Universal integrated circuit card detection

Abstract

A system and method for automatically determining a type of electrical interface used by a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (“UICC”) card. In one embodiment, a wireless device includes a UICC card port, and UICC detector. The UICC detector determines which of a plurality of electrical interfaces are provided by a UICC card coupled to the UICC card port. The UICC detector configures the UICC card port in accordance with a provided electrical interface of the UICC card.

1 . A wireless device, comprising:
 a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (“UICC”) card port; and   a UICC detector that determines which of a plurality of electrical interfaces are provided by a UICC card coupled to the UICC card port, initiates ISO 7816-3 detection if no USB interface is detected and configures the UICC card port in accordance with a provided electrical interface of the UICC card.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the UICC detector determines a preferred operating voltage of the UICC card and configures the UICC card port to provide the preferred voltage to the UICC card. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the UICC card port interfaces with both a UICC card with an International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 7816-3 interface and a UICC card with a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) interface of ISO 7816-12, and the UICC detector configures the UICC port in accordance with a detected interface. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the UICC detector comprises:
 a processor that executes a UICC detection software module; and   a UICC detection software module that determines the characteristics of the UICC card and configures the UICC port in accordance with the determined characteristics.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A wireless device, comprising:
 a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (“UICC”) card port; and   a UICC detector that determines which of a plurality of electrical interfaces are provided by a UICC card coupled to the UICC card port, configures the UICC card port in accordance with a provided electrical interface of the UICC card, and bases detection of a UICC card supporting a USB interface, at least in part, on detection of a voltage applied to a UICC port data contact by a USB RPU 1  pull-up resistor of the UICC card.   
     
     
         7 . A wireless device, comprising:
 a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (“UICC”) card port; and   a UICC detector that determines which of a plurality of electrical interfaces are provided by a UICC card coupled to the UICC card port, and configures the UICC card port in accordance with a provided electrical interface of the UICC card, wherein the UICC detector configures the UICC port for USB operation if the UICC card supports both a USB interface and an ISO 7816-3 interface.   
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 determining whether a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (“UICC”) card connected to a UICC port of a wireless device supports only an International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 7816-3 interface, only a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) interface of ISO 7816-12, or both a USB interface and an ISO 7816-3 interface; and   configuring the UICC port to operate with a highest data rate interface supported by the UICC card.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 providing a first power supply voltage to the UICC card;   determining that the UICC card prefers a second power supply voltage;   disabling the first power supply voltage; and   providing the second power supply voltage.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining whether a the UICC card supports a USB interface based, at least in part, on detection of a voltage applied to a UICC port data contact by a USB RPU 1  pull-up resistor of the UICC card. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising configuring the UICC port for USB operation if the UICC card provides both a USB interface and an ISO 7816-3 interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising initiating USB interface detection if an Answer to Reset signal is not detected. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising disabling the UICC card if neither an Answer To Reset signal, nor a data contact pulled up by voltage provided by the UICC card are detected. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising initiating ISO 7816-3 interface detection if a positive USB data line pulled up by RPU 1  is not detected. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The wireless device of  claim 6 , wherein the UICC detector determines a preferred operating voltage of the UICC card and configures the UICC card port to provide the preferred voltage to the UICC card. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless device of  claim 6 , wherein the UICC card port interfaces with both a UICC card with an International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 7816-3 interface and a UICC card with a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) interface of ISO 7816-12, and the UICC detector configures the UICC port in accordance with a detected interface. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless device of  claim 6 , wherein the UICC detector comprises:
 a processor that executes a UICC detection software module; and   a UICC detection software module that determines the characteristics of the UICC card and configures the UICC port in accordance with the determined characteristics.   
     
     
         23 . The wireless device of  claim 7 , wherein the UICC detector determines a preferred operating voltage of the UICC card and configures the UICC card port to provide the preferred voltage to the UICC card. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless device of  claim 7 , wherein the UICC card port interfaces with both a UICC card with an International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 7816-3 interface and a UICC card with a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) interface of ISO 7816-12, and the UICC detector configures the UICC port in accordance with a detected interface. 
     
     
         25 . The wireless device of  claim 7 , wherein the UICC detector comprises:
 a processor that executes a UICC detection software module; and   a UICC detection software module that determines the characteristics of the UICC card and configures the UICC port in accordance with the determined characteristics.