SIM Identity Management for Roaming Charge Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile telecommunications systems are inefficient in managing identities for users traveling across different territories, leading to high roaming charges and cumbersome SIM management, as they require multiple SIM cards and complex user interactions to avoid surcharges.
Innovation Solution
A method and module for managing identities in mobile devices that detect available network parameters and select the appropriate IMSI from a database, allowing for automatic identity modification to optimize network connections and reduce roaming charges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a user purchases and carries multiple SIM cards for different territories, then roaming charges are avoided, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of multiple SIM card identities within a single physical SIM card. The SIM card stores multiple IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identifiers) and can switch between them, effectively copying the functionality of multiple physical SIM cards into one. This allows the user to access different network identities without carrying multiple physical cards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single SIM card multi-functional by enabling it to perform the roles of multiple SIM cards simultaneously. The SIM card can store, select, and switch between multiple network identities (IMSI values), making one device serve multiple functions that previously required separate physical SIM cards. This universal SIM card eliminates the need for users to manage multiple physical cards while avoiding roaming charges across different territories.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a user switches SIM cards to avoid roaming charges, then roaming charges are reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the SIM card to automatically manage its own identity selection without user intervention. The SIM card autonomously detects the current network parameters (such as location or network identifier) and automatically selects the most appropriate IMSI from its stored list to avoid roaming charges. This self-service capability eliminates the need for users to manually swap SIM cards or configure settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures the SIM card with multiple network identities and selection criteria before the user needs to switch networks. The SIM card stores a list of available IMSI values and their associated network parameters in advance, so when network conditions change, the system can immediately switch identities without requiring real-time user input or configuration.
3Productivity
If multiple SIM cards are used for different territories, then network connection optimization is achieved, but loss of time increases due to SIM swapping operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies multiple network identities into a single SIM card, eliminating the physical act of swapping cards. Instead of removing one SIM and inserting another, the system simply switches the active identity within the same physical card, reducing the time required for network transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic identity selection within the SIM card, allowing the active IMSI to change programmatically based on network conditions. This dynamic switching capability enables rapid transitions between different network identities without the mechanical delays associated with physical SIM card insertion and ejection operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing identities for use in a mobile telecommunications device in a telecommunications network has the following features. The identity management process is triggered and one or more parameters of a currently available mobile telecommunications network detected. An identity database is searched—each record in the identity database comprises an identity and additional identity information for each identity. The additional identity information includes the one or more parameters. The identity management process involves selecting an identity when a first record comprising the one or more parameters detected is found in said searching and modifying an active identity of the mobile telecommunications device to be the selected identity when the active identity is not already the selected identity. This process can be carried out by a subscriber information module of a mobile telecommunications device.