Cellular Credential Transfer Error Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for transferring cellular service account credentials between devices often encounter errors, such as device crashes or user interruptions, which require additional time to recover from and can lead to incomplete or failed transfers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of error recovery mechanisms that allow for partial credential transfers during the initial setup phase, with status and information storage on the target device for subsequent completion, and redirecting users to network-based servers for authentication and authorization, enabling seamless transfer of SIM/eSIM credentials between devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If error recovery mechanisms are implemented to allow partial credential transfers and subsequent completion, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The credential transfer process is divided into distinct phases: initial transfer of credential data to create a pending plan, and subsequent completion phase where the actual eSIM download occurs. This segmentation allows the system to recover from errors by resuming at the appropriate phase without requiring complete re-transfer, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through structured process division.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by transferring credential information and creating a pending plan during the initial setup phase, storing necessary data locally on the target device. This preliminary credential data transfer enables subsequent completion without repeating the entire transfer process, improving reliability through error recovery capability while keeping the overall mechanism manageable through staged execution.
2Loss of time
If status and information are stored on the target device for subsequent completion, then loss of time is reduced, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary approach by storing credential information in a pending plan state with encrypted or tokenized data on the target device, rather than storing complete credential secrets. The actual eSIM download is triggered later through authorized interaction with the MNO provisioning server, which validates the pending plan and delivers the actual credential data. This intermediary mechanism reduces setup time by preparing transfer metadata locally while maintaining security by requiring server authentication for actual credential delivery.
3Reliability
If users are redirected to network-based servers for authentication and authorization, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically handling server redirection, authentication token exchange, and authorization verification without requiring manual user intervention. When a pending plan is detected, the target device automatically contacts the MNO provisioning server, presents the stored credential information, and completes the eSIM download in the background. This automated self-service approach maintains high authentication reliability through server validation while preserving ease of operation by eliminating manual authentication steps from the user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate to mechanisms for error recovery during transfer of cellular service credentials between two mobile wireless devices. Transfer of credentials includes communication between a source device, a target device, and/or one more network-based servers. Authentication can be based on one or more tokens obtained by the source device and provided to the target device. Error recovery can include using redirection to different servers, providing alternative information for authentication, and storage and subsequent retrieval of information to restart or complete a credential transfer process.