IoT Device Line Sharing via eSIM Provisioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Internet of Things (IoT) devices lack the capability to share communication lines and accounts with other devices, limiting their ability to receive and send cellular communications seamlessly, as they are not initially associated with a telecommunications service provider or communication address at the point of sale.
Innovation Solution
Provisioning IoT devices with device and line sharing capabilities by programming an embedded SIM (eSIM) card using a mobile device, allowing them to share a subscriber account and communication address with related devices, enabling them to receive and initiate cellular communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IoT devices are not initially associated with a telecommunications service provider or communication address at the point of sale, then they can be deployed without activation procedures, but they lack the capability to share communication lines and accounts with other devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary provisioning actions by pre-configuring the eSIM card with a profile that includes a communication address and subscriber account information before the IoT device is deployed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for post-deployment activation procedures and enables immediate device and line sharing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a provisioning server as an intermediary that facilitates the association between IoT devices and telecommunications service providers. The server manages the provisioning process, including generating communication addresses, creating subscriber accounts, and configuring eSIM cards, thereby simplifying the overall system complexity while enabling adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If eSIM cards are programmed remotely without physical access, then device provisioning is simplified, but authentication and security verification become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the provisioning server receives authentication responses from the eSIM card after remote programming attempts. The server verifies the authenticity of the eSIM card and the validity of provisioning requests, providing feedback to confirm successful authentication before completing the provisioning process. This ensures security and reliability while maintaining ease of remote operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provisioning device and/or line sharing capabilities to Internet of Things (IoT) devices is described. A first device can provide first data associated with an identifier to a second device (e.g., an IoT device) and can send, to server(s), a request to provision a subscriber account and/or a communication address of the first device to the second device. The first request can include the first data. The second device can receive the first data and can provide second data associated with the identifier to the server(s). The server(s) can compare the first data and the second data. Based on determining the first data and the second data include the identifier, the server(s) can provision device and/or line sharing capabilities to the second device to enable the second device to send and/or receive communications associated with the subscriber account and/or the communication address.