IMSI Management for UICC Roaming Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices often face challenges when operating outside their home network service region due to restrictions on long-term roaming, making it difficult to access mobile services in foreign countries or regions where roaming is not permitted or feasible.
Innovation Solution
The method involves managing the distribution of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and authentication keys to Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICCs) of mobile devices, allowing them to register with new network operators through Over-The-Air (OTA) messaging, enabling seamless access to mobile services without user intervention by selecting appropriate IMSI and authentication keys based on the device's mode of operation, such as reseller or agency mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If roaming is used to enable communications in out of service regions, then mobile service accessibility is improved, but service continuity is worsened when long-term roaming is not permitted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the IMSI stored in the UICC based on the device's operational mode (roaming mode vs. reseller/agency mode). When in roaming mode, the original IMSI is used; when in reseller/agency mode, a different IMSI is provisioned. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain service continuity by switching between different identity configurations depending on the operational context and roaming restrictions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a new IMSI is provided to overwrite the existing IMSI in the UICC, then registration with target network operators is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically selects and provisions the appropriate IMSI configuration based on the device's operational mode without requiring manual user intervention. The network element automatically determines whether to provision a new IMSI to overwrite the existing one or to use the existing IMSI, thereby simplifying the user experience while managing the complexity of multi-mode IMSI management in the background.
3Reliability
If automatic IMSI switching is implemented, then service continuity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-provisions multiple IMSI configurations in the UICC before the device needs to switch modes. When a mode change is detected, the appropriate pre-configured IMSI is activated without requiring real-time complex calculations or data transmissions. This preliminary preparation simplifies the switching process and reduces the complexity of real-time IMSI management.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, responsive to a mode of operation being a reseller mode, providing a second international mobile subscriber identity to a mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to store the second international mobile subscriber identity in the universal integrated circuit card and to cause the mobile communication device to delete the first international mobile subscriber identity from the universal integrated circuit card. Responsive to the mode of operation being an agency mode, a third international mobile subscriber identity and authentication keys can be provided to the mobile communication device to cause the mobile communication device to store the third international mobile subscriber identity and the authentication keys in the universal integrated circuit card without deleting the first international mobile subscriber identity from the universal integrated circuit card. Other embodiments are disclosed.