SIM Profile Segmentation for IoT eUICC Download

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for downloading SIM card profiles onto embedded universal integrated circuit cards in IoT devices face challenges such as difficulty in connecting to telecom networks without prior subscription and inefficiencies in data transmission, leading to production delays due to high data transfer rates and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

A system that produces SIM card profiles with a common static part and unique dynamic parts, encrypted using respective cryptographic keys, allowing for efficient batch processing and secure package generation for download onto embedded universal integrated circuit cards, reducing data transfer and enabling secure manipulation without decryption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SIM card profiles are downloaded in full batches to ensure complete profile delivery, then profile delivery completeness is improved, but data transmission time and network load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile delivery completenessVSAvoiddata transmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The SIM card profile data is segmented into two distinct parts: a static part that remains common across multiple profiles and a dynamic part that varies between profiles. This segmentation allows the static part to be transmitted once and reused, while only the dynamic parts need to be transmitted for each individual profile, significantly reducing overall data transmission volume and time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The static part of the SIM card profile is prepared and encrypted in advance using a common cryptographic key before the batch download process begins. This preliminary preparation allows the static content to be ready for efficient distribution, reducing the time required during the actual profile download operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If all SIM card profiles are transmitted in a single batch to improve production efficiency, then productivity is improved, but data transmission reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile download efficiencyVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the profile data into static and dynamic components, the system can transmit the large static portion once and the smaller dynamic portions individually. This segmentation maintains high productivity through batch processing of the static content while improving reliability by reducing the size and complexity of each individual transmission task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary encryption mechanism using cryptographic keys to protect the static and dynamic parts during transmission. This intermediary layer ensures data integrity and security, improving transmission reliability without compromising the efficiency of batch processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If SIM card profiles are encrypted with individual cryptographic keys for maximum security, then security is improved, but data processing complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidencryption processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The encryption approach is segmented according to the data structure: the static part uses a common cryptographic key for all profiles, while only the dynamic parts use individual cryptographic keys. This segmentation maintains strong security for the variable information while simplifying the encryption process for the common information, reducing overall processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the encryption approach by combining the use of a common key for the static part with individual keys for dynamic parts. This unified approach allows the system to benefit from both simplified common encryption and secure individual encryption without the full complexity of individual encryption for all data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of information

If complete SIM card profiles are transmitted to ensure no missing data, then data completeness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile data completenessVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The profile data is segmented into static and dynamic parts, allowing the system to transmit the static portion once and only the necessary dynamic portions for each profile. This ensures data completeness by including all required elements while minimizing the total transmission volume by eliminating redundant static data repetition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4422225A1System and method of managing SIM card profiles for different embedded universal integrated circuit cards
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 STMICROELECTRONICS INT NV
  • EP4422225A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4422225A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4422225A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

According to one aspect, it is proposed a system comprising: - embedded universal integrated circuit cards, - afirst least one server (PM, SM-DP) configured to produce: • SIM card profiles, and • a batch of said SIM card profiles, the batch including at least one dynamic part of each SIM card profile and only one occurrence of said at least one static part, - another server (DM) configured to produce a SIM card profile package for each SIM card profile of said batch and to download the SIM card profile packages onto the embedded universal integrated circuit cards.