Virtual IMSI Assignment for Peripheral Device Network Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for peripheral devices, such as smart watches, require separate SIM chips and subscriptions, leading to increased hardware costs, user inconvenience, and the need to manage multiple phone numbers when using short-range and wide-area network communication.
Innovation Solution
Assigning a virtual international mobile subscriber identity (VIMSI) to peripheral devices based on the mobile device identification of the UE, allowing them to communicate independently without a separate SIM chip and maintaining the same phone number as the UE, thus eliminating the need for additional hardware and subscriptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a peripheral device is configured with both a short-range communication chip and a WWAN radio with a separate SIM chip, then the peripheral device can communicate independently with the network, but the hardware size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling the UE's existing SIM card to serve dual purposes: authenticating both the UE and the peripheral device with the network. The SIM card's authentication credentials are shared between the UE and peripheral device, allowing one authentication module to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate SIM chips for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the authentication functions of the UE and peripheral device into a single SIM card system. The network entity authenticates both devices using the same SIM card credentials, combining what would traditionally require separate authentication modules into a unified system that reduces hardware complexity.
2Reliability
If a peripheral device is assigned a unique phone number different from the UE, then the peripheral device can be independently identified by the network, but the user must manage multiple subscriptions and phone numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the UE's phone number universal for both the UE and peripheral device. The same phone number associated with the UE's SIM card is used to identify and route communications to both devices, eliminating the need for separate phone numbers and subscriptions while maintaining unique device identification through other means (device IDs, addresses).
3Device complexity
If a peripheral device uses only short-range communication, then the hardware remains simple, but the device cannot maintain network connectivity when separated from the UE
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the network entity as an intermediary that enables the peripheral device to communicate directly with the network using the UE's SIM card credentials. This intermediary role allows the peripheral device to maintain connectivity without requiring complex hardware, as the network entity mediates the authentication and communication using the shared SIM credentials.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides techniques for assigning virtual international mobile subscriber identity (VIMSI) to the peripheral device associated with the user equipment (UE) based in part on the mobile device identification (ID) of the UE itself. Thereby, a network entity may receive a supplementary service message from the UE, wherein the supplementary service messages identifies each of active peripheral devices from a plurality of peripheral devices that are paired with the UE, update network routing settings based at least in part on the supplementary service message and transmit a supplementary service acknowledgement in response to receiving the supplementary service message.