Methods and systems for managing and/or tracking use of subscriber identity module components

• US 7,941,184 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Denis A., Prendergast, Liam N., Quinn, Liam B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peaches; Randy
• Application Number:
  US11/595,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.3, 455/435.1, 455/434, 455/433, 455/414.1, 455/432, 455/558
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/48 using secure binding, e.g. securely binding identity modules to devices, services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing and/or tracking use of SIM smart cards with integrated or external SIM module systems that are utilized with information handling systems. A SIM module system may be locked with a generic locking code to lock a SIM module system of a given information handling system for use with a designated SIM smart card that is programmed with a matching generic locking code. The locked SIM module system of the information handling system may be further configured so that it may be unlocked using an unlocking code so as to allow use of the information handling system with SIM smart cards other than the designated SIM smart card. To allow tracking of the disposition of the designated SIM smart card, notification of the non-activation, de-activation and/or activation of the designated SIM smart card (e.g., to an activation tracking agent) may be required before obtaining the unlocking code, for example, from an activation tracking agent.

Claims

1. A method for tracking subscriber identity module (SIM) system use, comprising:

providing an information handling system;

providing a SIM module system for said information handling system, said SIM module system being configured for use with a SIM smart card to access a wireless network;

locking said SIM module system;

programming said SIM module system to unlock when it is provided with an unlocking code so that it will access said wireless network;

receiving a request for said unlocking code, said request specifically identifying said locked SIM module system;

providing said unlocking code in response to said request; and

tracking said receipt of said request for said specific locked SIM module system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific locked SIM module system is being operated with an activated SIM smart card designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system that is not a cellular provider;

and further comprising tracking activation of said designated SIM smart card based on receipt of said request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said unlocking code is unique to said SIM module system, and said method further comprising:

locking said SIM module system with an Enterprise locking code that is specific to an Enterprise provider of said information handling system and not specific to any given cellular carrier, the Enterprise locking code being independent and different from a carrier locking code or a SIM provider locking code;

programming said SIM module system to lock said SIM module system so that it will only operate to access said wireless network with a designated SIM smart card when said locked SIM module system is provided with said Enterprise locking code by said designated SIM smart card;

receiving said request from said locked SIM module system across said wireless network, said locked SIM module system being operated with an activated SIM smart card that comprises said designated SIM smart card;

providing said unlocking code across said wireless network to said activated designated SIM smart card across said wireless network; and

tracking activation of said designated SIM smart card based on receipt of said request from said SIM module system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific locked SIM module system is being operated with an activated SIM smart card that is not designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system, the Enterprise provider not being a cellular carrier;

and further comprising tracking activation of said non-designated SIM smart card based on receipt of said request and informing the Enterprise provider of the information handling system of the use of a non-designated SIM smart card by said locked SIM module of said information handling system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said unlocking code is unique to said SIM module system, and said method further comprising:

locking said SIM module system with an Enterprise locking code that is specific to an Enterprise provider of said information handling system and not specific to any given cellular carrier, the Enterprise locking code being independent and different from a carrier locking code or a SIM provider locking code;

programming said SIM module system to lock said SIM module system so that it will only operate to access said wireless network with a designated SIM smart card when said locked SIM module system is provided with said Enterprise locking code by said designated SIM smart card;

receiving said request from a user of said information handling system that has not activated a designated SIM smart card for use with said SIM module system;

providing said unlocking code to said user of said information handling system, said unlocking code being unique to said SIM module system; and

tracking non-activation of a designated SIM smart card based on receipt of said request from said user of said information handling system and informing the Enterprise provider of the information handling system of the non-activation of the designated SIM smart card.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising programming said information handling system to detect an attempt to use said SIM module system with a SIM smart card that is not designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system, and to automatically instruct said user how to request said unlocking code upon detection of said attempt to use said SIM module system with said non-designated SIM smart card.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said information handling system comprises a notebook computer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising

locking said SIM module with an Enterprise locking code that is specific to an Enterprise provider of said information handling system and not specific to any given cellular carrier, the Enterprise locking code being independent and different from a carrier locking code or a SIM provider locking code.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising programming said SIM module system to lock said SIM module system so that it will only operate to access said wireless network when said SIM module system is provided with said Enterprise locking code;

providing a designated SIM smart card; and

programming said designated SIM smart card to provide said Enterprise locking code to said SIM module system when it is used with said SIM module system.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising programming said SIM module system to lock said SIM module system so that it will only operate to access said wireless network when said SIM module system is provided with said Enterprise locking code;

and programming said SIM module system to unlock when it is provided with an unlocking code so that it will access said wireless network without being provided with said Enterprise locking code.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said unlocking code is unique to said SIM module system, and said method further comprising:

providing a designated SIM smart card that is configured to provide said Enterprise locking code to said SIM module system when it is used with said SIM module system; and

providing said unlocking code across said wireless network to said designated SIM smart card in response to a request received from said SIM module system across said wireless network.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing said unlocking code to a user of said information handling system in response to a request received from said user.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing the following steps in the factory of the Enterprise provider of said information handling system prior to shipping the information handling system to a user:

programming the SIM module system to lock said SIM module system so that it will only operate to access said wireless network when said SIM module system is provided with said Enterprise locking code; and

programming said SIM module system to unlock when it is provided with an unlocking code so that it will access said wireless network without being provided with said Enterprise locking code.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said information handling system comprises a notebook computer.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting an attempt to use said SIM module system with a SIM smart card that is not designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system that is not a cellular carrier, and informing the Enterprise provider of the information handling system of the use of a non-designated SIM smart card by said locked SIM module of said information handling system.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting an attempt to use said SIM module system with a SIM smart card that is not designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system that is not a cellular carrier, and then requiring the user to provide a reason for non-activation of a SIM smart card designated by the Enterprise provider of said information handling system before providing said unlocking code to said user of said information handling system.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said request from a user of said information handling system that has not activated a designated SIM smart card for use with said SIM module system;

detecting if said request from said user is an attempt to use said SIM module system with a SIM smart card that is not designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system;

requiring the user to provide a reason for non-activation of the designated SIM smart card before providing said unlocking code to said user of said information handling system if said request from said user is detected as an attempt to use said SIM module system with a SIM smart card that is not designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system; and

then providing said unlocking code to said user of said information handling system, said unlocking code being unique to said SIM module system;

where the Enterprise provider of said information handling system is not a cellular carrier.

18. A method for managing use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) module system, comprising:

providing an information handling system;

providing a SIM module system for said information handling system, said SIM module system being configured for use with a SIM smart card to access a wireless network;

locking said SIM module with an Enterprise locking code that is specific to an Enterprise provider of said information handling system and not specific to any given cellular carrier, the Enterprise locking code being independent and different from a carrier locking code or a SIM provider locking code;

programming said SIM module system to lock said SIM module system so that it will only operate to access said wireless network when said SIM module system is provided with said Enterprise locking code; and

programming said SIM module system to unlock when it is provided with an unlocking code so that it will access said wireless network without being provided with said Enterprise locking code; and

performing the following steps in the factory of the Enterprise provider of said information handling system prior to shipping the information handling system to a user;

programming the SIM module system to lock said SIM module system so that it will only operate to access said wireless network when said SIM module system is provided with said Enterprise locking code; and

programming said SIM module system to unlock when it is provided with an unlocking code so that it will access said wireless network without being provided with said Enterprise locking code.

19. A method for managing use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) module system, comprising:

providing an information handling system;

providing a SIM module system for said information handling system, said SIM module system being configured for use with a SIM smart card to access a wireless network;

locking said SIM module with an Enterprise locking code that is specific to an Enterprise provider of said information handling system and not specific to any given cellular carrier, the Enterprise locking code being independent and different from a carrier locking code or a SIM provider locking code; and

detecting an attempt to use said SIM module system with a SIM smart card that is not designated by an Enterprise provider of said information handling system that is not a cellular carrier, and then requiring the user to provide a reason for non-activation of a SIM smart card designated by the Enterprise provider of said information handling system before providing said unlocking code to said user of said information handling system.