External Subscription Management for Mobile Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing subscriptions on mobile end devices are inflexible, as they typically support only one active subscription and require complex, predefined settings, failing to adapt to changing network conditions or user requirements effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where an external subscription management device, potentially an external server, controls the management of subscriptions on a mobile end device, allowing for dynamic selection and activation of subscriptions based on real-time quality-of-service parameters, enabling remote management and preselection of suitable network subscriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple subscriptions are supported on a mobile end device, then adaptability to changing network conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An external subscription management device is introduced as an intermediary between the mobile end device and multiple subscriptions. This external device handles the complexity of managing multiple subscriptions, quality of service determination, and subscription selection, while the mobile end device only needs to communicate with this external manager. This resolves the contradiction by externalizing the complexity while maintaining adaptability through multiple subscriptions.
2Reliability
If subscription settings are predefined, then reliability of subscription management is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The subscription management system operates autonomously through predefined quality of service parameters, subscription criteria, and automatic selection algorithms. The external subscription management device automatically determines quality of service, selects appropriate subscriptions, and manages activation without requiring user intervention. This maintains reliability through consistent automated decision-making while improving ease of operation by eliminating complex manual configuration.
3Ease of operation
If remote subscription management is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Subscription management functionalities are extracted from the mobile end device and placed in an external subscription management device. The external device handles subscription downloading, activation, deactivation, and quality of service determination, while the mobile end device simply receives instructions to activate or use specific subscriptions. This extraction improves ease of operation by enabling remote management while containing system complexity in the external management infrastructure rather than in the end device.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method for managing (virtual) subscriptions on a security element (20) for a mobile end device (10) comprises the following steps: for each subscription (70; 71; 72) of a plurality of subscriptions a quality of service is determined (S6). On the basis of the qualities of service determined for the individual subscriptions a subscription is selected (S7). The selected subscription is subsequently downloaded if required and activated or enabled for a data communication of the end device (10) with a corresponding communication partner. The method is characterized in that the managing of the subscriptions is controlled at least partly by an external subscription management device (70) which is distinct from the security element (20) and the end device (10).