SIM-Based Radio Policy Manager for IoT Network Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular devices in the IoT sector face challenges in ensuring compliance with global network standards due to device manufacturers' reluctance to implement Radio Policy Manager (RPM) solutions, which are perceived as consuming valuable device memory and limiting use cases.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a SIM-based Radio Policy Manager (RPM) where the RPM applet is hosted on the SIM, allowing the SIM to deactivate upon policy breaches, ensuring network compliance and security by integrating with the cellular module and application processor, enabling network operators to enforce policies without OEM coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RPM is implemented in device memory, then network policy enforcement is improved, but device memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the RPM functionality from the device's main memory and relocates it to the SIM card's memory. The SIM card hosts the RPM applet and stores policy data, thereby eliminating the need for dedicated RPM memory resources in the device while maintaining network policy enforcement capabilities. This is achieved through the SIM-based architecture where the application processor communicates with the SIM card to execute policy management functions.
2Reliability
If RPM is implemented by device manufacturers, then network compliance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SIM card becomes self-sufficient by hosting the RPM applet and storing network policy data locally. The SIM card autonomously executes policy evaluation and enforcement actions without requiring device manufacturer implementation or coordination. The application processor simply provides polling signals to the SIM card, which independently manages network compliance, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining compliance enforcement.
3Ease of manufacture
If SIM-based RPM is implemented, then ease of deployment is improved, but device memory availability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SIM card is transformed into a multi-functional element that not only stores subscriber information but also hosts the RPM applet and stores network policy data. This universal approach allows the same SIM card infrastructure to handle both traditional SIM functions and new policy management functions, eliminating the need for separate RPM implementation in each device while utilizing existing SIM memory resources.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device in which a processing system detects installation of a subscriber identity module (SIM) on a communication device configured for connection to the network; the SIM includes a radio policy manager (RPM) provided by the network operator to manage network policies. The system also monitors connection of the communication device to the network and communications between the SIM and a processor of the communication device. The RPM determines whether the communication device is compliant with the network policies; if the communication device is not compliant with the network policies, the RPM causes the connection of the communication device to the network to be disabled. Other embodiments are disclosed.