Method and electronic device for installing user configuration files

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to a method and an electronic device for installing a user profile. The method includes obtaining network operator related information. The method also includes identifying whether to allow downloading of an embedded user identity module (eSIM) profile based on the network operator related information. The method also includes downloading the eSIM profile when downloading of the eSIM profile is allowed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments relate to a method for installing a user profile and an electronic device thereof. Background Art

[0002] A Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) is a smart card that is inserted into a mobile communication terminal for use. The UICC can store personal information about mobile communication users and enable secure mobile communications via user authentication and service security keys when accessing a mobile communication network.

[0003] By requesting a specific mobile communication operator when manufacturing the UICC card, the UICC is manufactured as a dedicated card for the specific mobile communication operator, and can be issued together with the authentication information of the operator (e.g., a pre-loaded universal user identity module (USIM) application and an international mobile user identity code (IMSI)) to access the network. The mobile communication operator receives the manufactured UICC card and provides the UICC card to the user. If necessary, the application in the UICC card can be managed (e.g., installed, modified or deleted) using over-the-air (OTA) technology, etc. The user can insert the UICC card into the mobile communication terminal to use the network and application services of the mobile communication operator. When replacing an existing terminal with a new terminal, the user can insert the UICC card into the new terminal to use the same authentication information, mobile phone number and personal contacts stored in the UICC card in the new terminal.

[0004] By embedding a security module that performs functions similar to those of the UICC in a mobile communication terminal when the mobile communication terminal is manufactured, the UICC can be replaced. Therefore, an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) structure, which is a non-detachable UICC, has been proposed.

[0005] The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with respect to the present disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0006] When an invalid SIM card is inserted into an electronic device into which a valid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is inserted, a network lock can restrict the use of the electronic device to prevent network-related functions. For example, when restrictions are imposed so that an electronic device released in a country can only recognize the SIM card of a network operator in that country or can only recognize the SIM card of a network operator specified in that country, a network lock may occur in the electronic device. When the invalid SIM card is a plastic SIM card, the network lock can be released by physically removing the invalid plastic card from the electronic device with the network lock. When the invalid SIM card is an embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) card, it is impossible to remove the invalid eSIM card from the electronic device with the network lock, which may block network-related functions.

[0007] Various embodiments provide a method for installing a user profile and an electronic device thereof.

[0008] According to various embodiments, an operating method of an electronic device may include: obtaining network operator related information; based on the network operator related information, identifying whether downloading of an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) configuration file is allowed; and downloading the eSIM configuration file when downloading of the eSIM configuration file is allowed.

[0009] According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include: a display; a communication unit; and a processor configured to be operably connected to the display and the communication unit. The processor may perform control to: obtain network operator related information; based on the network operator related information, identify whether to allow downloading of an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) profile; when downloading of the eSIM profile is allowed, download the eSIM profile.

[0010] A method and an electronic device thereof according to various embodiments may pre-identify whether a network lock occurs before downloading an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) profile, thereby preventing a network lock from occurring due to downloading the eSIM profile.

[0011] In addition, the method and the electronic device thereof according to various embodiments may obtain information about the network operator causing the network lock, thereby configuring a list of network operators allowed to download the eSIM profile.

[0012] Before proceeding to the following detailed description, it may be helpful to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and "comprising," and their derivatives, mean inclusion rather than limitation; the term "or" is inclusive, meaning and / or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," and their derivatives, may mean include, be included, interconnected with, contain, be contained within, connect to or be connected with, couple to or be coupled with, communicate with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be adjacent to, be bound to or be bound with, have, have the property of, and the like; and the term "controller" means any device, system, or portion thereof that controls at least one operation, such device being implemented in hardware, firmware, or software, or some combination of at least two of them. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely.

[0013] In addition, the various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed by a computer-readable program code and is contained in a computer-readable medium. The terms "application" and "program" refer to one or more computer programs, software components, instruction sets, processes, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or parts thereof suitable for implementation in appropriate computer-readable program codes. The phrase "computer-readable program code" includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase "computer-readable medium" includes any type of medium that can be accessed by a computer, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, a compact disk (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), or any other type of memory. "Non-transitory" computer-readable media do not include wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transmit temporary electrical signals or other signals. A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes a medium that can permanently store data, and a medium that can store data and then rewrite data, such as a rewritable optical disk or an erasable storage device.

[0014] Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:

[0016] Figure 1 A block diagram showing an electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments;

[0017] Figure 2 A system including an electronic device supporting embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) functionality according to various embodiments is shown;

[0018] Figure 3 A method for preventing a network lock from occurring in an electronic device before a user profile is installed according to various embodiments is shown;

[0019] Figure 4 A block diagram of an electronic device for installing a user profile according to various embodiments is shown;

[0020] Figure 5 A flowchart for installing a user configuration file of an electronic device according to various embodiments is shown;

[0021] Figure 6 A flowchart of an electronic device for installing a user profile based on metadata of the user profile received from a first server according to various embodiments is shown;

[0022] Fig. 7A A flowchart of an electronic device for updating an MNO list based on information about the MNO received from a second server according to various embodiments is shown;

[0023] Figure 7B shows a screen of an electronic device according to various embodiments, the screen of the electronic device including a list of MNOs for installing a user profile for the electronic device;

[0024] Fig. 8A A flowchart illustrating an electronic device for displaying a warning related to installing a user configuration file according to various embodiments; and

[0025] Figure 8B A screen of an electronic device including a warning message before the electronic device installs a user profile according to various embodiments is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following discussion in this patent document Figures 1 to 8B The various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure are merely exemplary and should not be interpreted in any way as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure can be implemented in any appropriately arranged system or device.

[0027] Hereinafter, various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1is a block diagram showing an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100 according to various embodiments. Figure 1 , the electronic device 101 in the network environment 100 may communicate with the electronic device 102 via the first network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or communicate with the electronic device 104 or the server 108 via the second network 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may communicate with the electronic device 104 via the server 108. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may include a processor 120, a memory 130, an input device 150, a sound output device 155, a display device 160, an audio module 170, a sensor module 176, an interface 177, a haptic module 179, a camera module 180, a power management module 188, a battery 189, a communication module 190, a user identification module (SIM) 196, or an antenna module 197. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., the display device 160 or the camera module 180) may be omitted from the electronic device 101, or one or more other components may be added to the electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as a single integrated circuit.For example, the sensor module 176 (eg, a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illumination sensor) may be implemented to be embedded in the display device 160 (eg, a display).

[0029] The processor 120 may run, for example, software (e.g., program 140) to control at least one other component (e.g., hardware component or software component) of the electronic device 101 connected to the processor 120, and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or calculation, the processor 120 may load a command or data received from another component (e.g., sensor module 176 or communication module 190) into the volatile memory 132, process the command or data stored in the volatile memory 132, and store the resultant data in the non-volatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may include a main processor 121 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)) and an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is independent of or combined with the main processor 121 in operation. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor 121, or adapted to be specifically used for a specified function. The auxiliary processor 123 may be implemented separately from the main processor 121 , or as part of the main processor 121 .

[0030] When the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., display device 160, sensor module 176, or communication module 190) among the components of the electronic device 101 (not the main processor 121), or when the main processor 121 is in an active state (e.g., running an application), the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., display device 160, sensor module 176, or communication module 190) among the components of the electronic device 101 together with the main processor 121. According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., camera module 180 or communication module 190) that is functionally related to the auxiliary processor 123.

[0031] The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176). The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program 140) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory 130 may include a volatile memory 132 or a nonvolatile memory 134.

[0032] The program 140 may be stored as software in the memory 130 , and may include, for example, an operating system (OS) 142 , middleware 144 , or applications 146 .

[0033] The input device 150 may receive commands or data from outside the electronic device 101 (e.g., a user) to be used by other components of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the processor 120). The input device 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus).

[0034] The sound output device 155 can output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output device 155 may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes such as playing multimedia or playing records, and the receiver can be used for incoming calls. Depending on the embodiment, the receiver can be implemented as a separate part from the speaker, or as a part of the speaker.

[0035] The display device 160 may visually provide information to the outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., a user). The display device 160 may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector, and a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the display, the holographic device, and the projector. According to an embodiment, the display device 160 may include a touch circuit adapted to detect a touch or a sensor circuit (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the strength of a force caused by a touch.

[0036] The audio module 170 may convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 may obtain sound via the input device 150, or output sound via the sound output device 155 or an earphone of an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly connected to the electronic device 101.

[0037] The sensor module 176 may detect an operating state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device 101 or an environmental state (e.g., a user's state) outside the electronic device 101, and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. Depending on the embodiment, the sensor module 176 may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illumination sensor.

[0038] The interface 177 may support one or more specific protocols to be used to connect the electronic device 101 directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the interface 177 may include, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface.

[0039] The connection end 178 may include a connector, wherein the electronic device 101 can be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102) via the connector. According to an embodiment, the connection end 178 may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0040] The haptic module 179 may convert the electrical signal into mechanical stimulation (eg, vibration or motion) or electrical stimulation that can be recognized by the user via his sense of touch or kinesthetic sense. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

[0041] The camera module 180 may capture still images or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, an image signal processor, or a flash.

[0042] The power management module 188 may manage power supply to the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the power management module 188 may be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0043] The battery 189 may power at least one component of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0044] The communication module 190 may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device 101 and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102, electronic device 104, or server 108), and perform communication via the established communication channel. The communication module 190 may include one or more communication processors capable of operating independently from the processor 120 (e.g., an application processor (AP)) and supporting direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module 190 may include a wireless communication module 192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module 194 (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth TM The wireless communication module 192 may communicate with an external electronic device via a wireless communication network (e.g., a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct connection, or an infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network 199 (e.g., a long-distance communication network such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or a wide area network (WAN))). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multiple components separated from each other (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module 192 may identify and authenticate the electronic device 101 in a communication network (such as a first network 198 or a second network 199) using user information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the user identification module 196.

[0045] The antenna module 197 may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., an external electronic device). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include an antenna including a radiating element formed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas. In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication scheme used in a communication network (such as the first network 198 or the second network 199) may be selected from the plurality of antennas by, for example, the communication module 190 (e.g., the wireless communication module 192). A signal or power may then be transmitted or received between the communication module 190 and the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiating element may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module 197.

[0046] At least some of the above components may be connected to each other via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, a general purpose input output (GPIO), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)) and communicatively transmit signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween.

[0047] According to an embodiment, a command or data may be sent or received between the electronic device 101 and the external electronic device 104 via the server 108 connected to the second network 199. Each of the electronic device 102 and the electronic device 104 may be a device of the same type as the electronic device 101, or a device of a different type from the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, all or some operations to be executed in the electronic device 101 may be executed in one or more of the external electronic device 102, the external electronic device 104, or the server 108. For example, if the electronic device 101 should automatically execute a function or service or should execute a function or service in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101 may request the one or more external electronic devices to execute at least part of the function or service instead of executing the function or service, or the electronic device 101 may request the one or more external electronic devices to execute at least part of the function or service in addition to executing the function or service. The one or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute the requested at least part of the function or service, or execute another function or another service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may provide the result as at least a partial reply to the request with or without further processing the result. To this end, for example, cloud computing technology, distributed computing technology, or client-server computing technology may be used.

[0048] Figure 2 A system including an electronic device supporting embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) functionality according to various embodiments is shown.

[0049] The eSIM may be embedded in the electronic device 210, and the electronic device 210 may access an external server to download a configuration file of the eSIM through a software package. To remove the eSIM, the software corresponding to the eSIM may be deleted from the electronic device 210. The eSIM is a logical concept and may physically exist within an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) 212.

[0050] Reference Figure 2 , the electronic device 210 (eg, Figure 1The electronic device 102 may include a local profile assistant (LPAd) 211 and an eUICC 212 in the device. The LPAd 211 may be a software module installed in the electronic device 210. The LPAd 211 may help install a profile of an eSIM downloaded from an external server (e.g., a subscription manager for data preparation (SM-DP) 230) in the eUICC. For example, the LPAd 211 may retrieve an external server, may download a profile of an eSIM, and may forward the profile to the eUICC. The LPAd 211 may deactivate or remove a previously installed eSIM profile. The LPAd 211 may include: a local discovery service (LDSd) when a local profile assistant (LPA) is in the device, which manages a connection between a subscription manager discovery server (SM-DS) 240 and the LPAd 211; a local profile download (LPDd) when the LPA is in the device, which manages the download of an eSIM profile; and a local user interface (LUId) when the LPA is in the device, which manages the user interface (UI) of the LPAd 211. The eUICC 212 may be a physical card in which an eSIM profile is installed.

[0051] The operator 220 may be an operator that provides wireless network services for the electronic device 210. For example, when the electronic device 210 makes a network subscription request to join the network to the operator 220, the operator 220 may generate an eSIM profile based on personal information related to the electronic device 210, and may provide the generated eSIM profile to the SM-DP. The SM-DP 230 may be a server that stores the eSIM profile of the electronic device 210. For example, the electronic device 210 that supports the eSIM function may retrieve the SM-DP to connect to the SM-DP server, and may retrieve and download the eSIM profile of the electronic device 210 from the SM-DP. The SM-DS 240 may be a server that retrieves the SM-DP 230 requested by the electronic device 210. The electronic device 210 may be directly connected to the SM-DP 230 without passing through the SM-DS 240. The certificate issuer (CI) 250 may issue a certificate for eSIM provisioning. The eUICC manufacturer (EUM) may be an entity that manufactures the eUICC.

[0052] The specific process for downloading the eSIM profile of the electronic device 210 is as follows. The electronic device 210 may make a subscription request through the operator 220. The operator 220 may generate an eSIM profile corresponding to the subscription request of the electronic device 210, and may send the generated eSIM profile to the SM-DP 230. The electronic device 210 may access the SM-DS 240 through the LPAd 211, and may receive the address of the SM-DP 230. The electronic device 210 may access the address of the SM-DP 230 received through the LPAd 211. The SM-DP 230 may perform a predefined authentication process, may split the stored eSIM profile of the electronic device 210, and may send the split eSIM profile to the LPAd 211 of the electronic device 210. The LPAd 211 may send the eSIM profile data of the received eSIM profile to the eUICC 212 based on a standard protocol. The sent eSIM profile data may be installed as one eSIM profile based on the internal mechanism of the eUICC 212. LPAd 211 may activate the installed eSIM profile, which may be similar to inserting a plastic SIM card.

[0053] Figure 3 A method for preventing a network lock from occurring in an electronic device 101 before a user profile is installed according to various embodiments is shown. Figure 3, the electronic device 101 may include a plastic SIM card 310 and an eUICC 320 that has not downloaded an eSIM profile. The electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile through the network of the plastic SIM card 310. After downloading the eSIM profile, the electronic device 101 may activate the eSIM profile in the eUICC 320, and may determine whether a network lock occurs through a lock validity check process. For example, a network lock may be used to set a restriction so that the electronic device 101 may only use a network through a SIM card with a mobile country code (MCC) and / or a mobile network code (MNC) of a specific operator. With the network lock setting, when a SIM card with a different MCC and / or MNC that is not allowed is inserted, network-related functions of the electronic device 101 may be blocked. The MCC is a three-digit country identification code stored in the SIM profile, and since each country has one MCC, it can be used to specify a country. The MNC is a network operator identification code, and an operator may have one or more MNCs in a single country. For example, a combination of an MNC and an MCC may specify an operator. Since a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) may rent and use circuit networks of different operators, it may not be possible to distinguish operators through MCC and MNC, so the group identifier (GID) may be further used as a reference. The integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) is a 19-bit serial number stored in the SIM profile, and a SIM profile may have a unique ICCID value.

[0054] After the electronic device 101 activates the downloaded eSIM profile, when network locking occurs in the electronic device 101 , network-related functions may be blocked and the electronic device 101 may be in a state where general phone calls or data communications are not supported.

[0055] According to various embodiments, in order to prevent network lock from occurring in the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 may check whether network lock has occurred before downloading the eSIM profile. According to one embodiment, the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile from an external server (e.g., Figure 1 Server 108 or Figure 2 The electronic device 101 may extract identification information such as MCC, MNC, GID1, or GID2 based on the received network operator related information. The electronic device 101 may check whether to allow downloading of the eSIM profile based on the extracted identification information, thereby preventing network locking in advance.

[0056] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device 101 for installing a user profile according to various embodiments. Figure 4 , the electronic device 101 may include a processor 410 (eg, Figure 1 processor 120), eUICC 420 (e.g., Figure 1 SIM 196), memory 430 (e.g., Figure 1 Memory 130), display 440 (e.g., Figure 1 display device 160); and / or a communication unit 450 (e.g., Figure 1 Communication module 190).

[0057] The processor 410 may control the overall operation of the electronic device 101. For example, the processor 410 may control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) connected to the processor 410, and may perform various types of data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or operation, the processor 410 may load a command or data received from another component into the memory 430, may process the command or data stored in the memory 430, and may store the resulting data in the memory 430. According to one embodiment, the processor 410 may perform control to transmit data to the processor 410 via a network (e.g., Figure 1 from the first server 460 (e.g., Figure 2 SM-DP 230) or a second server 470 (e.g., Figure 1 The processor 410 may control the electronic device 101 to download the eSIM profile based on the network operator related information. When the eSIM profile is allowed to be downloaded, the processor 410 may control the electronic device 101 to download the eSIM profile. When the eSIM profile is not allowed to be downloaded, the processor 410 may control the electronic device 101 to stop downloading the eSIM profile or display a warning message on the display 440.

[0058] The processor 410 may include an eSIM controller 411 and / or a lock setting unit 412. These components of the processor 410 may be configured with hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0059] The eSIM controller 411 can collect the information through the second network 199 and transmit it to the first server 460 (for example, Figure 2 SM-DP 230) or a second server 470 (e.g., Figure 1The advance information related to the eSIM profile may be information related to the network operator of the network operator of the specified eSIM profile. According to one embodiment, the advance information related to the eSIM profile may be pre-stored in the memory 430 of the electronic device 101. For example, the network operator related information may be information that can be used to identify the network operator, and may include, for example, at least one of the eSIM profile metadata, MCC, MNC, GID1, GID2 and / or ICCID. The locking setting unit 412 may check whether a network lock occurs in the electronic device 101 based on the collected advance information related to the eSIM profile. For example, the locking setting unit 412 may compare the advance information related to the eSIM profile with the locking setting information related to the electronic device 101 stored in the memory 430, thereby determining whether a network lock occurs in the electronic device 101.

[0060] The eUICC 420 may be a physical card in which an eSIM profile requested by the electronic device 101 is installed. For example, the electronic device 101 may use user information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)) stored in the eUICC 420 to identify and authenticate a communication network (e.g., Figure 1 An electronic device 101 within a first network 198 or a second network 199).

[0061] The memory 430 may store various data used by at least one component (eg, the processor 410) of the electronic device 101. The data may include, for example, software, lock setting information related to the electronic device 101, and input data or output data about commands associated therewith.

[0062] The display 440 may visually and / or audibly provide information to the electronic device 101. For example, the display 440 may include at least one light emitting diode (LED), a speaker, or a control circuit for controlling the display, and may output sound through an audio output device or an external device (e.g., a speaker or headphones) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device 101.

[0063] The communication unit 450 may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device 101 and the first server 460 or the second server 470, and perform communication through the established communication channel. According to one embodiment, the communication unit 450 may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication module). In these communication modules, the corresponding communication module may communicate with an external electronic device via a first network (e.g., a short-range communication network including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct or an infrared data association (IrDA) network) or a network (e.g., a long-range communication network including a cellular network, the Internet or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into one component (e.g., a single chip), or may be configured as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). According to one embodiment, the communication unit 450 may include a framework for processing data in a standard manner so as to communicate with the first server 460 or the second server 470.

[0064] Figure 5 A flow chart 500 for installing a user profile of the electronic device 101 is shown according to various embodiments. Figure 5 The operation subject in the illustrated flowchart 500 may be understood as the electronic device 101 or a component of the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 410 ).

[0065] Reference Figure 5 In operation 501, the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 410) may obtain network operator related information. For example, the electronic device 101 may obtain network operator related information from the first server 460 (eg, Figure 2 SM-DP 230) or a second server 470 (e.g., Figure 1 The network operator related information may be information that can be used to identify the network operator, and may include, for example, at least one of eSIM profile metadata, MCC, MNC, GID1, GID2, and / or ICCID. According to various embodiments, the network operator related information may be pre-stored in a memory of the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 4According to various embodiments, the network operator related information may be pre-stored in the memory of the electronic device 101 as a code, and the electronic device 101 may use the pre-stored network operator related information without going through the network. For example, the electronic device 101 may import the network operator related information corresponding to the subscribed MNO from the memory, and may check whether to allow the download of the eSIM configuration file based on the network operator related information.

[0066] In operation 503, the electronic device 101 may check whether to allow the download of the eSIM profile based on the network operator related information. For example, the electronic device 101 may extract identification information based on the network operator related information. The identification information may be information for identifying the network operator, and may include, for example, at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2. The electronic device 101 may compare the extracted identification information with the locking setting information to check whether the download of the eSIM profile is allowed. The locking setting information may include information related to the network operator that can lock the network or information related to the network operator that allows the download of the eSIM profile. For example, the locking setting information may include at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2. According to one embodiment, when the locking setting information includes information related to the network operator that can lock the network, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator through the identification information, and when the specified network operator is included in the network operator that can lock the network in the locking setting information, the download of the eSIM profile may be stopped. According to one embodiment, when the locking setting information includes information related to network operators allowed to download eSIM, the electronic device 101 can specify the network operator through the identification information, and when the specified network operator is not included in the network operators allowed to download eSIM profiles in the locking setting information, the download of the eSIM profile can be stopped.

[0067] In operation 505, when downloading of the eSIM profile is allowed, the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile. According to one embodiment, when the locking setting information includes information about a network operator that can lock a network, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator through identification information, and when the specified network operator is not included in the network operators that can lock the network in the locking setting information, the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile. According to one embodiment, when the locking setting information includes information about a network operator that allows downloading of the eSIM profile, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator through identification information, and when the specified network operator is included in the network operators that allow downloading of the eSIM profile in the locking setting information, the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile.

[0068] Figure 6 A flowchart 600 of the electronic device 101 for installing a user profile based on metadata of the user profile received from a first server according to various embodiments is shown. Figure 6 The operation subject in the illustrated flowchart 600 may be understood as the electronic device 101 or a component of the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 410 ).

[0069] Reference Figure 6 In operation 601, the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 410) may receive a message from the first server 460 (eg, Figure 2 The SM-DP 230 of the electronic device 101 receives metadata about the eSIM profile. For example, before accessing the first server 460 and downloading the eSIM profile of the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 may request metadata about the eSIM profile from the first server 460. The first server 460 may send metadata about the eSIM profile to the electronic device 101 in response to the request for metadata about the eSIM profile from the electronic device 101. The metadata about the eSIM profile may include at least one of the ICCID, profile name, operator / service provider name, user profile nickname, icon, profile class, notification configuration information, and profile owner of the eSIM profile. The profile class may include any one of test, operation, or provisioning. The profile owner may include at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2.

[0070] In operation 603, the electronic device 101 may extract identification information from the received metadata about the eSIM profile. The identification information may be information for identifying a network operator, and may include, for example, at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2. The electronic device 101 may extract at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2 from the profile owner included in the received metadata about the eSIM profile. According to one embodiment, the electronic device 101 may extract at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2 from the ICCID included in the metadata about the eSIM profile.

[0071] In operation 605, the electronic device 101 may determine whether the network is locked based on the extracted identification information. For example, the electronic device 101 may compare the identification information with the locking setting information previously stored in the electronic device 101, thereby checking whether a network lock occurs in the electronic device 101. The locking setting information may include information about a network operator that can lock a network or information about a network operator that allows downloading of an eSIM profile. For example, the locking setting information may include at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2.

[0072] When it is determined that the network lock will not occur in the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile in operation 607. According to one embodiment, when the lock setting information includes information about the network operator that can lock the network, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator through the identification information, and when the specified network operator is not included in the network operators that can lock the network in the lock setting information, the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile. According to one embodiment, when the lock setting information includes information about the network operator that allows the download of the eSIM, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator through the identification information, and when the specified network operator is included in the network operators that allow the download of the eSIM profile in the lock setting information, the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile.

[0073] When it is determined that a network lock occurs in the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 may stop downloading the eSIM profile in operation 609. According to one embodiment, when the lock setting information includes information about a network operator that can lock a network, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator through identification information, and when the specified network operator is included in the network operator that can lock the network in the lock setting information, the electronic device 101 may stop downloading the eSIM profile. According to one embodiment, when the lock setting information includes information about a network operator that is allowed to download an eSIM profile, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator through identification information, and when the specified network operator is not included in the network operator that is allowed to download an eSIM profile in the lock setting information, the electronic device 101 may stop downloading the eSIM profile.

[0074] Fig. 7A A flowchart 700 of the electronic device 101 for updating the MNO list based on information about the MNO received from the second server according to various embodiments is shown. Figure 7B A screen of the electronic device 101 for installing a user profile according to various embodiments is shown. Fig. 7AThe operation subject in the illustrated flowchart 700 may be understood as the electronic device 101 or a component of the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 410 ).

[0075] Reference Fig. 7A In operation 701, the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 410) may receive a message from a second server (eg, Figure 4 470 in ) receives information about a mobile network operator (MNO). For example, when accessing a first server 460 (e.g., Figure 2 Before the electronic device 101 generates an eSIM profile (SM-DP230) and downloads the eSIM profile of the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 may request information about the MNO from the second server 470. The second server 470 may send information about the MNO to the electronic device 101 in response to the request for information about the MNO from the electronic device 101. The information about the MNO may include information about the network operator. For example, the information about the MNO may include at least one of ICCID, MCC, MNC, GID1 and / or GID2. According to various embodiments, before generating the eSIM profile, the electronic device 101 may request information about the MNO from the second server 470, and may receive information about the MNO from the second server 470.

[0076] In operation 703, the electronic device 101 may extract identification information from the received information about the MNO. The identification information may be information for identifying a network operator, and may include, for example, at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2. According to one embodiment, when the information about the MNO includes an ICCID, MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2 may be extracted from the ICCID.

[0077] In operation 705, the electronic device 101 may determine whether a network lock occurs in the electronic device 101 based on the extracted identification information. For example, the electronic device 101 may compare the identification information with the lock setting information previously stored in the electronic device 101, thereby checking whether a network lock occurs in the electronic device 101. The lock setting information may include information about a network operator that can lock a network or information about a network operator that allows downloading of an eSIM profile. For example, the lock setting information may include at least one of MCC, MNC, GID1, and / or GID2. According to various embodiments, the electronic device 101 may determine whether a network lock occurs in the electronic device 101 based on the received information about the MNO.

[0078] In operation 707, the electronic device 101 may update the MNO list. The MNO list may be a list of at least one network operator that locks the network or a list of at least one network operator that allows downloading of the eSIM profile. Figure 7B , the electronic device 101 may display a screen 710 including an updated MNO list on the display 440. The updated MNO list may include a plurality of MNOs 711, 712, and 713. According to one embodiment, when the updated MNO list is a list that allows downloading of eSIM profiles, upon detecting an input for one of the plurality of MNOs 711, 712, and 713, the electronic device 101 may make a network subscription request to a server of the MNO. According to one embodiment, when the updated MNO list is a list that allows downloading of eSIM profiles, upon detecting an input for one of the plurality of MNOs 711, 712, and 713, the electronic device 101 may make a request to the first server 460 to download the corresponding eSIM profile.

[0079] According to various embodiments, when the MNO list is a list of at least one network operator of the locked network and the lock setting information includes information about the network operator of the locked network, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and may add the specified network operator to the MNO list when the specified network operator is included in the lock setting information. The electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and may remove the specified network operator from the MNO list when the specified network operator is not included in the lock setting information.

[0080] According to various embodiments, when the MNO list is a list of at least one network operator of a locked network and the locking setting information includes information about network operators that allow downloading of eSIM profiles, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and when the specified network operator is included in the locking setting information, the specified network operator may be removed from the MNO list. The electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and may add the specified network operator to the MNO list when the specified network operator is not included in the locking setting information.

[0081] According to various embodiments, when the MNO list is a list of at least one network operator that allows downloading of an eSIM profile and the locking setting information includes information about the network operator of the locked network, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and when the specified network operator is included in the locking setting information, the specified network operator may be removed from the MNO list. The electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and may add the specified network operator to the MNO list when the specified network operator is not included in the locking setting information.

[0082] According to various embodiments, when the MNO list is a list of at least one network operator that allows downloading of an eSIM profile and the locking setting information includes information about the network operator that allows downloading of the eSIM profile, the electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and may add the specified network operator to the MNO list when the specified network operator is included in the locking setting information. The electronic device 101 may specify the network operator based on the identification information, and may remove the specified network operator from the MNO list when the specified network operator is not included in the locking setting information.

[0083] Fig. 8A A flow chart 800 is shown for the electronic device 101 to display a warning related to installing a user profile according to various embodiments. Figure 8B A screen of the electronic device 101 for installing a user profile according to various embodiments is shown. Fig. 8A The operation subject in the illustrated flowchart 800 may be understood as the electronic device 101 or a component of the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 410 ). Fig. 8A An example of an interface operation of the electronic device 101 for installing a user profile is shown.

[0084] Reference Fig. 8A In operation 801, the electronic device 101 (e.g., the processor 410) may detect an input to download an eSIM profile. For example, when a user inputs an input to download an eSIM profile to the electronic device 101, the electronic device 101 may detect the input to download the eSIM profile. When the input to download the eSIM profile is detected, the electronic device 101 may make a request to the first server 460 to download the eSIM profile. According to various embodiments, when subscribing to a network operator, the electronic device 101 may receive an input to download the eSIM profile from the server of the network operator.

[0085] In operation 803, the electronic device 101 may identify whether downloading of the eSIM profile is allowed. According to one embodiment, when making a request to download the eSIM profile to the first server 460, the electronic device 101 may receive metadata about the eSIM profile from the first server 460, and may identify whether downloading of the eSIM profile is allowed based on the received metadata.

[0086] When it is identified that downloading of the eSIM profile is allowed, in operation 805 , the electronic device 101 may download the eSIM profile.

[0087] When it is identified that downloading of the eSIM profile is not allowed, the electronic device 101 may display a warning message on the display 440 at operation 807. For example, referring to Figure 8B When it is recognized that downloading of the eSIM profile is not allowed, the electronic device 101 may display a screen 820 including a warning message 821 on the display 440. The warning message 821 may be a text message, for example, “If you download this eSIM, the network is unavailable. Do you want to continue downloading?”.

[0088] In operation 809, the electronic device 101 may identify whether downloading of the eSIM profile is approved. Figure 8B When the electronic device 101 detects the input of the user approving 822 downloading the eSIM, the electronic device 101 may proceed to operation 805 and may download the eSIM profile. When the electronic device 101 detects the input of the user not approving 823 downloading the eSIM profile, the electronic device 101 may terminate the process.

[0089] The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one of various types of electronic devices. The electronic device may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smart phone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a household appliance. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device is not limited to those electronic devices described above.

[0090] It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features set forth herein to specific embodiments, but include various changes, equivalent forms or alternative forms for corresponding embodiments. For the description of the accompanying drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It will be understood that the nouns in the singular form corresponding to the term may include one or more things unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of the phrases such as "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C" and "at least one of A, B or C" may include any one or all possible combinations of the items listed together with the corresponding one of the multiple phrases. As used herein, terms such as "1st" and "2nd" or "first" and "second" may be used to simply distinguish the corresponding component from another component, and do not limit the component in other aspects (e.g., importance or order). It will be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being “combined with another element (e.g., the second element)”, “combined to another element (e.g., the second element)”, “connected with another element (e.g., the second element)”, or “connected to another element (e.g., the second element)” when the terms “operably” or “communicatively” are used or when the terms “operably” or “communicatively” are not used, it means that the element may be directly (e.g., wired) connected to the other element, wirelessly connected to the other element, or connected to the other element via a third element.

[0091] As used herein, the term "module" may include units implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with other terms (e.g., "logic," "logic block," "portion," or "circuit"). A module may be a single integrated component adapted to perform one or more functions or the smallest unit or portion of the single integrated component. For example, depending on the implementation, a module may be implemented in the form of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0092] The various embodiments described herein may be implemented as software (e.g., program 140) including one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory 136 or external memory 138) that can be read by a machine (e.g., electronic device 101). For example, under the control of a processor, a processor (e.g., processor 120) of the machine (e.g., electronic device 101) may call at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium and execute the at least one instruction with or without the use of one or more other components. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one instruction called. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code that can be run by an interpreter. A machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Among them, the term "non-transitory" only means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not include signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), but the term does not distinguish between data being semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and data being temporarily stored in the storage medium.

[0093] According to the embodiment, the method according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be released in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be downloaded via an application store (e.g., PlayStore). TM ) The computer program product may be published (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online, or the computer program product may be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones). If published online, at least part of the computer program product may be temporarily generated, or at least part of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored in a machine-readable storage medium (such as a memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a forwarding server).

[0094] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., module or program) in the above-mentioned components may include a single entity or multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more components in the above-mentioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, multiple components (e.g., module or program) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, according to various embodiments, the integrated component may still perform the one or more functions of each component in the multiple components in the same or similar manner as a corresponding component in the multiple components before integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by a module, program or another component may be performed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly or in a heuristic manner, or one or more operations in the operations may be run or omitted in different orders, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0095] Although the present disclosure has been described in various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. The present disclosure is intended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising: Detecting input for downloading an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) configuration file; In response to detecting the input, issuing a request to download the eSIM profile to at least one server, and receiving network operator related information associated with the eSIM profile from the at least one server; Determining whether a network lock occurs on the electronic device by comparing the received network operator related information with the lock setting information stored in the memory; In response to determining that the electronic device is not network locked: downloading the eSIM profile from the at least one server, and activating the eSIM profile by receiving the eSIM profile; as well as In response to determining that a network lock occurs on the electronic device: The downloading of the eSIM configuration file is terminated.

2. The method according to claim 1, in, Receiving the network operator related information includes receiving the network operator related information from a first server, and Downloading the eSIM configuration file includes receiving the eSIM configuration file from a second server.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: In the case where it is determined that the electronic device is network locked, displaying a warning message on a display, and identifying whether to approve downloading of the eSIM configuration file; In the event that approval for downloading the eSIM profile is identified: Download the eSIM configuration file; In the event that it is identified that downloading of the eSIM profile is not approved: The downloading of the eSIM configuration file is terminated.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The network operator related information includes: at least one of metadata of the eSIM profile, a mobile country code MCC, a mobile network code MNC, a group identifier GID, or an integrated circuit card identifier ICCID.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The lock setting information includes: Network operator information that caused the network lock or allowed the installation of the eSIM profile.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: When downloading of the eSIM profile is not permitted, a warning message is displayed on the electronic device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Based on the received network operator related information, displaying on a display a list including at least one operator capable of installing the eSIM profile, and Based on a selection of an operator on the list, the eSIM profile of the selected operator is received from the at least one server.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Activating the eSIM profile includes: writing the eSIM profile received from the at least one server through a communication circuit in an embedded universal integrated circuit card eUICC, and The communication is achieved using a network associated with the eSIM profile written in the eUICC.

9. An electronic device comprising: monitor; Communication unit; as well as a processor configured to be operably connected to the display and the communication unit, Wherein, the processor is configured to: Detecting input for downloading an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) configuration file; In response to detecting the input, issuing a request to download the eSIM profile to at least one server, and receiving network operator related information associated with the eSIM profile from the at least one server; Determining whether a network lock occurs on the electronic device by comparing the received network operator related information with the lock setting information stored in the memory; In response to determining that the electronic device is not network locked: downloading the eSIM profile from the at least one server, and activating the eSIM profile by receiving the eSIM profile; and In response to determining that a network lock occurs on the electronic device: The downloading of the eSIM configuration file is terminated.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein: The processor is configured to: receiving the network operator related information from the first server, and The eSIM profile is received from a second server.

11. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein: The processor is configured to: In the case where it is determined that the electronic device is network locked, displaying a warning message on the display, and identifying whether to approve the download of the eSIM configuration file; In the event that approval for downloading the eSIM profile is identified: Download the eSIM configuration file; In the event that it is identified that downloading of the eSIM profile is not approved: The downloading of the eSIM configuration file is terminated.

12. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein: The network operator related information includes: at least one of metadata of the eSIM profile, a mobile country code MCC, a mobile network code MNC, a group identifier GID, or an integrated circuit card identifier ICCID.

13. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein: The lock setting information includes network operator information that causes network lock or allows installation of an eSIM profile.

14. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein: The processor is configured to display a warning message on the electronic device when downloading of the eSIM profile is not allowed.

15. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein: The processor is configured to: display, on the display, a list including at least one operator capable of installing the eSIM profile based on the received network operator related information; and Based on a selection of an operator on the list, the communication unit is controlled to receive the eSIM profile of the selected operator from the at least one server.

16. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein: The processor is configured to: write the eSIM profile received from the at least one server through a communication circuit in an embedded universal integrated circuit card eUICC, and The communication unit is controlled to implement communication using a network associated with the eSIM profile written in the eUICC.

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