Policy-Based Multi-Profile SIM Switching for IoT Network Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems for UEs face challenges in efficiently switching between different wireless networks due to loss of connectivity or detection of higher priority networks, requiring additional protocols or user intervention for profile changes.
Innovation Solution
A policy-based multi-profile SIM that proactively switches between different authentication profiles within a UE based on predefined conditions, using existing standards like STK and USAT, enabling seamless network transitions without additional implementation or user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing wireless communication systems use traditional single-profile SIMs, then device complexity is low, but network switching capability and adaptability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The SIM card is segmented into multiple independent authentication profiles (first profile, second profile, third profile) that can be selectively activated. Each profile contains complete authentication credentials for different wireless networks, allowing the system to switch between profiles without requiring complex reconfiguration or additional hardware components.
2Productivity
If manual profile switching is used, then device complexity remains low, but loss of time increases due to user intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The SIM card autonomously monitors network connectivity status and automatically selects alternative profiles without user intervention. When connectivity to the current network is lost or degraded, the SIM card independently evaluates available profiles and initiates switching procedures, eliminating the need for manual user input and reducing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple authentication profiles are pre-loaded and stored on the SIM card during manufacturing or initial provisioning. This preliminary preparation ensures that when network switching is needed, the system can immediately activate alternative profiles without requiring real-time configuration or additional data retrieval, significantly reducing switching time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional protocols are implemented for profile switching, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages existing universal SIM card standards and telephony functions to achieve profile switching. By utilizing standard authentication mechanisms and network selection procedures that are already part of mobile communication infrastructure, the system avoids implementing proprietary switching protocols, thereby maintaining compatibility with existing devices and networks while achieving multi-profile capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A device, such as a Subscriber Identification Module (“SIM”) device, may maintain a set of profiles that each include a respective set of authentication credentials for connecting to one or more wireless networks. The device may maintain a set of policies associating respective events with respective profiles of the set of profiles, may receive an indication of a particular event, and may identify, based on the set of policies, that the particular event is associated with a particular profile. The device may select the particular profile as an active profile, and may output a refresh command after selecting the particular profile as the active profile. The device may receive, based on outputting the refresh command, a request for the active profile, and may output, based on the request for the active profile, the set of authentication credentials associated with the selected particular profile.