Cross-Platform eSIM Profile Transfer via Entitlement Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implementations of User Equipment (UE) embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) operations face challenges in interoperability between different operating systems and protocol stacks, particularly when transferring eSIM profiles across platforms.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an apparatus with processing circuitry that facilitates cross-platform eSIM profile transfers by executing different protocol stacks, performing authentication operations, generating tokens, and requesting eSIM profiles from an entitlement server, thereby enabling seamless transfers between devices with varying operating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different protocol stacks are used for different operating systems, then each OS can optimize for its specific requirements, but interoperability between platforms becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protocol translation components as intermediaries that bridge different protocol stacks. When a source device uses a first protocol stack and a target device uses a second protocol stack, translation components convert messages between the incompatible protocols, enabling seamless communication without requiring both devices to use the same protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The entitlement server is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple protocol types. It can receive requests using different protocol stacks, translate them to a unified internal representation, process the eSIM profile transfer, and send responses using the appropriate protocol for the target device, thus serving multiple protocol requirements through a single system.
2Ease of operation
If eSIM profile transfer is implemented across different platforms, then user mobility is improved, but the complexity of the transfer process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protocol translation functionality from the individual device protocol stacks and places it in the entitlement server. This centralizes the complexity management in the server, allowing client devices to maintain their native protocol stacks while the server handles the cross-protocol communication overhead, thus reducing client-side complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The entitlement server acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of protocol translation and profile transfer coordination. It receives profile transfer requests from source devices, translates between different protocol stacks, validates the transfer entitlements, and delivers profiles to target devices, thereby simplifying the overall process for end users.
3Reliability
If authentication operations are performed for each protocol stack, then security is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication of the source device with the entitlement server before the actual eSIM profile transfer begins. The source device authenticates once to receive a temporary token, which is then used for subsequent profile transfer operations. This preliminary authentication step establishes security credentials upfront, avoiding repeated authentication delays during the transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
Once the source device is authenticated and receives a temporary token from the entitlement server, the token is reused for all subsequent profile transfer operations including protocol translation and profile delivery. This continuous use of the authentication token eliminates the need for repeated authentication operations, maintaining security while reducing processing time throughout the entire transfer workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus configured to engage in an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) profile transfer process to receive at a target device, executing a first operating system (OS) that implements a first protocol stack related to eSIM profile transfers, an eSIM profile from a source device executing a second OS that implements a second protocol stack related to eSIM profile transfers to the target device, wherein the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack are different, process, based on signals received from the source device, a token for transferring the eSIM profile, generate, for transmission to an enablement server, a request for the eSIM profile, wherein the request comprises the token and process, based on signals received from the enablement server, the eSIM profile.