Surrogate Cellular Device for Cost-Effective International Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular roaming incurs high costs and results in loss of cellular number and profile when switching devices or SIM cards, as existing methods fail to provide seamless and cost-effective international connectivity while maintaining the original number and settings.
Innovation Solution
A surrogate cellular device registers with a cellular service provider using a subscriber identity module, allowing a SIMless smartphone to communicate via the Internet, converting cellular calls and data into Internet messages, thereby avoiding international roaming charges and maintaining the original cellular number and profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user purchases a new smartphone or swaps to a different SIM card to roam internationally, then international connectivity is achieved, but the user's cellular number changes and profile (contacts and text messages) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the home cellular network environment on the host device. The SIM card remains in the home device, and the host device establishes a network connection that replicates the home network's authentication and service profile, allowing the remote device to access cellular services without physically containing the SIM card or changing the cellular number.
Solution Approach 2:
The home device acts as an intermediary between the cellular network and the remote host device. It receives cellular signals, processes them through the SIM card authentication, and relays the communication to the host device, thereby mediating the connection between the remote device and the cellular network while preserving the original cellular identity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a user uses traditional cellular roaming services, then international connectivity is provided, but high per-minute charges are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The home device serves as an intermediary gateway that intercepts cellular communications intended for the user's cellular number. By routing calls and messages through this local intermediary rather than through the cellular provider's international roaming infrastructure, the system eliminates roaming charges while maintaining connectivity through the home device's local cellular connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional cellular roaming mechanism (which relies on physical SIM card porting or network authentication in foreign countries) with an Internet-based communication system. The host device uses Internet protocols to receive and transmit communications, substituting the expensive cellular roaming infrastructure with a cost-effective Internet connection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a SIM card is removed from the original device to enable roaming on another device, then international connectivity is achieved, but the original device loses cellular service and the new device must be configured with the SIM card
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically moving the SIM card, the system creates a virtual representation of the cellular service on the host device. The SIM card remains seated in the home device, and the host device receives a digital copy or proxy of the cellular identity and service profile, allowing communication without physical SIM card manipulation or device reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the cellular service distribution between devices without requiring user intervention for SIM card extraction, insertion, or configuration. The home device and host device establish the connection automatically, and the cellular service is dynamically allocated based on network conditions, eliminating manual operational steps.
Data Source
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AI summary
Cellularless roaming avoids excess charges in private cellular network. A user swaps a subscriber identity module from a mobile device and into a surrogate cellular device. The surrogate cellular device may then use the subscriber identity module to establish wireless communication in a home location of a private cellular network. The surrogate cellular device, though, may still communicate with the mobile device using the public Internet. Whenever the surrogate cellular device receives a cellular call or data, the cellular call or data may be routed via the public Internet to the mobile device. The user may thus carry the mobile device to any country in the world and avoid roaming charges.