VIRTUAL ACCESS MODULE DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20120047227A1
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hauck, Jerrold Von, Schell, Stephan V., Mathias, Arun G., Haggerty, David T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• 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

Apparatus and methods for distributing electronic access client modules for use with electronic devices. In one embodiment, the access client modules are virtual subscriber identity modules (VSIMs) that can be downloaded from online services for use with cellular-equipped devices such as smartphones. The online services may include a point of sale (POS) system that sells electronic devices to users. A broker may be used to facilitate the selection of a virtual subscriber identity module. A provisioning service may also be used to provision the selected VSIM.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an online service implemented using computing equipment, receiving a request for a virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) that includes an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI); and

in response to receiving the request, downloading the VSIM to an electronic device over a communications network from the online service.

2. A method for distributing access clients, comprising:

requesting an access client, the requesting causing;

determining an allowed carrier;

provisioning an access client associated with the allowed carrier; and

providing one or more identifiers associated with the provisioned access client;

receiving the provided one or more identifiers;

requesting service activation with a selected one of the provided one or more identifiers; and

responsive to successful service activation, downloading the access client associated with the selected one identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the access client comprises a virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected one identifier comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).

5. The method of claim 2, additionally comprising storing the received one or more identifiers.

6. The method of claim 2, additionally comprising releasing at least a portion of the received one or more identifiers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the released at least portion does not comprise the selected one identifier.

8. Network apparatus for reserving virtual subscriber identity modules (VSIMs) for a consumer device, comprising:

communications circuitry adapted to communicate with a communications network, the communications network comprising at least one broker entity and one or more consumer devices;

a processor; and

a storage device in data communication with the processor, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions configured to, when executed by the processor;

request one or more VSIMs for an identifier associated with a device, the request causing an allocation of the one or more VSIMs; and

request service activation for the identifier associated with the device, thereby causing download of the allocated one or more VSIMs to the device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the requested one or more VSIMs is stored within a provisioning service.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the requested one or more VSIMs is generated at a trusted service management entity.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the generated one or more VSIMs is wrapped with a device-specific wrapper.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises an Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID).

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more VSIMs is not stored within the network apparatus.

14. Network apparatus for use with a point of sale (POS) entity and a virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) provisioning service, the apparatus comprising:

communications circuitry adapted to communicate with a communications network, the communications network comprising the POS entity and the provisioning service;

a processor; and

a storage device in data communication with the processor, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions configured to, when executed by the processor;

responsive to a first POS entity requesting one or more VSIMs;

determine one or more allowed carriers;

obtain one or more VSIMs from the provisioning service;

select at least one of the one or more obtained VSIMs; and

provide an identifier associated with the selected at least one to the first POS entity.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further configured to, when executed;

receive a request for a VSIM from a device, the request comprising the provided identifier; and

transmit the VSIM associated with the identifier to the device.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the allowed carriers are determined by a brokering entity.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the brokering entity comprises a database that maps a given identifier to one or more authorized carriers.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the VSIMs are wrapped to ensure that the VSIM can only be provided to a specific device.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the identifier comprises an Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID).

20. A method for brokering virtual subscriber identity modules (VSIMs), comprising:

receiving a request for one or more VSIMs;

obtaining one or more VSIMs from a provisioning service;

selecting at least one of the one or more obtained VSIMs; and

associating an identifier with the selected at least one VSIM.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a request comprising the associated identifier; and

providing the selected VSIM.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the obtained VSIMs are specific to a device.

23. The method of claim 20, additionally comprising releasing one or more unselected ones of the obtained VSIMs.