Pre-generated eSIM Assignment via Broker Architecture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for large-scale distribution of eSIMs to mobile devices during product launches face bottlenecks and inefficiencies, as they require significant processing overhead during device activation, degrading user satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Innovation Solution

eSIMs are pre-generated with basic information during the manufacturing stage and later assigned to mobile devices in a three-stage process involving a factory broker, client profile agent, and server broker, allowing for efficient assignment and activation without the need for extensive processing during device activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If eSIMs are generated and assigned during mobile device activation, then eSIM delivery can be completed, but processing overhead increases and activation speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveeSIM delivery throughputVSAvoiddevice activation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating eSIMs during the manufacturing stage and storing them in a secure database associated with the device identifier, rather than generating them during activation. This shifts the processing workload from the activation moment to the manufacturing phase, enabling faster activation while maintaining security through encrypted storage and authenticated retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If eSIMs are generated during device activation, then security can be maintained through authentication, but processing overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveeSIM securityVSAvoidactivation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the eSIM generation and processing logic from the device activation process itself, placing it instead in the manufacturing phase and secure database system. This separation removes the computational burden and complexity from the activation flow, leaving only simple retrieval and installation operations, while security is maintained through encrypted storage and authentication mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Speed

If eSIMs are pre-generated during manufacturing, then activation speed improves, but initial setup complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation speedVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal secure database system that serves multiple functions: storing pre-generated eSIMs, managing device identifiers, handling authentication, and supporting large-scale deployment. This multi-functional infrastructure, while complex in manufacturing setup, simplifies subsequent activation processes and enables standardized eSIM delivery across many devices simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4037357B1Pre-personalization of esims to support large-scale esim delivery
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 APPLE INC
  • EP4037357B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4037357B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4037357B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Representative embodiments described herein set forth techniques for optimizing large-scale deliveries of electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) to mobile devices. Specifically, instead of generating and assigning eSIMs when mobile devices are being activated-which can require significant processing overhead-eSIMs are pre-generated with a basic set of information, and are later-assigned to the mobile devices when they are activated. This can provide considerable benefits over conventional approaches that involve generating and assigning eSIMs during mobile device activation, especially when new mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, etc.) are being launched and a large number of eSIM assignment requests are to be fulfilled in an efficient manner.