Virtual SIM Card Roaming Access Method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face high roaming charges and inconsistent network quality when using SIM/USIM cards in foreign networks, as they have low priority and result in higher costs and reduced service quality.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows terminals to access roaming networks using virtual SIM card information without changing the SIM card, by acquiring network identifiers and authentication information to establish connections and register with network servers, mimicking local network access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users change the SIM card to access roaming networks, then network service quality and pricing improve, but device complexity and operation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service qualityVSAvoidoperation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual SIM card that copies the essential authentication functionality of a physical SIM card. The virtual SIM card contains profile information that enables the terminal to authenticate with roaming networks without requiring the user to physically change SIM cards. This copying approach maintains network access quality while eliminating the operational complexity of manual SIM card changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual SIM card as an intermediary layer between the terminal and the roaming network. This virtual SIM card acts as a mediator that translates the terminal's authentication requests into formats compatible with the roaming network, enabling seamless network access without direct physical SIM card changes. The intermediary virtual SIM card resolves the contradiction by handling the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users change the SIM card for roaming access, then service pricing improves, but loss of time and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice pricingVSAvoidtime loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the virtual SIM card with multiple profile information corresponding to different roaming networks and pricing plans. This preparation is done in advance, so when the terminal needs to access a roaming network, the appropriate profile is already available and can be activated immediately without requiring time-consuming SIM card changes. The preliminary configuration of virtual profiles eliminates the time loss associated with manual SIM card changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the terminal uses virtual SIM card information, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple SIM card profiles into a single virtual SIM card module. Instead of requiring separate physical SIM cards for different networks, the virtual SIM card combines multiple profile information sets and manages them internally. This merging approach simplifies the user interface and operation (improving ease of operation) while consolidating the complexity into a single managed component rather than requiring multiple physical cards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3297338B1Method for realizing network access, terminal and computer storage medium
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 ZTE CORP
  • EP3297338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3297338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3297338B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for implementing network access, a terminal and a computer storage medium are provided. The method includes that: when detecting that a terminal is located in a non-local network, a network identifier corresponding to the non-local network is acquired, wherein the non-local network is different from a network to which a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card of a terminal belongs; a data connection is established according to the network identifier, and authentication information of a virtual SIM card for accessing the non-local network is acquired; and the terminal accesses the non-local network by using the authentication information of the virtual SIM card.