Portable mobile subscription

• US 10,064,039 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Golla, Prasad
• Primary Examiner(s): Dean, Jr., Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/812,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A network services provider grants a subscription to a user for use of mobile network services to communicate voice, data, and text information with a specific mobile device. Mobile devices store one or more subscriptions, each of which may be activated. An activated subscription stored in the mobile device is now made portable. The user wants to pass the portable subscription from a first mobile device to a second mobile device. The user forms a first communicative relationship between the first mobile device and a second mobile device and receives from the second mobile device identification information associated with the second mobile device. The first mobile device passes the identification information to the network services provider and receives a confirmation. The user forms a second communicative relationship between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, and the second mobile device confirms activation of the portable subscription.

Claims

1. A method to temporarily transfer an activated subscription for mobile network service between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, the subscription associated with a set of subscriber services provided by a network services provider, the subscription activated in the first mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving at the first mobile device identification information associated with the second mobile device;

passing the identification information associated with the second mobile device and a deactivation request from the first mobile device to the network services provider;

receiving at the first mobile device from the network services provider, confirmation that access to the subscription will be granted to the second mobile device;

receiving at the second mobile device, confirmation that access to the subscription will be granted to the second mobile device;

confirming activation of the subscription in the second mobile device;

after confirming activation of the subscription in the second mobile device, restoring access to the subscription in the first mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of subscriber services includes communication of at least one of voice information, data, or text messages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device receives access to only a portion of the set of subscriber services provided by the network services provider under the subscription.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein restoring access to the subscription in the first mobile device is performed according to a schedule.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the schedule is a selected time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second mobile devices are drawn from a list that includes a wearable device, a portable media device, a smart device integrated in a motor vehicle, and a smartphone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device form a near field communication (NFC) communicative relationship.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein initiation of the temporary transfer of the activated subscription includes an NFC tap between the first and second mobile devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information associated with the second mobile device includes at least one of an integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) number, an International mobile subscriber or station identity (IMSI) number, an International mobile station equipment identity (IMEI) number, a mobile equipment identifier (MEID) number, a mobile subscription identification number (MSIN), and a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN).

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

performing an algorithm at the second mobile device using at least some of the activation information associated with the second mobile device to produce an authentication result; and

passing the authentication result and an activation request from the second mobile device to the network services provider.

11. A mobile network operator (MNO) method to transfer an activated subscription for mobile network service between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, the method comprising:

providing, by the MNO, mobile network subscriber services to a plurality of mobile devices, each of the plurality of mobile devices having an activated subscription associated thereto, each activated subscription defining a set of subscriber services provided by the MNO to the respective mobile device;

receiving from the first mobile device identification information associated with the second mobile device;

receiving from the first mobile device a deactivation request, the deactivation request associated with the activated subscription for mobile network service associated with the first mobile device;

receiving a request to transfer the activated subscription for mobile network service from the first mobile device to the second mobile device;

communicating to the first mobile device confirmation that the activated subscription for mobile network service will be deactivated;

communicating to the second mobile device confirmation that the subscription has been transferred to the second mobile device; and

after transferring the activated subscription for mobile network service from the first mobile device to the second mobile device, restoring access to the subscription in the first mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein communication to the second mobile device of confirmation that the subscription has been transferred to the second mobile device is via communication between the MNO and the first mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein after the activated subscription for mobile network service is transferred from the first mobile device to the second mobile device, the first mobile device is only enabled to access emergency services provided by the MNO.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose stored contents configure a mobile network operator (MNO) computing system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving at the MNO computing system from a first mobile device identification information associated with a second mobile device;

receiving at the MNO computing system from the first mobile device a deactivation request, the deactivation request representing a request to deactivate a portable subscription from the first mobile device, the portable subscription associated with a set of subscriber services provided by the MNO computing system to the first mobile device;

transferring the portable subscription from the first mobile device to the second mobile device, wherein transferring the portable subscription includes communicating to the first mobile device from the MNO computing system activation information associated with the second mobile device, the activation information including at least one challenge value formed by the MNO computing system using at least some identification information associated with the second mobile device; and

transferring the portable subscription from the second mobile device back to the first mobile device after the MNO computing system receives a request to restore the portable subscription from the first mobile device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 whose stored contents configure the MNO computing system to perform the method, the method further comprising:

transferring the portable subscription from the second mobile device back to the first mobile device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 whose stored contents configure the MNO computing system to perform the method, the method further comprising:

transferring the portable subscription from the second mobile device back to the first mobile device after a determined period of time.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose stored contents configure a mobile network operator (MNO) computing system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving at the MNO computing system from a first mobile device identification information associated with a second mobile device;

receiving at the MNO computing system from the first mobile device a deactivation request, the deactivation request representing a request to deactivate a portable subscription from the first mobile device, the portable subscription associated with a set of subscriber services provided by the MNO computing system to the first mobile device;

transferring the portable subscription from the first mobile device to the second mobile device, wherein transferring the portable subscription includes communicating to the first mobile device from the MNO computing system activation information associated with the second mobile device, the activation information including at least one challenge value formed by the MNO computing system using at least some identification information associated with the second mobile device; and

transferring the portable subscription from the second mobile device back to the first mobile device after the MNO computing system receives a request to restore the portable subscription from the second mobile device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 whose stored contents configure the MNO computing system to perform the method, wherein after transferring the portable subscription from the second mobile device back to the first mobile device, the second mobile device retains at least some access to the set of subscriber services provided by the MNO computing system.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 whose stored contents configure the MNO computing system to perform the method, wherein at least some of the activation information is encrypted.

20. A mobile network operator (MNO) method to transfer an activated subscription for mobile network service between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, the method comprising:

providing, by the MNO, mobile network subscriber services to a plurality of mobile devices, each of the plurality of mobile devices having an activated subscription associated thereto, each activated subscription defining a set of subscriber services provided by the MNO to the respective mobile device;

receiving from the first mobile device identification information associated with the second mobile device;

receiving from the first mobile device a deactivation request, the deactivation request associated with the activated subscription for mobile network service associated with the first mobile device;

receiving a request to transfer the activated subscription for mobile network service from the first mobile device to the second mobile device;

communicating to the first mobile device confirmation that the activated subscription for mobile network service will be deactivated;

communicating to the second mobile device confirmation that the subscription has been transferred to the second mobile device; and

restoring access to the subscription in the first mobile device after a selected period of time.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the selected period of time is based on a schedule.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the selected period of time is a user-selected time and where restoring access to the subscription in the first mobile device is automatic after the user-selected time expires.