E-SIM Profile Management for Seamless Service Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile communication terminals face inconvenience when switching between different mobile communication service providers, as they need to physically acquire and manage SIM cards, especially when traveling or accessing services in foreign countries, due to limited service availability and high fees without contracts.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that enable terminals to download, install, and manage profiles for communication services online, allowing users to select and use different SIMs remotely, including features like event notification, exception list management, and automatic event expiration handling, to facilitate seamless service switching and reduce resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users physically acquire and manage SIM cards for different service providers, then service availability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to manual SIM card changes and management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidease of SIM card management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses profile download and installation to create a virtual copy of SIM card functionality. Instead of physically changing SIM cards, the terminal downloads profile data (which contains service provider information and authentication credentials) and installs it to simulate the presence of a physical SIM card, thereby eliminating manual SIM card management while maintaining service availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical SIM card insertion and removal with an automated digital system. The terminal automatically downloads, installs, and manages profiles through software processes, substituting the mechanical action of physically handling SIM cards with electronic operations that are more convenient and less complex for users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users physically acquire SIM cards for foreign services, then service accessibility is improved, but loss of time and ease of operation worsen due to travel to physical stores and manual activation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidtime for SIM card acquisition

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary action by allowing users to download and install profiles before actually needing them. Users can proactively acquire service profiles for foreign countries in advance, storing them in the terminal so that when travel is needed, the service is already available without requiring last-minute trips to physical stores for SIM card acquisition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates digital copies of service provider profiles that can be transmitted and installed remotely. Instead of requiring physical presence at service provider locations to obtain SIM cards, the terminal downloads profile data (a digital copy containing all necessary service information) through communication networks, eliminating travel time while maintaining service accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of information

If terminals continuously check for events and updates, then service freshness is improved, but resource consumption increases due to frequent network access and processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice information freshnessVSAvoidterminal resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by establishing event-driven notification mechanisms where the terminal checks for updates only when specific events occur (such as profile installation completion, service activation, or user requests). This replaces continuous checking with periodic, event-triggered checks that maintain information freshness while significantly reducing network access frequency and resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service through automatic event notification and profile management systems. The network infrastructure and service providers automatically notify the terminal when events occur (such as new services available, profile updates, or activation status changes), eliminating the need for the terminal to continuously poll for updates and reducing resource consumption while keeping service information current

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11589212B2Method and apparatus for managing event in communication system

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a terminal including a transceiver; and at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor transmits a first message which makes a request for an event to a subscription relay server, receives event-related information from the subscription relay server in response to the first message, transmits a second message which makes a request for an event to a profile provision server, based on the event-related information, and controls the transceiver to receive information related to event processing from the profile provision server in response to the second message.