Identity module device, method and computer program product
View Patent ↗Device ( 10 ) comprising a communication network operator subscriber identity module (SIM) card ( 12 ) or a software-based network operator SIM ( 12 ) or means for receiving a communication network operator subscriber identity module (SIM) card ( 12 ). The device ( 10 ) also comprises a device vendor-specific subscriber identity module (SIM) card ( 16 ) or a software-based device vendor-specific SIM ( 16 ) and a control unit ( 20 ) arranged to connect said network operator SIM card ( 12 ) and/or said device vendor-specific SIM card ( 16 ) or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM ( 16 ) to a communication network.
1. A device comprising a communication network operator subscriber identity module (SIM) card or a software-based network operator SIM, or means for receiving a communication network operator SIM card, wherein said device comprises a device vendor-specific SIM card or a software-based device vendor-specific SIM, and a control unit arranged to connect said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM or said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM to a communication network,
wherein said device comprises a control unit arranged to de-activate said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM or means for receiving said communication network operator SIM card, upon receiving a deactivate signal via said vendor-specific SIM card or a software-based device vendor-specific SIM.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is arranged to permanently de-activate said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM is an integral part of said device.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is arranged to allow said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM to function when said device is not in use, or when particular software or a particular application is de-activated or activated, or on demand/approval.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM is arranged to provide at least one service to a user of said device.
6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM is arranged to collect data concerning said device's software or hardware problems or usage from said device.
7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication device, telephone, media player, Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal, Personal Data Assistant (PDA), laptop computer, palmtop receiver, camera, television, radar or any appliance that includes a transducer designed to transmit or receive radio, television, microwave, telephone or radar signals.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said communication network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM and said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM are arranged to utilize the same radio circuit.
9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said communication network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM and said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM are arranged to utilize different radio circuits.
10. A method for ensuring that a device vendor is able to communicate with a device comprising a communication network operator subscriber identity module (SIM) card or a software-based network operator SIM or means for receiving a communication network operator SIM card, the method comprising:
providing said device with a non-deactivateable device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM and a control unit arranged to connect said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM or said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM to a communication network; and
providing the device with a control unit arranged to de-activate said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM or means for receiving said communication network operator SIM card, upon receiving a deactivate signal via said vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM.
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising providing said device with a control unit that is arranged to permanently de-activate said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM or a software-based device vendor-specific SIM.
12. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising providing said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM as an integral part of said device.
13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising providing said device with a control unit that is arranged to allow said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM to function when said device is not in use, or when particular software or a particular application is de-activated or activated, or on demand/approval.
14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising providing, by the device vendor, at least one service to a user of said device.
15. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising collecting, by the device vendor, data concerning said device's software or hardware problems or usage from said device.
16. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising collecting, by the device vendor, feedback from a user of said device.
17. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said device comprises a communication device, telephone, media player, Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal, Personal Data Assistant (PDA), laptop computer, palmtop receiver, camera, television, radar or any appliance that includes a transducer designed to transmit or receive radio, television, microwave, telephone or radar signals.
18. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising utilizing the same radio circuit by said communication network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM and said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM.
19. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising utilizing different radio circuits by said communication network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM and said device vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM.
20. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device comprises the control unit arranged to de-activate said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM and the means for receiving said communication network operator SIM card, upon receiving the deactivate signal via said vendor-specific SIM card or the software-based device vendor-specific SIM.
21. The device according to claim 20 , further comprising:
the network operator SIM card or the software-based network operator SIM, and the device vendor-specific SIM card or the software-based device vendor-specific SIM; and
wherein the control unit is arranged to connect the network operator SIM card or the software-based network operator SIM and the device vendor-specific SIM card or the software-based device vendor-specific SIM to the communication network.
22. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising providing the device with the control unit arranged to de-activate said network operator SIM card or said software-based network operator SIM and the means for receiving said communication network operator SIM card, upon receiving the deactivate signal via said vendor-specific SIM card or said software-based device vendor-specific SIM.