METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AN OPERATING PROFILE INSTALLED IN A USER DEVICE WITH ACCESS TO A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK, COMPUTER PROGRAMME PRODUCT AND CORRESPONDING DEVICES

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the implementation of radiocommunications networks. The invention relates more particularly to the management of resources in such radiocommunications networks.

[0002] The invention has numerous applications, notably, but not exclusively, in the field of radiocommunication networks compliant with the latest or future generation 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standards. Prior art and its drawbacks

[0003] In most cases, a user device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a cellular connection, etc.) intended to be connected to a radio communications network is equipped with a SIM card (for "Subscriber Identity Module"). The SIM card contains the data necessary for the user device to establish a connection with the network in question. For such devices, the SIM card is traditionally a physical card provided by the operator when a subscription is taken out.

[0004] Such a card is thus by nature removable from the user equipment. Thus, when the corresponding subscription is terminated, the user of the equipment naturally removes the now unusable SIM card from the equipment in question. This is the case, for example, in order to install a new SIM card corresponding to a new subscription. Alternatively, if the user no longer has use of the equipment after the termination of his subscription, the user often turns off the equipment (or the latter turns off naturally once the battery is discharged). Thus, even if the user were to leave the now unusable SIM card in the user equipment, the user equipment would not send any requests to the designated operator's network via the SIM card.

[0005] However, new user equipment, such as certain connected objects, are equipped with embedded SIM card technology (e.g. an eSIM (for "Embedded Subscriber Identity Module") or an iSIM (for "Integrated Subscriber Identity Module"). More specifically, an operational profile containing the data allowing access to the network is activated in the embedded SIM card. Thus, even if the subscription is terminated, the embedded SIM card containing the operational profile remains in the corresponding user equipment. Furthermore, such connected objects have a very long battery life and are sometimes placed in places where they are left even if their subscription to an operator has been terminated (e.g. a humidity sensor placed outside a building, etc.). In this way, such connected objects continue to send requests to the network even if their subscription is terminated.

[0006] Thus, since the deployment of such connected objects, a significant increase in the number of responses with an error code (e.g. of the type "Unknown Client" or "Unknown Subscriber" in English) has been observed following requests of the type: attachment request ("Attachment Request" in English), authentication request ("Send Authentication Information Request" in English), or location update request ("Location Update Request" in English).

[0007] The requests in question come mainly from deleted subscribers whose user equipment still has SIM cards in an active module. The increasing number of such exchanges generates unnecessary traffic and an increase in network load. There is therefore a need to reduce the network load related to deleted subscribers whose user equipment still has SIM cards in an active module. There is also a need for the network to retain the ability to communicate with such user equipment if necessary.

[0008] WO 2018 / 183332 A1 describes a deactivation of a current operational profile and the activation of a passive operational profile. US 2012 / 258725 A1 describes the network sending in advance conditions to the vehicle communication unit which prohibit it from sending a location update request to the network. Statement of the invention

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, a method is proposed for activating an operational profile installed in user equipment accessible by a radiocommunications network. The operational profile comprises data enabling the user equipment to access the radiocommunications network when the operational profile is activated in the user equipment. According to such a method, the user equipment performs a step of deactivating a current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile. The passive operational profile: prohibits the user equipment from sending to the radiocommunications network at least one location update request and / or at least one request to attach to the radiocommunications network; and authorizes the user equipment to receive at least one paging message including a unique identifier of the user equipment.

[0010] Thus, the invention proposes a new and inventive solution for reducing the load on the radiocommunication network (e.g. a GSM network (for "Global System for Mobile Communications" in English), GPRS (for "General Packet Radio Service" in English), EPGRS (for "Enhanced GPRS" in English), etc.) linked to requests from user equipment no longer having a subscription with the operator of the network in question.

[0011] For example, such user equipment is a connected object equipped with an eSIM (for "Embedded Subscriber Identity Module" in English) or an iSIM (for "Integrated Subscriber Identity Module" in English). Once the subscription is terminated with the operator, the current operational profile remains active on the eSIM or iSIM of the user equipment. Such a current operational profile induces regular requests to be sent to the network even if such requests cannot be completed, the subscription of the user equipment being terminated. Activating the passive operational profile makes it possible to prohibit certain requests and thus the network load.

[0012] Furthermore, the passive operational profile allows the user equipment to receive paging messages (sometimes called telemsaging, paging or "paging" messages in English) intended for it via the unique identifier (e.g. an IMSI number (for "International Mobile Subscriber Identity" in English)). In this way, the network retains the possibility of communicating with the user equipment, e.g. in order to update the passive operational profile or otherwise.

[0013] In embodiments, the user equipment receives a request, transmitted by the radiocommunications network, to deactivate the current operational profile. The step of deactivating a current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile is implemented in response to the deactivation request.

[0014] Thus, the network has control over the activation of the passive operational profile.

[0015] In embodiments, the user equipment performs: sending, to the radiocommunications network, an attachment request; and receiving a message representing a connection failure from the user equipment, the message representing a connection failure being sent by the radiocommunications network in response to the attachment request.

[0016] Sending an attachment request repeated a predetermined number of times delivers a predetermined number of messages representative of a connection failure. The step of deactivating a current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile is implemented in response to receiving the predetermined number of messages representative of a connection failure.

[0017] Thus, the user equipment is autonomous for the activation of the passive operational profile.

[0018] In embodiments, the user equipment performs: a reception of a request, transmitted by the radiocommunications network, for deactivation of the current operational profile; a sending, to the radiocommunications network, of a request for obtaining the passive operational profile. The request for obtaining the passive operational profile is sent upon receipt of the request for deactivation of the current operational profile; and a reception of the passive operational profile sent by the radiocommunications network in response to the request for obtaining the passive operational profile.

[0019] Thus, the user equipment can implement the activation of the passive profile even if the passive profile in question is not previously installed in the user equipment at the time of receiving the deactivation request.

[0020] In embodiments, the user equipment performs reception of the passive operational profile sent by the radiocommunications network.

[0021] Thus, the network has control over the parameters of the passive operational profile, thus allowing fine control of the behavior of the user equipment with respect to the network in question.

[0022] In embodiments, the user equipment receives a paging message, sent by the radiocommunications network, comprising the unique identifier of the user equipment and a data field inducing, by the user equipment, a deactivation of the passive operational profile and a reactivation of the current operational profile. Thus, the network has control over the reactivation of the current operational profile previously deactivated in favor of the passive operational profile. Furthermore, such reactivation is done simply and efficiently via the use of a paging message, sometimes called a telemessaging, paging or "paging" message in English.

[0023] In embodiments, the user equipment performs a deletion of the current operational profile after deactivating the current operational profile.

[0024] Thus, no data related to the user equipment's previous subscription remains within the user equipment even if the radiocommunications network operator does not request it.

[0025] In embodiments, the user equipment performs a reception of a deletion request, sent by the radiocommunications network, inducing, by the user equipment, the deletion of the current operational profile.

[0026] In this way, the radiocommunications network operator ensures that no data relating to the user equipment's previous subscription remains within the user equipment.

[0027] In embodiments, the network sends, to the user equipment, a request to deactivate the current operational profile. The deactivation request induces at the user equipment the implementation of the aforementioned step of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the aforementioned passive operational profile.

[0028] Thus, the network has control over the activation of the passive operational profile.

[0029] In embodiments, the network performs: a creation of the passive operational profile; and a sending of the passive operational profile to the user equipment.

[0030] Thus, the network has control over the parameters of the passive operational profile, thus allowing fine control of the behavior of the user equipment with respect to the network in question.

[0031] In embodiments, the network sends, to the user equipment, a paging message comprising the unique identifier of the user equipment and a data field inducing, by the user equipment, the implementation of the aforementioned step of deactivating the passive operational profile and a reactivation of the current operational profile. Thus, the network has control over the reactivation of the current operational profile previously deactivated in favor of the passive operational profile. Furthermore, such reactivation is done simply and efficiently via the use of a paging message (sometimes called a paging message, paging message or "paging" in English).

[0032] In embodiments, the step of deactivating the passive operational profile and reactivating the current operational profile comprises redefining a reset operational profile from the passive operational profile to the current operational profile.

[0033] In embodiments, the step of deactivating the passive operational profile and activating the current operational profile is implemented according to a protocol called “Fallback Mechanism” according to the GSM ESIM M2M standard (for “Global System for Mobile communications Association Embedded Subscriber Identity Module for Machine to Machine” in English).

[0034] In embodiments, the network sends, to the user equipment, the deletion request inducing, by the user equipment, the implementation of the step of deleting the current operational profile.

[0035] In this way, the radiocommunications network operator ensures that no data relating to the user equipment's previous subscription remains within the user equipment.

[0036] In embodiments, the passive operational profile: requires the user equipment to reject any request sent by the radiocommunications network via a message other than the at least one paging message comprising the unique identifier of the user equipment; and / or prohibits the user equipment from requesting detachment from the radiocommunications network.

[0037] Thus, activating the passive operational profile further minimizes the network load by not responding to network requests. Furthermore, prohibiting network detachment ensures that the network will retain the means to communicate with the user equipment by knowing the unique identifier of the user equipment (e.g. the IMSI number of the user equipment). Indeed, such detachment implies that the radiocommunications network forgets, via e.g. memory erasure, the unique identifier of the user equipment.

[0038] In embodiments, the step of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile comprises redefining a reset operational profile from the current operational profile to the passive operational profile.

[0039] In embodiments, the step of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile is implemented according to the so-called “Fallback Mechanism” protocol according to the GSM ESIM M2M standard.

[0040] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing the activation method described above (according to any one of the various embodiments mentioned above), when executed on a computer. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device comprising a reprogrammable computing machine or a dedicated computing machine, configured to implement the steps of the activation method according to the invention as implemented by the user equipment (according to any one of the embodiments mentioned above).

[0041] In another embodiment of the invention, a device is proposed comprising a reprogrammable computing machine or a dedicated computing machine, configured to implement the steps of the activation method according to the invention as implemented by the radiocommunications network (according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments).

[0042] Thus, the features and benefits of these devices are the same as those of the activation method described above. Therefore, they are not detailed further. List of figures

[0043] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given as a simple illustrative, and non-limiting, example, in relation to the figures, among which: [ Fig. 1 ]represents user equipment located within range of a base station of a radiocommunication network according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 2a ] represents the steps of the process of activating an operational profile installed in the user equipment of the Fig. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 2b ], [ Fig. 2c] and [Fig. 2d ] represent certain steps in the process of activating an operational profile installed in the user equipment of the Fig. 1 according to other embodiments of the invention; [ Fig. 3 ] represents an example of a device structure allowing the implementation of certain steps of the method of activating an operational profile according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 4 ]represents an example of a device structure allowing the implementation of other steps of the method of activating an operational profile according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0044] The general principle of the invention is based on the deactivation of a current operational profile and the activation of a passive operational profile in a user equipment accessible by a radiocommunications network. Such an operational profile comprises data allowing the user equipment to access the radiocommunications network when the operational profile in question is activated in the user equipment. For example, such an operational profile follows the structure defined in Annex C, " Example of Profile Package ", section 11.1, “Example of Profile Package structure”, from the SIM Alliance standard document: “eUICC Profile Package: Interoperable Format Technical Specification Version 2.1 » of February 24, 2017. More specifically, the passive operational profile: prohibits the user equipment from sending to the radiocommunications network one (or more) location update requests and / or one (or more) requests to attach to the radiocommunications network; and authorizes the user equipment to receive one (or more) paging messages (sometimes called telemsaging, paging or "paging" messages in English) including a unique identifier of the user equipment (e.g. an IMSI number (for "International Mobile Subscriber Identity" in English).

[0045] Thus, activating the passive operational profile allows certain requests to be prohibited and thus lightens the network load. Furthermore, the passive operational profile authorizes the user equipment to receive paging messages intended for it via the unique identifier. In this way, the network retains the possibility of communicating with the user equipment, e.g. in order to update the passive operational profile or otherwise. For example, such user equipment behavior is achieved by modifying the "PE-GSM-ACCESS" field of the passive operational profile when the passive operational profile follows the structure defined in the aforementioned SIM Alliance standard document.

[0046] We now present, in relation to the Fig. 1 a user equipment UE located within the range of a base station 110 of a radiocommunication network 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0047] More particularly, the radiocommunication network 100 is a GSM network according to one of its evolutions allowing the transfer of data (e.g. a GPRS, EPGRS evolution, etc.). In other embodiments, the radiocommunication network 100 follows another cellular standard allowing the transfer of data, e.g. a network according to the 3G, 4G, etc. standard as defined by the 3GPP. In other embodiments, the radiocommunication network 100 is a low-speed network dedicated to connected objects of the LoRa ®<, SigFox ®<, etc. type.

[0048] Back to the Fig. 1, the radiocommunication network 100 comprises a core network 120 and a base station 110 to which the user equipment UE is connected. The core network 120 implements different functional modules, e.g. within one or more network nodes, of the MME (for “Mobility Management Entity” in English), MSC (for “Mobile Switching Center” in English), MSC (for “Serving GPRS Support Node” in English), HLR (for “Home Location Register” in English), etc. type.

[0049] The user equipment UE is a connected object equipped with an emulated SIM card, e.g. an eSIM. In other embodiments, the user equipment is equipped with an integrated SIM card, e.g. an iSIM. In other embodiments, the user equipment is a terminal comprising radio communication means for connecting to a radio communication network, e.g. a smartphone, a tablet or a computer equipped with a cellular connection, etc.

[0050] Back to the Fig. 1 , a current operational profile is present in the emulated SIM card. As discussed above, such an operational profile comprises data allowing the user equipment UE to access the radiocommunications network 100 when the operational profile in question is activated in the user equipment UE. In particular, the current operational profile comprises a unique identifier of the user equipment UE, i.e. an identifier which is different for each user equipment UE connected to the network 100. Such a unique identifier (e.g. an IMSI number) allows the network 100 to send messages intended only for the user equipment UE as well as to identify the origin of messages sent by different user equipment UEs.

[0051] The subscription of the user equipment UE has been terminated with the network operator 100. However, the current operational profile is still activated in the user equipment UE. In this way, the user equipment UE, as long as its energy resources allow it to do so, continues to send to the network 100 requests of the type: attachment request, authentication request, location update request, etc. This generates an unnecessary load on the network 110.

[0052] However, the user equipment UE and the network 100 are configured to implement the method of activating an operational profile as described below in relation to the Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b And Fig. 2c In this way, the load on the 100 network remains under control.

[0053] We now present, in relation to the Fig. 2a the steps of a method of activating an operational profile installed in the user equipment UE of the Fig. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. Phase P1 : Obtaining the passive operational profile

[0054] During a step P1E200, the network 100 creates a passive operational profile. When activated in the user equipment UE, such a passive operational profile: prohibits the user equipment UE from sending to the network 100 one (or more) location update requests (“Location Update Request” in English) and / or one (or more) requests for attachment to the network 100 (“Attachment Request” in English); and authorizes the user equipment UE to receive one (or more) paging messages comprising a unique identifier of the user equipment (eg an IMSI number).

[0055] Thus, the activation of such a passive operational profile at the user equipment UE level makes it possible to prohibit certain requests and thus reduce the load on the network 100. However, the network 100 retains the possibility of communicating with the user equipment UE. In this sense, the user equipment UE adopts a passive behavior from the point of view of the network 100.

[0056] In some embodiments, the passive operational profile: also requires the user equipment UE to reject any request sent by the network 100 via a message other than the paging message(s) comprising the unique identifier of the user equipment UE; and / or also prohibits the user equipment UE from requesting a detachment from the network 100, such a detachment involving a forgetting by the network 100 (via e.g. a memory erasure) of the unique identifier of the user equipment UE.

[0057] Thus, the activation of the passive operational profile according to these embodiments makes it possible to further minimize the load of the network 100 via the absence of response to requests from the network 100. Furthermore, the prohibition of performing a detachment from the network 100 makes it possible to guarantee that the network 100 will retain the means of communicating with the user equipment UE via knowledge of the unique identifier of the user equipment UE (eg the IMSI number of the user equipment UE).

[0058] Back to the Fig. 2a , during a step P1E210, network 100 sends (eg via a message according to the OTA protocol (for “Over The Air” in English) as defined in the GSMA consortium standard document: « Remote Provisioning Architecture for Embedded UICC Technical Specification V4.0» of February 2019) the passive operational profile to the user equipment UE (eg via a functional module OSM (for “On-Demand Subscription Manager” in English) of the network 100). The user equipment UE thus obtains the passive operational profile via a reception of the passive operational profile sent by the network 100.

[0059] In other embodiments, the user equipment UE does not receive the passive operational profile sent by the network 100. The passive operational profile is for example pre-installed by default in the embedded card of the user equipment UE. Phase P2 : Activation of the passive operational profile

[0060] Back to the Fig. 2a , during a step P2E200, the user equipment UE receives a request, transmitted by the network 100, to deactivate the current operational profile.

[0061] During a step P2E210,the user equipment UE performs a step of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile.

[0062] According to this embodiment, the implementation of step P2E210 by the user equipment UE is induced by the reception of the request to deactivate the current operational profile. In other embodiments described below, in particular in relation to the Fig. 2b And Fig. 2c , the implementation of step P2E210 by the user equipment UE is induced by other conditions.

[0063] In some embodiments, the step P2E210 of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile comprises the redefinition of a reset operational profile from the current operational profile to the passive operational profile. In other words, the passive operational profile becomes the default operational profile, e.g. the operational profile that is activated by default during a reset (or reset) of the user equipment UE. For example, such a step P2E210 of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile is implemented according to a protocol called “Fallback Mechanism” according to the GSM ESIM M2M standard (for “Global System for Mobile communications Association Embedded Subscriber Identity Module for Machine to Machine” in English). Phase P3 : Deleting the current operational profile disabled

[0064] Back to the Fig. 2a , during a step P3E200,the network 100 sends, to the user equipment UE, a deletion request (eg via a message according to the OTA protocol) inducing the implementation of a step P3E210 by the user equipment UE. In step P3E210 the user equipment UE deletes the current operational profile upon receipt of the deletion request. In this way, the radiocommunications network operator ensures that no data related to the user equipment's previous subscription remains within the user equipment.

[0065] In some embodiments, step P3E200 is not implemented and the user equipment UE performs step P3E210 of deleting the current operational profile after implementing step P2E210 of deactivating the current operational profile. In this case, the user equipment UE performs step P3E210 without waiting for a specific request to this effect from the network 100. Thus, no data linked to the previous subscription of the user equipment remains within the user equipment even if the operator of the radiocommunications network does not request it.

[0066] In other embodiments, phase P3 as described above (according to any of the aforementioned embodiments) is not implemented and the current operational profile is not deleted after being deactivated. This is for example the case when a phase P4 as described below in connection with the Fig. 2d is implemented.

[0067] We now present, in relation to the Fig. 2b certain steps of the process of activating an operational profile installed in the user equipment of the Fig. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the embodiment of the Fig. 2b concerns the steps of phase P2 of activation of the passive operational profile.

[0068] According to this embodiment, during a step P2E220, the user equipment UE sends to the network 100 an attachment request. However, as discussed above in relation to the Fig. 1 , the user equipment UE is no longer subscribed to the network 100. Thus, during a step P2E230,the network 100 sends to the user equipment UE a message representative of a connection failure of the user equipment UE in response to the attachment request. Following receipt of the message in question, the user equipment UE is able to send a new attachment request which will also induce a connection failure and so on. However, following receipt of a predetermined number of messages representative of a connection failure, the step P2E210 of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile is implemented so as to limit the load of the network 100. According to this embodiment, the user equipment is autonomous for the activation of the passive operational profile.

[0069] In certain variants, such an embodiment of phase P2 is combinable with the embodiments of phase P1 and / or phase P3 described above in relation to the Fig. 2a. In other variants, such an embodiment of phase P2 is combinable with the embodiments of phase P1 described above in relation to the Fig. 2a and / or phase P4 described below in relation to the Fig. 2d .

[0070] We now present, in relation to the Fig. 2c certain steps of the process of activating an operational profile installed in the user equipment of the Fig. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the embodiment of the Fig. 2c concerns the steps of phase P2 of activation of the passive operational profile.

[0071] According to this embodiment also, phase P2 comprises step P2E200 during which the user equipment UE receives a request, transmitted by the network 100, to deactivate the current operational profile.

[0072] However, in the embodiment of the Fig. 2c, the user equipment UE receives such a request while no passive operational profile is installed in the user equipment UE. This situation results for example from the fact that step P1E210 implemented previously during a phase P1 (according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments) was not successful, for example because the data received by the user equipment UE are of too poor quality due to the radio propagation conditions.

[0073] In this way, during a step P2E240,the user equipment UE sends to the network 100 a request to obtain the passive operational profile. In response to the request in question, the network implements step P1E210 of sending the passive operational profile to the user equipment UE. The user equipment UE thus obtains the passive operational profile via a reception of the passive operational profile sent by the network 100. The user equipment UE implements step P2E210 of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile (according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments).

[0074] In certain variants, such an embodiment of phase P2 is combinable with the embodiments of phase P1 and / or phase P3 described above in relation to the Fig. 2a . In other variants, such an embodiment of phase P2 is combinable with the embodiments of phase P1 described above in relation to the Fig. 2a and / or phase P4 described below in relation to the Fig. 2d .

[0075] We now present, in relation to the Fig. 2d certain steps of the process of activating an operational profile installed in the user equipment of the Fig. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. Phase P4 : Reactivation of the current disabled operational profile

[0076] This embodiment applies in the case where phase P3 (according to any of the aforementioned embodiments) described above in relation to the Fig. 2a is not implemented. In other words, phase P4 applies where appropriate when the current operational profile is not deleted from the user equipment UE once deactivated.

[0077] So, during a step P4E200,the network 100 sends, to the user equipment UE, a paging message comprising the unique identifier of the user equipment UE. The paging message further comprises a data field inducing the implementation of a step P4E210 by the user equipment UE. More particularly, during step P4E210 the user equipment UE deactivates the passive operational profile and reactivates the current operational profile. According to this embodiment, the implementation of step P4E210 by the user equipment UE is induced by the reception of the request to deactivate the passive operational profile. Thus, the network has control over the reactivation of the current operational profile previously deactivated in favor of the passive operational profile.

[0078] In some embodiments, the step P4E210 of deactivating the passive operational profile and reactivating the current operational profile comprises redefining the reset operational profile from the passive operational profile to the current operational profile. In other words, the current operational profile becomes the default operational profile again, e.g. the operational profile that is activated by default during a reset (or reset) of the user equipment UE. For example, such a step P4E210 of deactivating the current operational profile and activating the passive operational profile is implemented according to a protocol called “Fallback Mechanism” according to the GSM ESIM M2M standard (for “Global System for Mobile communications Association Embedded Subscriber Identity Module for Machine to Machine” in English).

[0079] Such embodiments of phase P4 are combinable with the embodiments of phases P1 and P2 described above in relation to the Fig. 2a, 2b And 2c .

[0080] We now present, in relation to the Fig. 3 an example of a device structure 300 for implementing certain steps of the method for activating an operational profile of the Figs. 2a to 2d according to one embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the device 300 makes it possible to implement all or part of the steps of the method for activating an operational profile as implemented within the user equipment UE.

[0081] The device 300 comprises a random access memory 303 (for example a RAM memory), a processing unit 302 equipped for example with a processor, and controlled by a computer program stored in a read-only memory 301 (for example a ROM memory or a hard disk). At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program are for example loaded into the random access memory 303 before being executed by the processor of the processing unit 302. This Fig. 3 illustrates only one particular way, among several possible ones, of producing the device 300 so that it carries out certain steps of the method of activating an operational profile according to the invention (according to any one of the embodiments and / or variants described above in relation to the Figs. 2a to 2d). Indeed, these steps can be carried out indifferently on a reprogrammable computing machine (a PC computer, a DSP processor or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions, or on a dedicated computing machine (for example a set of logic gates such as an FPGA or an ASIC, or any other hardware module).

[0082] In the case where the device 300 is produced with a reprogrammable computing machine, the corresponding program (i.e. the sequence of instructions) may be stored in a removable storage medium (such as for example a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB key) or not, this storage medium being partially or totally readable by a computer or a processor.

[0083] In some embodiments, the device 300 is included in the user equipment UE. We will now present, in connection with the Fig. 4an example of a device structure 400 for implementing certain steps of the method for activating an operational profile of the Figs. 2a to 2d according to one embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the device 400 makes it possible to implement all or part of the steps of the method for activating an operational profile as implemented within the network 100.

[0084] The device 400 comprises a random access memory 403 (for example a RAM memory), a processing unit 402 equipped for example with a processor, and controlled by a computer program stored in a read-only memory 401 (for example a ROM memory or a hard disk). At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program are for example loaded into the random access memory 403 before being executed by the processor of the processing unit 402. This Fig. 4illustrates only one particular way, among several possible ones, of producing the device 400 so that it carries out certain steps of the method of activating an operational profile according to the invention (according to any one of the embodiments and / or variants described above in relation to the Figs. 2a to 2d ). Indeed, these steps can be carried out indifferently on a reprogrammable computing machine (a PC computer, a DSP processor or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions, or on a dedicated computing machine (for example a set of logic gates such as an FPGA or an ASIC, or any other hardware module).

[0085] In the case where the device 400 is produced with a reprogrammable computing machine, the corresponding program (i.e. the sequence of instructions) may be stored in a removable storage medium (such as for example a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB key) or not, this storage medium being partially or totally readable by a computer or a processor.

[0086] In some embodiments, the device 400 is included in a device of the network 100, e.g. in a node of the network 100.

Claims

1. Method for activating an operational profile installed in a user device (UE) which is accessible to a radiocommunication network (100), said operational profile comprising data which allows said user device to access said radiocommunication network when said operational profile is activated in said user device, characterised in that said user device carries out a step (P2E210) of deactivating a current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile, said passive operational profile: - preventing said user device from sending to said radiocommunication network at least one location update request and / or at least one attachment request to said radiocommunication network.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said user device receives (P2E200) a request, transmitted by said radiocommunication network, to deactivate said current operational profile, said step (P2E210) of deactivating a current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile being implemented in response to said deactivation request.

3. Method according to claim 1 wherein said user device: - sends (P2E220), to said radiocommunication network, an attachment request; and - receives (P2E230) a message representative of a connection failure from said user device, said message representative of a connection failure being sent by said radiocommunication network in response to said attachment request, said sending of an attachment request repeated a predetermined number of times delivering a predetermined number of messages representative of a connection failure, said step (P2E210) of deactivating a current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile being implemented in response to the receipt of said predetermined number of messages representative of a connection failure.

4. Method according to claim 1 wherein said user device: - receives (P2E200) a request, transmitted by said radiocommunication network, to deactivate said current operational profile; - sends (P2E240) to said radiocommunication network a request to obtain said passive operational profile, said request to obtain said passive operational profile being sent upon receipt of said request to deactivate said current operational profile; and - receives (P1E210) said passive operational profile sent by said radiocommunication network in response to said request to obtain said passive operational profile.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said user device receives (P1E210) said passive operational profile sent by said radiocommunication network.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said user device receives (P4E200) a radio-paging message, sent by said radiocommunication network, comprising a unique identifier for said user device and a data field causing, by said user device, a deactivation (P4E210) of said passive operational profile and a reactivation of said current operational profile.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said user device deletes (P3E210) said current operational profile after said deactivation of said current operational profile.

8. Method according to claim 7 wherein said user device receives (P3E200) a deletion request, sent by said radiocommunication network, causing, by said user device, said deletion (P3E210) of said current operational profile.

9. Method for activating an operational profile installed in a user device (UE) which is accessible to a radiocommunication network (100), said operational profile comprising data which allows said user device to access said radiocommunication network when said operational profile is activated in said user device, characterised in that said network sends (P2E200), to said user device, a request to deactivate a current operational profile, said deactivation request causing at said user device the implementation of a step (P2E210) of deactivating said current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile, said passive operational profile: - preventing said user device from sending to said radiocommunication network at least one location update request and / or at least one attachment request to said radiocommunication network.

10. Method according to claim 9 wherein said network: - creates (P1E200) said passive operational profile; and - sends (P1E210) said passive operational profile to said user device.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10 wherein said network sends (P4E200), to said user device, a radio-paging message comprising a unique identifier for said user device and a data field causing, by said user device, the implementation of a step (P4E210) of deactivating said passive operational profile and reactivating said current operational profile.

12. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said passive operational profile: - allows said user device to receive at least one radio-paging message comprising a unique identifier for said user device; - requires that said user device rejects any request sent by said radiocommunication network via a message other than said at least one radio-paging message comprising said unique identifier for said user device; and / or - prevents said user device from requesting a detachment from said radiocommunication network.

13. Computer program product comprising program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 12, when said program is executed on a user device.

14. Device (300) for activating an operational profile installed in a user device (UE) which is accessible to a radiocommunication network (100), said operational profile comprising data which allows said user device to access said radiocommunication network when said operational profile is activated in said user device, characterised in that it comprises a reprogrammable computing machine (302) or a dedicated computing machine configured to carry out a step of deactivating a current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile, said passive operational profile: - preventing said user device from sending to said radiocommunication network at least one location update request and / or at least one attachment request to said radiocommunication network.

15. Device (400) for activating an operational profile installed in a user device (UE) which is accessible to a radiocommunication network (100), said operational profile comprising data which allows said user device to access said radiocommunication network when said operational profile is activated in said user device, characterised in that it comprises a reprogrammable computing machine (402) or a dedicated computing machine configured to send, to said user device, a request to deactivate a current operational profile, said deactivation request causing at said user device the implementation of a step of deactivating said current operational profile and activating a passive operational profile, said passive operational profile: - preventing said user device from sending to said radiocommunication network at least one location update request and / or at least one attachment request to said radiocommunication network.

16. Computer program product comprising program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 9 to 11 and 12, when said program is executed on a network device.