Apparatus and method for automatic SIM card selection according to network environment in dual mode

1. A method for selecting a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card in a dual mode terminal, the method comprising:

switching, by a control unit, a master/slave setting when a SIM card setting change condition is met in a standby state; and

setting, by the control unit, a network of a switched SIM card as a master network,

wherein the meeting of the SIM card setting change condition is according to an accessed master network environment of the dual mode terminal,

wherein the SIM card setting change condition comprises at least one condition of conditions comprising a signal intensity, a signal quality, a service barred/reject state, a limited service or no-service state, a priority, and the dual mode terminal in a roaming state, and

wherein when a plurality of the conditions is evaluated, the conditions are evaluated sequentially.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the control unit, whether an automatic mode for network selection is selected, after the dual mode terminal is powered on; and

applying, by the control unit, a default setting for network selection when the automatic mode is selected.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card setting change condition is met when a signal quality of the accessed master network is equal to or less than a critical value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card setting change condition is met when the accessed master network is in the service barred/reject state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card setting change condition is met when the accessed master network is in the limited service state or the no-service state.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card setting change condition is met when the accessed master network has a lower priority than an accessed slave network.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card setting change condition is met when the accessed master network is a network to which the dual mode terminal is connected in the roaming state.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

operating, by the control unit, the dual mode terminal based on a current master/slave setting, if the SIM card setting change condition is not met.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card setting change condition is met when a signal intensity of the accessed master network is equal to or less than a critical value.

10. A method for selecting a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card in a dual mode terminal, the method comprising:

switching, by a control unit, a master/slave setting when a SIM card setting change condition is met in a standby state;

setting, by the control unit, a network of a switched SIM card as a master network;

performing, by the control unit, a network search by transmitting slave SIM card information to a master SIM card when a signal quality of the master network is equal to or less than a critical value;

switching, by the control unit, the master/slave setting when the network search is successful; and

setting, by the control unit, a network of a switched SIM card as the master network.

11. A dual mode terminal comprising:

a first modem for communicating with a master network;

a second modem for communicating with a slave network; and

a control unit for switching a master/slave setting when a SIM card setting change condition is met in a standby state, and for setting a network of a switched SIM card as a master network,

wherein the meeting of the SIM card setting change condition is according to an accessed master network environment of the dual mode terminal,

wherein the SIM card setting change condition comprises at least one condition of conditions comprising a signal intensity, a signal quality, a service barred/reject state, a limited service or no-service state, a priority, and the dual mode terminal in a roaming state, and

wherein when a plurality of the conditions is evaluated, the conditions are evaluated sequentially.

12. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , wherein the control unit determines whether an automatic mode for network selection is selected, after the dual mode terminal is powered on, and applies a default setting for network selection when the automatic mode is selected.

13. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , wherein, when a signal quality of an accessed master network is equal to or less than a critical value, the control unit determines that the SIM card setting change condition is met.

14. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , wherein, when the accessed master network is in the service barred/reject state, the control unit determines that the SIM card setting change condition is met.

15. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , wherein, when the accessed master network is in the limited service state or the no-service state, the control unit determines that the SIM card setting change condition is met.

16. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , wherein, when the accessed master network has a lower priority than an accessed slave network, the control unit determines that the SIM card setting change condition is met.

17. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , wherein, when the accessed master network is a network to which the dual mode terminal is connected in the roaming state, the control unit determines that the SIM card setting change condition is met.

18. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , further comprising operating the dual mode terminal based on a current master/slave setting, if the SIM card setting change condition is not met.

19. The dual mode terminal of claim 11 , wherein, when a signal intensity of an accessed master network is equal to or less than a critical value, the control unit determines that the SIM card setting change condition is met.

20. A dual mode terminal comprising:

a first modem for communicating with a master network;

a second modem for communicating with a slave network; and

a control unit for switching a master/slave setting when a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card setting change condition is met in a standby state, setting a network of a switched SIM card as a master network, performing a network search by transmitting slave SIM card information to a master SIM card when a signal quality of the master network is equal to or less than a critical value, switching the master/slave setting when the network search is successful, and settings a network of a switched SIM card as a master network.