Shared eSIM Pool Management for Seamless UE Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Physical subscriber identity modules (pSIMs) pose risks of mechanical damage and increased device size, while eSIMs lack ease of transferability between user equipment (UEs).
Innovation Solution
A framework for sharing embedded subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) among multiple UEs, preserving ICCID and MSISDN associations, with an eSIM sharing manager to facilitate seamless transfer and usage restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a physical SIM (pSIM) is used, then ease of transferability between UEs is improved, but device size and mechanical damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the physical SIM card from the device and replaces it with an embedded SIM (eSIM) that is integrated into the device's hardware. This eliminates the need for a physical SIM tray and card, thereby reducing device size and eliminating mechanical damage risk while maintaining the ability to transfer subscriber identity between devices through remote provisioning of eSIM profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the concept of copying by allowing multiple UEs to access and use the same eSIM profile through remote provisioning. Instead of physically transferring a SIM card, the system creates and transfers digital copies of the eSIM profile to different devices, enabling ease of transferability without requiring physical movement of a SIM card.
2Volume of moving object
If an embedded SIM (eSIM) is used, then device size and mechanical damage risk are reduced, but ease of transferability between UEs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the eSIM sharing manager that tracks the current location and usage status of eSIM profiles across multiple UEs. This feedback enables the system to automatically manage profile transfers, determine when a profile should be moved between devices, and coordinate the transfer process, thereby restoring ease of transferability while maintaining the compact eSIM form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an eSIM sharing manager as an intermediary system that facilitates transferability between UEs. This manager acts as a mediator that stores eSIM profiles, manages authorization, and coordinates the transfer process between different devices. The intermediary enables seamless transferability without requiring direct user intervention to physically move SIM cards.
3Adaptability or versatility
If eSIM sharing among multiple UEs is enabled, then adaptability and service management are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the eSIM sharing system into distinct functional components: individual UE devices, an eSIM sharing manager, and a backend provisioning system. Each component has specific responsibilities for managing eSIM profiles, authorizing transfers, and coordinating sharing. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by modularizing the architecture and making each component more manageable and easier to implement.
Data Source
AI summary
Embedded subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) may be shared among multiple user equipment (UE). Each UE has a SIM chip that has a unique embedded identity document (EID), and each eSIM has a unique integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) and an associated mobile station international subscriber directory number (MSISDN, e.g., phone number). When the eSIMs are moved among UEs, the ICCID remains consistent for the eSIM, and the MSISDN may also remain consistently associated with a particular eSIM. Each eSIM has an associated profile that identifies authorized UEs that have permission to employ that eSIM, and may further identify usage restrictions (e.g., data usage, authorized networks and/or geographical limits) and a state, such as “in use” (when in a UE) and “not in use” when in storage. Organizations may maintain a pool of eSIMs, with the eSIMs moved among employees based on travel assignments and/or need for a company-provided phone.