Network Device Cellular Switching With Remote SIM Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network devices require frequent SIM card changes due to location shifts, data quota exhaustion, or SIM card failures, necessitating efficient and seamless SIM management solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving two wireless communication modules (WCMs) and a SIM bank, allowing for multiple cellular connections using local and remote SIM profiles, enabling efficient SIM switching and data connection management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple physical SIM cards are used for different locations and data quotas, then network access reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a remote SIM profile stored on a server as a virtual copy of a physical SIM card. This remote SIM profile contains all necessary authentication credentials (IMSI, key pairs) to access cellular networks, eliminating the need for multiple physical SIM cards. The system downloads and installs these virtual SIM profiles onto local SIM cards or eSIMs, providing the same network access functionality without the physical hardware complexity of managing multiple SIM cards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote SIM server as an intermediary between the network device and multiple cellular networks. This server stores and manages multiple SIM profiles, acting as a central repository that can provision different SIM credentials to the device as needed. The device communicates with this intermediary to obtain appropriate SIM profiles for different locations and data quotas, simplifying the device's own SIM management architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical SIM cards are frequently swapped, then adaptability to different locations and data quotas is improved, but loss of time and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual copies of SIM card functionality through remote SIM profiles that can be digitally downloaded and installed. Instead of physically swapping SIM cards, the device downloads SIM profile data over the network and installs it locally. This digital copying process takes seconds compared to the manual physical swapping process, dramatically reducing the time required to change SIM credentials while maintaining full adaptability to different locations and carriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote SIM server pre-stores multiple SIM profiles ready for deployment. When the device needs to switch to a different location or data quota plan, the appropriate SIM profile is already prepared and can be instantly downloaded and installed. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for physical SIM card handling and reduces the time required for SIM changes to merely a download and installation process.
3Device complexity
If a single SIM card is used, then device simplicity is improved, but reliability and adaptability to different locations deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal SIM management system where a single device architecture can handle multiple SIM profiles and wireless communication modules. The system includes a SIM manager that can provision different SIM credentials to the same device, and a wireless communication module that can switch between different cellular networks. This multi-functional design allows one device to perform the work of multiple devices with different physical SIM cards, maintaining simplicity while achieving reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote SIM server acts as an intermediary that enables a single device to access multiple cellular networks. By storing and managing multiple SIM profiles on the server, the system allows one device to download and use different SIM credentials as needed. This intermediary approach maintains device simplicity (only one physical SIM slot needed) while providing the reliability of multiple network access options through the server-mediated profile management.
4Ease of operation
If remote SIM profiles are downloaded and installed, then physical SIM swapping is reduced, but data connection and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical SIM card swapping process with a digital data download and installation process. Instead of physically removing and inserting SIM cards, the system downloads SIM profile data (authentication credentials) over the network and installs it in the device's memory or eSIM chip. This substitution of mechanical action with digital data processing simplifies the user operation (no physical handling) while requiring data connection management capabilities for downloading and installing the profiles.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method and system for sending data to and receiving data from a cellular network at a network device. Network device may establish a first cellular connection by using a first wireless communication module (WCM) and a first local Subscriber Identification Module (SIM). After a first data connection is established with the SIM bank via the first cellular connection, a first SIM profile is downloaded from the SIM bank. A second cellular connection is established by using a second WCM and the first SIM profile. After a second data connection is established with the SIM bank via the second cellular connection, disconnecting the first cellular connection. Finally, establishing a third cellular connection by using a third WCM and the first local SIM, and establishing a third data connection with the SIM bank.