Virtual SIM Card Packet Distribution for Network Access Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual SIM card distribution methods face challenges in ensuring network access reliability and efficiency, particularly when primary virtual SIM cards fail, leading to increased operation costs due to the need for multiple primary virtual SIM cards as user numbers grow.

Innovation Solution

A method that combines multiple primary virtual SIM cards into primary virtual SIM card packets, allowing more devices to access a network using secondary virtual SIM cards, which are dynamically selected and downloaded based on network environment parameters, thereby improving access reliability and reducing operational costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single primary virtual SIM card is used for network access, then device complexity is reduced, but network access reliability deteriorates when the primary virtual SIM card fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork access reliabilityVSAvoidvirtual SIM card management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple primary virtual SIM cards into a single packet, allowing the terminal to select from multiple cards within the packet. This merging approach maintains reliability by having backup cards while managing complexity through centralized packet structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-configures multiple primary virtual SIM cards in a packet before the terminal needs them. This beforehand preparation ensures that if one card fails, backup cards are already available, cushioning against network access failures without requiring complex real-time provisioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If multiple primary virtual SIM cards are provisioned for each user to ensure access reliability, then network access reliability improves, but operation costs sharply increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork access reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of primary virtual SIM cards
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes primary virtual SIM cards universal by allowing them to be included in packets that can be distributed to multiple terminals. A single primary virtual SIM card can serve multiple users through the packet mechanism, reducing the total number of cards needed while maintaining reliability for each user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the virtual SIM card system into primary cards (for network selection) and secondary cards (for actual access). This segmentation allows multiple terminals to share primary cards through packets while each terminal maintains its own secondary card, reducing the quantity of primary cards needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If secondary virtual SIM cards are used for network access, then network access efficiency improves, but device complexity increases due to dual card management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork access efficiencyVSAvoidvirtual SIM card management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the network access function from the primary virtual SIM card by introducing secondary virtual SIM cards specialized for access. This extraction allows secondary cards to handle access efficiently while primary cards focus on network selection, reducing the complexity burden on any single card type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3442248B1Method and related device for virtual SIM card distribution and accessing network
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3442248B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3442248B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3442248B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for distributing a virtual SIM card, a method for accessing a network, and related devices. The method for accessing a network includes: determining, from at least two primary virtual SIM cards, at least two candidate primary virtual SIM cards that match a network environment parameter of a visited place of a mobile device; downloading a secondary virtual SIM card by using an accessed primary virtual SIM card that is in the at least two candidate primary virtual SIM cards and that successfully registers with and accesses a network; and accessing a target mobile network of the visited place by using the secondary virtual SIM card. Embodiments of the present invention help improve a network access success rate and network access reliability of the mobile device and reduce operation costs.