# US 11,310,656 B2 · Methods and systems for configuring radio frequency module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,656 B2 - Document ID: US11310656B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/867,518 - Filed: 2020-05-05 - Published: 2020-08-20 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-22 - Assignees: Pismo Labs Technology Limiied - Applicants: Pismo Labs Technology Limited - Inventors: Ming Pui Chong; Man Kit Kwan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310656B2 ## CPC - H04W 8/183: {Processing at user equipment or user record carrier} - H04B 1/3816: Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices - H04L 41/082: the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality - H04L 41/0866: Checking the configuration - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04W 76/10: Connection setup - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The present invention discloses methods and systems for configuring at least one radio frequency (RF) module by a wireless communication apparatus. The wireless communication apparatus sends a first message to the at least one RF module, and the first message comprises a request for at least one international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of at least one subscriber identity module (SIM) card. A second message is then received from the RF module, and the second message comprises the at least one IMSI. The wireless communication apparatus determines which wireless network service provider(s) the at least one SIM card is associated with. The wireless communication apparatus identifies at least one configuration information. The wireless communication apparatus then sends a third message to the at least one RF module, and the third message comprises the at least one configuration information. The at least one RF module is then configured based on the at least one configuration information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for using a first plurality of subscriber identity module (SIM) card interfaces at a wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising: when a first SIM card is inserted into a first SIM card interface: i. retrieving an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the first SIM card; ii. identifying, based on the IMSI, configuration information; iii. sending the configuration information to a first radio frequency (RF) module; iv. configuring, based on the configuration information, the first RF module; and v. using the first RF module to connect to a base station; wherein: the wireless communication apparatus comprises a plurality of RF modules; the IMSI is retrieved after a request is sent by the wireless communication apparatus to the first RF module; and the first RF module communicates with the first SIM card interface to retrieve the IMSI from the first SIM card after the request is received by the first RF module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information is retrieved from a remote server or from the wireless communication apparatus after the configuration information is identified. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein when the configuration information is retrieved from the remote server, the configuration information is retrieved using a different RF module with a different SIM card. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the first RF module is connected to a first multiplexer; the first multiplexer is connected to the first plurality of SIM card interfaces; the first SIM card interface is one of the first plurality of SIM card interfaces; and the first multiplexer connects the first plurality of SIM card interfaces with the first RF module and selects the first SIM card interface from the first plurality of SIM card interfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: stopping to use a second SIM card after the first RF module is connected to the base station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the second SIM card is used with a second RF module and is inserted into a second SIM card interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein: the second RF module is connected to a second multiplexer; the second multiplexer is connected to a second plurality of SIM card interfaces; the second SIM card interface is one of the second plurality of SIM card interfaces; and the second multiplexer connects the second plurality of SIM cards with the second RF module and selects the second SIM card interface from the second plurality of SIM card interfaces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting the first SIM card after a first event trigger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: stopping to use the first SIM card after a second event trigger. ### Claim 10 A system for using a first plurality of subscriber identity module (SIM) card interfaces at a wireless communication apparatus, the system comprising: a plurality of first SIM card interfaces; a plurality of radio frequency (RF) modules; at least one processing unit; at least one main memory; at least one storage unit storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit: when a first SIM card is inserted into a first SIM card interface: i. retrieving an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the first SIM card; ii. identifying, based on the IMSI, configuration information; iii. sending the configuration information to configuring a first radio frequency (RF) module; iv. configuring, based on the configuration information, the first RF module; and v. using the first RF module to connect to a base station; wherein: the IMSI is retrieved after a request is sent by the wireless communication apparatus to the first RF module; and the first RF module communicates with the first SIM card interface to retrieve the IMSI from the first SIM card after the request is received by the first RF module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the configuration information is retrieved from a remote server or from the wireless communication apparatus after the configuration information is identified. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein when the configuration information is retrieved from the remote server, the configuration information is retrieved using a different RF module with a different SIM card. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein: the first RF module is connected to a first multiplexer; the first multiplexer is connected a first plurality of SIM card interfaces; the first SIM card interface is one of the first plurality of SIM card interfaces; and the first multiplexer connects the first plurality of SIM cards with the first RF module and selects the first SIM card interface from the first plurality of SIM card interfaces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one storage unit further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit: stopping to use a third SIM card after the first RF module is connected to the base station. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the second SIM card is used with a second RF module and is inserted into a second SIM card interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system according to claim 15, wherein: the second RF module is connected to a second multiplexer; the second multiplexer is connected to a second plurality of SIM card interfaces; the second SIM card interface is to one of the second plurality of SIM card interfaces; and the second multiplexer connects the second plurality of SIM card interfaces with the second RF module and selects the second SIM card interface from the second plurality of SIM card interfaces. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one storage unit further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit: selecting the first SIM card after a first event trigger. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one storage unit further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit: stopping to use the first SIM card after a second event trigger. ### Claim 19 A method for using a plurality of subscriber identity module (SIM) card interfaces at a wireless communication apparatus, comprising: (a) selecting a first SIM card and a second SIM card; (b) connecting to a first base station using a first RF module with the first SIM card; (c) connecting to a second base station using a second RF module with the second SIM card; and (d) when an event occurs: i. selecting a third SIM card; ii. retrieving an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the third SIM card; iii. identifying, based on the IMSI, configuration information; iv. sending the configuration information to one of the first RF module and the second RF module; v. configuring, based on the configuration information, the one of the first RF module and the second RF module; vi. using the one of the first RF module and the second RF module with the third SIM card to connect to the first base station, the second base station, or a different base station; wherein: the first SIM card is inserted into a first SIM card interface of the wireless communication apparatus; the second SIM card is inserted into a second SIM card interface of the wireless communication apparatus; the third SIM card is inserted into a third SIM card interface of the wireless communication apparatus; the IMSI is retrieved after a request is sent by the wireless communication apparatus to the first RF module; and the first RF module communicates with the first SIM card interface to retrieve the IMSI from the first SIM card after the request is received by the first RF module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein: the event is based on a group consisting of a geographic location event, a data usage event, a received signal quality event, a time event, a duration of usage event, a billing cycle event, and a SIM card insertion; the first SIM card interface, the second SIM card interface, and the third SIM card interface are in the plurality of SIM card interfaces; the first RF module and the second RF module are connected to a multiplexer; the multiplexer is connected to the plurality of SIM card interfaces; the multiplexer connects the first SIM card interface, the second SIM card interface, and the third SIM card interface with the first RF module and the second RF module; and the multiplexer selects the third SIM card interface to be used with the one of the first RF module and the second RF module after the event occurred.