Default APN Access for M2M Profile Download
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for initializing user equipment (UE) devices in wireless networks are inefficient, particularly for machine-to-machine (M2M) devices, as they require extensive network traffic and resource consumption, and involve complex processes for SIM integration and user activation, leading to challenges in onboarding and resource management.
Innovation Solution
The use of a default network access key allows UE devices to initiate communication with a dedicated access point name (APN), enabling the M2M activation system to automatically generate and provision a subscription identification profile (SIDP), reducing the need for backend checks and simplifying the onboarding process by leveraging embedded universal integrated circuit cards (eUICC) with blank templates for storing SIDPs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional SIM integration and user activation processes are used for M2M devices, then network security and authentication are maintained, but network resource consumption increases and onboarding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-provisioning M2M devices with default network access keys during manufacturing, before the devices are activated. This allows the devices to automatically attach to the network and download their subscription profiles without requiring extensive backend authentication processes, thereby reducing network resource consumption while maintaining security through the pre-configured keys.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the authentication process into two distinct phases: initial network attachment using default network access keys, and subsequent profile download using subscription-specific credentials. This segmentation allows the heavy authentication overhead to occur only once during profile download, while routine network operations use the lightweight default keys, reducing ongoing network resource consumption.
2Reliability
If traditional SIM integration and user activation processes are used for M2M devices, then proper subscriber identification is ensured, but onboarding process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling M2M devices to automatically perform their own onboarding process. Devices with blank eUICCs automatically attach to the network using default keys, receive their subscription profiles without user intervention, and then operate independently. This eliminates the need for manual SIM integration and customer support interaction, simplifying the onboarding process while ensuring proper subscriber identification through automated profile provisioning.
3Reliability
If manual activation and customer support interaction are required, then proper service provisioning is ensured, but user interaction time and activation delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring default network access keys in devices during manufacturing. This allows devices to immediately attach to the network and initiate automated profile downloads without waiting for manual activation, significantly reducing activation time while maintaining reliable service provisioning through the structured profile delivery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service automation where devices automatically complete their own activation by downloading profiles from the HSS using their default keys. This eliminates the need for customer support interaction entirely, reducing activation time from potentially days to minutes, while ensuring proper service provisioning through the automated profile provisioning system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method including determining whether a subscriber identification profile (SIDP) is stored within a UE; sending an initial attach request along with a default network access key to a MME, upon determining that the SIDP is not stored; receiving a first authorization in response to the initial attach request, the first authorization restricts connectivity of the UE to an M2M activation system accessed by a dedicated APN associated with the default network access key; receiving, from a subscription management system, a SIDP generated by the M2M activation system; detaching from the M2M activation system and the network; sending a second attach request to the network based on the received SIDP; and receiving a second authorization to the network in response to the second attach request; the second authorization provides unrestricted APN connectivity and access to services associated with the subscriber identification profile.