LwM2M-Triggered Secure Element Updates to Reduce Wireless Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for updating secure elements in telecommunication networks, such as UICCs, are inefficient and cause unnecessary wireless traffic and overburdening of OTA platforms due to regular polling without updates, and lack differentiation between urgent and non-urgent tasks, leading to potential rejection of critical updates.

Innovation Solution

Implementing the LwM2M protocol to trigger polling messages through a LwM2M channel, using a counter-encrypted token for secure communication, allowing secure elements to establish a https channel only when updates are available, reducing unnecessary connections and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If regular polling is performed by security elements to check for updates, then updates can be received, but unnecessary wireless traffic and platform overburdening occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate deliveryVSAvoidwireless traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional polling architecture by introducing an intermediary OTA platform that actively manages update distribution. Instead of security elements continuously polling the network, the OTA platform receives updates from content providers and proactively pushes them to security elements when available, eliminating unnecessary polling traffic while ensuring reliable update delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If security elements regularly query the OTA platform, then updates can be detected, but the OTA platform is overburdened with unnecessary connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate availabilityVSAvoidplatform load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The OTA platform serves as an intermediary between content providers and security elements. It receives update information from content providers, processes it, and then selectively pushes updates to security elements. This intermediary role eliminates the need for security elements to directly poll the network, reducing platform load while maintaining update availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If polling is performed frequently to ensure timely updates, then update latency is reduced, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate latencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic update checks only when necessary, triggered by the OTA platform when updates are available. Security elements transition to low-power states between update events, eliminating continuous polling while ensuring timely update reception when updates actually exist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Productivity

If all update tasks are treated with equal priority, then simple updates can be processed, but critical updates may be rejected due to platform overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate processing volumeVSAvoidcritical update delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements differentiated update handling where critical updates receive priority processing. The OTA platform identifies update urgency and applies different processing qualities: critical updates are immediately pushed to security elements with high priority, while non-critical updates are handled during lower-load periods or queued appropriately, ensuring reliable delivery of important updates even under platform load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4399890B1A method for updating a secure element cooperating with a telecommunication terminal
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 THALES DIS FRANCE SA
  • EP4399890B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4399890B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4399890B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns a method for updating a secure element (34) cooperating with a telecommunication terminal (30) in a telecommunication network, the updating being performed by an OTA server (32), the method comprising: Sending from the OTA server (32) to the secure element (34) a trigger of polling message through a LwM2M channel, in order to ask to the secure element (34) to establish a https channel with the OTA server (32), the OTA server (32) updating the secure (34) element through the https channel after establishment of the https channel.