Method and apparatus for providing an interface between a UICC and a processor in an access terminal that supports asynchronous command processing by the UICC

A computer program product for providing an interface between a Universal Interface Circuit Card (UICC) and a processor, included in an access terminal, that supports asynchronous command processing by the UICC, comprising:

• a computer-readable medium comprising:
• code for causing a computer to:
• receive a first command from the processor, wherein the first command is a complex command with a first processing time;
• send an initial response to the first command to the processor, wherein the initial response includes a token associated with the first command;
• process the first command for the first processing time;
• receive at least one additional command from the processor, wherein each of the at least one additional command has a processing time shorter than the first processing time;
• complete processing of the first command;
• complete processing of a current one of the at least one additional command, wherein the current one of the at least one additional command is a command that is processing before, during, or after completion of the processing of the first command;
• and
• send a response to the current one of the at least one additional command to the processor, wherein the response includes the token.

An apparatus for providing an interface between a Universal Interface Circuit Card (UICC) and a processor, included in an access terminal, that supports asynchronous command processing by the UICC, comprising:

• means for receiving a first command from the processor, wherein the first command is a complex command with a first processing time;
• means for sending an initial response to the first command to the processor, wherein the initial response includes a token associated with the first command;
• means for processing the first command for the first processing time;
• means for receiving at least one additional command from the processor, wherein each of the at least one additional command has a processing time shorter than the first processing time;
• means for completing processing of the first command;
• means for completing processing of a current one of the at least one additional command, wherein the current one of the at least one additional command is a command that is processing before, during, or after completion of the processing of the first command;
• and
• means for sending a response to the current one of the at least one additional command to the processor, wherein the response includes the token.

An apparatus for providing an interface between a Universal Interface Circuit Card (UICC) and a processor, included in an access terminal, that supports asynchronous command processing by the UICC, comprising:

• at least one memory in communication with at least a communications component, a data store, a user interface, and a processor;
• and
• a UICC comprising:
• a command reception module configured to receive a first command from the processor via the communications component, wherein the first command is a complex command with a first processing time;
• an initial response module configured to send an initial response to the first command to the processor via the communications component, wherein the initial response includes a token associated with the first command;
• a command processing module configured to process the first command for the first processing time,
• wherein the command reception module is further configured to receive at least one additional command from the processor via the communications component and each of the at least one additional command has a processing time shorter than the first processing time,
• wherein the command processing module is further configured to:
• complete processing of the first command,
• complete processing of a current one of the at least one additional command, wherein the current one of the at least one additional command is a command that is processing before, during, or after completion of the processing of the first command, and
• send a response to the current one of the at least one additional command to the processor via the communications component, wherein the response includes the token.