Apparatuses, methods and systems for implementing a system-on-chip with integrated reprogrammable cellular network connectivity

• US 10,278,062 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GigSky, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Simless, Inc. (GigSky, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wane, Ismaila
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic
• Application Number:
  US14/934,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 455558, 455410, 455411, 4554141, 4555561, 455557, 455420, 455425, 37943309, 37935701, 710 13, 361737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7556 by SIM, e.g. smart card account in SCP, SDP or SN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 : Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/42 : using virtual identity modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 : Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are provided for configuring a “SIM-less” System-on-Chip (S2oC) with integrated reprogrammable cellular network connectivity. Digitally issued Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards may be digitally issued by a remote server and downloaded and managed by the S2oC. A virtual SIM card container may be packaged in the S2oC and hosts an identity manager used by a plurality of applications residing in the multi-core processor of the S2oC. A virtual modem with a custom communication protocol allows the multi-core processor applications to exchange data with the virtual SIM card container.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a multi-core processor;

a software-based embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) that does not include a dedicated physical element; and

one or more memories storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the multi-core processor, configure the apparatus to communicate with a plurality of cellular networks using (i) a cellular modem comprising a software-based modulator-demodulator device which allows communication by the connected device over a cellular network and (ii) one or more virtual subscriber identity module (SIM) cards stored in the software-based eUICC.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software-based eUICC comprises an on-die eUICC.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a virtual bus system configured to transmit communications between a plurality of multi-core processor applications using a high-level programming interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more memories further store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the multi-core processor, cause the apparatus to self-provision virtual SIM cards accessible over-the-air by cellular network operators.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the multi-core processor, cause the apparatus to self-provision virtual SIM cards accessible over-the-air by cellular network operators using a local certificate stored in the software-based eUICC.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is assigned a unique random cryptographic key only known by a remote server upon registration of said chip.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more memories further store computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the multi-core processor, cause the apparatus to dynamically switch cellular networks without human intervention.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cellular modem is configured to receive commands using an interface defined in a VCM communication protocol.

9. A method performed by a device including a multi-core processor, a cellular modem comprising a software-based modulator-demodulator device which allows communication by the connected device over a cellular network, a software-based embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC), and one or more memories, the method including:

communicating, using the cellular modem, with a plurality of cellular networks using one or more virtual subscriber identity module (SIM) cards stored in the software-based eUICC, wherein the software-based eUICC does not include a dedicated physical element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the software-based eUICC comprises an on-die eUICC.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, by a virtual bus system, communications between a plurality of multi-core processor applications using a high-level programming interface.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

self-provisioning virtual SIM cards accessible over-the-air by cellular network operators.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the self-provisioning of the virtual SIM cards accessible over-the-air by cellular network operators uses a local certificate stored in the software-based eUICC.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the device is assigned a unique random cryptographic key only known by a remote server upon registration of said chip.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

dynamically switching between cellular networks without human intervention via activation of a corresponding virtual SIM card of the one or more virtual SIM cards stored in the software-based eUICC.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the cellular modem is configured to receive commands using an interface defined in a VCM communication protocol.

17. An apparatus having an integrated circuit chip including a multi-core processor, a cellular modem comprising a software-based modulator-demodulator device which allows communication by the connected device over a cellular network a software-based embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) that does not include a dedicated physical element, and one or more memories, the apparatus including:

means for communicating with a plurality of cellular networks using (i) the cellular modem and (ii) one or more virtual subscriber identity module (SIM) cards stored in the software-based eUICC.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the software-based eUICC comprises an on-die eUICC.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for transmitting communications between a plurality of multi-core processor applications using a high-level programming interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for self-provisioning virtual SIM cards accessible over-the-air by cellular network operators.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for self-provisioning the virtual SIM cards accessible over-the-air by cellular network operators uses a local certificate stored in the software-based eUICC.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said integrated circuit chip is assigned a unique random cryptographic key only known by a remote server upon registration of said chip.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for dynamically switching between cellular networks without human intervention via activation of a corresponding virtual SIM card of the one or more virtual SIM cards stored in the software-based eUICC.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cellular modem is configured to receive commands using an interface defined in a VCM communication protocol.