eUICC Subscription Transfer With EAP-AKA Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transferring a subscription from an existing electronic device to a new electronic device without a physical UICC slot is challenging, and existing authentication methods like OPEN ID or SMS-OTP are inconvenient due to the need for additional user entry.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) facilitates subscription transfer by connecting with an external device, identifying transferable subscription information, requesting authentication from a server, and transmitting the authentication result to the external device, using an extensible authentication protocol for secure transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a physical UICC slot is used for subscription transfer, then the subscription can be transferred by inserting a physical SIM card, but the device structure becomes more complex and cannot support devices without a physical slot (e.g., eSIM devices)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the physical UICC slot from the device structure and replaces it with an embedded eUICC system. The eUICC stores subscription information internally without requiring a physical card slot, enabling subscription transfer through wireless communication while simplifying the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses eUICC to create a digital copy of the physical SIM card functionality. The eUICC contains the same authentication information and can be remotely provisioned with subscription profiles, allowing subscription transfer without moving a physical card between devices.
2Reliability
If existing authentication methods like OPEN ID or SMS-OTP are used for subscription transfer, then authentication can be performed, but additional user entry is required which makes the process inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service authentication where the eUICC automatically performs authentication using its stored credentials. The system uses the eUICC's inherent authentication capability to verify the device's identity without requiring users to manually enter codes or passwords, making the process seamless and convenient.
3Ease of operation
If subscription information is transferred without secure authentication, then the transfer process is simplified, but security risks increase and authentication information may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs authentication verification as a preliminary action before transferring subscription information. The eUICC first authenticates the device's identity and authorization status with the network operator, and only after successful verification does it proceed with the subscription transfer, ensuring security is established before any data exchange occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, an electronic device may comprise at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) each storing at least one subscriber identity information and at least one processor electrically connected to the eUICC. The at least one processor may control to connect with an external electronic device through communication, receive a subscription information request for subscription transfer from the external electronic device, identify at least one transferable subscription information from profile information stored in the eUICC, in response to the reception of the subscription information request, transmit the identified at least one transferable subscription information to the external electronic device, receive to-be-transferred subscription information selected from among the at least one transferable subscription information from the external electronic device, request a server to authenticate the to-be-transferred subscription selected by the external electronic device, receive information corresponding to a result of the authentication from the server, in response to the request for the authentication, and transmit information for subscription transfer including the information corresponding to the authentication result to the external electronic device.