Shared Service Credentials for Wireless Device Provisioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing and reassigning service credentials, particularly when service is canceled, leading to economic waste and inconvenience in restoring services without physically manipulating devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing shared service credentials that can be programmed into multiple devices, allowing for temporary wireless communication services and efficient re-provisioning without resetting devices, enabling remote service restoration using unique hardware identifiers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual service credentials are provisioned for each wireless device, then network security and device identification are improved, but credential management complexity and reassignment inefficiency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidcredential management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements shared service credentials that can be programmed into multiple wireless devices, allowing a single credential to serve multiple devices temporarily. This universal credential approach reduces management complexity while maintaining security through the underlying unique hardware identifier that tracks each device's actual identity in the network provisioning store.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of energy

If service credentials are reassigned when service is canceled, then economic efficiency is improved, but physical device manipulation and service restoration inconvenience increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeconomic efficiencyVSAvoidservice restoration convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service credential reassignment through automated provisioning processes. When a device is deprovisioned, the shared service credential is automatically made available for reassignment to another device without requiring physical manipulation or manual intervention, allowing the network to self-manage credential distribution and reassignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of physical device manipulation and resetting with an electronic/software-based provisioning system. The network can remotely provision or deprovision devices by updating the provisioning store, eliminating the need for physical device handling while maintaining secure credential management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If shared service credentials are used for multiple devices, then credential reassignment efficiency and service restoration are improved, but device identification precision and network security may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecredential reassignment efficiencyVSAvoiddevice identification precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the credential system into two distinct layers: shared service credentials that provide efficient access and identification for multiple devices, and unique hardware identifiers that maintain precise device-specific identification in the network provisioning store. This segmentation allows both efficient reassignment and precise tracking to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The unique hardware identifier acts as an intermediary between the shared service credential and the network provisioning store. While devices communicate using shared credentials for efficient access, the unique hardware identifier mediates the actual device identification and tracking in the network, ensuring that each device can be precisely identified and managed despite using shared credentials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8918091B1Wireless communication service using shared service credentials

Publication Date: 2014.12.23 T MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method of provisioning a wireless device. The method comprises provisioning by a computer a first shared service credential of a first wireless device and a unique hardware identifier of the first wireless device in a wireless service provider network, wherein the first shared service credential is programmed into a plurality of different wireless devices including the first wireless device; sending by a computer a wireless access protocol message to the first wireless device directed to the first shared service credential; in response to an open mobile alliance device management rendezvous message sent by the first wireless device, transmitting by a computer a service credential to the first wireless device, where the service credential is different from the first shared service credential; and provisioning the service credential and the unique hardware identifier of the first wireless device in the wireless service provider network.