Electronic information storage medium, switching control method, and switching control program

Abstract

To provide a switching control program, a switching control method, and an electronic information storage medium that can reduce the burden on a user due to eSIM switching.SOLUTION: A control unit 27 of a wireless communication device 2 monitors the communication status in wireless communication, and automatically switch the eSIM profile that is set to be active among the plurality of eSIM profiles stored in an IC module 3 when there is a predetermined change in the communication status.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of a wireless communication device equipped with an eUICC that stores profiles required for wireless communication for each of a plurality of different communication carriers. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, wireless communication devices such as smartphones have been configured to use a universal integrated circuit card (hereinafter referred to as "UICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card)") that provides access to a wireless communication network provided by a communication carrier (telecommunication operator). The UICC typically takes the form of a small removable card (e.g., a subscriber identity module (hereinafter referred to as "SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)" card) inserted into a wireless communication device, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, but in recent years, an embedded UICC called eUICC (embedded UICC) has become widespread. The eUICC is distinguished from a conventional removable UICC in that it is soldered to the system board of the wireless communication device. In the eUICC, a replicable eSIM (embedded UIM module) that emulates a typical SIM architecture is embedded in the eUICC in a switchable manner for each communication carrier that operates the wireless communication network. Each eSIM has a profile required for the wireless communication service provided by the respective communication carrier (i.e., a profile required for wireless communication). By switching the eSIM (i.e., switching the profile), it is possible to change the communication carrier without replacing the eUICC on the wireless communication device. Currently, two types of eUICC have been defined as standard specifications: one for m2m (IoT devices, etc.) and one for consumers (smartphones, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5149516 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the eUICC for consumers, the eSIM is switched according to the explicit operation of the user. For example, in Japan, the eSIM of one communication carrier is switched to the eSIM of another communication carrier according to the user's operation, or when the user travels abroad, the user incorporates the eSIM of the communication carrier of the destination in the eUICC in advance, and the eSIM is switched according to the user's operation after traveling. In recent years, private LTE and local 5G, which communicate using 4G (fourth generation communication method) and 5G (fifth generation communication method) bands in local environments, are being put into practical use. The wireless communication network of private LTE and local 5G is constructed by an operating entity such as an individual or company other than a communication carrier, for example, in the building of the operating entity. If such technology becomes widespread, it is also expected that the eUICC will be used in such a way that the eSIM is switched according to the user's operation when moving from a local environment to an environment of a general communication carrier, or the eSIM is switched according to the user's operation when moving from a local environment to another local environment. However, if the eSIM switching described above is performed in accordance with a user's operation every time, it is expected that the burden on the user will be heavy.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide an electronic information storage medium, a switching control method, and a switching control program that can reduce the burden on users caused by switching eSIMs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is an electronic information storage medium mounted on a wireless communication device, which stores a plurality of profiles necessary for the wireless communication device to perform wireless communication and is capable of setting any one of the profiles to active, characterized in that the electronic information storage medium comprises: a request means for requesting a control unit of the wireless communication device to monitor the communication status of the wireless communication device; a receiving means for receiving notification information from the control unit when the control unit determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication status, notifying the change; and a switching means for analyzing the notification information and switching the profile to be set to active.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the electronic information storage medium described in claim 1, each of the profiles is a profile of a subscriber identity module, the electronic information storage medium pre-stores a priority of using the subscriber identity module for each subscriber identity module, and the switching means switches the profile of a currently active subscriber identity module to the profile of the subscriber identity module having the highest priority among the subscriber identity modules used in currently available wireless communication.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the electronic information storage medium described in claim 1, each of the profiles is a profile of a subscriber identity module, the notification information indicates the communication volume for each subscriber identity module, which is the communication volume of data transmitted and received via wireless communication in a predetermined period of the past, and the switching means switches the profile of the currently active subscriber identity module to the profile of the subscriber identity module having the least communication volume among the currently available subscriber identity modules used in wireless communication.

[0009] The invention described in claim 4 is an electronic information storage medium mounted on a wireless communication device, the electronic information storage medium storing a plurality of profiles required for the wireless communication device to perform wireless communication, and a computer included in the electronic information storage medium capable of setting any one of the profiles to be active. but a step of requesting a control unit of the wireless communication device to monitor a communication status of the wireless communication device; a step of receiving notification information notifying a predetermined change in the communication status from the control unit when the control unit determines that the communication status has changed; and a step of analyzing the notification information and switching a profile to be set as active. Execute It is characterized by:

[0010] The invention described in claim 5 is an electronic information storage medium mounted on a wireless communication device, which stores a plurality of profiles necessary for the wireless communication device to perform wireless communication and is capable of setting any one of the profiles to active, and is characterized in that the computer contained in the electronic information storage medium functions as a request means for requesting a control unit of the wireless communication device to monitor the communication status of the wireless communication device, a receiving means for receiving notification information from the control unit when the control unit determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication status, notifying the change, and a switching means for analyzing the notification information and switching the profile to be set to active. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on users caused by switching eSIMs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system S. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a communication device 2 and an IC module 3. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an application installed in an IC module 3. [Figure 4]FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an eSIM switching operation in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an eSIM management list managed by an eSIM management App in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a monitoring setting operation in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an eSIM switching operation in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a communication system.

[0014] [1. Overview of communication system S] First, a schematic configuration of a communication system S according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of the communication system S. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system S includes a server 1, a wireless communication device 2 (an example of a wireless communication device), and an IC module 3 (an example of an electronic information storage medium). Note that, in the example of FIG. 1, one each of the server 1, the wireless communication device 2, and the IC module 3 is shown, but in reality, there are a plurality of each. Here, the server 1 is, for example, a server for providing wireless communication services to the wireless communication device 2 via a communication network NW. The wireless communication device 2 is, for example, a mobile terminal (mobile machine) such as a smartphone. The IC module 3 is an eUICC mounted (for example, soldered) on a board so that it cannot be easily removed or replaced from the wireless communication device 2.

[0015] The communication network NW includes wireless communication networks (mobile networks including wireless communication facilities such as wireless base stations) operated by multiple operating entities. Here, the operating entities include communication carriers (mobile carriers), as well as individuals and companies other than communication carriers. Wireless communication networks operated by operating entities other than communication carriers are private LTE and local 5G wireless communication networks, and use part of the wireless communication facilities of communication carriers.

[0016] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the wireless communication device 2 and the IC module 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication device 2 is configured to include an I / F unit 21, a wireless communication unit 22, a storage unit 23, an operation / display unit 24, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 25, a beacon receiving unit 26, and a control unit 27. The I / F unit 21 serves as an interface with the IC module 3. Examples of this interface include SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), I 2 C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), or ISO7816 interface. 2 C is a serial communication interface, and in particular, SPI uses a full-duplex serial communication protocol that performs bidirectional communication simultaneously. On the other hand, the ISO7816 interface is a communication interface defined by ISO7816-2 (a communication interface that uses eight terminals C1 to C8). Through the I / F unit 21, communication is performed between the control unit 27 and the IC module 3 according to, for example, an APDU (Application Protocol Data Unit) protocol.

[0017] The wireless communication unit 22 is a communication device for connecting to the communication network NW, and includes a modem for detecting a wireless base station of the wireless communication network. As a result, the wireless communication unit 22 modulates data specified by the control unit 27 and transmits the radio waves (carrier waves) to the wireless base station via an antenna, and also receives radio waves from the wireless base station via an antenna, demodulates them, and extracts data to transmit to the control unit 27.

[0018] The storage unit 23 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile memory, and stores an operating system and application programs (including the switching control program of the present invention). This application program installs an eSIM management application (hereinafter referred to as "eSIM management App") in the control unit 27 for managing a list of eSIMs (hereinafter referred to as "eSIM management list") provided (issued) by each of a plurality of operating entities and performing various processes. The eSIM management App is provided, for example, as a part of an LPD (Local Profile Download) function. The eSIM has a profile required for wireless communication services (i.e., a profile required for wireless communication), and is stored in the IC module 3. In the following description, an eSIM provided by a communication carrier is referred to as a public eSIM, and an eSIM provided by an operating entity other than a communication carrier is referred to as a local eSIM.

[0019] The storage unit 23 also stores an eSIM management list used by the eSIM management app. In the eSIM management list, the identifier (ID) of the operator, the unique identifier of the eSIM provided by the operator, the communication volume related to wireless communication, the priority of using the eSIM, and information indicating whether the eSIM is set to active are registered in association with each eSIM (profile). Here, the communication volume related to wireless communication refers to the communication volume (i.e., the total volume of data transmitted and received by wireless communication) in a predetermined past period (e.g., one month). In this manner, the communication volume related to wireless communication is managed for each eSIM and updated successively. Note that the eSIM management list may register location information of an area in which an eSIM is used in association with the identifier of the eSIM. Such an area may be a wide area such as a country, or a narrow area such as the premises of a facility such as a factory. For example, location information within the premises of a factory or the like in which a local eSIM is used (which may be location information of an entrance / exit of the premises) is registered in association with the identifier of the local eSIM.

[0020] The operation / display unit 24 includes an operation unit for receiving input from a user, and a display unit having a display for displaying information. The GPS receiver 25 receives navigation radio waves output from a GPS satellite, and detects the current position (latitude and longitude) of the wireless communication device 2. The detected position information indicating the current position is output to the control unit 27. The beacon receiver 26 receives radio waves called beacons (e.g., radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band) emitted from a radio wave transmitter installed at a predetermined location. The beacon carries, for example, an identifier of a specific eSIM. The receivable range of the beacon is set to within, for example, several meters (e.g., 5 m) from the beacon receiver 26. Note that radio waves other than Beacons may also be used.

[0021] The control unit 27 is composed of, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) (one example of a computer), a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM). The eSIM management app causes the CPU of the control unit 27 to function as a communication means and a control means in the present invention. Specifically, the eSIM management app uses the profile of the eSIM that is set to active (i.e., enabled) to connect to the communication network NW (the wireless communication network of the operator corresponding to the profile) via the wireless communication unit 22 to perform wireless communication. Then, the eSIM management app monitors the communication status in the wireless communication (i.e., the communication status of the wireless communication device 2), and when it determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication status, the eSIM management app switches the profile of the eSIM that is set to active to the IC module 3. For example, the eSIM management app switches the eSIM profile by transmitting an eSIM switching request (including the identifier of the eSIM to be switched) to the IC module 3. Alternatively, the eSIM management app switches the eSIM profile by transmitting notification information notifying the above change to the IC module 3. Note that switching an eSIM profile is synonymous with switching an eSIM.

[0022] Here, the communication status in wireless communication means at least one of the communication location (also called communication environment) where wireless communication is performed, the strength (also called radio wave status) of radio waves (radio waves from a wireless base station or a beacon from a radio wave transmitter) at the communication location, and the communication volume related to wireless communication. For example, the eSIM management app acquires location information indicating the current location of the wireless communication device 2 from the GPS receiver 25, and when it detects that the wireless communication device 2 has moved to a predetermined location based on the acquired location information, it determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication status. The predetermined location is a location (which may be a point or an area) indicated by location information registered in advance by the eSIM management app. Such a location is identified, for example, from location information of an area where a local eSIM registered in the eSIM management list is used.

[0023] When the eSIM management app detects that the wireless communication device 2 has moved to a predetermined location, the app switches the profile of the currently active eSIM (i.e., set to active) to, for example, a profile of a local eSIM. For example, the eSIM management app selects a local eSIM as a switching target, and transmits a switching request including an identifier of the selected eSIM to the IC module 3. Alternatively, the eSIM management app transmits notification information (including, for example, an identifier of a local eSIM to cause the IC module 3 to select an eSIM to be switched) notifying that the wireless communication device 2 has moved into an area in which the local eSIM is available to the IC module 3. Note that when the eSIM management app detects that the wireless communication device 2 has moved from the predetermined location (e.g., moved outside the area) based on the position information acquired from the GPS receiver 25, the app may switch the currently active local eSIM profile to a profile of another eSIM (e.g., a public eSIM).

[0024] Alternatively, when the eSIM management app detects that a beacon emitted from a radio wave transmitter installed in a predetermined location (for example, an entrance / exit of a building where a local eSIM is used) has been received, the eSIM management app determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation. In this case, the eSIM management app switches the profile of the currently active eSIM to the profile of the local eSIM associated with the identifier extracted from the beacon. For example, the eSIM management app selects a local eSIM as the target for switching, and transmits a switching request including the identifier of the selected eSIM to the IC module 3, or transmits notification information to the IC module 3 notifying that the wireless communication device 2 has entered a building where a local eSIM is used.

[0025] Alternatively, when the eSIM management app detects radio waves corresponding to a local eSIM from a wireless base station, the app determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation. In this case, the eSIM management app switches the profile of a currently active eSIM (e.g., a public eSIM) to the profile of the local eSIM. For example, the eSIM management app selects a local eSIM as a switching target and transmits a switching request including an identifier of the selected eSIM to the IC module 3, or transmits notification information to the IC module 3 notifying that the wireless communication device 2 has received radio waves corresponding to a local eSIM. Note that, when the eSIM management app detects radio waves corresponding to a local eSIM having a higher priority than the currently active eSIM from a wireless base station, the app may determine that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation and switch the profile of the currently active eSIM to the profile of the local eSIM. In this case, after switching to the local eSIM profile, if the eSIM management app no ​​longer detects radio waves corresponding to the local eSIM from the wireless base station, it may switch back to the eSIM profile before the switch.

[0026] Alternatively, when the eSIM management app detects that the amount of communication related to wireless communication using the profile of the currently active eSIM (i.e., the currently used wireless communication) has exceeded a threshold, the eSIM management app determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication status. In this case, the eSIM management app switches the profile of the currently active eSIM to the profile of an eSIM whose amount of communication related to wireless communication is less than the threshold. For example, the eSIM management app selects an eSIM whose amount of communication related to wireless communication is less than the threshold as the switching target, and transmits a switching request including the identifier of the selected eSIM to the IC module 3, or transmits notification information notifying the IC module 3 that the amount of communication related to wireless communication has exceeded the threshold.

[0027] Alternatively, when the eSIM management app detects that the wireless communication currently in use has become unavailable (out of range), it determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation. In this case, the eSIM management app switches the profile of the eSIM with the highest priority or the eSIM with the lowest communication volume among the eSIMs used in the wireless communication currently available (within range) to the profile to be set as active. For example, the eSIM management app selects the eSIM with the highest priority or the eSIM with the lowest communication volume as the switching target, and transmits a switching request including the identifier of the selected eSIM to the IC module 3, or transmits notification information to the IC module 3 notifying that the wireless communication currently in use has become unavailable.

[0028] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the IC module 3 is configured to include an I / F unit 31, a RAM 32, a ROM 33, an NVM (Nonvolatile Memory) 34, and a CPU 35 (an example of a computer). The I / F unit 31 serves as an interface with the wireless communication device 2 (that is, the control unit 27). The NVM 34 is a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. The NVM 34 may be an "Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory". The ROM 33 or the NVM 34 stores an operating system and application programs (including the switching control program of the present invention). The application programs install an ISD-P (Issuer Security Domain -Profile), an ISD-R (Issuer Security Domain -Root), and the like in the IC module 3.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of applications installed in the IC module 3. In Fig. 3, ISD-P is an application that manages eSIM profiles provided (issued) by operators and stored in NVM 34, and is divided for each operator. ISD-R is an application for performing processes such as setting one of multiple eSIM profiles (eSIMa, eSIMb, eSIMc, etc.) to active (i.e., enabling the eSIM profile). Note that the eSIM profile stores programs that specify communication methods and authentication methods related to wireless communication, as well as key data, setting data, etc. used for authentication.

[0030] The ISD-R makes the CPU 35 function as the request means, the receiving means, and the switching means of the present invention. Specifically, when the ISD-R receives a switching request from the eSIM management App, it switches the profile of the currently active eSIM to the profile of the eSIM specified by the identifier included in the switching request. Alternatively, the ISD-R requests the control unit 27 of the wireless communication device 2 to monitor the communication status of the wireless communication device 2 (in other words, monitors the surrounding environment), and when the control unit 27 determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication status, it receives notification information notifying the change from the control unit 27, analyzes the notification information, and switches the profile of the eSIM to be set active. In this case, the ISD-R selects an eSIM to be switched to, and switches the profile of the currently active eSIM to the profile of the selected eSIM. For example, if wireless communication has been performed using eSIMa, but radio waves corresponding to eSIMa cannot be confirmed, and radio waves corresponding to eSIMb can be confirmed, a process of switching from the currently used eSIMa to eSIMb is executed. In this case, if there are multiple eSIMs that can be switched, the ISD-R may select the eSIM to be switched to, for example, using the priority of the eSIMs saved when each eSIM was downloaded.

[0031] [2. eSIM switching operation] Next, the eSIM switching operation will be described in a first embodiment and a second embodiment.

[0032] Example 1 First, an eSIM switching operation in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The first embodiment takes as an example a case in which an eSIM switching command (switching request) is transmitted from the control unit 27 to the IC module 3 when the currently used wireless communication becomes unavailable. Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the eSIM switching operation in the first embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an eSIM management list managed by the eSIM management App in the first embodiment.

[0033] In the eSIM management list shown in Fig. 5, identifiers of communication carriers (Company X and Company Y), identifiers of eSIMs provided by the communication carriers, communication volume related to wireless communication, and information indicating whether the eSIM is set to active are associated with each eSIM and registered. Note that in the example of Fig. 5, Company X provides two types of wireless communication services with different frequency bands, so the identifiers of eSIMs corresponding to each of the two types of wireless communication services are registered in the eSIM management list. Also, Company Y provides three types of wireless communication services with different frequency bands, so the identifiers of eSIMs corresponding to each of the three types of wireless communication services are registered in the eSIM management list.

[0034] In FIG. 4, when the eSIM management App of the control unit 27 detects that the currently used wireless communication (wireless communication using the eSIMa profile in the example of FIG. 5) has become unavailable (out of range) and determines that there has been a predetermined change in the communication situation (step S1), it extracts an eSIM to be used for the currently available (within range) wireless communication from the eSIM management list (step S2). For example, eSIMc, eSIMd, and eSIMe are extracted from the eSIM management list shown in FIG. 5. Note that the eSIM to be used for the currently available wireless communication may be specified based on, for example, a comparison between location information acquired from the GPS receiving unit 25 and location information of the area in which the eSIM is used (in this case, location information of the area in which the eSIM is used is registered in advance in the eSIM management list). That is, an eSIM that can be used in the area including the current location of the wireless communication device 2 is specified.

[0035] Next, the eSIM management App of the control unit 27 selects, as a switching target, an eSIM with the least amount of communication related to wireless communication among the eSIMs extracted in step S2 (step S3). For example, eSIMd with the least amount of communication is selected among eSIMc, eSIMd, and eSIMe. Note that, in step S3, if one eSIM cannot be identified as a switching target (for example, if there are multiple eSIMs with the least amount of communication), an eSIM with the highest priority among the multiple extracted eSIMs may be selected as a switching target (in this case, the priority of using the eSIM is registered in advance in the eSIM management list). Alternatively, as another example of step S3, the newest eSIM or the first eSIM found among the eSIMs extracted in step S2 may be selected as a switching target.

[0036] Next, the eSIM management App of the control unit 27 transmits a switching command including the identifier of the eSIM selected as the switching target in step S3 to the IC module 3 through the I / F unit 21 (step S4). When the ISD-R of the IC module 3 receives the switching command from the control unit 27, it switches the profile of the currently active eSIM to the profile of the eSIM identified by the identifier included in the switching command (step S5). As a result, the profile of the eSIM identified by the identifier included in the switching command is set to active. Next, the ISD-R of the IC module 3 transmits a response (including SW9000) indicating normal termination to the control unit 27 through the I / F unit 31 (step S6).

[0037] In step S1, the eSIM management app may obtain location information indicating the current location of the wireless communication device 2 from the GPS receiver 25, and may determine that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation by detecting that the current location has moved to a location indicated by previously registered location information. In this case, the eSIM management app skips step S2 and proceeds to step 3, where it selects an eSIM identified by an identifier associated with the registered location information from the eSIM management list as an eSIM to be switched. Alternatively, in step S1, the eSIM management app may determine that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation by detecting that a beacon emitted from a radio wave transmitter installed at the entrance of a building where a local eSIM is used has been received. In this case, the eSIM management app skips step S2 and proceeds to step 3, where it selects an eSIM identified by an identifier extracted from the beacon from the eSIM management list as an eSIM to be switched.

[0038] Example 2 Next, an eSIM switching operation in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. The second embodiment takes as an example a case where, when the wireless communication currently in use becomes unavailable, notification information notifying that the wireless communication currently in use becomes unavailable is transmitted from the control unit 27 to the IC module 3. Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a monitoring setting operation in the second embodiment, and Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an eSIM switching operation in the second embodiment. Note that, in the second embodiment, an eSIM management App that uses an eSIM management list does not necessarily have to be used.

[0039] 6, when power is supplied to the wireless communication device 2 or a reset button provided on the wireless communication device 2 is pressed, the control unit 27 transmits a reset command (start command) to the IC module 3 through the I / F unit 21 (step S11). When the ISD-R of the IC module 3 receives the reset command from the control unit 27, it transmits a response (ATR) to the control unit 27 through the I / F unit 31 (step S12).

[0040] Next, when the control unit 27 receives a response (ATR) from the IC module 3, it transmits a Terminal Profile command to the IC module 3 through the I / F unit 21 (step S13). When the ISD-R of the IC module 3 receives the Terminal Profile command from the control unit 27, it transmits a response (including SW91XX) indicating that there is a Proactive command to the control unit 27 through the I / F unit 31 (step S14).

[0041] Next, when the control unit 27 receives a response (including SW91XX) from the IC module 3, it transmits a fetch command requesting a proactive command to the IC module 3 via the I / F unit 21 (step S15). When the ISD-R of the IC module 3 receives the fetch command from the control unit 27, it transmits a proactive command indicating a request to monitor the communication status (SET UP EVENT LIST) to the control unit 27 via the I / F unit 31 (step S16).

[0042] Next, when the control unit 27 receives the proactive command from the IC module 3, it registers EVENT_DOWNLOAD_LOCATION_STATUS to perform monitoring settings (step S17). This starts monitoring the communication status in wireless communication, and when a predetermined change occurs in the communication status (when a change occurs in Local Information, etc.), it transmits an envelope command to the IC module 3. Next, the control unit 27 transmits a terminal response to the IC module 3 through the I / F unit 21 (step S18). When the ISD-R of the IC module 3 receives the terminal response from the control unit 27, it transmits a response (including SW9000) indicating normal termination to the control unit 27 through the I / F unit 31 (step S19).

[0043] 7, when control unit 27 detects that the currently used wireless communication has become unavailable and determines that a predetermined change has occurred (step S20), it transmits an envelope command indicating EVENT_DOWNLOAD_LOCATION_STATUS to IC module 3 via I / F unit 21 (step S21). When ISD-R of IC module 3 receives the envelope command from control unit 27, it transmits a response (including SW91XX) indicating that there is a proactive command to control unit 27 via I / F unit 31 (step S22).

[0044] Next, when the control unit 27 receives a response (including SW91XX) from the IC module 3, it transmits a fetch command requesting a proactive command to the IC module 3 via the I / F unit 21 (step S23). When the ISD-R of the IC module 3 receives the fetch command from the control unit 27, it transmits a proactive command indicating Provide location information to the control unit 27 via the I / F unit 31 in order to obtain more detailed information (step S24).

[0045] Next, when the control unit 27 receives the proactive command from the IC module 3, it transmits a terminal response including notification information (for example, local information including identifiers of each eSIM used in the currently available wireless communication) notifying that the currently used wireless communication has become unavailable to the IC module 3 through the I / F unit 21 (step S25). When the ISD-R of the IC module 3 receives the terminal response from the control unit 27, it analyzes the notification information included in the terminal response and switches the profile of the eSIM that is set to be active (step S26). Next, the ISD-R of the IC module 3 transmits a response (including SW9000) indicating normal termination to the control unit 27 through the I / F unit 31 (step S27).

[0046] For example, in step S26, the ISD-R selects the eSIM with the highest priority (the priority saved when each eSIM was downloaded) among the eSIMs used in currently available wireless communication as the eSIM to be switched to, and switches to the profile of the selected eSIM. As a result, the profile of the eSIM with the highest priority is set as active. Alternatively, the eSIM with the least amount of communication traffic related to wireless communication among the eSIMs used in currently available wireless communication may be selected (in this case, the communication traffic is included in the above-mentioned Local Information). Alternatively, the newest eSIM or the first eSIM found among the eSIMs used in currently available wireless communication may be selected.

[0047] In step S20, the control unit 27 may determine that a predetermined change has occurred by detecting that the communication volume related to the currently used wireless communication has exceeded a threshold. In this case, in step S25, the control unit 27 transmits a terminal response including notification information (e.g., local information including an identifier of each eSIM used in the currently available wireless communication and the communication volume related to the wireless communication) notifying that the communication volume related to the currently used wireless communication has exceeded a threshold to the IC module 3 through the I / F unit 21. Then, in step S26, the ISD-R selects an eSIM with the least communication volume related to wireless communication as a switching target among the eSIMs used in the currently available wireless communication, and switches to the profile of the selected eSIM.

[0048] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the control unit 27 of the wireless communication device 2 monitors the communication status in wireless communication, and when a predetermined change occurs in the communication status, the eSIM profile to be set as active among the multiple eSIM profiles stored in the IC module 3 is automatically switched. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user caused by switching eSIMs when changing the operating entity (e.g., communication carrier) depending on, for example, the location (area) where the wireless communication device 2 is located or the communication volume related to the wireless communication of the wireless communication device 2.

[0049] In the above embodiment, an IC module 2 mounted on a base so that it cannot be easily removed or replaced from the wireless communication device 2 has been used as an example of an electronic information storage medium of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be applied to an IC card that is detachable from the wireless communication device 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Server 2. Wireless communication devices 3 IC Module 21 I / F section 22 Wireless Communication Section 23 Memory section 24 Operation / display section 25 GPS receiver 26 Beacon receiver 27 Control Unit 31 I / F section 32 RAM 33 ROM 34 NVM 35 CPU S Communication System

Claims

1. An electronic information storage medium to be mounted on a wireless communication device, the electronic information storage medium storing a plurality of profiles necessary for the wireless communication device to perform wireless communication and capable of setting any one of the profiles to active, comprising: a requesting means for requesting a control unit of the wireless communication device to monitor a communication status of the wireless communication device; a receiving means for receiving, when the control unit determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation, notification information notifying the change from the control unit; A switching means for analyzing the notification information and switching the profile to be set as active; An electronic information storage medium comprising:

2. each said profile is a subscriber identity module profile; the electronic information storage medium stores in advance a priority for using the subscriber identity module for each of the subscriber identity modules; The electronic information storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching means switches the profile of a currently active subscriber identity module to the profile of the subscriber identity module having the highest priority among the subscriber identity modules used in currently available wireless communication.

3. each said profile is a subscriber identity module profile; The notification information indicates a communication volume for each of the subscriber identity modules, the communication volume being data transmitted and received by wireless communication during a past predetermined period of time; The electronic information storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching means switches the profile of the currently active subscriber identity module to the profile of the subscriber identity module that has the least amount of communication among the subscriber identity modules used in currently available wireless communication.

4. A computer included in an electronic information storage medium mounted on a wireless communication device, the computer storing a plurality of profiles necessary for the wireless communication device to perform wireless communication and capable of setting any one of the profiles to active, the computer comprising: a step of requesting a control unit of the wireless communication device to monitor a communication status of the wireless communication device; receiving notification information from the control unit when the control unit determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation; A step of analyzing the notification information and switching the profile to be set as active; A switching control method comprising the steps of:

5. A computer included in an electronic information storage medium mounted on a wireless communication device, the electronic information storage medium storing a plurality of profiles necessary for the wireless communication device to perform wireless communication and capable of setting any one of the profiles to be active, a requesting means for requesting a control unit of the wireless communication device to monitor a communication status of the wireless communication device; a receiving means for receiving, when the control unit determines that a predetermined change has occurred in the communication situation, notification information notifying the change from the control unit; a switching control program that functions as a switching means for analyzing the notification information and switching the profile that is set to be active;

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