Autonomous and resilient integrated circuit device

A universal integrated circuit card (UICC) for controlling radio communications via a radio communications network to and from a host device in which the UICC is installed in use, the UICC comprising:

• a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the UICC;
• a data store for storing data relating to the operation of the UICC, the data store comprising:
• a plurality of mobile operator network profiles including:
• an operational profile comprising radio communications network settings for connecting the host device to a first radio communications network;
• and
• a bootstrap profile comprising radio communications network settings for connecting the host device to a second radio communications network;
• and
• a program comprising a plurality of instructions for configuring operation of the UICC;
• wherein, in use, the microprocessor is configured by the program to:
• select the operational profile and the bootstrap profile from the plurality of mobile operator network profiles;
• use the operational profile to connect the host device to the first radio communications network;
• detect a loss of operational connectivity with the first radio communications network;
• and
• use the bootstrap profile to connect the host device to the second radio communications network to re-establish radio communications to and from the host device.

A method of operating a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) for controlling radio communications via a radio communications network to and from a host device in which the UICC is installed in use, the method comprising:

• providing access to data relating to the operation of the UICC stored in a data store of the UICC, the data including a plurality of mobile operator network profiles including:
• an operational profile comprising radio communications network settings for connecting the host device to a first radio communications network;
• and
• a bootstrap profile comprising radio communications network settings for connecting the host device to a second radio communications network;
• and
• controlling the operation of the UICC using a microprocessor of the UICC and a program comprising a plurality of instructions for configuring operation of the UICC;
• the controlling step comprising:
• selecting the operational profile and the bootstrap profile from the plurality of mobile operator network profiles;
• connecting the host device to the first radio communications network using the operational profile,
• detecting a loss of operational connectivity with the first radio communications network;
• and
• connecting the host device to the second radio communications network using the bootstrap profile, to re-establish radio communications to and from the host device.