Cellular service switching system for wireless devices

Abstract

Techniques for cellular service management for cellular wireless service subscription for a group of wireless devices are described, comprising autonomously switching one or more cellular wireless service subscriptions between different wireless devices of the set of mobile wireless devices based on a user-initiated trigger and / or when one or more cellular service switching criteria are met.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The described implementations set forth techniques for cellular service management for a set of wireless devices' cellular wireless service subscriptions, including switching one or more cellular wireless service subscriptions between different wireless devices in the set of mobile wireless devices based on a user-initiated trigger and / or autonomously when one or more cellular service handover criteria are met. BACKGROUND

[0002] Many wireless devices are configured to use a removable Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) that enables the wireless device to access services provided by a mobile network operator (MNO). Specifically, each UICC includes at least a microprocessor and a read-only memory (ROM), where the ROM is configured to store an MNO profile that the wireless device can use to register with and interact with the MNO to obtain wireless services via a cellular wireless network. A profile can also be referred to as a subscriber identity module (SIM). Typically, a UICC takes the form of a small removable card that is inserted into a UICC receptacle of the wireless device (often referred to as a SIM card). In recent implementations, a UICC is directly embedded into a system board of a wireless device as an embedded UICC (eUICC), which can provide advantages over a traditional removable UICC. An eUICC can include a rewritable memory that can facilitate installation, modification, and / or deletion of one or more electronic SIMs (eSIMs) on the eUICC, where an eSIM can provide new and / or different services for accessing extended features provided by an MNO. An eUICC can store several MNO profiles (also referred to herein as eSIMs) and can eliminate the need to include a UICC receptacle in a wireless device. Recently, an integrated SIM (iSIM) has been proposed as a type of SIM that is directly integrated into device hardware (e.g., a device processor and / or attached memory and / or a system on chip (SoC) component) without using a separate eUICC to store the iSIM.

[0003] Cellular capabilities continue to be added to a wide variety of wireless devices. In addition, wireless devices with cellular capabilities often include non-cellular wireless capabilities. A user can own and use multiple different wireless devices that are each capable of cellular wireless communication; however, the user can not wish to subscribe to a separate cellular wireless service subscription for each wireless device, but rather seeks to share or reuse a cellular wireless service subscription among the multiple wireless devices. A set of wireless devices can be associated with a common user account that is managed via a cloud-based network service. The user of the set of wireless devices can seek to switch one or more cellular wireless service subscriptions between different wireless devices in the set of wireless devices. SUMMARY

[0004] This application sets forth techniques for switching cellular wireless service subscriptions between different wireless devices in a group of associated wireless devices. Each wireless device can include a cellular wireless access credential, such as a subscriber identity module (SIM), an electronic SIM (eSIM), or an integrated SIM (iSIM), installed therein for accessing cellular wireless services of a cellular wireless network, where the cellular wireless access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) in the wireless device is associated with a common cellular wireless service subscription. Each wireless device in a group of mobile wireless devices can be associated with a common user account managed by a cloud-based service, such as an iCloud® account using an iCLOUD® app accessible to the wireless device network via a cloud-based network server ®An account. A software service, referred to as a cellular service switch (CSS) service, is provided on each wireless device in a set of wireless devices and can be used to switch a common cellular wireless service subscription between different wireless devices in the set of wireless devices. The number of wireless devices that can be active and configured to access the cellular wireless service associated with the cellular wireless service subscription at the same time can be limited, e.g., at a given time, at most one wireless device can have an active status to access the cellular wireless service of the cellular wireless service subscription. The cellular wireless service subscription can be switched from an originating wireless device to a destination wireless device in the set of wireless devices based on one or more criteria. In some cases, a user triggers the switching of the cellular wireless service subscription, e.g., via a selection at the originating wireless device or at the destination wireless device. In some cases, the cellular wireless service subscription is switched between different wireless devices autonomously based on a set of one or more criteria being met. The autonomous switching of the cellular wireless service subscription can provide automatic access that is customized according to a user’s preferences and / or habits. Cellular wireless service subscription information can be preloaded on a plurality of wireless devices to facilitate switching the cellular wireless service subscription between the plurality of wireless devices. There can be no limit to the number of times the cellular wireless service subscription is switched between different wireless devices in the set of wireless devices. In some cases, there can be substantially no limit to the number of wireless devices in the set of wireless devices between which the cellular wireless service subscription can be switched. A mobile network operator (MNO) home subscriber server (HSS) can maintain a list of wireless devices associated with the cellular wireless service subscription and a status indication for each wireless device as either i) active and allowed to access the cellular wireless service of the cellular wireless service subscription, or ii) inactive and not allowed to access the cellular wireless service of the cellular wireless service subscription. Wireless devices in the set of wireless devices can add and remove wireless devices from the list of wireless devices by communicating with the MNO HSS via a MNO authentication and authorization server that authenticates the wireless devices and determines the permissions of the wireless devices to manage the inclusion or exclusion of wireless devices in the set of wireless devices that have access to the common cellular wireless service subscription. In some embodiments, multiple cellular wireless service subscriptions are shared among multiple associated wireless devices.

[0005] Other aspects and advantages of the application will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments.

[0006] The summary of the application is provided for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, to provide an initial understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein, and to provide a basis for the further description herein. Accordingly, the summary should not be interpreted as being a limitation on the scope or the spirit of the subject matter described herein. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] The present disclosure will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the figures, and in which:

[0008] Figure 1 A block diagram illustrating different components of an example system configured to implement various techniques described herein, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0009] Figure 2 A block diagram illustrating an example system for managing handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions for a group of wireless devices, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown. Figure 1 A block diagram illustrating a more detailed view of example components of the system of

[0010] Figure 3A A block diagram illustrating an example system for managing handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions for a group of wireless devices, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0011] Figure 3B A block diagram illustrating an example of cellular wireless service access for a wireless device, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0012] Figure 3C A block diagram illustrating an example system for managing handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions for a group of wireless devices, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0013] Figure 3D An example group of associated wireless devices with cellular service handover (CSS) capability, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0014] Figure 4A A flow diagram illustrating an example of handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions between wireless devices with cellular de-registration, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0015] Figure 4B A flow diagram illustrating an example of handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions between wireless devices without cellular de-registration, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0016] Figure 5A A flow diagram illustrating an example of autonomous handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions between wireless devices with cellular de-registration, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown.

[0017] Figure 5B and Figure 5C A flowchart illustrating an example of autonomous handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions between wireless devices under critical conditions, according to some implementation schemes, is provided.

[0018] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for switching cellular wireless service subscriptions by a wireless device, according to some implementations, is provided.

[0019] Figure 7 A block diagram illustrating an example of preloading cellular wireless service subscription information into a wireless device according to some implementation schemes is shown.

[0020] Figure 8A A block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless device obtaining an initial network access token for a cellular wireless service subscription, according to some implementation schemes.

[0021] Figure 8B A block diagram illustrating an example of adding a wireless device to a cellular wireless service subscription according to some implementation schemes is shown.

[0022] Figure 8C A block diagram illustrating an example of removing a wireless device from a cellular wireless service subscription according to some implementation schemes is shown.

[0023] Figure 8D A block diagram illustrating an example of a cellular service handover between wireless devices triggered by an originating wireless device, according to some implementation schemes.

[0024] Figure 8E A block diagram illustrating an example of a cellular service handover between wireless devices triggered by a destination wireless device, according to some implementation schemes.

[0025] Figure 8F A block diagram illustrating an example of a destination wireless device requesting a cellular service handover via a cellular service connection, according to some implementation schemes.

[0026] Figure 9A A block diagram illustrating an example of obtaining an initial network access token for cellular service switching according to some implementation schemes is shown.

[0027] Figure 9B Another block diagram illustrates an example of adding a wireless device to a cellular wireless service subscription according to some implementation schemes.

[0028] Figure 9C A block diagram illustrating an example of cellular service handover between wireless devices of the same device type according to some implementation schemes is shown.

[0029] Figure 9DA block diagram illustrating an example of cellular service handover between wireless devices of different device types according to some implementation schemes.

[0030] Figure 9E Another block diagram illustrates an example of removing a wireless device from a cellular wireless service subscription according to some implementation schemes.

[0031] Figure 10A A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method performed by an originating wireless device to switch a cellular wireless service subscription to a destination wireless device, according to some implementation schemes, is shown.

[0032] Figure 10B and Figure 10C A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for adding a wireless device to a cellular wireless service subscription according to some implementation schemes is provided.

[0033] Figure 10D A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method, according to some implementations, for switching a cellular wireless service subscription from an originating wireless device to a destination wireless device.

[0034] Figure 10E A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method, according to some implementations, for managing cellular wireless service subscriptions for access to cellular wireless networks, performed by a destination wireless device.

[0035] Figure 10F and Figure 10G A flowchart illustrating an additional exemplary method, according to some implementations, for managing a cellular wireless service subscription for access to cellular wireless networks, performed by a wireless device.

[0036] Figure 11 A block diagram illustrating exemplary components of a wireless device according to some implementation schemes is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0037] This section describes representative applications of the methods and apparatus according to this application. These examples are provided only to add context and aid in understanding the described embodiments. Therefore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described embodiments can be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known processing steps have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be considered limiting.

[0038] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and specific embodiments according to the described embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the drawings. While these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments, it should be understood that these examples are not limiting; other embodiments are permitted for use, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.

[0039] This application describes techniques for switching cellular wireless service subscriptions among different wireless devices in a set of associated wireless devices. Each wireless device may include cellular wireless access credentials, such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), an electronic SIM (eSIM), or an integrated SIM (iSIM), installed therein for accessing cellular wireless services on a cellular wireless network, wherein the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) in the wireless device are associated with a public cellular wireless service subscription. Each wireless device in a set of mobile wireless devices may be associated with a public user account managed by a cloud-based service, such as using iCloud, which is network-accessible to the wireless device via a cloud-based web server. ® An account. A software service called Cellular Service Switching (CSS) service is provided on each of the set of wireless devices and can be used to switch public cellular service subscriptions between different wireless devices in the set. The number of wireless devices that can be configured with an active state to allow simultaneous access to the cellular service associated with the cellular service subscription may be limited; for example, at most one wireless device in a set of associated wireless devices may be configured with an active state for the cellular service subscription at a given time. Other wireless devices in a set of associated wireless devices may store cellular service subscription information and be configured with an inactive state for the cellular service subscription. The active / inactive state may be maintained by one or more network-based servers of the mobile network operator (MNO) associated with the cellular service subscription. Switching a cellular service subscription from an originating wireless device to a destination wireless device may include changing the state between active and inactive at the MNO server and at the wireless device. The CSS software service on the wireless device can provide indications of which wireless devices are associated with the public cellular service subscription and which of these wireless devices, if any, are active at a given time. The CSS software service also allows user-initiated switching of cellular service subscriptions between different wireless devices. The CSS software service can also allow user-configured and / or default configurations for autonomous switching of cellular service subscriptions between different wireless devices within a set of wireless devices.

[0040] Based on one or more criteria, a cellular wireless service subscription can be switched from an originating wireless device to a destination wireless device within a set of wireless devices. In some cases, a user triggers the switching of a cellular wireless service subscription, for example, via a CSS software service that selects the originating or destination wireless device through an interface. In other cases, a cellular wireless service subscription switches autonomously between different wireless devices based on meeting one or more of the following criteria. Exemplary criteria for an autonomous switching of a cellular wireless service subscription from an originating wireless device to a destination wireless device may include, for one or more of the following two wireless devices: i) on / off state, ii) battery level, iii) thermal conditions, iv) power consumption level, v) maximum battery capacity, vi) active / inactive usage state, vii) worn / not worn state, viiii) user interaction, ix) proximity to other wireless devices, within / outside the communication range of other wireless devices, x) at certain locations, and / or xi) during a specific time of day. Autonomous switching of a cellular wireless service subscription can provide automated access tailored to user preferences and / or habits.

[0041] Cellular service subscription information can be preloaded onto multiple wireless devices to facilitate switching between these devices. There may be no limit to the number of times a cellular service subscription can be switched between different wireless devices within a set of devices. In some cases, there may be virtually no limit to the number of wireless devices in a set, allowing switching between these devices. A network server managed by a mobile network operator (MNO) (e.g., a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)) can maintain a list of wireless devices associated with a cellular service subscription and a status indication for each device as i) active and authorized to access the cellular service subscription, or ii) inactive and not authorized to access the cellular service subscription.

[0042] Wireless devices can be added to and removed from a list of wireless devices by communicating with a network server (e.g., HSS) managed by the MNO via an MNO authentication and authorization server. The MNO authentication and authorization server authenticates the wireless devices and determines their permissions to manage the inclusion or exclusion of one or more wireless devices in the group to access cellular wireless services of a public cellular wireless service subscription. In some implementations, multiple cellular wireless service subscriptions are shared among multiple associated wireless devices. For example, a user can maintain two different cellular wireless service subscriptions and associate a first group of wireless devices to access a first cellular wireless service subscription, and a second group of wireless devices to access a second cellular wireless service subscription. The first and second groups of wireless devices can be the same, overlapping, or different.

[0043] In some implementations, CSS management for one or more cellular service subscriptions for one or more wireless devices can occur at the user device, for example, via a laptop computer, thereby interacting with a network server managed by one or more MNOs. CSS management may include switching cellular service for a cellular service subscription from a first (originating) wireless device to a second (destination) wireless device. In some cases, performing CSS management to switch which wireless device is for the cellular service subscription is active. CSS management can be implemented via a device associated with a public user account, where the device does not need to have cellular capabilities, such as a laptop computer. CSS management can also occur via one of a group of one or more wireless devices associated with a public user account (e.g., a cloud service account and / or an MNO cellular service subscription account). A CSS software service can be provided to control cellular service switching for one or more cellular service subscriptions. In some implementations, a user can dedicate a cellular service subscription to a specific wireless device (e.g., a mobile phone) and dedicate additional cellular service subscriptions for sharing among one or more additional wireless devices (e.g., among a group of wearable wireless devices). Cellular service subscription information can be loaded and maintained on at least one of a set of associated wireless devices to provide CSS management, regardless of whether the cellular service subscription will be activated on the at least one wireless device providing CSS management. For example, a first wireless device may be loaded with cellular service subscription information for multiple cellular service subscriptions, and the loaded cellular service subscription information may be maintained at least in part by the first wireless device for cellular service handover purposes between other wireless devices in the set. In some implementations, cellular service subscription information and / or activation status for cellular service subscriptions for a set of wireless devices may be maintained on a cloud service server accessible via an external network (e.g., the Internet) for users to access and initiate cellular service handover between wireless devices with different cellular capabilities. In some cases, one or more of the multiple cellular service subscriptions may not be active on any of the wireless devices in the set, and the user can later select on which device (or devices) a particular cellular service subscription is activated via a CSS software service. In some implementations, the CSS software service can be used to deactivate cellular wireless service subscriptions on all wireless devices within a set of wireless devices associated with a public user account, such as when a user wants to stop (or suspend) cellular wireless service subscriptions on all associated wireless devices.The term "cellular wireless service subscription" as used in this document includes any cellular wireless network identity module and / or MNO cellular wireless subscription plan that can be used to provide users with access to cellular wireless network services, regardless of whether the access is hardware-based, software-based, and / or virtual-based.

[0044] The autonomous handover of cellular wireless services between wireless devices provides flexible use of public cellular wireless service subscriptions across different wireless devices under varying conditions. For example, when a wearable wireless device is actively used outside the range of a mobile cellular wireless device's non-cellular wireless connection, such as during a workout routine, the cellular wireless service subscription on the mobile cellular wireless device (such as an iPhone) can be switched to a cellular-enabled wearable wireless device (such as an Apple Watch). When the wearable wireless device returns to the range of the mobile cellular wireless device's non-cellular wireless connection, the cellular wireless service subscription can be switched back to the mobile cellular wireless device. In another example, when a mobile cellular wireless device is within a predetermined proximity of a vehicle and initiates (e.g., turns on) vehicle use, the cellular wireless service subscription can be switched from the mobile cellular wireless device to the cellular modem in the vehicle. Similarly, when vehicle use is terminated (e.g., turns off) or the mobile cellular wireless device moves outside the predetermined proximity of the vehicle, the cellular wireless service subscription can be switched back from the vehicle to the mobile cellular wireless device. In some cases, a default wireless device in a set of wireless devices can be configured as the wireless device to which the cellular wireless service subscription should be switched when certain criteria are met (such as low battery power on the originating wireless device). In some cases, when certain criteria are met, one or more wireless devices from a set of wireless devices that the originating wireless device can reach (e.g., within proximity for local noncellular wireless connections) can be presented as candidate destination wireless devices for switching cellular wireless service subscriptions.

[0045] These and other implementation schemes are referenced below. Figures 1-11 The following discussion has been conducted; however, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the detailed descriptions given herein with respect to the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as restrictive.

[0046] Figure 1 Block diagrams illustrating different components of a system 100 configured to implement the various technologies described herein, according to some implementation schemes. More specifically, Figure 1A high-level overview of system 100 is illustrated in the figure. This system includes a wireless device 102 (which may also be referred to as a device, mobile wireless device, mobile device, user equipment (UE), etc.), a set of base stations 112-1 to 112-N managed by different mobile network operators (MNOs) 114, and a set of MNO dispatch servers 116 communicating with the MNOs 114. Additional MNO infrastructure servers, such as those used for account management and billing, are not shown. The wireless device 102 may represent a cellular-capable computing device (e.g., Apple...). ® iPhone ® or iPad ® ) or wearable devices with cellular capabilities (e.g., Apple Watch), base stations 112-1 to 112-n may represent cellular wireless network entities, including evolved node Bs (eNodeBs or eNBs) for fourth-generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless networks and / or next-generation node Bs (gNodeBs or gNBs) for fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks (or similar nodes for future generations of wireless networks), wherein the cellular wireless network entities are configured to communicate with wireless device 102, and MNO 114 may represent different wireless service providers that provide specific cellular wireless services (e.g., voice and data), which wireless device 102 may subscribe to, for example, via a cellular wireless service subscription account for a user of wireless device 102.

[0047] like Figure 1As shown, wireless device 102 may include: processing circuitry, which may include one or more processors 104 and memory 106; and baseband wireless circuitry 110 for transmitting and receiving cellular radio frequency signals. Baseband wireless circuitry 110 may include analog hardware components, such as antennas and amplifiers, and digital processing components, such as signal processors (and / or general-purpose / limited-purpose processors) and associated memory. In some embodiments, wireless device 102 includes an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) 108 for storing one or more electronic SIMs (eSIMs). In some embodiments, wireless device 102 includes one or more integrated SIMs (iSIMs) securely stored in the hardware of wireless device 102 (e.g., in the processor (104), in the memory (106), or in a system-on-a-chip (SoC) component). In some embodiments, in addition to or in lieu of one or more eSIMs on eUICC 108 or one or more iSIMs stored in the hardware of wireless device 102, wireless device 102 includes one or more physical UICCs 118, also referred to as Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. The components of wireless device 102 work together to enable wireless device 102 to provide users of wireless device 102 with useful features such as cellular wireless network access, non-cellular wireless network access, localized computing, location-based services, and Internet connectivity. eUICC 108 can be configured to store multiple electronic SIMs (eSIMs) for accessing cellular wireless services provided by different MNOs 114 via base station 112 (or via multiple base stations 112, such as one or more of the illustrated base stations 112-1 to 112-N). For example, eUICC 108 can be configured to store and manage one or more eSIMs from one or more MNOs 114 subscribed to different cellular wireless services for mobile wireless device 102. To access the cellular wireless services provided by MNOs 114, eSIMs can be retained for downloading and installation into eUICC 108. eUICC 108 can store one or more eSIMs obtained from one or more associated MNO dispatch servers 116. MNO dispatch server 116 can be maintained by the manufacturer of wireless device 102, by MNO 114, by a third-party entity, etc. eSIM data communication between MNO dispatch server 116 and eUICC 108 (or between MNO dispatch server 116 and processing circuitry (e.g., processor 104) of wireless device 102 outside of eUICC 108) can use a secure communication channel. Similarly, one or more iSIMs can be securely stored in the hardware of wireless device 102 to enable access to cellular wireless services.As described herein, switching cellular wireless service subscriptions between different wireless devices 102 can be achieved using any combination of SIM, eSIM, or iSIM on a set of wireless devices 102.

[0048] Figure 2 Examples are given based on some implementation schemes. Figure 1 A more detailed view 200 of specific components of the wireless device 102 is shown in the block diagram. (See also:) Figure 2 As shown, the processor 104, combined with memory 106, can implement a main operating system (OS) 202 configured to execute applications 204 (e.g., local OS applications and user applications). Similarly, as... Figure 2 As shown, the eUICC 108 can be configured to implement an eUICC OS 206, which is configured to manage the hardware resources of the eUICC 108 (e.g., the processor and memory embedded in the eUICC 108). The eUICC OS 206 can also be configured to manage the eSIM 208 stored by the eUICC 108 in ways such as downloading, installing, deleting, enabling, disabling, modifying, or otherwise managing the eSIM 208 within the eUICC 108, and to provide access to the eSIM 208 to the baseband wireless circuit 110 to provide access to cellular wireless services to the wireless device 102. The eUICC 108 OS may include an eSIM manager 210 that performs management functions on various eSIMs 208. Figure 2 As illustrated, each eSIM 208 may include several applets 212 that define how the eSIM 208 operates. For example, one or more applets 212, when implemented in conjunction with baseband wireless circuit 110 and eUICC 108, may be configured to enable wireless device 102 to communicate with MNO 114 and provide useful features (e.g., telephone calling and internet access) to users of wireless device 102.

[0049] Similarly, Figure 2As shown, the baseband wireless circuit 110 of the mobile wireless device 102 may include a baseband OS 214 configured to manage the hardware resources of the baseband wireless circuit 110 (e.g., processor, memory, various radio components, etc.). According to some embodiments, the baseband wireless circuit 110 may implement a baseband manager 216 configured to interface with the eUICC 108 to establish a secure channel with the MNO dispatch server 116 and obtain information (such as eSIM / iSIM data) from the MNO dispatch server 116 for the purpose of managing the eSIM 208 and / or iSIM. The baseband manager 216 may be configured to implement a service 218, which represents a collection of software modules instantiated through various applets 212 of the enabled eSIM 208 included in the eUICC 108 and / or iSIM in the wireless device 102. For example, service 218 can be configured to manage different connections between wireless device 102 and MNO 114 based on different eSIMs 208 enabled within eUICC 108 (and / or different iSIMs enabled in the hardware of wireless device 102). A Cellular Service Switching (CSS) application can reside as application 204 in the main memory 106 of wireless device 102 and / or as service 218 in the baseband wireless circuitry 110. The CSS application can provide storage of cellular access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) information for access to cellular services and for enabling access to cellular services of MNO 114 by changing the state of the cellular access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) to an active state, and for disabling access to cellular services of MNO 114, for example, by changing the state of the cellular access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) to an inactive state. The CSS application can also assist in obtaining and installing cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., eSIM 208 or iSIM) to gain access to the services of MNO114. The CSS application can also assist in managing the state of cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM, eSIM 208, or iSIM) associated with a public cellular wireless service subscription that can also be used by other wireless devices 102. The CSS application can provide the ability to switch access to cellular wireless services for a given cellular wireless service subscription among different wireless devices within a set of wireless devices associated with that subscription.For one or more iSIMs directly embedded in the hardware of wireless device 102 (e.g., in processor 104, memory 106, or SoC (not shown)), the one or more iSIMs may include modules that provide functionality similar to that exemplified for eSIM 208, and the eSIM-supporting software / firmware (such as eSIM manager 210 and eUICC OS 206) may be provided by similar software / firmware elements in the hardware of wireless device 102 in which one or more iSIMs are stored.

[0050] Figure 3A Illustration 300 illustrates an exemplary system for switching cellular wireless service subscriptions among a group of wireless devices 102, which may include any combination of different types of wireless devices 102 that can support cellular wireless connectivity. For example, the group of wireless devices 102 may include a mobile phone 102A, a cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B, a cellular-capable tablet computer 102C, and / or a cellular-capable wearable computer display 102D. Cellular capability for wireless devices 102A-102D may be based on a SIM card (UICC 118) and / or on an eSIM 208 included on an eUICC 108. Wireless devices 102A, 102B, 102C, and 102D may each be connected to a public user account (e.g., a cloud-based service account, such as iCloud, which is accessible to the wireless device 102 via an internet data connection to one or more cloud-based web servers 304). ® (Account) Associated. Each wireless device 102 can log in to a public user account and upload or download information to or from a cloud-based network server 304. In some implementations, this information includes cellular wireless service profile information for a cellular wireless service subscription. MNO 114 can provide cellular wireless services to a group of wireless devices 102 and can manage access to the cellular wireless network for access to cellular wireless services provided by MNO 114 for a specific cellular wireless service subscription (or a group of cellular wireless service subscriptions) via one or more MNO servers 306. MNO server 306 may include one or more dispatch servers 116 for providing eSIM 208 (and / or iSIM) to wireless devices 102, and may include one or more Home Subscriber Servers (HSS) for managing cellular wireless service subscriptions for wireless devices 102.

[0051] Figure 3BIllustrations 320 and 330 illustrate examples of access to the cellular wireless services of MNO 114 via different types of connections. A first wireless device 102 (e.g., a cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B) may include a limited battery capacity and is therefore preferably connected indirectly to the cellular wireless services via a second wireless device 102 (e.g., via mobile phone 102A). The cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B may establish a non-cellular local wireless connection 322 to mobile phone 102A, for example, using a wireless personal area network (WPAN) connection such as Bluetooth or a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection such as Wi-Fi or a peer-to-peer self-organizing WLAN connection. Mobile phone 102A, which may include a larger battery capacity than the cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B, may establish a cellular wireless connection 324 to base station 112 of the cellular wireless network to access the cellular wireless services of MNO 114. When mobile phone 102A is within the WPAN / WLAN range of cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B, indirect access to cellular wireless services provides efficient use of the limited battery power of cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B; however, in some cases, cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B may be used separately from mobile phone 102A, for example, outside the WPAN / WLAN range of mobile phone 102A, and via a direct cellular wireless connection 326 to base station 112 to access the cellular wireless services of MNO 114. Currently, cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B may require supplemental or separate cellular wireless service subscriptions to establish direct cellular wireless connection 326. This additional cellular wireless service subscription may incur additional charges for the user and may also require wireless device 102B with the additional cellular wireless service subscription to register (or otherwise connect to) an associated cellular wireless network to access cellular wireless services, which may increase power consumption for wireless device 102. As further described herein, instead of requiring separate cellular radio service subscriptions for multiple cellular-capable wireless devices 102, a single cellular radio service subscription can be switched between different wireless devices 102 based on meeting handover criteria. For example, cellular-capable wearable wireless devices 102B and mobile phones 102A can be configured to use indirect cellular service access via non-cellular local radio connection 322 to mobile phone 102A, which is active on mobile phone 102A but inactive on cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B, under selected conditions (such as when cellular-capable wearable wireless devices 102B and mobile phone 102A are close enough to establish a non-cellular local radio connection 322, where the cellular radio service subscription is active on mobile phone 102A but inactive on cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B), which is connected to base station 112 via cellular radio connection 324.A cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B can be configured to use a direct cellular wireless connection 326 to base station 112 when the cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B and mobile phone 102A are not within proximity using a non-cellular local wireless connection 322. The cellular wireless service subscription is then switched from mobile phone 102A to the cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B based on a first set of handover criteria. The cellular wireless service subscription can be switched back from the cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B to mobile phone 102A based on a second set of handover criteria.

[0052] Figure 3C Examples Figure 3AA block diagram 340 of an exemplary system shows cellular wireless access credentials, such as SIM / eSIM / iSIM profiles, added for each of wireless devices 102A, 102B, 102C, and 102D. Mobile phone 102A may include hardware for storing cellular wireless access credentials 342A (profiles 1, 2, 3), such as an eUICC 108 storing one or more eSIMs, one or more physical SIM cards (e.g., one or more UICC 118A storing a SIM), and / or an iSIM stored in the hardware of wireless device 102A. One of the cellular wireless access credentials 342A on mobile phone 102A may be associated with a public cellular wireless service subscription, which is also shared with other wireless devices 102 in a group of wireless devices 102 (and allows switching to other wireless devices). A cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B may include its own cellular wireless access credentials 342B (profile 4), such as SIM / eSIM / iSIM, which may also be associated with a public cellular wireless service subscription. Similarly, a cellular-enabled tablet computer 102C may include cellular access credentials 342C (profile 5), such as SIM / eSIM / eSIM, which may also be associated with a public cellular service subscription. A cellular-enabled wearable computer display 102D may also include cellular access credentials 342D (profile 6), such as SIM / eSIM / iSIM, used to access cellular services from a public cellular service subscription. In some cases, one or more wireless devices in wireless device 102 may include cellular access credentials, such as SIM / eSIM / iSIM, that are not associated with a public cellular service subscription; for example, they may have their own dedicated cellular service subscription or be associated with a separate public cellular service subscription shared among another group of wireless devices 102. In some cases, one or more wireless devices in wireless device 102 may have multiple cellular access credentials SIM / eSIM / iSIM, each for a different cellular service subscription, some of which may be shared with other wireless devices 102. All wireless devices 102 can be associated with public user accounts managed at one or more cloud service servers 304.Each wireless device in wireless device 102 may be known to one or more MNO servers 306, which maintain the association between wireless device 102 and a cellular wireless service subscription, including the state of each wireless device associated with the public cellular wireless service subscription, indicating whether the wireless device is active (e.g., able to use the public cellular wireless service subscription) or inactive (e.g., preloaded with subscription information but not configured to use the public cellular wireless service subscription). As discussed herein, the public cellular wireless service subscription may allow one or more wireless devices 102 to use the public cellular wireless service subscription and switch active states between different wireless devices associated with the public cellular wireless service subscription (or multiple active states when multiple wireless devices 102 are allowed to be active simultaneously).

[0053] Figure 3DIllustration 360 illustrates an exemplary set of associated wireless devices 102A to 102F with Cellular Service Switching (CSS) capabilities enabled. Each wireless device 102 includes CSS software that provides for managing the switching of one or more cellular wireless service subscriptions among the different wireless devices 102 in the set of associated wireless devices 102A to 102F. A list (or other indication) of the wireless devices 102 associated with a specific cellular wireless service subscription (e.g., cellular subscription A) can be accessed via a corresponding display of the wireless device 102, and this list may include an indication of which (if any) wireless devices are active, indicating that active wireless devices 102 can access the cellular wireless services of the cellular wireless service subscription. Other wireless devices 102 in the list may be inactive and therefore cannot access the cellular wireless services of the cellular wireless service subscription until their status changes to active. In some embodiments, multiple wireless devices 102 may be active simultaneously (not shown). A cellular wireless service subscription can be switched between different wireless devices 102 in a group of wireless devices 102A to 102F, for example, by selecting an active wireless device 102 at the originating wireless device 102A and / or by selecting other inactive wireless devices 102B to 102F in the group at the destination wireless device. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless service subscription can autonomously switch between different wireless devices 102 in a group of wireless devices 102A to 102F when one or more handover criteria are met. Switching the cellular wireless service subscription between different wireless devices 102 changes the state, for example, from active to inactive for the originating wireless device 102, or from inactive to active for the destination wireless device 102; however, information about the cellular wireless service subscription can be maintained on each of the wireless devices 102A to 102F. Switching the cellular wireless service subscription can include local communication between the different wireless devices 102 and between one or more wireless devices in the wireless devices 102 and one or more MNO servers of the cellular wireless network associated with the cellular wireless service subscription.

[0054] Figure 4AA flowchart 400 illustrates an example of switching a cellular wireless service subscription between an originating wireless device 102A and a destination wireless device 102B in the event of cellular deregistration. Initially, the originating wireless device 102A has an active state for cellular subscription A, as indicated via the display of the originating wireless device 102A (specified as "work phone" by the user of the originating wireless device 102A). The cellular wireless connection to the base station 112 of the cellular wireless network associated with cellular subscription A is also active. The user of the originating wireless device 102A can trigger CSS software on the originating wireless device 102A (e.g., based on selecting the destination wireless device 102B from the available wireless devices 102 (specified as "sports watch" by the user of the originating wireless device 102A) and indicated via the display of the wireless device 102 associated with cellular subscription A) to switch the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 102A to the destination wireless device 102B. The cancellation of access to the cellular wireless service subscription by the originating wireless device 102A can occur before the destination wireless device 102B has access, for example via option A (i.e., changing to an active state and registering with the cellular wireless network for access to the cellular wireless service subscription) or after the destination wireless device 102B has access, for example via option B. Following option A, the originating wireless device 102A cancels access to the cellular wireless service via cellular subscription A. In some cases, the originating wireless device 102A may have one or more other active cellular wireless service subscriptions with the same cellular wireless network and / or with other cellular wireless networks. After cancellation, the originating wireless device 102A may disable the cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A at the originating wireless device 102A, for example, by placing the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with subscription A into an inactive or disabled state. Then, access to the cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A may be unavailable at the originating wireless device 102A. Subsequently, the originating wireless device 102A transmits a cellular service handover request message to the destination wireless device 102B via a local non-cellular wireless connection (such as a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) connection (e.g., Bluetooth connection) or a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection (e.g., Wi-Fi connection or peer-to-peer self-organizing WLAN connection)). The local non-cellular wireless connection between the originating wireless device 102A and the destination wireless device 102B can be a secure connection, and in some cases, the originating wireless device 102A can transmit information to the destination wireless device 102B to assist in activating cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A with the associated cellular wireless network. This information can be included or provided separately from the cellular service handover request message.In some implementations, the information transmitted from originating wireless device 102A to destination wireless device 102B may include cellular access information to accelerate the establishment of a cellular wireless connection, such as the last active radio access technology (RAT), serving cell parameters, such as radio frequency (RF) band, carrier frequency, and cell identifier (ID) value, which are useful to base station 112 camped on the cellular wireless network. Additional information may include available cell measurements, such as RF band, radio frequency, and the cell identifier for one or more cellular wireless networks observed by originating wireless device 102A. In some implementations, cellular wireless service subscription information for cellular subscription A is pre-loaded onto destination wireless device 102B. In some implementations, cellular radio service subscription information for cellular subscription A can be provided by originating radio device 102A to destination radio device 102B. This includes, for example, the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) value used by originating radio device 102A, the Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) value of the cellular radio access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) used by originating radio device 102A, the Local Area Identity (LAI) value of the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) associated with cellular subscription A, emergency numbers, and / or cellular subscription security-related information. Upon receiving a cellular service handover request message, destination radio device 102B enables cellular service capabilities for the cellular radio service subscription (e.g., cellular subscription A) at its location, such as by enabling, activating, or placing the cellular radio access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with cellular subscription A into an active state. Destination radio device B can then register for access to cellular radio services on the cellular radio network associated with the cellular radio service subscription. Destination wireless device 102B can register with the cellular wireless network using information pre-stored and / or provided by originating wireless device 102A. In the case where originating wireless device 102A's cellular deregistration from the cellular wireless network occurs before a cellular service handover request is transmitted (Option A), destination wireless device 102B continues to establish a cellular wireless connection via the base station of the cellular wireless network after registration. In the case where the cellular deregistration by originating wireless device 102A does not occur before destination wireless device 102B registers with the cellular wireless network for access to the cellular wireless services of the cellular wireless network (Option B), the cellular wireless network may trigger a deregistration of originating wireless device 102A consistent with the registration of destination wireless device 102B. In some embodiments, at a given time, up to a threshold number of wireless devices 102 can register for access to the cellular wireless services subscribed to by the cellular wireless service.In this particular example, only one wireless device 102 is allowed to be actively registered at a time for access to the cellular wireless service associated with cellular subscription A, and therefore, when destination wireless device 102B registers for access, the cellular network can also deregister originating wireless device 102A from access. After deregistration, originating wireless device 102A can locally disable the cellular wireless service for subscription A, for example, by placing the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with subscription A into an inactive or disabled state. After an active cellular wireless connection has been established with base station 112 of the cellular network, destination wireless device 102B can transmit a cellular service handover confirmation message to originating wireless device 102A. The CSS software on destination wireless device 102B and the CSS software on originating wireless device 102A can update an indication of which wireless device 102 from the set of associated wireless devices 102 capable of using the cellular wireless service subscription is active.

[0055] Figure 4BA flowchart 450 illustrates an example of switching cellular wireless service subscriptions between wireless devices 102 without cellular deregistration. Initially, originating wireless device 102A has an active state for cellular subscription A, as indicated via the display of originating wireless device 102A (specified as "work phone" by the user of originating wireless device 102A). The cellular wireless connection to base station 112 of the cellular wireless network associated with cellular subscription A is also active. The user of originating wireless device 102A can trigger CSS software on originating wireless device 102A (e.g., based on the selection of an available destination wireless device 102B (specified as "sports watch" by the user of originating wireless device 102A and indicated via the display of wireless device 102 associated with cellular subscription A) to switch the cellular wireless service subscription from originating wireless device 102A to destination wireless device 102B. The originating wireless device 102A can then disable the cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A at its own location without performing a deregistration process with the cellular wireless network, thereby cutting off active cellular wireless connectivity to the cellular wireless network, for example, by placing the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with subscription A into an inactive or disabled state. Access to the cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A may then be unavailable at the originating wireless device 102A. In some cases, the originating wireless device 102A may have one or more other active cellular wireless service subscriptions with the same cellular wireless network and / or with other cellular wireless networks. Subsequently, the originating wireless device 102A transmits a cellular service handover request message to the destination wireless device 102B via a local non-cellular wireless connection (such as a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) connection (e.g., Bluetooth connection) or a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection (e.g., Wi-Fi connection or peer-to-peer self-organizing WLAN connection)). The local non-cellular wireless connection between originating wireless device 102A and destination wireless device 102B can be a secure connection, and in some cases, originating wireless device 102A can transmit information to destination wireless device 102B to assist in activating cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A with the associated cellular wireless network. This information can be included or provided separately with a cellular service handover request message. In some embodiments, the information transmitted from originating wireless device 102A to destination wireless device 102B may include cellular access information to accelerate the establishment of a cellular wireless connection, such as the last active radio access technology (RAT), parameters of the serving cell, such as radio frequency (RF) band, carrier frequency, and cell identifier (ID) value, which are useful to the base station 112 camped on the cellular wireless network. Additional information may include available cell measurements, such as RF band, radio frequency, and the cell identified by one or more cellular wireless networks observed by originating wireless device 102A.In some implementations, cellular radio service subscription information for cellular subscription A is pre-loaded onto the destination radio device 102B. In some implementations, the cellular radio service subscription information for cellular subscription A can be provided to the destination radio device 102B by the originating radio device 102A, for example, the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) value used by the originating radio device 102A, the Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) value of the cellular radio access credential SIM / eSIM / iSIM used by the originating radio device 102A, the Local Area Identity (LAI) value of the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) associated with cellular subscription A, emergency numbers, and / or cellular subscription security-related information. In some implementations, the originating radio device 102A provides cellular context information to the destination radio device 102B to allow the destination radio device 102B to restore cellular radio connectivity previously disconnected by the originating radio device 102A. Cellular context information may include: i) Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer information; ii) NAS layer security context information, such as keys, algorithms, and NAS count values; iii) established data sessions, such as 5G Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions and corresponding Quality of Service (QoS) stream configurations and state variables; iv) tracking area identifier values ​​and a list of registered PLMNs; v) access stratum (AS) layer information for residing on the cellular radio network, such as the last active RAT and serving cell, RF band, carrier RF value, and available measurements, such as RF band, radio frequency, and cell identifier. Upon receiving a cellular service handover request message, destination radio device 102B, if needed, enables cellular service capabilities for the cellular radio service subscription (e.g., cellular subscription A) at its location by enabling, activating, or activating the cellular radio access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with cellular subscription A. Destination radio device B can then register for access to cellular radio services on the cellular radio network associated with the cellular radio service subscription. Destination wireless device 102B can register with the cellular wireless network using information pre-stored and / or provided by originating wireless device 102A. In some cases, such as when destination wireless device 102B re-establishes cellular wireless connectivity with the cellular wireless network based on information received from originating wireless device 102A, destination wireless device 102B provides updated wireless device capability information to the cellular wireless network. If different from originating wireless device 102A, destination wireless device 102B can update its cellular device capabilities using mobility and periodic registration updates while in a 5G mobility management (MM) registration state with the cellular wireless network.In some implementations, the destination wireless device 102B restores a previously suspended cellular wireless connection that was dropped without being deregistered by the originating wireless device 102A.

[0056] Figure 5A A flowchart 500 illustrates an example of autonomous handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions between wireless devices 102 in the presence of cellular deregistration. Users of a group of wireless devices 102, including originating wireless device 502 and destination wireless device 504, can configure CSS software to allow handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions, such as cellular subscription A, between wireless devices 102 when certain conditions, specified by a set of handover criteria, are met. For example, originating wireless device 502 may be a mobile phone, and destination wireless device 504 may be a cellular-capable vehicle, where both the mobile phone and the cellular-capable vehicle are associated with a public cellular wireless service subscription (e.g., cellular subscription A). The cellular-capable vehicle does not need to have a separate cellular wireless service subscription. Users can establish handover criteria for when a cellular wireless service subscription can be switched between a mobile phone and a cellular-capable vehicle. For example, a cellular wireless service subscription can be switched from a mobile phone to a cellular-capable vehicle when i) the cellular wireless service subscription is active on the mobile phone, ii) the cellular-capable vehicle is connected (or already in operation), and iii) the mobile phone is within a proximity threshold distance (e.g., within one meter) of the cellular-capable vehicle. In some cases, a mobile phone can establish a non-cellular wireless connection with a cellular-capable vehicle, whereby the cellular-capable vehicle can provide a cellular wireless connection for accessing cellular wireless services for the mobile phone when a cellular wireless service subscription is active on the vehicle. Similarly, a cellular wireless service subscription can be switched from the cellular-capable vehicle to the mobile phone when i) a cellular wireless service subscription is active on the vehicle, and ii) the cellular-capable vehicle is turned off (or out of service) or the mobile phone is not within a proximity threshold distance of the cellular-capable vehicle (e.g., not within one meter).

[0057] like Figure 5AAs shown, initially, a cellular wireless service subscription (e.g., cellular subscription A) is active on the originating wireless device 502 at point 510 and inactive on the destination wireless device 504 at point 512. At point 514, the handover criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504 are met. At point 516, the originating wireless device 502 deregisters from the cellular wireless network 506 used for access to the cellular wireless service of the switched cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At point 518, the originating wireless device 502 disables access to the cellular wireless service for the switched cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At point 520, the cellular wireless service subscription on the originating wireless device 502 is inactive; for example, the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) for cellular subscription A are disabled or placed inactive. At point 522, the originating wireless device 502 transmits a cellular service handover request message for cellular subscription A to the destination wireless device 504, for example, via a local non-cellular wireless connection (such as a WPAN or WLAN connection). In some embodiments, information for activating the cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A is preloaded on the destination wireless device 504. In some embodiments, information for assisting the destination wireless device 504 in establishing a cellular wireless connection with cellular wireless network 506 is provided along with the cellular service handover request message. In some embodiments, information for restoring a suspended cellular wireless connection to cellular wireless network 506 for cellular subscription A is provided by the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504. At point 524, at the destination wireless device 504, access to the cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A is enabled, for example, by enabling, activating, or activating the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with the cellular wireless service subscription. At 526, the destination wireless device 504 registers with the cellular wireless network 506 for access to the cellular wireless service associated with the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At 528, the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is now active on the destination wireless device 504. At 530, the destination wireless device 504 provides a cellular service handover confirmation message to the originating wireless device 502, for example via a local non-cellular wireless connection, indicating that the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) has been successfully handed over to the destination wireless device 504.

[0058] The autonomous handover of a cellular wireless service subscription between different wireless devices 102 within a set of associated wireless devices 102 can be based on meeting one or more criteria, each wireless device 102 associated with a cellular wireless service subscription. In some cases, these criteria may be configured by the user of the wireless device 102 or pre-programmed as a default handover criterion available to the user of the wireless device 102. Exemplary handover criteria may include one or more of the following: i) the originating wireless device 502 is turned off; ii) the battery level of the originating wireless device 502 meets a low battery threshold level; iii) the operating temperature of the originating wireless device 502 meets a critical temperature threshold level (e.g., due to a high battery consumption level); iv) the originating wireless device 502 detects whether it is in use or in contact with its user, for example, whether a cellular-capable wearable wireless device 102B is worn or not, the screen display is locked, and there is no ongoing activity by the user of the originating wireless device 502; v) the destination wireless device 504 detects whether it is in use or in contact with its user; vi vii) The destination wireless device 504 is within a proximity threshold distance of the originating wireless device 502; vii) The destination wireless device 504 has a power level that is higher than the corresponding power level of the originating wireless device 502 by a threshold difference level; viiii) The destination wireless device 504 has a specific set of capabilities compared to the originating wireless device 502, such as a larger battery capacity, superior (or different) cellular wireless capabilities, such as RF capabilities or support for certain RATs; ix) A specific application is initiated on the destination wireless device 504; x) The location of the user of the wireless device 102 (e.g., home and work); or xi) During a specific time period (e.g., early morning, evening, night, weekday and weekend).

[0059] Figure 5B and Figure 5CFlowcharts 550 and 580 illustrate examples of autonomous handover of cellular wireless service subscriptions among wireless devices 102 under critical operating conditions. In some embodiments, a user of a set of wireless devices 102 associated with a cellular wireless service subscription can designate a specific wireless device 102 as a default destination wireless device 534, wherein the cellular wireless service subscription switches from the originating wireless device 502 to the default destination wireless device 534 when critical operating conditions are met. For example, when the battery level of the originating wireless device 502 meets a low battery threshold level, the user can configure the CSS software to switch the cellular wireless service subscription to the default destination wireless device 534. In some embodiments, when the default destination wireless device 534 is not designated or otherwise unavailable, another wireless device 102 in a set of associated wireless devices 102 can be selected by the CSS software, and the cellular wireless service subscription can be switched to that other wireless device, for example, to the best candidate destination wireless device 536 with the best battery power level.

[0060] Initially, the cellular wireless service subscription (e.g., cellular subscription A) is active on originating wireless device 502 at 552, inactive on default destination wireless device 534 at 554, and inactive on best candidate destination wireless device 536 at 556. At 558, critical device conditions for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from originating wireless device 502 to another wireless device 102 (e.g., switching to default destination wireless device 534 or best candidate destination wireless device 536) are met. At 560, in some embodiments, originating wireless device 502 is deregistered from the cellular wireless network used for access to the cellular wireless service for cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At 562, originating wireless device 502 disables access to the cellular wireless service for cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At 564, the cellular wireless service subscription on originating wireless device 502 is inactive, for example, the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) for cellular subscription A are disabled or placed inactive.

[0061] When the default destination wireless device 534 is configured for cellular service handover for a cellular wireless service subscription (subscription A) and is reachable by the originating wireless device 502, following option A, at 568, the originating wireless device 502 transmits a cellular service handover request message for cellular subscription A to the default destination wireless device 534, for example via a local non-cellular wireless connection (such as a WPAN or WLAN connection). In some embodiments, information for activating the cellular wireless service for cellular service subscription (subscription A) is preloaded on the default destination wireless device 534. In some embodiments, information for assisting the default destination wireless device 534 in establishing a cellular wireless connection with the cellular wireless network is provided along with the cellular service handover request message. In some embodiments, information for restoring a suspended cellular wireless connection to the cellular wireless network for cellular service subscription (subscription A) is provided by the originating wireless device 502 to the default destination wireless device 534. At 570, at the default destination wireless device 534, access to the cellular wireless service for the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is enabled, for example, by enabling, activating, or making active the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with the cellular wireless service subscription. At 572, the default destination wireless device 534 registers with the cellular wireless network for access to the cellular wireless service associated with the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At 574, the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is now active on the default destination wireless device 534. At 580, the default destination wireless device 534 provides a cellular service handover confirmation message to the originating wireless device 502, for example, via a local non-cellular wireless connection, indicating that the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) has been successfully handed over to the default destination wireless device 534.

[0062] When the default destination wireless device 534 is not configured for cellular service handover for cellular service subscription (Subscription A) or cannot be reached by the originating wireless device 502, the originating wireless device 502 may determine the best candidate destination wireless device 536 among the reachable wireless devices 102 configured for cellular service handover for cellular service subscription (Subscription A), such as a wireless device with the best battery level. At 582, the originating wireless device 502 transmits a cellular service handover request message for cellular subscription A to the best candidate destination wireless device 536, for example, via a local non-cellular wireless connection such as a WPAN or WLAN connection. In some embodiments, information for activating cellular service for cellular service subscription (Subscription A) is preloaded on the best candidate destination wireless device 536. In some embodiments, information for assisting the best candidate destination wireless device 536 in establishing a cellular wireless connection with the cellular network is provided along with the cellular service handover request message. In some implementations, information for restoring a suspended cellular connection to the cellular network for the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) is provided by the originating wireless device 502 to the best candidate destination wireless device 536. At 584, access to the cellular service for the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) is enabled at the best candidate destination wireless device 536, for example, by enabling, activating, or making active the cellular access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with the cellular service subscription. At 586, the best candidate destination wireless device 536 registers with the cellular network for access to the cellular service associated with the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A). At 588, the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) is now active on the best candidate destination wireless device 536. At 590, the best candidate destination wireless device 536 provides a cellular service handover confirmation message to the originating wireless device 502, for example, via a local non-cellular wireless connection, indicating that the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) has been successfully handed over to the best candidate destination wireless device 536.

[0063] Figure 6A flowchart 600 illustrates an exemplary method for switching a cellular wireless service subscription by a first wireless device 102. At 602, the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is active on the first wireless device 102. At 604, the first wireless device 102 determines whether cellular service switching criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) from the first wireless device 102 (as the originating wireless device) to the second wireless device 102 (as the destination wireless device) are met. When the cellular service switching criteria are not met, the first wireless device 102 returns to the box at 602. When the cellular service switching criteria are met, at 606, the first wireless device 102 initiates a switch of the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) from the first wireless device 102 to the second wireless device 102. As a result of the cellular wireless service switch, at 608, the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is inactive on the first wireless device 102. At 610, the first wireless device 102 determines whether the cellular service handover criteria for switching a cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A) from a second (or a different) wireless device 102 (as the originating wireless device) to the first wireless device 102 (as the destination wireless device) are met. If the cellular service handover criteria are not met at 610, the first wireless device 102 keeps the cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A) inactive at 608. If the cellular service handover criteria are met at 610, the first wireless device 102 switches the cellular service subscription (subscription A) from the second (or a different) wireless device 102 to the first wireless device 102 at 612. The handover of the cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A) can occur as a result of a user action (e.g., selecting mobile cellular subscription A via a selection in CSS software). The handover of the cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A) can also occur autonomously based on meeting autonomous cellular service handover criteria. In some cases, the originating wireless device initiates the handover of the cellular service subscription (e.g., through push notifications). In some cases, the destination wireless device initiates a switch of its cellular wireless service subscription (e.g., pull implementation details).

[0064] Figure 7 A block diagram 700 illustrates an example of preloading cellular wireless service subscription information into wireless device 102. Cellular wireless service subscription information can be preloaded into multiple wireless devices 102 associated with a public cellular wireless service subscription to accelerate switching between cellular wireless service subscriptions among wireless devices 102. A limited number of wireless devices 102 in a group of associated wireless devices 102 can be active for a cellular wireless service subscription. In some implementations, at most one wireless device 102 in this group of associated wireless devices can be active for a cellular wireless service subscription. For example... Figure 7As shown, a first wireless device 102A (also labeled as device 1) has cellular wireless service subscription information (cellular subscription A) loaded thereon. A list of wireless devices 102 associated with cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A), presented via CSS software on the first wireless device 102A, indicates that initially only the first wireless device 102A (device 1) is associated with cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). A user of the first wireless device 102A can instruct the addition of a second wireless device 102B (also labeled as device 2) to the group of wireless devices 102 associated with cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). In some embodiments, the user can instruct the addition of the second wireless device 102B via CSS software on the first wireless device 102A. In some embodiments, the user can instruct the addition of the second wireless device 102B via CSS software on the second wireless device 102B. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless service subscription information for cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) can be provided to the second wireless device 102B by the first wireless device 102A, for example, via a local non-cellular wireless connection (such as a WPAN or WLAN connection). In some implementations, the second wireless device 102B obtains cellular service subscription information from one or more network-based servers (such as a cloud-based server with which the first wireless device 102A and the second wireless device 102B share a public account) or from an MNO server associated with the cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A). The cellular service subscription information for cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A) may be stored locally on the second wireless device 102B. When the cellular service subscription information for cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A) is stored on the second wireless device 102B, the second wireless device 102B may provide an acknowledgment message to the first wireless device 102A. The CSS software on the first wireless device 102A (and on the second wireless device 102B) may be updated to indicate that the second wireless device 102B is now associated with the cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A). When a cellular wireless service subscription is switched to the second wireless device 102B, the stored cellular wireless service subscription information can (at least partially) be used to assist in activating (changing the state to active) the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) at the second wireless device 102B. The user can also remove the second wireless device 102B from the set of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A), and can delete the cellular wireless service subscription information for the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) from the second wireless device 102B.

[0065] Figure 8ABlock diagram 800 illustrates an example of a wireless device 102A obtaining an initial network access token for a cellular wireless service subscription. Initially, wireless device 102A connects to base station 112 of a cellular wireless network, where a cellular wireless service subscription (subscription A) is active on wireless device 102A. Wireless device 102A may perform a security protocol authentication process with MNO authentication server 802, such as the Extensible Authentication Protocol-Authentication and Key Negotiation (EAP-AKA) process. After successful security authentication, wireless device 102A transmits a request to MNO authentication server 802 for an access token for the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). MNO authentication server 802 may return an acknowledgment message to wireless device 102A, which includes the access token for the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). The access token may later be used by wireless device 102 to authenticate with MNO authentication server 802 and prove that it has permission to access the cellular wireless service associated with the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). In some implementations, wireless device 102A securely stores the access token at server 804 on a cloud-based network. In some implementations, wireless device 102A stores the access token along with additional cellular service subscription information for a cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A), such as MNO identifier values, network identifier values ​​(such as Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) values), telephone numbers (such as Integrated Services Digital Network for Mobile Stations (MSISDN) values), device type indicators, hardware identifiers (such as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) values), and / or a serial number for wireless device 102A. In some implementations, wireless device 102A securely stores the cellular service subscription information for a cellular service subscription (cellular subscription A), including the access token at the additional wireless device 102E, for example, by sharing it with an additional wireless device 102E over a secure non-cellular wireless connection.

[0066] Figure 8BBlock diagram 810 illustrates an example of adding a new wireless device 102 to a cellular service subscription. The new wireless device 102E (also labeled Device 2) initially does not have a cellular service subscription (e.g., when newly purchased without a cellular service subscription) or does not have access to a specific cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A). The new wireless device 102E obtains cellular service subscription information for the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) from a first wireless device 102A (also labeled Device 1) or from a cloud-based network server 804. In some embodiments, the cellular service subscription information may be securely transmitted directly from the first wireless device 102A to the new wireless device 102E via a local non-cellular wireless connection. In some embodiments, the new wireless device 102E is associated with (or linked to) a public user account shared by the first wireless device 102A and obtains the cellular service subscription information from a cloud-based network server 804 that utilizes the public user account to provide cloud services such as iCloud. Cellular radio service subscription information for cellular subscription A may include an access token, MNO identifier value, network identifier value (such as Mobile Country Code (MCC) value and Mobile Network Code (MNC) value), telephone number (such as Integrated Services Digital Network for Mobile Stations (MSISDN) value), and / or device type indicator that indicates the type of device to which the cellular radio service subscription information applies. The new radio device 102E may also obtain the information required for access to the cellular radio service from one or more MNO servers 812, i.e., obtain cellular radio access credentials, such as by inserting a physical SIM card (pSIM), installing an eSIM 208 on the eUICC 108 of the new radio device 102E, or installing an iSIM in the hardware of the new radio device 102E. The new wireless device 102E establishes a connection with the MNO server 812 and transmits a request message to add the new wireless device 102E to the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) indicated in the request message. The request message also includes an access token, which can be used for authentication with the MNO server 812 and / or to prove permission to add the new wireless device 102E to the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). The request message may also include information specific to the new wireless device 102E, such as an ICCID value for cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., pSIM / eSIM / iSIM), a device type identifier, and one or more unique hardware identifiers (e.g., an IMEI value and / or an eUICC identifier (EID) value). The MNO server 812 may (when authenticating the new wireless device 102E and at least in part based on the access token) add the identifier for the new wireless device 102 (e.g., the ICCID value provided in the request message) to the list of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A).MNO server 812 can respond to the new wireless device 102E with an acknowledgment message indicating that the new wireless device 102E has been successfully added to the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A).

[0067] Figure 8C Block diagram 820 illustrates an example of removing a wireless device 102 associated with a cellular wireless service subscription. Initially, as indicated by the list displayed by CSS software at a first wireless device 102A (also labeled Device 1), two wireless devices 102 (labeled Device 1 and Device 2) are associated with a cellular wireless service subscription (Cellular Subscription A). The first wireless device 102A may transmit a request message to one or more MNO servers 812 to remove the second wireless device 102 (Device 2) from the cellular wireless service subscription (Cellular Subscription A). The request message may include an indicator for Cellular Subscription A, an access token for Cellular Subscription A, and an indicator specifying the second wireless device 102 (Device 2). The MNO server 812 may determine, at least in part, authorization for the first wireless device 102A (Device 1) to request the removal of the second wireless device 102 (Device 2) from the cellular wireless service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) based on the access token included in the request message. The MNO server 812 may update the list of wireless devices 102 associated with Cellular Subscription A to remove the second wireless device 102 (Device 2). MNO server 812 can send an acknowledgment message to first wireless device 102A, indicating that second wireless device 102 (device 2) has been removed from the group of wireless devices 102 associated with cellular subscription A. Therefore, the CSS software at first wireless device 102A can update the list of wireless devices 102 associated with cellular subscription A to reflect the removal of second wireless device 102 (device 2).

[0068] Figure 8DA block diagram 830 illustrates an example of switching a cellular wireless service subscription between an originating wireless device 102A (also labeled Device 1) and a destination wireless device 102E (also labeled Device 2), wherein the cellular service switch is triggered by the originating wireless device 102A. Initially, the originating wireless device 102A has an active state for cellular subscription A, as indicated via the display of the originating wireless device 102A (specified as "home phone" by the user of the originating wireless device 102A). The user of the originating wireless device 102A can trigger CSS software on the originating wireless device 102A (e.g., based on selecting the destination wireless device 102E (specified as "work phone" by the user of the originating wireless device 102A) from the available wireless devices 102 and indicated via the display of the wireless device 102 associated with cellular subscription A) to switch the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) from the originating wireless device 102A to the destination wireless device 102E. In some implementations, the handover of a cellular wireless service subscription from originating wireless device 102A to destination wireless device 102E can occur autonomously based on meeting a set of cellular service handover criteria. In a first option (Option A), originating wireless device 102A suspends cellular wireless service with base station 112 of the cellular wireless network associated with the cellular wireless service subscription. The suspension of cellular wireless service can occur before, for example, when destination wireless device 102E accesses via Option A (i.e., changes to an active state and registers with the cellular wireless network for access to the cellular wireless service subscription), or after, for example, when destination wireless device 102E accesses via Option B. In some implementations, originating wireless device 102A deregisters from the cellular wireless network. In some cases, originating wireless device 102A may have one or more other active cellular wireless service subscriptions with the same cellular wireless network and / or with other cellular wireless networks.

[0069] Originating wireless device 102A may transmit a cellular service handover request message to destination wireless device 102E via a local non-cellular wireless connection (such as a wireless personal area network (WPAN) connection (e.g., Bluetooth connection) or a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection (e.g., Wi-Fi connection or peer-to-peer self-organizing WLAN connection)). The local non-cellular wireless connection between originating wireless device 102A and destination wireless device 102E may be a secure connection, and in some cases, originating wireless device 102A may transmit information to destination wireless device 102E to assist in activating cellular wireless service for cellular subscription A associated with the cellular wireless network. This information may be included together with the cellular service handover request message or provided separately. In some embodiments, the information transmitted from originating wireless device 102A to destination wireless device 102E may include cellular access information to accelerate the establishment of a cellular wireless connection with base station 112 of the cellular wireless network associated with the cellular wireless service subscription being handed over to destination wireless device 102E. Destination wireless device 102E can access one or more MNO servers 812 using an access token (obtained from originating wireless device 102A or from cloud-based network server 804, or pre-loaded on destination wireless device 102E). In some implementations, destination wireless device 102E uses a non-cellular wireless connection or an alternative cellular wireless connection to access MNO server 812. Destination wireless device 102E sends a request message to MNO server 812 to switch its cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to destination wireless device 102E, wherein the request message includes an identifier of the cellular wireless service subscription to be switched, an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription, and an identifier of destination wireless device 102E. MNO server 812 can authenticate destination wireless device 102E and confirm permission to switch its cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to destination wireless device 102E, at least in part based on the access token. In some implementations, if it has not been previously suspended, the MNO server 812 may suspend cellular service with the originating wireless device 102A in association with switching the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to the destination wireless device 102E (Option B). The MNO server 812 may update the list of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to reflect that the destination wireless device 102E (device 2) is active while the originating wireless device 102A (device 2) is inactive. The MNO server 812 may send an acknowledgment message to the destination wireless device 102E indicating that the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device 102E.The CSS software on the destination wireless device 102E (and the originating wireless device 102A) can be updated to indicate that the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is active on the destination wireless device 102E (work phone) but not on the originating wireless device 102A (home phone).

[0070] Figure 8EBlock diagram 840 illustrates an example of a cellular service handover between wireless devices 102 triggered by a destination wireless device 102E. Initially, the originating wireless device 102A (designated as a "home phone" by the user of the destination wireless device 102E) has an active state for cellular subscription A, as indicated via the display of the destination wireless device 102E (designated as a "work phone" by the user of the destination wireless device 102E). A user of the destination wireless device 102E can trigger CSS software on the destination wireless device 102E, for example, by selecting the destination wireless device 102E from the available wireless devices 102 associated with cellular subscription A and as indicated via the display of the destination wireless device 102B. In some implementations, the handover of the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 102A to the destination wireless device 102E can occur autonomously based on meeting a set of cellular service handover criteria. Destination wireless device 102E can access one or more MNO servers 812 using an access token (obtained from originating wireless device 102A or from cloud-based network server 804, or pre-loaded on destination wireless device 102E). In some implementations, destination wireless device 102E uses a non-cellular wireless connection or an alternative cellular wireless connection to access MNO server 812. Destination wireless device 102E sends a request message to MNO server 812 to switch its cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to destination wireless device 102E, wherein the request message includes an identifier of the cellular wireless service subscription to be switched, an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription, and an identifier of destination wireless device 102E. MNO server 812 can authenticate destination wireless device 102E and confirm permission to switch its cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to destination wireless device 102E, at least in part based on the access token. In some implementations, if the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) is still active and has not been suspended, the MNO server 812 may suspend cellular service with the originating wireless device 102A in association with switching the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) to the destination wireless device 102E. The MNO server 812 may update the list of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) to reflect that the destination wireless device 102E (Device 2) is active, while the originating wireless device 102A (Device 2) is inactive. The MNO server 812 may send an acknowledgment message to the destination wireless device 102E indicating that the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device 102E. The CSS software on the destination wireless device 102E (and the originating wireless device 102A) may be updated to indicate that the cellular service subscription (Cellular Subscription A) is active on the destination wireless device 102E (work phone) but not on the originating wireless device 102A (home phone).After the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched, the destination wireless device 102E can establish a cellular wireless service connection with the base station 112 via the credentials of cellular subscription A.

[0071] Figure 8FA block diagram 850 illustrates an example of a cellular service handover between wireless devices 102 initiated by a destination wireless device 102E with a request for cellular service handover (CSS) connection. Initially, the originating wireless device 102A (designated as a "home phone" by the user of the destination wireless device 102E) has an active state for cellular subscription A, as indicated via the display of the destination wireless device 102E (designated as a "work phone" by the user of the destination wireless device 102E). A user of the destination wireless device 102E can trigger the CSS software on the destination wireless device 102E, for example, based on selecting the destination wireless device 102E from the available wireless devices 102 associated with cellular subscription A and indicated via the display of the destination wireless device 102B. In some embodiments, the handover of the cellular service subscription from the originating wireless device 102A to the destination wireless device 102E can occur autonomously based on satisfying a set of cellular service handover criteria. The destination wireless device 102E can send a CSS connection request message to one or more MNO servers 812 to switch the cellular service subscription to the destination wireless device 102E. The CSS connection request message may include an identifier of the cellular radio service subscription to be switched, an access token associated with the cellular radio service subscription, and an identifier of the destination radio device 102E. In some embodiments, the destination radio device 102E obtains the access token from the originating radio device 102A or from the cloud-based network server 804. In some embodiments, the access token has been pre-loaded on the destination radio device 102E. The destination radio device 102E may transmit the CSS connection request message via a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) registration over-the-air message or in a data session (e.g., a 5G Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session), in a setup request message, or in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection request message. Communication between the destination radio device 102E and the MNO server 812 may be via a base station 112 (not explicitly indicated). Data exchanged between the destination radio device 102E and the MNO server 812 may be via NAS-specific signaling with base station 112 or via RRC-specific signaling. MNO server 812 can authenticate the destination wireless device 102E and, at least in part, confirm the permission to switch the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to the destination wireless device 102E based on the access token included in the CSS connection request message. In some implementations, if it is still active and has not been suspended, MNO server 812 can suspend cellular service with the originating wireless device 102A in association with switching the cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to the destination wireless device 102E.MNO server 812 can update the list of wireless devices 102 associated with cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) to reflect that destination wireless device 102E (device 2) is active, while originating wireless device 102A (device 2) is inactive. MNO server 812 can send an acknowledgment message to destination wireless device 102E indicating that cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) has successfully switched to destination wireless device 102E. In some implementations, the cellular service switchover acknowledgment message can be transmitted to destination wireless device 102E via base station 112 using NAS-specific signaling and / or RRC-specific signaling. CSS software on destination wireless device 102E (and originating wireless device 102A) can be updated to indicate that cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is active on destination wireless device 102E (work phone) but not on originating wireless device 102A (home phone). After the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched, the destination wireless device 102E can establish a cellular wireless service connection with the base station 112 via the credentials of cellular subscription A.

[0072] Figure 9ABlock diagram 900 illustrates an example of wireless device 102 obtaining an initial network access token for cellular service handover. At 904, a cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A) is active on wireless device 102. At 906, wireless device 102 establishes a secure connection to cloud service server 304, for example, based on user login and two-factor authentication (2FA). At 908, wireless device 102 performs an account subscription update with cloud service server 304. At 910, wireless device 102 authenticates with MNO authorization and authentication server 802, for example, using the EAP-AKA process. At 912, wireless device 102 sends a request message to MNO authorization and authentication server 802 to obtain an access token for cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At 914, MNO authorization and authentication server 802, communicating with the MNO Home Subscriber Server (HSS), obtains a network access token for cellular wireless service subscription (cellular subscription A). At 916, the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 provides an access token to the wireless device 102. In some embodiments, the validity of the access token is time-limited, for example, indicated by an expiration value provided to the wireless device 102 along with the access token. At 918, the wireless device 102 communicates an account subscription update message to the cloud service server 304, wherein the update message may include cellular wireless service subscription information, such as the MNO ID value, MCC / MNC value, MSISDN value, and the access token for the cellular wireless service subscription obtained from the MNO authorization and authentication server 802. At 902, the cloud service server 304 uses the account subscription update provided by the wireless device 102 to update the user database. In some embodiments, the cellular wireless service subscription information for cellular subscription A may be securely stored at the cloud service server 304 and subsequently obtained by another wireless device 102, for example, when a new wireless device 102 is added to the cellular wireless service subscription.

[0073] Figure 9BBlock diagram 925 illustrates an example of adding wireless device 102 to a cellular wireless service subscription. At 926, wireless device 102 performs an initialization process, for example, associated with unboxing and unbricking wireless device 102. At 928, wireless device 102 establishes a secure connection to cloud service server 304, for example, based on user login and two-factor authentication (2FA). At 930, wireless device 102 requests account subscription information for the cellular wireless service subscription from cloud service server 304. At 932, cloud service server 304 provides wireless device 102 with the requested account subscription information for the cellular wireless service subscription, which may include an MNO ID value, an MCC / MNC value, an MSISDN value, and an access token for the cellular wireless service subscription. At 934, wireless device 102 authenticates with MNO authorization and authentication server 802, at least in part, using the access token. At 936, wireless device 102 transmits a request message for eSIM 208 to MNO Authorization and Authentication Server 802. This request message includes a device type indicator, a unique hardware identifier for wireless device 102 (e.g., International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) value and eUICC Identifier (EID) value), and an MSISDN value associated with the cellular radio service subscription. At 938, the MNO Authorization and Authentication Server communicates a first update message to MNO HSS 902, which includes the IMEI and EID values ​​of wireless device 102 and the MSISDN value associated with the cellular radio service subscription. At 940, MNO HSS 902 transmits a request message from MNO Dispatch Server 116 to eSIM 208 for wireless device 102, wherein the request message includes the EID value of eUICC 108 for wireless device 102 on which eSIM 208 will be installed. At 942, MNO dispatch server 116 publishes eSIM 208 (profile), including the ICCID value of eSIM 208 and a network server address, such as a Universal Record Locator (URL) value for wireless device 102 to access MNO dispatch server 116, and optionally a Match ID value. At 944, MNO HSS 902 conveys a second HSS update message to MNO authorization and authentication server 802, which includes the IMEI and EID values ​​of wireless device 102, the MSISDN value of the cellular radio service subscription, the ICCID value of eSIM 208, and optionally a Match ID value.At 946, the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 responds to the eSIM request message from wireless device 102 using an eSIM allocation response message, which includes the ICCID value, network address (URL) value, and optionally a matching ID value of the eSIM 208 reserved for wireless device 102. At 948, wireless device 102 uses the information received in the eSIM allocation response message to download the eSIM 208 allocated to wireless device 102 from MNO dispatch server 116 and installs it on the eUICC 108 of wireless device 102. In some implementations, MNO HSS 902 and / or MNO authorization and authentication server 802 maintain a list of wireless devices 102 associated with cellular radio service subscriptions, for example, for the ICCID value of wireless device 102, and wireless device 102 is added to the list of wireless devices 102 associated with cellular radio service subscriptions having an MSISDN value. Figure 9B This example illustrates adding wireless device 102 to a group of wireless devices 102 by obtaining eSIM 208, but similar steps can be performed to download and install iSIM on the hardware of wireless device 102.

[0074] Figure 9CBlock diagram 950 illustrates an example of switching cellular wireless service subscriptions between wireless devices 504 of the same device type, triggered by destination wireless device 102. At 952, originating wireless device 502 is not in use, with its display locked. At 954, a user of destination wireless device 504 initiates the use of an application requesting internet access, and neither non-cellular nor cellular wireless connections are available to provide the requested internet access to the application. At 956, a limited-function (bootstrap) cellular profile is enabled on destination wireless device 504 (e.g., a bootstrap eSIM 208 on destination wireless device 504's eUICC 108, a bootstrap iSIM in the hardware of destination wireless device 504, or a bootstrap SIM installed in destination wireless device 504). Destination wireless device 504 may also have pre-loaded information for the cellular wireless service subscription. At 958, destination wireless device 504 uses a bootstrap cellular profile to establish a limited cellular wireless connection and authenticates with MNO authorization and authentication server 802 based at least in part on an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription. At 960, destination wireless device 504 sends a message to MNO authorization and authentication server 802 requesting an update to the cellular wireless service subscription. This message includes the device type for destination wireless device 504, the ICCID value (ICCID-B) of the cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with the cellular wireless service subscription at destination wireless device 504, and the IMEI value of destination wireless device 504. Destination wireless device 504 transmits a request message to update the cellular wireless service subscription in order to activate the cellular wireless service subscription for destination wireless device 504 (or change it from an inactive state to an active state). At 962, the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 communicates with the MNOHSS 902 to update the status of the destination wireless device 504 (indicated as device B) to active and the status of the originating wireless device 502 (indicated as device A) to inactive. At 964, the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 provides a response message to the destination wireless device 504 to indicate that the cellular wireless service subscription is now active for the destination wireless device 504. At 966, access to cellular wireless voice and data services via the active cellular wireless service subscription becomes available to the destination wireless device 504.

[0075] Figure 9DBlock diagram 970 illustrates an example of switching cellular service subscriptions between wireless devices 102 of different device types, from originating wireless device 502 to destination wireless device 504, and initiated by originating wireless device 502. At 971, a user initiates the cellular service switch from originating wireless device 502 to destination wireless device 504, for example via CSS software. At 972, originating wireless device 502 retrieves device information for destination wireless device 504 from cloud service server 304, wherein the device information may include the device type, IMEI value, EID value, and / or serial number of destination wireless device 504. At 973, originating wireless device 502 authenticates with MNO authorization and authentication server 802, for example using the EAP-AKA process. At 974, originating wireless device 502 sends a cellular subscription update request message to MNO authorization and authentication server 802 to switch the cellular service subscription from originating wireless device 502 to destination wireless device 504. The cellular subscription update request message may include: i) information for the destination wireless device 504, such as device type, EID value, and IMEI value; and ii) information for the cellular radio service subscription, such as the ICCID value (ICCID-B) and MSISDN value for the cellular radio service credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) at the destination wireless device 504. At 975, the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 communicates with the MNO HSS 902 to update the status of the destination wireless device 504 (indicated as device B) to active and the status of the originating wireless device 502 (indicated as device A) to inactive. At 964, the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 provides a response message to the destination wireless device 504 to indicate that the cellular radio service subscription is now active for the destination wireless device 504. The response message includes information about the destination wireless device 504 (device type, EID value, IMEI value, ICCID-B value for the cellular access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with the cellular wireless service subscription at the destination wireless device 504, and the MSISDN value of the cellular wireless service subscription). At 977, the originating wireless device 502 provides a message to the destination wireless device 504 via a local non-cellular wireless connection (such as a WPAN or WLAN connection) indicating that the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device 504. At 978, the cellular wireless service subscription at the originating wireless device 502 is inactive, for example, in a no-service (OSS) state, while at 979, the cellular wireless service subscription is active at the destination wireless device 504, which has access to the cellular voice and data services provided by the cellular wireless service subscription.

[0076] Figure 9E Block diagram 980 illustrates an example of removing wireless device 102 from a cellular wireless service subscription. At 982, the user can request the user ID of wireless device 102 to be logged out or request erasure (e.g., factory reset). In some implementations, switching cellular wireless services and accessing the cellular wireless service subscription may require wireless device 102 to log in to a public user account, such as a cloud service account maintained at cloud service server 304. At 984, the user request to log out or erase wireless device 102 is confirmed. At 986, wireless device 102, for example, uses the EAP-AKA process to authenticate with MNO authorization and authentication server 802. At 988, wireless device 102 transmits a message requesting an update to its cellular radio service subscription information. This message includes the device type of wireless device 102, its hardware ID values ​​(such as EID and IMEI values), the ICCID value of the cellular radio service credential (e.g., eSIM 208) associated with the updated cellular radio service subscription, the MSISDN value associated with the cellular radio service subscription, and an action value indicating the deletion of eSIM 208. At 990, MNO authorization and authentication server 802 provides an update to MNO HSS 902 to remove wireless device 102 from the list of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular radio service subscription. At 992, wireless device 102 removes eSIM 208 associated with the cellular radio service subscription from its eUICC 108. In some embodiments, at 994, wireless device 102 provides a notification to the MNO dispatch server confirming the deletion of eSIM 208. Although... Figure 9E The removal of eSIM 208 is illustrated, but a similar action can be performed when removing iSIM from the hardware of wireless device 102 to remove wireless device 102 from a group of wireless devices 102, and cellular wireless service subscriptions can be switched between that group of wireless devices.

[0077] Figure 10AA flowchart 1000 illustrates an exemplary method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription for access to the cellular wireless network by a group of wireless devices 102 associated with a public user account, the method being performed by an originating wireless device 502 in the group of wireless devices 102. At 1002, the originating wireless device 502 determines that one or more criteria are met for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to a destination wireless device 504 in the group of wireless devices 102. In some embodiments, at 1004, the originating wireless device 502 optionally deregisters from the network server of the cellular wireless network associated with the cellular wireless service subscription. At 1006, the originating wireless device 502 locally disables access to the cellular wireless service for the cellular wireless service subscription at the originating wireless device 502. At 1008, the originating wireless device 502 transmits a cellular wireless service handover request message to the destination wireless device 504 via a local non-cellular wireless connection. At 1010, the originating wireless device 502 receives a cellular wireless service handover confirmation message from the destination wireless device 504 via a local non-cellular wireless connection. The cellular wireless service handover confirmation message includes an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device 504.

[0078] In some implementations, the network server managed by the MNO, such as HSS 902, maintains a list of ICCID values ​​for cellular radio access credentials (e.g., SIM, eSIM 208, and / or iSIM) associated with a cellular radio service subscription. This list includes the ICCID value for a first cellular radio access credential (e.g., first SIM / eSIM / iSIM) for the originating radio device 502 and a second ICCID value for a second cellular radio access credential (e.g., second SIM / eSIM / iSIM) for the destination radio device 504. Prior to switching the cellular radio service subscription from the originating radio device 502 to the destination radio device 504, the first cellular radio access credential (e.g., first SIM / eSIM / iSIM) of the originating radio device 502... The originating wireless device 502's first cellular access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) is designated as active, and the destination wireless device 504's second cellular access credential (e.g., second SIM / eSIM / iSIM) is designated as inactive. After switching the cellular service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504, the originating wireless device 502's first cellular access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) is designated as inactive, and the destination wireless device 504's second cellular access credential (e.g., second SIM / eSIM / iSIM) is designated as active. In some embodiments, when the first cellular access credential is active, the originating wireless device 502 is allowed to access the cellular wireless network's cellular services via the first cellular access credential, and when the first cellular access credential is inactive, the originating wireless device is not allowed to access the cellular wireless network's cellular services via the first cellular access credential. In some embodiments, the method performed by the originating wireless device 502 further includes deregistering the originating wireless device 502 from the network server of the cellular wireless network associated with the cellular service subscription before locally disabling cellular service access at the originating wireless device 502. In some implementations, the local disabling of cellular service access for a cellular service subscription at the originating wireless device 502 occurs before the cellular service handover request message is transmitted. In some implementations, the local disabling of cellular service access for a cellular service subscription at the originating wireless device 502 occurs after the cellular service handover request message is transmitted. In some implementations, the cellular network, combined with the destination wireless device 504's registration to access the cellular service associated with the cellular service subscription, triggers the deregistration of the originating wireless device 502 from access to the cellular service via cellular access credentials.In some embodiments, the method performed by the originating wireless device 502 further includes, before switching the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device 504, presenting via a display of the originating wireless device 502 a list of wireless devices 102 from a set of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular wireless service subscription along with an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription is active for the originating wireless device 502, wherein determining whether one or more criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504 includes receiving a selection from the list of wireless devices 102 for the destination wireless device 504 to which the cellular wireless service subscription is switched. In some embodiments, the method performed by the originating wireless device 502 further includes, after receiving a cellular wireless service switch confirmation message, presenting via a display of the originating wireless device 502 an updated list of wireless devices 102 from a set of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular wireless service subscription along with an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription is active for the destination wireless device 504. In some implementations, the method performed by the originating wireless device 102 further includes, prior to initiating the transfer of the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device 504: i) obtaining an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription from a network server managed by the MNO of the cellular wireless network (e.g., MNO HSS 902) via the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 of the cellular wireless network; and ii) providing the access token to the destination wireless device 504, wherein the destination wireless device 504 uses the access token to authenticate with the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 before the cellular wireless service subscription is successfully switched to the destination wireless device 504. In some implementations, prior to initiating the transfer of the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device 504, the originating wireless device 502 indirectly provides the access token to the destination wireless device 504 via a cloud-based service by securely storing the access token at a cloud-based service associated with a public user account, wherein the destination wireless device 504 obtains the access token from the cloud-based service. In some implementations, the originating wireless device 502 directly provides the access token to the destination wireless device 504 via a local non-cellular wireless connection. In some implementations, determining a set of one or more criteria for switching a cellular wireless service subscription from originating wireless device 502 to destination wireless device 504 includes: i) detecting that the battery level of originating wireless device 502 meets a battery threshold or that originating wireless device 502 is powered off; and ii) that destination wireless device 504 can be reached by originating wireless device 502, for example, via a local noncellular wireless connection or via a cloud service.In some implementations, determining whether a set of one or more criteria for switching a cellular wireless service subscription from originating wireless device 502 to destination wireless device 504 includes: i) detecting that originating wireless device 502 is not being worn or actively used; and ii) destination wireless device 504 is reachable from originating wireless device 502, for example, via a local non-cellular wireless connection or via a cloud service. In some implementations, the set of one or more criteria for switching a cellular wireless service subscription from originating wireless device to destination wireless device includes one or more of the following: i) originating wireless device meets critical thermal conditions; ii) originating wireless device and destination wireless device meet proximity distance thresholds; iii) destination wireless device is being worn; iv) a specific application is launched on destination wireless device; v) the battery level of destination wireless device relative to the corresponding battery level of originating wireless device meets a battery level difference threshold; vi) the maximum battery capacity of destination wireless device exceeds the corresponding maximum battery capacity of originating wireless device by a battery capacity difference threshold; or vii) the cellular wireless connection capacity of destination wireless device exceeds the corresponding cellular wireless connection capacity of originating wireless device by a cellular capacity difference threshold. In some implementations, when a cellular wireless connection to the cellular wireless network via a cellular wireless service subscription is active, and without performing a deregistration procedure with the network server of the cellular wireless network associated with the cellular wireless service subscription, the originating wireless device 502 locally disables cellular wireless service access for the cellular wireless service subscription at its own location. In some implementations, the cellular wireless service handover request message transmitted by the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504 includes cellular context information for the destination wireless device to use in restoring the cellular wireless connection to the cellular wireless network. In some implementations, the cellular context information includes one or more of the following: Network Access Layer (NAS) information, Access Layer (AS) information, or cellular subscription information required by the destination wireless device 504 to restore the cellular wireless connection to the cellular wireless network.

[0079] Figure 10B and Figure 10CFlowcharts 1020 and 1030 illustrate an exemplary method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription to allow a group of wireless devices 102 associated with a public user account to access the cellular wireless service of a cellular wireless network, performed by a first wireless device 102A and a second wireless device 102B of the group of wireless devices 102. At 1022, the first wireless device 102A obtains an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription from a network server (e.g., HSS 902) managed by the MNO of the cellular wireless network via an MNO authorization and authentication server 802 of the cellular wireless network. At 1024, the first wireless device 102A provides the access token to the second wireless device 102B, either directly via a local non-cellular wireless connection or indirectly via a cloud-based service associated with the public user account. At 1032, the second wireless device 102B authenticates with the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 using the access token. At 1034, the second wireless device 102B transmits a request message to the MNO authorization and authentication server 802, indicating a request for cellular radio access credentials (e.g., eSIM 208 or iSIM) for access to the cellular radio services of the cellular radio network associated with the cellular radio service subscription. At 1036, the second wireless device 102B receives a response message from the MNO authorization and authentication server 802, indicating the allocation of cellular radio access credentials, such as eSIM 208 or iSIM, for the second wireless device 102B. At 1038, the second wireless device 102B downloads cellular radio access credentials, such as eSIM 208 or iSIM, from the MNO dispatch server 116. At 1040, the second wireless device 102B installs the cellular radio access credentials in itself, for example, by installing eSIM 208 on the eUICC 108 included in the second wireless device 102B, or by installing iSIM on the hardware of the second wireless device 102B. The corresponding cellular access credentials of the first wireless device 102A (e.g., the corresponding SIM, eSIM 208, or iSIM) and the cellular access credentials of the second wireless device 102B (e.g., eSIM 208 or iSIM) are each associated with a cellular wireless service subscription, and the network server managed by the MNO (e.g., HSS 902) allows switching the activity state for access to the cellular wireless service associated with the cellular wireless service subscription between the cellular access credentials of the first wireless device 102A (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) and the cellular access credentials of the second wireless device 102B (e.g., eSIM 208 or iSIM).In some implementations, the network server managed by the MNO (e.g., HSS 902) maintains a list of ICCID values ​​for cellular radio access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) associated with the cellular radio service subscription. In some implementations, the network server managed by the MNO (e.g., HSS 902) adds the ICCID value provided to the second wireless device 102B for cellular radio access credentials (e.g., eSIM 208 or iSIM) to the list of ICCID values ​​associated with the cellular radio service subscription. In some implementations, the network server managed by the MNO (e.g., HSS 902) maintains an indication of which cellular radio access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) are enabled to allow access to the cellular radio service of the cellular radio network associated with the cellular radio service subscription.

[0080] Figure 10D A flowchart 1050 illustrates an exemplary method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription for access to a cellular wireless network by a group of wireless devices 102 associated with a public user account, the method being performed by a destination wireless device 504 within the group of wireless devices 102. At 1052, the destination wireless device 504 determines that one or more criteria are met for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 in the group of wireless devices to the destination wireless device 504. At 1054, the destination wireless device 504 authenticates with an MNO authorization and authentication server 802 using an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription. At 1056, the destination wireless device 504 transmits a request to the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 to switch the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504, the request including the access token, an identifier for the cellular wireless service subscription, and a device identifier for the destination wireless device 504. At 1058, the destination wireless device 504 receives a cellular service handover confirmation message from the MNO authorization and authentication server 802. The cellular service handover confirmation message includes an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device 504.

[0081] In some implementations: i) The network server managed by the MNO (e.g., MNO HSS 902) maintains a list of ICCID values ​​for cellular radio access credentials (e.g., SIM, eSIM 208, and / or iSIM) associated with the cellular radio service subscription; ii) The list of ICCID values ​​includes the ICCID value for the first cellular radio access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) for the originating radio device 502 and the second ICCID value for the second cellular radio access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) for the destination radio device 504; iii) Before switching the cellular radio service subscription from the originating radio device 502 to the destination radio device 504, the first cellular radio access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) of the originating radio device 502 is... The following conditions apply: iv) When a cellular access credential (eSIM / iSIM) is designated as active, and the second cellular access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) of the destination wireless device 504 is designated as inactive; and iv) After switching the cellular service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504, the first cellular access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) of the originating wireless device 502 is designated as inactive, and the second cellular access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) of the destination wireless device 504 is designated as active. When a cellular access credential is designated as active, the wireless device 102 storing the active cellular access credential is authorized to access the cellular service of the corresponding cellular wireless network via the active cellular access credential. When a cellular access credential is designated as inactive, the wireless device 102 storing the inactive cellular access credential is not authorized to access the cellular service of the corresponding cellular wireless network via the inactive cellular access credential. In some embodiments, the method performed by the destination wireless device 504 further includes, before switching the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device 504, presenting via a display of the destination wireless device 504 a list of wireless devices 102 from a set of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular wireless service subscription along with an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription is active for the originating wireless device 502, wherein determining one or more criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504 includes receiving a selection from the list of wireless devices 102 for the destination wireless device 504 to which the cellular wireless service subscription is switched. In some embodiments, the method performed by the destination wireless device 504 further includes, after receiving a cellular service switch confirmation message, presenting via a display of the destination wireless device 504 an updated list of wireless devices 102 from a set of wireless devices 102 associated with the cellular wireless service subscription along with an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription is active for the destination wireless device 504.In some embodiments, the method performed by the destination wireless device 504 further includes obtaining an access token from the originating wireless device 502 before initiating a transfer of the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device 504. In some embodiments, the destination wireless device 504 obtains the access token directly from the originating wireless device 502 via a local non-cellular wireless connection. In some embodiments, the destination wireless device 504 obtains the access token from a cloud-based service associated with a public user account. In some embodiments, determining whether to satisfy one or more criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 to the destination wireless device 504 includes: i) detecting that the destination wireless device 504 is being worn or actively used; and ii) the destination wireless device 504 cannot be reached by the originating wireless device 502, for example, via a local non-cellular wireless connection or via a cloud service. In some implementations, the destination wireless device 504 communicates with the MNO authorization and authentication server 802 via one of the following: a non-cellular wireless connection, a cellular wireless connection using cellular wireless access credentials (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM) not associated with a cellular wireless service subscription, or a limited-function bootstrap cellular wireless access credential (e.g., SIM / eSIM / iSIM).

[0082] Figure 10E A flowchart 1060 illustrates another exemplary method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription for access to a cellular wireless network by a group of wireless devices associated with a public user account, the method being performed by a destination wireless device 504 in the group of wireless devices. At 1062, the destination wireless device 504 determines that one or more criteria are met for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device 502 in the group of wireless devices to the destination wireless device 504. At 1064, the destination wireless device 504 transmits a Cellular Service Handover (CSS) Connection Request message to a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) server, wherein the CSS Connection Request message includes an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription, an identifier for the cellular wireless service subscription, and a device identifier for the destination wireless device 504. At 1066, the destination wireless device 504 receives a Cellular Service Handover Confirmation message from the MNO server, the Cellular Service Handover Confirmation message including an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device 504.

[0083] In some implementations, the destination wireless device 504 transmits a CSS connection request message via a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) registration air message. In some implementations, the destination wireless device 504 transmits a CSS connection request message via a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session Establishment Request message. In some implementations, the destination wireless device 504 transmits a CSS connection request message via a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection request message. In some implementations, the destination wireless device 504 communicates with the MNO server via an access network base station using NAS-specific signaling or RRC-specific signaling.

[0084] Figure 10F A flowchart 1070 illustrates another exemplary method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription to allow a wireless device 102E, one of a set of wireless devices associated with a public user account, to access the cellular wireless service. At 1072, the wireless device 102E obtains cellular wireless service subscription information for the subscription, which includes an access token associated with the subscription. At 1074, the wireless device 102E transmits a cellular subscription add device request message to a network server 812 managed by the MNO, wherein the message includes the access token associated with the subscription, an identifier for the subscription, and a device identifier for the wireless device 102E. At 1076, the wireless device 102E receives a cellular subscription add device confirmation message from the network server 812, which includes an indication that the destination wireless device 102E has been successfully added to the cellular wireless service subscription.

[0085] In some implementations, wireless device 102E obtains cellular service subscription information from another wireless device 102A in a group of wireless devices associated with a public user account. In some implementations, wireless device 102E obtains cellular service subscription information from a cloud-based service associated with a public user account, for example, via cloud server 804. In some implementations, the network server 812 managed by the MNO includes an MNO HSS 902. In some implementations, the network server 812 managed by the MNO maintains a list of ICCID values ​​for cellular access credentials associated with the cellular service subscription. In some implementations, in response to a successful determination that wireless device 102E has permission to manage the cellular service subscription based on an access token included in a cellular subscription add device request message, the network server 812 managed by the MNO adds the ICCID value for wireless device 102E to the list of ICCID values ​​associated with the cellular service subscription.

[0086] Figure 10GA flowchart 1080 illustrates another exemplary method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription for access to a cellular wireless network by a group of wireless devices associated with a public user account. At 1082, a first wireless device 102A in the group of wireless devices transmits a cellular subscription removal device request message to a network server 812 managed by an MNO, wherein the cellular subscription removal device request message includes an access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription, an identifier for the cellular wireless service subscription, and a device identifier for a second wireless device 102E in the group of wireless devices associated with the public user account. At 1084, the first wireless device 102A receives a cellular subscription removal device confirmation message from the network server 812 managed by the MNO, the cellular subscription removal device confirmation message including an indication that the second wireless device 102E has been successfully removed from the cellular wireless service subscription.

[0087] In some implementations, the network server 812 managed by the MNO includes an MNO HSS 902. In some implementations, the network server 812 manages a list of ICCID values ​​for cellular access credentials associated with a cellular wireless service subscription. In some implementations, in response to a successful determination that a first wireless device 102A has permission to manage a cellular wireless service subscription based on an access token included in a cellular subscription removal device request message, the network server 812 removes the ICCID value for a second wireless device 102E from the list of ICCID values ​​associated with the cellular wireless service subscription.

[0088] In some implementations, CSS management for one or more cellular service subscriptions for one or more wireless devices can occur at the user device, for example, via a laptop computer, thereby interacting with a network server managed by one or more MNOs. CSS management may include switching cellular service for a cellular service subscription from a first (originating) wireless device to a second (destination) wireless device. In some cases, performing CSS management to switch which wireless device is for the cellular service subscription is active. CSS management can be implemented via a device associated with a public user account, where the device does not need to have cellular capabilities, such as a laptop computer. CSS management can also occur via one of a group of one or more wireless devices associated with a public user account (e.g., a cloud service account and / or an MNO cellular service subscription account). A CSS software service can be provided to control cellular service switching for one or more cellular service subscriptions. In some implementations, a user can dedicate a cellular service subscription to a specific wireless device (e.g., a mobile phone) and dedicate additional cellular service subscriptions for sharing among one or more additional wireless devices (e.g., among a group of wearable wireless devices). Cellular service subscription information can be loaded and maintained on at least one of a set of associated wireless devices to provide CSS management, regardless of whether the cellular service subscription will be activated on the at least one wireless device providing CSS management. For example, a first wireless device may be loaded with cellular service subscription information for multiple cellular service subscriptions, and the loaded cellular service subscription information may be maintained at least in part by the first wireless device for cellular service handover purposes between other wireless devices in the set. In some implementations, cellular service subscription information and / or activation status for cellular service subscriptions for a set of wireless devices may be maintained on a cloud service server accessible via an external network (e.g., the Internet) for users to access and initiate cellular service handover between wireless devices with different cellular capabilities. In some cases, one or more of the multiple cellular service subscriptions may not be active on any of the wireless devices in the set, and the user can later select on which device (or devices) a particular cellular service subscription is activated via a CSS software service. In some implementations, the CSS software service can be used to deactivate cellular wireless service subscriptions on all wireless devices within a set of wireless devices associated with a public user account, such as when a user wants to stop (or suspend) cellular wireless service subscriptions on all associated wireless devices.The term "cellular wireless service subscription" as used in this document includes any cellular wireless network identity module and / or MNO cellular wireless subscription plan that can be used to provide users with access to cellular wireless network services, regardless of whether the access is hardware-based, software-based, and / or virtual-based.

[0089] Figure 11 Detailed views of a representative computing device 1100, according to some embodiments, that can be used to implement the various methods described herein are illustrated. Specifically, these detailed views illustrate various components that may be included in any of wireless devices 102, 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D, 102E, originating wireless device 502, destination wireless device 504, default destination wireless device 534, best candidate destination wireless device 536, or any other wireless device as discussed herein. Figure 11 As shown, computing device 1100 may include a processor 1102 representing a microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation of computing device 1100. Computing device 1100 may also include a user input device 1108 that allows a user of computing device 1100 to interact with it. For example, user input device 1108 may take various forms, such as buttons, keypads, dial pads, touchscreens, audio input interfaces, visual / image capture input interfaces, sensor data input, etc. Furthermore, computing device 1100 may include a display 1110 that can be controlled by processor 1102 to display information to a user. Data bus 1116 may facilitate data transfer between at least storage device 1140, processor 1102, and controller 1113. Controller 1113 may be used to interact with and control different devices via equipment control bus 1114. Computing device 1100 may also include a network / bus interface 1111 communicatively coupled to data link 1112. In the case of wireless connectivity, the network / bus interface 1111 may include a wireless transceiver.

[0090] The computing device 1100 also includes a storage device 1140, which may include a single disk or multiple disks (e.g., a hard disk drive), and includes a storage management module that manages one or more partitions within the storage device 1140. In some embodiments, the storage device 1140 may include flash memory, semiconductor (solid-state) memory, etc. The computing device 1100 may also include random access memory (RAM) 1120 and read-only memory (ROM) 1122. ROM 1122 may store programs, utilities, or procedures that will be executed in a non-volatile manner. RAM 1120 may provide volatile data storage and store instructions related to the operation of the computing device 1100. The computing device 1100 may also include a secure element (SE) 1124, which may represent secure storage of credentials for cellular wireless system access made by the computing device 1100. The secure element 1124 may include an eUICC 108 storing one or more eSIMs 208, one or more UICCs 118 storing SIM or eSIM credentials (profiles), and / or a processor and / or chip component in a system-on-chip (SoC) module storing iSIM credentials (profiles).

[0091] Wireless terminology

[0092] According to the various embodiments described herein, the terms "wireless communication device," "wireless device," "mobile wireless device," "mobile station," and "user equipment (UE)" are used interchangeably herein to describe one or more general consumer electronic devices capable of performing processes associated with the various embodiments of this disclosure. According to various specific embodiments, any of these consumer electronic devices may relate to: cellular phones or smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, personal computers, netbook computers, media player devices, e-book devices, MiFi devices, etc. ® Devices, wearable computing devices, and any other type of electronic computing device with wireless communication capabilities, which may include communication via one or more wireless communication protocols, such as protocols for communicating on networks including: Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), Near Field Communication (NFC), Cellular Wireless Network, Fourth Generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), and / or 5G or other currently or future advanced cellular wireless networks.

[0093] In some implementations, the wireless communication devices may also operate as part of a wireless communication system that may include a group of client devices, also referred to as stations, client wireless devices, or client wireless communication devices, interconnected to access points (APs) (e.g., as part of a WLAN), and / or interconnected with each other (e.g., as part of a WPAN and / or a “self-organizing” wireless network). In some implementations, the client devices may be any wireless communication device capable of communicating via WLAN technology (e.g., according to a wireless LAN communication protocol). In some implementations, WLAN technology may include a Wi-Fi (or more generally, WLAN) wireless communication subsystem or radio component that implements IEEE 802.11 technologies, such as one or more of the following: IEEE 802.11a; IEEE 802.11b; IEEE 802.11g; IEEE 802.11-2007; IEEE 802.11n; IEEE 802.11-2012; IEEE 802.11ac; or other currently or future IEEE 802.11 technologies.

[0094] Furthermore, it should be understood that the UE described herein can be configured as a multi-mode wireless communication device capable of communicating via different third-generation (3G) and / or second-generation (2G) RATs. In these scenarios, the multi-mode UE can be configured to prefer attaching to LTE networks that offer faster data rate throughput compared to other 3G legacy networks that offer lower data rate throughput. For example, in some specific implementations, the multi-mode UE can be configured to fall back to a 3G legacy network, such as an evolved High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA+) network or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 Evolution-Data-Only (EV-DO) network, when LTE and LTE-A networks are otherwise unavailable.

[0095] Cellular access credentials used to provide access to cellular wireless services from cellular wireless service providers can be installed in wireless devices in various forms, including but not limited to universal integrated circuit cards (UICCs) storing a subscriber identity module (SIM), embedded UICCs (eUICCs) storing an electronic SIM (eSIM), or processors installed in hardware, such as system-on-chip (SoC) modules storing an integrated SIM (iSIM). The implementations described herein can be applied to all these types of specific implementations. A UICC storing a SIM can also be referred to as a SIM card. A SIM, eSIM, or iSIM can also be referred to as a SIM profile, eSIM profile, or iSIM profile, or simply a profile.

[0096] The aspects, implementations, specific embodiments, or features of the described embodiments may be used individually or in any combination. The various aspects of the described embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments may also be implemented as computer-readable code on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A non-transitory computer-readable medium is any data storage device capable of storing data that can subsequently be read by a computer system. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include read-only memory, random access memory, CD-ROM, HDD, DVD, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. Non-transitory computer-readable media may also be distributed across network-coupled computer systems, such that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed manner.

[0097] Regarding this disclosure, it is widely known that the use of personally identifiable information should comply with privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for protecting user privacy. Specifically, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly explained to users.

[0098] For illustrative purposes, the foregoing description uses specific names to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details are not required to practice the described embodiments. Therefore, the foregoing description of specific embodiments is presented for illustrative and descriptive purposes. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above.

Claims

1. A method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription, the cellular wireless service subscription being used for access to cellular wireless services of a cellular wireless network by a set of wireless devices associated with a public user account, the method comprising: The originating wireless device from the group of wireless devices: Determine whether one or more criteria are met for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to a destination wireless device in the group of wireless devices; Locally disable cellular wireless service access for the cellular wireless service subscription at the originating wireless device; Transmit a cellular wireless service handover request message to the destination wireless device via a local non-cellular wireless connection; as well as The cellular service handover confirmation message is received from the destination wireless device via the local non-cellular wireless connection. The cellular service handover confirmation message includes an indication that the cellular service subscription has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The network server managed by the mobile network operator (MNO) maintains a list of integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) values ​​for cellular wireless access credentials associated with the cellular wireless service subscription; The list of ICCID values ​​includes the ICCID value for a first cellular access credential used at the originating wireless device and the second ICCID value for a second cellular access credential used at the destination wireless device. Before switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device, the first cellular wireless access credential of the originating wireless device is designated as active, and the second cellular wireless access credential of the destination wireless device is designated as inactive. and After the cellular wireless service subscription is switched from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device, the first cellular wireless access credential of the originating wireless device is designated as inactive, and the second cellular wireless access credential of the destination wireless device is designated as active.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: When the first cellular access credential is active, the originating wireless device is allowed to access the cellular wireless service of the cellular wireless network via the first cellular access credential. and When the first cellular access credential is inactive, the originating wireless device is not allowed to access the cellular wireless service of the cellular wireless network via the first cellular access credential.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the local disabling of cellular service access for the cellular service subscription at the originating wireless device occurs after the transmission of the cellular service handover request message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cellular wireless network, in conjunction with the destination wireless device's registration to access the cellular wireless service associated with the cellular wireless service subscription, triggers the originating wireless device to deregister access to the cellular wireless service associated with the cellular wireless service subscription.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: From the originating wireless device: Before switching the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device, a list of wireless devices in the set of wireless devices associated with the cellular wireless service subscription is presented via the display of the originating wireless device, along with an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription is active for the originating wireless device. and Determining whether the criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device includes receiving a selection from a list of wireless devices of the destination wireless device to which the cellular wireless service subscription is switched.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Before the originating wireless device initiates the transfer of the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device: An access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription is obtained from the network server managed by the MNO of the cellular wireless network via the MNO authorization and authentication server of the cellular wireless network. as well as Provide the access token to the destination wireless device. Before the cellular wireless service subscription is successfully switched to the destination wireless device, the destination wireless device uses the access token to authenticate with the MNO authorization and authentication server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the originating wireless device indirectly provides the access token to the destination wireless device via a cloud-based service by: Before initiating the transfer of the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device, the access token is securely stored in a cloud-based service associated with the public user account. The destination wireless device obtains the access token from the cloud-based service.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the originating wireless device provides the access token directly to the destination wireless device via a local non-cellular wireless connection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device comprises: The system detects that the battery level of the originating wireless device meets a battery threshold or that the originating wireless device is currently powered off. as well as The destination wireless device is one that the originating wireless device can reach.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device comprises: The originating wireless device was detected to be neither worn nor actively used. as well as The destination wireless device is one that the originating wireless device can reach.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein satisfying the one or more criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device includes one or more of the following: The originating wireless device meets the critical thermal condition. The originating wireless device and the destination wireless device satisfy a proximity threshold; The destination wireless device is being worn; Launch a specific application on the destination wireless device; The battery level of the destination wireless device satisfies a battery level difference threshold relative to the corresponding battery level of the originating wireless device. The maximum battery capacity of the destination wireless device exceeds the corresponding maximum battery capacity of the originating wireless device by a battery capacity difference threshold. or The cellular wireless connection capacity of the destination wireless device exceeds the corresponding cellular wireless connection capacity of the originating wireless device by a threshold value.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When the cellular wireless connection to the cellular wireless network via the cellular wireless service subscription is active, and without performing a deregistration process with the network server of the cellular wireless network associated with the cellular wireless service subscription, the originating wireless device locally disables cellular wireless service access for the cellular wireless service subscription at the originating wireless device. and The cellular radio service handover request message transmitted from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device includes cellular context information for the destination wireless device to restore the cellular radio connection with the cellular radio network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cellular context information includes one or more of the following: Network Access Layer (NAS) information, Access Layer (AS) information, or cellular subscription information required by the destination wireless device to restore the cellular wireless connection with the cellular wireless network.

15. A method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription, the cellular wireless service subscription being used for access to cellular wireless services of a cellular wireless network by a set of wireless devices associated with a public user account, the method comprising: The destination wireless device from the group of wireless devices: Determine whether one or more criteria are met for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device in the group of wireless devices to the destination wireless device; Use the access token associated with the cellular wireless service subscription to authenticate with the mobile network operator (MNO) authorization and authentication server; A request is sent to the MNO authorization and authentication server to switch the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device. The request includes the access token, an identifier for the cellular wireless service subscription, and a device identifier for the destination wireless device. as well as Receive a cellular service handover confirmation message from the MNO authorization and authentication server. The cellular service handover confirmation message includes an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein: The network server managed by the mobile network operator (MNO) maintains a list of integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) values ​​for cellular wireless access credentials associated with the cellular wireless service subscription; The list of ICCID values ​​includes the ICCID value for a first cellular access credential used at the originating wireless device and the second ICCID value for a second cellular access credential used at the destination wireless device. Before switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device, the first cellular wireless access credential of the originating wireless device is designated as active, and the second cellular wireless access credential of the destination wireless device is designated as inactive. and After the cellular wireless service subscription is switched from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device, the first cellular wireless access credential of the originating wireless device is designated as inactive, and the second cellular wireless access credential of the destination wireless device is designated as active.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: By the destination wireless device: Before switching the cellular wireless service subscription to the destination wireless device, a list of wireless devices in the set of wireless devices associated with the cellular wireless service subscription is presented via the display of the destination wireless device, along with an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription is active for the originating wireless device. and Determining whether the criteria for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device to the destination wireless device includes receiving a selection from a list of wireless devices of the destination wireless device to which the cellular wireless service subscription is switched.

18. A method for managing a cellular wireless service subscription, the cellular wireless service subscription being used for access to cellular wireless services of a cellular wireless network by a set of wireless devices associated with a public user account, the method comprising: The destination wireless device from the group of wireless devices: Determine whether one or more criteria are met for switching the cellular wireless service subscription from the originating wireless device in the group of wireless devices to the destination wireless device; A Cellular Service Switching (CSS) Connection Request message is transmitted to a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) server, wherein the CSS Connection Request message includes an access token associated with the cellular radio service subscription, an identifier for the cellular radio service subscription, and a device identifier for the destination radio device. as well as The MNO server receives a cellular service handover confirmation message, which includes an indication that the cellular wireless service subscription has been successfully switched to the destination wireless device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the destination wireless device transmits the CSS connection request message via a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) registration over-the-air message.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the destination wireless device communicates with the MNO server via an access network base station using NAS-specific signaling or RRC-specific signaling.

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