WO2013093560A1

WO2013093560A1 - Apparatus and method for selecting network card in a portable communications device

Info

Publication number: WO2013093560A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/055873
Authority: WO
Inventors: Minna Anneli HEKANAHO; Suvi Hanneli RÖNKÖNHARJU; Manuela ZAVATTARO; Matt Turnbull; Brody LARSON; Guilherme SCHNEIDER; Joseph Phillips; Ian SILVA
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2011-12-21
Filing date: 2011-12-21
Publication date: 2013-06-27
Also published as: CN104137584A

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: provide a network card selection shortcut on at least one of one or more home screens and/or one or more user application screens of a portable communications device, the network card selection shortcut allowing a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device.

Description

Apparatus and method for selecting network card in a portable communications device

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to the field of network cards, associated methods, computer programs and apparatus. Certain disclosed aspects/embodiments relate to portable communications devices, in particular, so-called hand-portable communications devices which may be hand-held in use (although they may be placed in a cradle in use). Such hand-portable communications devices include so-called Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), phones (e.g. mobile phones), smart devices/phones and tablet computers.

The portable communications devices/apparatus according to one or more disclosed aspects/embodiments may provide one or more audio/text/video communication functions (e.g. tele-communication, video-communication, and/or text transmission (Short Message Service (SMS)/ Multimedia Message Service (MMS)/emailing) functions), interactive/non-interactive viewing functions (e.g. web-browsing, navigation, TV/program viewing functions), music recording/playing functions (e.g. MP3 or other format and/or (FM/AM) radio broadcast recording/playing), downloading/sending of data functions, image capture function (e.g. using a (e.g. in-built) digital camera), and gaming functions.

Background

Electronic devices may be configured to communicate via a network. To interact with the network some electronic devices use network cards, such as SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards. These cards may be associated with different network services (e.g. data or calls) and/or network tariffs. Some electronic communication devices are configured to accommodate two or more such network cards. The listing or discussion of a prior-published document or any background in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document or background is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. One or more aspects/embodiments of the present disclosure may or may not address one or more of the background issues.

Summary In a first aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

provide a network card selection shortcut on at least one of one or more home screens and/or one or more user application screens of a portable communications device, the network card selection shortcut allowing a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device.

The network card may be configured to provide one or more network services via a network.

The home screen may be considered to be a first screen of information displayed when the electronic device is started. A home screen may comprise one or more icons corresponding to applications (email application, telephone application), files, folders, and/or functions (e.g. settings menus). That is, a home screen may be dedicated to providing the user with access to an array of icons corresponding to applications, files, folders and/or functions. A home screen may be configured to allow the user to open applications. A home screen may be considered to be a basic/primary screen displayed when no user applications are running (e.g. when the electronic device is in a fully active mode), or when any running applications are minimized. That is, a home screen may be visible (e.g. partially or fully visible) when an application or window is not filling up the entire screen.

An application screen may be a screen/window dedicated to provide a user interface with a particular application.

The network may be a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, a telephony network, and/or a wireless network.

The network may enable data transfer between communication devices. Network data may comprise one or more of phone call data, fax data, text message data, email data, MMS message data, SMS message data, Twitter post data, email attachment data, alarm data, pager alert data, pager message data, image data, text data, video data and audio data. Transmission and/or reception of network data may be by streaming methods (e.g. a phone call), by non-streaming methods, by batches, and/or by monolithic transfer (e.g. a short text message). A network card may be a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card. A network card may store identification data to enable the device to interact (e.g. transmit receive data) with a network. For example, the network card may store an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and a related key used to identify and authenticate subscriber on mobile telephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers). A network card may be removable from the portable communications device. A network card may be integrated with the portable communications device. A said network card may be removable from the portable communications device.

The network card may be associated with an identity. The identity may be, for example, a unique number or character string (e.g. telephone number, or email address), a unique identifier (UID), an Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), a Media Access Control address (MAC address), an IP address, an email address, a user name, a globally unique identifier (GUID) or a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID). The identity may be allocated by the network (e.g. by a network server) or chosen by a user and registered on the network (e.g. on a network server). A network card (e.g. SIM card) may comprise one or more of a unique serial number (ICCID), an internationally unique number of the mobile user (IMSI), security authentication and ciphering information, temporary information related to the local network, a list of the services the user has access to and one or more passwords.

The apparatus and/or network may support datagram transfer, Peer-to-peer (P2P) protocols, Reliable protocols, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Unicast protocols and/or Multicast protocols. The network may allow communication between two or more devices/apparatus. The network may comprise a wireless network. For example, the network may comprise one or more of a cellular network, a mobile phone network, a satellite network, a radio network, a Bluetooth network, a wireless local area network or an infrared network. The data network may comprise a wired network. For example, the network may comprise one or more of the internet, a wired local area network or a landline phone network. A wired network may, for example, be based on electrical wires or fibre optic cable. A network may be a combination of wired and wireless networks. The network may be governed by a network server. The network may be a telephony and/or non-telephony communications network.

Direct access to selection may mean that the user does not have to navigate away from (or come out of) the current screen (e.g. a home screen, an application screen) in order to be able to select a particular network card from the plurality of network cards. Direct access to selection may mean that does not have to navigate through an intermediate screen in order to be able to select a particular network card from the plurality of network cards.

Selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device may activate the selected network card. Selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device may deactivate the one or more non-selected network cards.

A network card may be configured to provide particular service characteristics. The service characteristics of the particular network may comprise data management, internet access, international calling capability, international messaging capability, local calling capability and local messaging capability. The service characteristics may be associated with a particular tariff. For example, the cost of calls may be more expensive when using one network card compared to when using another network card.

The network card selection shortcut may be configured to indicate which network card is currently activated.

The network card selection shortcut may be configured to indicate which network card/network cards are currently deactivated.

Selection of the network card selection shortcut may enable cycling through, or toggling between, the plurality of network cards. For example, in response to clicking on the network card selection shortcut, the next network card in a series may be selected, such that, by repeatedly clicking on the network card selection shortcut, all of the network cards will be cycled through. The apparatus may be configured to: in response to user input with the network card selection shortcut, provide a popup window, the pop-up window configured to enable the user to select a particular one of the plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device. The apparatus may be configured to:

in response to user input with the network card selection shortcut, provide a network card selection screen, the network card selection screen configured to enable the user to select a particular one of the plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device.

The network card selection shortcut may comprise a plurality of network card icons. The network card selection shortcut may enable a pop-up window to be activated, the pop-up window providing for selection of the particular network card. The apparatus may be configured to perform the network service using the selected network card. Selection of a network card may activate the selected network card such that the activated network card may perform one or more network services

The apparatus may be configured to:

in response to user input with the network card selection shortcut, allow the user to define settings of the network card.

The apparatus may be:

an electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a mobile phone, a Smartphone, a tablet computer, a monitor, a personal digital assistant, a digital camera, a watch, a server, the portable communications device, or a module/circuitry for one or more of the same.

In a second aspect, there is provided a method the method comprising:

providing a network card selection shortcut on at least one of one or more home screens and/or one or more user application screens of a portable communications device, the network card selection shortcut allowing a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device.

In a third aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising computer program code configured to: provide a network card selection shortcut on at least one of one or more home screens and/or one or more user application screens of a portable communications device, the network card selection shortcut allowing a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device.

The computer program may be stored on a storage media (e.g. on a CD, a DVD, a memory stick or other non-transitory medium). The computer program may form part of a computer program product. The computer program may be configured to run on a device or apparatus as an application. An application may be run by a device or apparatus via an operating system.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

means for providing configured to provide a network card selection shortcut on at least one of one or more home screens and/or one or more user application screens of a portable communications device, the network card selection shortcut allowing a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device. The present disclosure includes one or more corresponding aspects, embodiments or features in isolation or in various combinations whether or not specifically stated (including claimed) in that combination or in isolation. Corresponding means for performing one or more of the discussed functions are also within the present disclosure. Corresponding computer programs for implementing one or more of the methods disclosed are also within the present disclosure and encompassed by one or more of the described embodiments.

The above summary is intended to be merely exemplary and non-limiting.

Brief Description of the Figures

A description is now given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 depicts an embodiment comprising a number of electronic components, including memory and a processor. Figure 2 depicts an embodiment comprising a number of electronic components, including memory, a processor and a communication unit.

Figure 3a-3e depicts the example embodiment of figure 2 wherein a network card selection shortcut is provided for a number of application screens.

Figure 4a-4d depicts a further example embodiment wherein a network card selection shortcut is provided for a number of home screens.

Figure 5a-5d depicts a further example embodiment wherein a network card selection shortcut is provided for a home screen and an application screen.

Figure 6 depicts a flow diagram describing the method used to provide network card selection shortcut.

Figure 7 illustrates schematically a computer readable media providing a program according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Example Aspects/Embodiments

Other embodiments depicted in the figures have been provided with reference numerals that correspond to similar features of earlier described embodiments. For example, feature number 1 can also correspond to numbers 101 , 201 , 301 etc. These numbered features may appear in the figures but may not have been directly referred to within the description of these particular embodiments. These have still been provided in the figures to aid understanding of the further embodiments, particularly in relation to the features of similar earlier described embodiments.

It is common for electronic devices to enable communications using a network card, such as a SIM card. Some electronic devices are configured to accommodate a plurality of network cards. Generally, to select the desired network card, the user must interact with a dedicated settings interface screen.

Example embodiments contained herein may be considered to provide a way of allowing a user to directly access the selection of network cards from at least one of one or more home screens and/or user application screens.

Figure 1 shows an apparatus (101 ) comprising memory (107), a processor (108), input I and output O. In this embodiment only one processor and one memory are shown but it will be appreciated that other embodiments may utilise more than one processor and/or more than one memory (e.g. same or different processor/memory types). In this embodiment the apparatus (101 ) is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for a portable communications device with a touch sensitive display. In other embodiments the apparatus (101 ) can be a module for such a device, or may be the device itself, wherein the processor (108) is a general purpose CPU of the device and the memory (107) is general purpose memory comprised by the device.

The input I allows for receipt of signalling to the apparatus 101 from further components, such as components of a portable communications device or the like. The output O allows for onward provision of signalling from within the apparatus 101 to further components. In this embodiment the input I and output O are part of a connection bus that allows for connection of the apparatus 101 to further components.

The processor 108 is a general purpose processor dedicated to executing/processing information received via the input I in accordance with instructions stored in the form of computer program code on the memory 107. The output signalling generated by such operations from the processor 108 is provided onwards to further components via the output O.

The memory 107 (not necessarily a single memory unit) is a computer readable medium (solid state memory in this example, but may be other types of memory such as a hard drive, ROM, RAM, Flash or the like) that stores computer program code. This computer program code stores instructions that are executable by the processor 108, when the program code is run on the processor 108. The internal connections between the memory 107 and the processor 108 can be understood to, in one or more embodiments, provide an active coupling between the processor 108 and the memory 107 to allow the processor 108 to access the computer program code stored on the memory 107.

In this embodiment the input I, output O, processor 108 and memory 107 are all electrically connected to one another internally to allow for electrical communication between the respective components I, O, 108, 107. In this example the components are all located proximate to one another so as to be formed together as an ASIC, in other words, so as to be integrated together as a single chip/circuit that can be installed into an electronic device. In other embodiments one or more or all of the components may be located separately from one another.

Figure 2 depicts an apparatus (201 ) of a further example embodiment, such as a mobile phone. In other example embodiments, the apparatus (201 ) may comprise a module for a mobile phone (or PDA or audio/video player), and may just comprise a suitably configured memory (207) and processor (208).

The example embodiment of figure 2, in this case, comprises a display device (204) such as, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or touch-screen user interface. The apparatus (201 ) of figure 2 is configured such that it may receive, include, and/or otherwise access data. For example, this example embodiment (201 ) comprises a communications unit (203), such as a receiver, transmitter, and/or transceiver, in communication with an antenna (202) for connecting to a wireless network and/or a port (not shown) for accepting a physical connection to a network, such that data may be received via one or more types of networks. This example embodiment comprises a memory (207) that stores data, possibly after being received via an antenna (202) or port or after being generated at the user interface (205). The processor (208) may receive data from the user interface (205), from the memory (207), or from the communication unit (203). It will be appreciated that, in certain example embodiments, the display device (204) may incorporate the user interface (205). Regardless of the origin of the data, these data may be outputted to a user of apparatus (201 ) via the display device (204), and/or any other output devices provided with apparatus. The processor (208) may also store the data for later use in the memory (207). The memory (207) may store computer program code and/or applications which may be used to instruct/enable the processor (208) to perform functions (e.g. read data, write data, delete data, edit data, process data, connect to the network etc.).

Figure 3a depicts an example embodiment of the apparatus depicted in figure 2 comprising a portable electronic communications device (301 ), e.g. such as a mobile phone, with a user interface comprising a touch-screen user interface (305, 304), a memory (not shown), a processor (not shown) and an antenna (not shown) for transmitting and/or receiving data (e.g. emails, textual messages, phone calls, information corresponding to web pages).

Figures 3a-e illustrates a series of views of the example embodiment when the mobile phone device (301 ) is in use. The device (301 ), in this example, comprises two network cards: network card 1 and network card 2, both of which are removable SIM cards configured to enable the device to interact with a wireless telephony network. Network card 1 is configured to have a favourable tariff for data transfer, whilst network card 2 is configured to have a favourable tariff for instant messaging and telephone calls. Figure 3a depicts the device as the user is reviewing an email received from a work colleague. When an application, in this case an email application, is running, the display comprises three regions: a device icon region (321 ); a network card selection shortcut region (322); and an application region (323). In this case, the device icon region (321 ) comprises a home screen icon (321 a), enabling the user to return to the home screen; and four application icons (321 b-e) each corresponding to a running application. In this case, the running applications are an email application, a calendar application, a messaging application and a database application. The network card selection shortcut region (322) comprises a first network card icon (322a) corresponding to the data tariff network card 1 , and a second network card icon (322b) corresponding to the messaging/calls tariff network card 2. The network card selection shortcut region (322) is configured to allow a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards by interacting with the icons (e.g. using a finger or other stylus) available to the portable communications device.

In this example, the user is reviewing an email from a colleague, in which a colleague has sent some data and indicated that he wishes to continue the conversation by instant messaging. In this case, in order to receive the email data from the email server, the user has selected network card 1. Network card 1 is denoted as being active by the first network card icon (322a) having a black background and a white number. Network card 2 is denoted as being deactivated by the first network card icon (322b) having a white background, a dashed outline and a black number.

In this case, the user wishes to switch to the messaging application to continue the conversation initiated by the email. To do this the user selects the messaging application icon (321 d) from the device icon region (321 ). This opens the messaging application which changes the application region (323) to display information from the messaging application (shown in figure 3b). The messaging application region (323) comprises a list of messaging conversations. The network card selection shortcut region (322) remains visible and accessible to the user whilst the user can also interact with the messaging application.

The user selects the messaging conversation (331 ) associated with the sender of the reviewed email, in order to open it (shown in figure 3c). The user has received a message (332) from his colleague to which the user wishes to respond. The user is provided with a virtual keyboard (31 1 ) to enter a textual message (333) using the messaging application. Figure 3c depicts the situation when the user is entering text into the message for transmittal to his colleague. When the user has completed entering the text of the message, the user wishes to transmit it using a network card. However, he remembers that the currently active network card 1 does not provide a favourable tariff for messaging. To select network card 2, the user interacts with the network card selection shortcut region (321 ) with his finger (391 ) (in contact with or hovering over the touch screen). When the user is interacting with the network card selection shortcut region (321 ), the network card selection shortcut region (321 ) is enlarged to allow the user to easily and unambiguously select the desired network card. In this case, the user selects network card 2 by using a tap gesture with the corresponding icon (321 b). It will be appreciated that, for other example embodiments, other input gestures may be used to select the desired network card. This activates network card 2 and deactivates network card 1 . The user then sends the prepared message by pressing the send key (31 1 a) on the virtual keypad (31 1 ). When the user has sent the message, the virtual keypad is minimised to provide more space for reviewing the messaging conversation. The network card selection shortcut region (322) indicates that network card 2 is active and that network card 1 is deactivated. This is shown in figure 3e. It will be appreciated that, by having the network card selection shortcut available in multiple screens, the user may more readily select the desired card without having to navigate to a dedicated network card settings screen. In this case, the network card selection shortcut is configured to enable only selection of the desired network card, rather than allowing the user to change the settings of the network cards. It will be appreciated that, in other example embodiments, the network card selection shortcut may enable the user to adjust the settings/characteristics of the individual network cards (e.g. configuring a network card to be available for calls only). This could be initiated, for example, by a long press over the particular icon (322a, 322b) in question. It will be appreciated that other example embodiments may be configured to store associations between network services and one or more network cards/network card slots (e.g. when they are available and/or when they are not available to the communications device). For example, an example embodiment may comprise a first network card slot and a second network card slot. Initially, network card A may be housed in the first network card slot, and network card B may be housed in the second network card slot. The user may have assigned data calls to be provided by network card A and other communications to be provided via network card B. The apparatus may be configured to store the association between network card A and data calls network services, and between network card B and non-data-calls network service.

In response to network card A being removed from the first network card slot (thereby becoming not available to the communications device) and being replaced with a network card C, the apparatus/communications device may be configured to recognize that the network card is changed. In this case, for example, the apparatus/communications device may be configured to associate (e.g. automatically) the provision of data calls (the network service previously associated with network card A) with network card C. Alternatively, the apparatus/communications device may be configured not to automatically associate any network services with network card C (e.g. the apparatus/communications device may be configured to associate network services with network card C based on user input). In this example, if the network card A became available again (e.g. by being inserted into the first or second network card slot), the apparatus/communications device may be configured to identify and activate the stored association between the data calls network services and the network card A (i.e. in response to the network card becoming available). That is, when the user would request a data call network service, the apparatus/communications device would be configured to provide the requested network service using associated network card A. It will be appreciated that the apparatus/communications device may be configured to store associated network service for multiple network cards. Figure 4a depicts a further example embodiment (401 ) comprising a mobile phone or personal digital assistant. Figured 4a-d depict views of the portable electronic communications device when in use.

Figure 4a depicts the portable communications device when the device is first turned on. In this situation, the device is configured to display a first home screen of a plurality of home screens. The home screen depicts a network card selection shortcut icon (422) and an application icon region (425). The network card selection shortcut icon (422) in this case, is configured to display a network card icon (422a) corresponding to the selected active network card. Unlike the previous embodiment where all of the available network cards had a corresponding visible icon, in this case only a single selected icon network card icon is displayed. In this case, the device is configured to have three network cards: a first network card configured to enable data transfer, a second network card for personal calls and a third network card for work-related calls. The network card selection shortcut region icon (322a) allows a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device. For this example embodiment, the first home screen (figure 4a) is configured to comprise application icons (425a-f) corresponding to an email application, a movie application, a messaging application, a navigation application, a web-browser application and a peripheral device application.

In this example the user wishes to make a telephone call using a telephone application to a work colleague. To do this, the user navigates to a second home screen (figure 4b), the second home screen comprising a second set of application icons (425g-l) (including a telephone application icon (425i)). The user wishes to telephone a work colleague and so wishes to activate the third network card configured for work-related calls. The user therefore activates the third network card by selecting the network card selection shortcut icon (421 a) by pressing or hovering over the network card selection shortcut icon (421 a) with a stylus (which, in this case, is the user's finger (491 )). This enables (by continuous pressing/hovering or respective discrete pressing/hovering) the user to cycle through the available network cards. When the third network card is selected, the user stops interacting with the network card selection shortcut icon. Selecting the third network card activates the third network card to enable it to provide network services and deactivates the second network card. The user then selects the telephone application icon (425i) in order to open the telephone application (as shown in figure 4c). As depicted in figure 4c, network card selection shortcut icon (422a) is updated to show the number 3 to indicate that the third network card is now activated. It will be appreciated that the user could still use the network card selection shortcut icon (422a) as displayed in the application screen to select a different network card. The telephone application is configured to display a list of contacts (441 ) and a telephone application icon region (442). The icons (442a-d) of the telephone application icon region (442) comprise a initiate call icon (442a) which enables the user to initiate a call with the selected contact, a back icon (442b) configured to allow the user to return to the previous screen, a terminate call region (442c) configured to enable the user to terminate an ongoing call, and a numeric keypad icon (442d) configured to activate a virtual numeric keypad to allow the user to enter numbers not stored on the device. In this case the user wishes to telephone his work contact 'Seb' so selects the corresponding 'Seb' user interface element from the contact list (441 ) and selects the initiate call icon (442a). This initiates a call with the work contact 'Seb'. Whilst the call is ongoing (as depicted in figure 4d), the apparatus/portable communications device is configured to display details of the contact and details of the card which is being used to provide the call network service.

When the call is ongoing, the device is configured not to show the network card selection shortcut region as, in this case, the user is not able to switch between network cards whilst the communication is ongoing. It will be appreciated that for other example embodiments, the network card selection shortcut may be available in all home screens and/or application screens. It will be appreciated that for other example embodiments, the network card selection shortcut may be available in all home screens and/or application screens associated with the provision of use of the network by the portable communication device.

Figure 5a depicts a further example embodiment (501 ) comprising a tablet computer portable communications device. Figures 5a-d depict views of the portable electronic communications device when in use. In this case, the portable communications device comprises three SIM network cards. In this case, the user has configured, using a settings application, the device such that the first network card can provide for calls only, that the second network card can provide data transfer only, and that the third network card can provide for calls and data transfer.

When the device is first turned on the display is configured to display a home screen (as depicted in figure 5a). The home screen comprises a number of application icons (525), including icons corresponding to the settings application (525b) and a web browser application (525a), and status icons. The status icons, in this case, comprise a date/time status icon (551 ), a battery icon (552), a speaker icon (553), a wireless signal strength icon (554) and a network card selection shortcut icon (521 ). In this case, the network card selection shortcut icon (521 ) is configured to display the currently active network card. The network card selection shortcut icon is configured to allow a user of the portable communications device to directly access selection of a particular one of a plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device. In this example, the user wishes to browse the internet, and so selects the web browser icon (525a) corresponding to the web browser application. This opens the web browser application (depicted in figure 5b). The user then enters the URL into the address region (561 ) of the web browser application using the provided virtual QWERTY keyboard (51 1 ). As well as being available in the home screen, the network card selection shortcut icon is also available in the web browser application screen.

Before requesting the webpage associated with the entered URL, the user wishes to change the active SIM network card to one suitable for data transfer. The user selects the network card selection shortcut icon (521 ) which enables a network card pop-up window to be displayed (529). The network card pop-up window (figure 5c) comprises a list of the compatible SIM network cards which are configured to provide the requested network service, and a list of the non-compatible SIM network cards which are not configured to provide the requested network service. In this case, the first network card is a non-compatible network card as it is configured (by user-defined settings) not to be able to provide the requested data transfer because it is configured to provide for calls only. As the user has configured both the second and third network cards to provide for data transfer network services, both the second and third network cards are included in the compatible SIM card list. By providing a pop-up window, the network card selection shortcut provides direct access to network card selection as the user does not need to navigate away from (or come out of) the current application screen.

In this case, the services associated with each respective network card are listed in the pop-up window. It will be appreciated that for other example embodiments, the network card icons may be configured to indicate the network services provided by the card (e.g. an icon of a business suit for the network service of providing for business calls, or an icon comprising a map of France for the network service of providing network services on a French network). In this case the user wishes to use the second network card and so selects the second network card user interface element item (529b) from the list (using his finger in this case), as shown in figure 5c. Selecting the second network card activates the second network card such that it is enabled to provide network services, and deactivates the previously active first network card. The network card selection shortcut (521 ) is configured to indicate this change by replacing the numeral 1 (denoting that the first network card is active) with the numeral 2 (denoting that the second network card is active). With the network card activated, the device receives the website data from the internet and displays the corresponding website on the display as shown in figure 5d.

It will be appreciated that although the network card pop-up window in this example embodiment is configured not to allow the user to adjust the settings/configuration of the network cards, other example embodiments may be configured to allow the settings/configuration of the network cards to be changed/defined using the network card selection shortcut. Examples of network card settings/configuration may include that the network card is configured to allow or disallow one or more of: data transfer; internet access; international calling; international messaging; local calling; local messaging; network services to a subset of contacts (e.g. personal contacts, work contacts); and network services at particular times (e.g. evenings and weekends). For example a network card may be configured (e.g. by the user) such that it will provide for local calling at evenings and weekends, but not to provide for internet access or international calling.

In this case, direct access to user selection was provided via a pop-up. It will be appreciated that other example embodiments may be configured to, in response to user input with the network card selection shortcut, provide a network card selection screen, the network card selection screen configured to enable the user to select a particular one of the plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device. In this way the network card selection shortcut may provide direct access to network card selection as the user would not need to navigate through any intermediate screens to access network card selection.

Figure 6 shows a flow diagram illustrating the provision of a network card selection shortcut, and is self-explanatory. Figure 7 illustrates schematically a computer/processor readable media 700 providing a program according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the computer/processor readable media is a disc such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) or a compact disc (CD). In other embodiments, the computer readable media may be any media that has been programmed in such a way as to carry out an inventive function.

It will be appreciated to the skilled reader that any mentioned apparatus/device and/or other features of particular mentioned apparatus/device may be provided by apparatus arranged such that they become configured to carry out the desired operations only when enabled, e.g. switched on, or the like. In such cases, they may not necessarily have the appropriate software loaded into the active memory in the non-enabled (e.g. switched off state) and only load the appropriate software in the enabled (e.g. on state). The apparatus may comprise hardware circuitry and/or firmware. The apparatus may comprise software loaded onto memory. Such software/computer programs may be recorded on the same memory/processor/functional units and/or on one or more memories/processors/functional units. In some embodiments, a particular mentioned apparatus/device may be preprogrammed with the appropriate software to carry out desired operations, and wherein the appropriate software can be enabled for use by a user downloading a "key", for example, to unlock/enable the software and its associated functionality. Advantages associated with such embodiments can include a reduced requirement to download data when further functionality is required for a device, and this can be useful in examples where a device is perceived to have sufficient capacity to store such pre-programmed software for functionality that may not be enabled by a user.

It will be appreciated that the any mentioned apparatus/circuitry/elements/processor may have other functions in addition to the mentioned functions, and that these functions may be performed by the same apparatus/circuitry/elements/processor. One or more disclosed aspects may encompass the electronic distribution of associated computer programs and computer programs (which may be source/transport encoded) recorded on an appropriate carrier (e.g. memory, signal).

It will be appreciated that any "computer" described herein can comprise a collection of one or more individual processors/processing elements that may or may not be located on the same circuit board, or the same region/position of a circuit board or even the same device. In some embodiments one or more of any mentioned processors may be distributed over a plurality of devices. The same or different processor/processing elements may perform one or more functions described herein.

It will be appreciated that the term "signalling" may refer to one or more signals transmitted as a series of transmitted and/or received signals. The series of signals may comprise one, two, three, four or even more individual signal components or distinct signals to make up said signalling. Some or all of these individual signals may be transmitted/received simultaneously, in sequence, and/or such that they temporally overlap one another.

With reference to any discussion of any mentioned computer and/or processor and memory (e.g. including ROM, CD-ROM etc), these may comprise a computer processor, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or other hardware components that have been programmed in such a way to carry out the inventive function. The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole, in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that the disclosed aspects/embodiments may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. Furthermore, in the claims means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of network cards are configured to provide particular respective service characteristics.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network card selection shortcut is configured to indicate which network card is currently activated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network card selection shortcut is configured to indicate which network card is currently deactivated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein selection of the network card selection shortcut is configured to be used to enable cycling through available network cards upon selection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network card selection shortcut comprises a plurality of network card icons available for use by the portable communications device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the network service using the network card selected using the network card selection shortcut.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable communications device is configured to be able to comprise a plurality of network cards at the same time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each respective home screens and user applications screen is associated with providing for use of the network by the portable communications device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a said network card is a SIM card.

1 1 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network is one or more of:

a wireless network; a cellular network; a mobile phone network; a satellite network; a radio network; a Bluetooth network; a wireless local area network; an infrared network; a wired network; the internet; a wired local area network; a landline phone network; and a telephony network.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to:

in response to user input with the network card selection shortcut, allow the user to define settings or characteristics of the network card.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to:

in response to user input with the network card selection shortcut, provide a popup window, the pop-up window configured to enable the user to select a particular one of the plurality of network cards available to the portable communications device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to:

15. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the each of the plurality of network cards are configured to provide particular respective service characteristics such that each network card is configured to allow or disallow one or more of:

data transfer; internet access; international calling; international messaging; local calling; local messaging; network services to a subset of contacts; and network services at particular times.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is:

17. A method the method comprising:

18. A computer program comprising computer program code configured to: