which comprise both power contacts arranged to provide a power supply from the wireless terminal to the module 10, and data connectors arranged to transfer data between the module 10 and the wireless terminal. This data could comprise, for example, user input to initiate or control a call or session, audio or voice to or from the wireless terminal, or data to be uploaded or downloaded to or from the network.

The contacts also include ground connectors 15b. Preferably, these ground connectors 15b also act as thermal connectors which connect to a heat sink of the wireless device to dissipate heat away from the module's processor. As the processing power of such 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 increases, these thermal connectors will become increasingly advantageous.

Further, the connectors include antenna connectors 15c arranged to connect between the appropriate wireless antenna provided in the mobile device or phone and the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 in order to allow the module's processor to perform software radio functions as described below.

Note of course that the particular arrangement shown in Figure 5 is only by way of example, and the layout and number of these contacts is a matter of design choice.

Figure 6 illustrates schematically an example architecture according to the invention. The 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module ¹ 10 comprises a processor side 28 having a programmable processor 34 and associated memory 32, and a hardware or "system on chip" (SOC) side 30 which has dedicated hardware blocks for performing certain basic radio functions. One chip that could be used for this is lcera's Livanto® ICE8020.

The processor 34 is arranged to execute code from the memory 32 to perform the required authentication and encryption procedures for authenticating the user in the relevant celluiar network. As well as performing the conventional SIM/UICC authentication and encryption, the processor 34 is also configured as a software modem, or "soft modem". The principle behind software modem is to perform a significant portion of the signal processing required for the wireless communications in a general purpose, programmable, reconfigurable processor such as processor 34, rather than in dedicated hardware. The principles of a software modem are known to a person skilled in the art, and the skilled person will be familiar with suitable techniques which, given the disclosure of the present application, can be employed to put the invention into effect.

Preferably, the software modem is a soft baseband modem. That is, on the receive side, all the radio functionality from receiving RF signals from the antenna contacts 15c up to and including mixing down to baseband is implemented in the system-on-chip side 30. Similarly, on the transmit side, ail the functionality from mixing up from baseband to outputting RF signals to the RF contacts 15c is implemented on the SOC side 30. But ail functionality in the baseband domain is implemented in software stored on the memory 32 and executed by the processor 34.

For example, shown here for illustrative purposes, the SOC side 30 comprises a receiving front end 38 comprising a low noise amplifier (LNA) 48, a mixer 50 for mixing received RF signals to base band, a surface acoustic wave filter (SAW) 52, and an analogue to digital converter (ADC) 54; and a transmitting front-end 36 comprising a power amplifier (PA) 44, a mixer 42 for mixing baseband signals to RF signals, a SAW 44, and a digital to analogue converter (DAC) 46. Again, details of the required hardware for performing such basic radio functions will be known to a person skilled in the art.

The software modem may then handle functions such as:

- Modulation and demodulation

- Channel and error encoding and decoding

- Equalisation and channel estimation

- RAKE receiver algorithms - MIMO algorithms

- Voice codecs

- Cell measurements

- Power control

One advantage of a software modem system is that it can be programmed and potentially reprogrammed to handle different protocols and different radio access technologies. Conventionally, different radio access technologies would require different dedicated hardware to be included on a phone or other wireless terminal, and a terminal adapted to handle multiple radio access technologies would have to include different sets of dedicated hardware. This problem is solved by software modem techniques, in which the differences in communicating according to different radio access technologies are handled in software.

Accordingly, the processor 34 may be programmed to handle multiple radio access technologies, for example both 2G and 3G standards. These could include one or more of GSM ₁ UMTS, EDGE, DigRF, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), and HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access).

Alternatively or additionally, the use of software modem techniques on a processor 34 of the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module ¹ 10 may allow a manufacturer, distributor or vendor to buy a batch of modules 10 then program them according to different radio standards and technologies for different customers or purposes. A module 10 could also be updated by reprogramming it to handle new or different radio access technologies.

Further, the increased use of software and reduced reliance on hardware allows the size of the module to be reduced to a suitable size for use in a UICC-type application. In a preferred embodiment, the 'Universal Subscriber Identity cellular Modem Module' 10 has dimensions of 30mm by 25mm by about 2mm. However, other formats are also possible.

Note again that both the authentication and modem functionality of the module 10 are incorporated into the same, self-contained module, i.e. within a single, self- contained package without the need for a separate LJICC, SlM card or other smartcard module.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiments are described only by way of example. Particularly, the above has been described in relation to a 'Universal Subscriber identity cellular Modem Module ¹ , but it will be appreciated that the principles of the invention can apply to other types of SIM card of smartcard module for authenticating subscribers in cellular networks according to standards other than UMTS. Further, although the authentication and modem functions have been described above as being performed by the same processor 34 and memory 32, these functions could in fact be performed using different processors and/or different memories incorporated onto the same module. The scope of the invention is not limited by the described embodiments, but only be the following claims.