Operational Profile Management for IoT Subscription Renewal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The manual and labor-intensive process of renewing or migrating mobile network subscriptions for communication devices, including mobile phones and IoT devices, is inefficient, particularly when subscription expirations occur, as it requires manual registration and provisioning of new information.

Innovation Solution

A system that identifies operational profiles for multiple devices, assigns and provisions these profiles, enabling devices to automatically switch between subscription services by converting operational profiles to bootstrap profiles and back, facilitating over-the-air (OTA) communications for subscription management and renewal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual provisioning process is used for subscription renewal, then service continuity can be maintained, but labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting subscription expiration status and initiating profile conversion processes before service interruption occurs. The network device proactively converts operational profiles to bootstrap profiles and provisions new profiles in advance, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing time consumption while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automating the entire subscription renewal process through network device operations. The network device autonomously detects expired subscriptions, converts profiles, provisions new profiles, and updates devices without requiring manual human intervention, thereby reducing labor intensity and time consumption while ensuring reliable service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual provisioning process is used for subscription renewal, then service continuity can be maintained, but labor intensity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidlabor intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical manual provisioning process with automated electronic operations. Network devices use electronic profile conversion and OTA (over-the-air) provisioning mechanisms to automate subscription renewal, eliminating manual labor while maintaining service continuity through systematic automated processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If operational profiles are converted to bootstrap profiles automatically, then subscription renewal efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubscription renewal efficiencyVSAvoidprofile management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses network devices as intermediaries to manage profile conversions and provisioning operations. Rather than requiring complex automated operations within each communication device, the network device serves as a mediator that handles profile conversion to bootstrap profiles and coordinates OTA provisioning, thereby improving subscription renewal efficiency while containing device complexity within the network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If automated profile provisioning is implemented, then productivity improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubscription renewal efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses network devices as intermediaries to manage profile conversions and provisioning operations. Rather than requiring complex automated operations within each communication device, the network device serves as a mediator that handles profile conversion to bootstrap profiles and coordinates OTA provisioning, thereby improving subscription renewal efficiency while containing system complexity within the network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11381658B2Managing devices through use of blocks of operational profiles

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a plurality of operational profiles that are to be shared by a plurality of devices; assigning a first operational profile of the plurality of operational profiles to a first device of the plurality of devices; assigning a second operational profile of the plurality of operational profiles to a second device of the plurality of devices; facilitating provision of the first operational profile on the first device; and facilitating provision of the second operational profile on the second device. Other embodiments are disclosed.