Local Profile Manager for eUICC Remote Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication systems, especially with eUICC terminals, remote management of SIM profiles is challenging when the terminal cannot be controlled, and there is no manager profile server information, leading to difficulties in installing, enabling, or disabling profiles efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow a terminal to receive a remote profile management command, identify if the command can be handled, and switch to a local management command if necessary, enabling remote management of SIM profiles even without a manager profile server, by using a transceiver and controller to handle and transmit the management commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote profile management command is used, then profile management can be performed remotely, but it fails when terminal cannot be controlled or manager profile server information is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local profile manager as an intermediary component that mediates between the remote profile management command and the eUICC. When the terminal cannot be controlled directly, the local profile manager receives and processes the remote commands locally, ensuring continuous profile management capability without requiring direct terminal control or manager profile server information.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the terminal to execute remote commands directly (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by having the local profile manager on the eUICC side process the commands independently. This reversal enables profile management to proceed even when the terminal cannot be controlled, as the management function is pushed to the eUICC layer rather than relying on terminal-level execution.
2Reliability
If manager profile server information is required, then secure remote management is achieved, but profile management becomes impossible without such information
Solution Approach 1:
The local profile manager is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple scenarios: it can process remote profile management commands both when manager profile server information is available and when it is not. This universal design enables the system to adapt to different operational contexts without requiring the presence of specific server information, thereby improving flexibility while maintaining security through appropriate authentication mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If terminal control is required for profile management, then precise control is achieved, but management fails when terminal is inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the local profile manager on the eUICC with the necessary capabilities to handle remote profile management commands independently. This preparation ensures that when the terminal becomes inaccessible, the profile management function can continue operating without interruption, as the local manager is already in place and ready to process commands without requiring real-time terminal control.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a communication technique for combining IoT technology with a 5G communication system for supporting a data transmission rate higher than that of a beyond-4G system, and a system therefor. The disclosure is applicable to intelligent services based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology (for example, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars or connected cars, health care, digital education, retail businesses, security and safety-related services). At least one processor receives a remote management command from a profile server, determines if the remote management command can be handled, performs the received remote management command, switches the remote management command to a local management command if necessary according to the result of performing the remote management command, and controls the transceiver so as to transmit the result of performing the remote management command or the local management command to the profile server.