UICC Subscription Management for Multi-Network Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication devices face challenges in managing multiple subscription agreements due to changes in technology and business strategies, leading to issues such as orphaned subscribers and inefficient service selection based on location, cost, and regulatory requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) with a secure device processor that selects the most suitable subscription agreement by applying stored rules and criteria, including location, cost, and regulatory considerations, to ensure seamless service registration and switching between different subscription profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a communication device uses a single subscription agreement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different locations, cost structures, and regulatory requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the subscription management functionality by separating the subscription profile data storage (in UICC/eSIM) from the device processing. Multiple subscription agreements are divided into separate profile entities, each independently manageable. The device processor handles selection logic while the UICC stores multiple profiles, dividing the complexity across components rather than concentrating it in one system.
Solution Approach 2:
The UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) acts as an intermediary between the device and multiple service providers. It stores multiple subscription profiles and mediates the selection process by providing authentication credentials for different networks. This intermediary component handles the complexity of managing multiple subscriptions externally, allowing the device to switch between them without directly managing all subscription details internally.
2Reliability
If subscription agreements are updated frequently to reflect technology changes, then the service quality improves, but the risk of orphaned subscribers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing multiple subscription profiles in advance within the UICC before any service disruption occurs. When a subscription agreement becomes obsolete or a device moves to a new location, the pre-stored alternative profiles are immediately available for activation. This preliminary preparation prevents orphaned subscribers by ensuring backup subscription credentials are already in place before needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device monitors service quality and subscription validity continuously, providing feedback to the subscription management system. When service degradation or orphaning is detected (such as when a subscription expires or becomes incompatible with current network), the system receives feedback and can automatically switch to an alternative subscription profile from the UICC, preventing complete service loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple subscription profiles are stored and managed locally, then the service selection flexibility improves, but the memory and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bulk of subscription profile storage from the device's internal memory to the UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) or eSIM. The device only maintains minimal selection criteria and active subscription state in its memory, while the UICC stores the complete subscription profile data. This extraction significantly reduces the memory burden on the device while maintaining the ability to manage multiple subscriptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The UICC serves multiple functions: it stores authentication credentials, holds multiple subscription profiles, and provides security for all of them. By making the UICC a universal component that handles multiple subscription management tasks, the device doesn't need separate dedicated memory or processing resources for each subscription, reducing overall resource requirements while maintaining service selection flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, storing subscription utilization information in the memory where the subscription utilization information is indicative of a history of subscription usage by the device and where registration information associated with a group of subscription agreements is stored in the memory, receiving location information from the device processor where the location information indicates a location of the device, and selecting a target subscription agreement from among the group of subscription agreements according to the history of subscription usage and the location information. Other embodiments are disclosed.