Portable personal SIM card

• US 8,244,181 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shuo, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAN, RAYMOND S
• Application Number:
  US12/471,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/551, 455/558, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• 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 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Devices and methods store provisioning data for use in one or mobile devices within a SIM card enclosed within a personal article, such as a wrist watch or item of jewelry. A close range communication link, such as a near field communication (NFC) protocol link, is used to transmit the provisioning data from the personal article to one or more mobile devices. The close range communication link may also be used to transmit updated provisioning data received by a mobile device in an over the air updating procedure via a cellular communications network link to the personal item for storage in the SIM card housed within a personal article. The mobile device may authenticate itself to the personal article prior to the transmission of provisioning data between the devices.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning a mobile device, comprising:

establishing a close range communication link between the mobile device and a personal article containing a SIM card, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

receiving via the established close range communication link provisioning data stored in the SIM card, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing reception of the provisioning data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a second communication link between the mobile device and a wireless communication network using the received provisioning data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an authentication credential from the mobile device to the personal article via the established close range communication, the authentication credential having a content to enable the personal article to authenticate the mobile device as authorized to receive the provisioning data stored on the SIM card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the close range communications link is limited to a range of approximately 0-20 cm and utilizes a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the close range communications link utilizes a BlueTooth®

communication protocol.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the second communication link is established to make a wireless data communication call, and further comprising:

storing the received provisioning data to memory; and

deleting the provisioning data from memory once the wireless data communication call is completed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the received provisioning data to memory;

determining whether provisioning data stored in memory has expired based on the time-limited validity; and

deleting the provisioning data from memory if it is determined that the provisioning data stored in memory has expired.

8. A method for updating provisioning data stored on a SIM card housed within a personal article, comprising:

receiving updated provisioning data on a mobile device via a cellular communication network;

storing the received updated provisioning data in memory;

establishing a close range communications link between the mobile device and the personal article, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

transmitting the received updated provisioning data to the personal article via the close range communications link for storage in the SIM card; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing transmission of the updated provisioning data.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting an authentication credential from the mobile device to the personal article, the authentication credential having a content to enable the personal article to authenticate the mobile device as being authorized to transmit the updated provisioning data to the personal article.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the close range communications link is limited to a range of approximately 0-20 cm and utilizes a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the close range communications link utilizes a BlueTooth®

communication protocol.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device; and

authenticating the mobile device using the received authentication credential,

wherein the step of transmitting the provisioning data stored in the SIM card to the mobile device is performed only if the mobile device is authenticated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising requesting the authentication credential from the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device; and

authenticating the mobile device using the received authentication credential,

wherein the step of storing the received updated provisioning data in the SIM card is performed only if the mobile device is authenticated.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising requesting the authentication credential from the mobile device.

12. A method for providing provisioning data stored in a SIM card within a personal article to a mobile device, comprising:

establishing a close range communication link between the personal article and the mobile device, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

transmitting the provisioning data stored in the SIM card to the mobile device via the established close range communication link, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing transmission of the provisioning data.

15. A method for updating providing provisioning data stored in a SIM card within a personal article, comprising:

establishing a close range communication link between the personal article and a mobile device, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

receiving updated provisioning data from the mobile device via the established close range communication link;

terminating the close range communication link upon completing reception of the updated provisioning data; and

storing the received updated provisioning data in the SIM card within the personal article.

18. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a first transceiver coupled to the processor;

a second transceiver coupled to the processor, the second transceiver being a close range communication transceiver; and

a memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

establishing a close range communications link via the second transceiver with a personal article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter;

receiving provisioning data from the personal article via the close range communications link, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing reception of the provisioning data.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising conducting a wireless digital communication call via the first transceiver using the received provisioning data.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the mobile device processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising transmitting an authentication credential to the personal article.

21. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the second transceiver is a near field communication (NFC) protocol transceiver with a limited range of approximately 0-20 cm.

22. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the second transceiver is a BlueTooth®

protocol transceiver.

23. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the mobile device processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving updated provisioning data via the first transceiver;

storing the received updated provisioning data in the memory;

establishing a second close range communication link with the personal article that is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter; and

transmitting the received updated provisioning data to the personal article via the second close range communications link.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the mobile device processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:

transmitting an authentication credential to the personal article via the second close range communication link prior to transmitting the updated provisioning data.

25. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured with software instruction to perform steps further comprising deleting the provisioning data from memory once the wireless data communication call is completed.

26. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured with software instruction to perform steps further comprising:

storing the received provisioning data in the memory;

determining whether the provisioning data stored in the memory has expired based on the time-limited validity; and

deleting the provisioning data from memory if it is determined that the provisioning data stored in memory has expired.

27. A personal article, comprising:

a body-worn article selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

a processor within the body-worn article;

a SIM card coupled to the processor, wherein the SIM card has stored therein provisioning data for a cellular communications network; and

a close range communication transceiver coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

establishing a close range communications link with a mobile device, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter;

transmitting the provisioning data stored within the SIM card to the mobile device via the established close range communications link, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing transmission of the provisioning data.

28. The personal article of claim 27, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor having stored therein an authentication credential template,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device; and

comparing the received authentication credential to the authentication credential template stored in memory to authenticate the mobile device, and

wherein the step of transmitting the provisioning data stored within the SIM card to the mobile device is performed only if the mobile device is authenticated.

29. The personal article of claim 27, wherein the personal article is a wristwatch.

30. The personal article of claim 27, wherein the personal article is an item of decorative jewelry selected from the group consisting of a bracelet, a necklace, a brooch, a ring and a belt buckle.

31. The personal article of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising

terminating the close range communications link prior to transmitting the provisioning data stored on the SIM card if the mobile device is not authenticated.

32. The personal article of claim 27, wherein the close range communications transceiver is a near field communication protocol transceiver with a range of approximately 0-20 cm.

33. The personal article of claim 27, wherein the close range communication transceiver is a BlueTooth®

transceiver.

34. The personal article of claim 27,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving updated provisioning data from the mobile device via the close range communications link; and

storing the received updated provisioning data in the SIM card.

35. The personal article of claim 34, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor having stored therein an authentication credential template, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device; and

comparing the received authentication credential to the authentication credential template stored in memory to authenticate the mobile device, wherein the step of storing the received updated provisioning data in the SIM card is performed only if the mobile device is authenticated.

36. The personal article of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising

terminating the close range communications link prior to receiving the updated provisioning data if the mobile device is not authenticated.

37. A mobile device, comprising:

means for establishing a close range communication link between the mobile device and a personal article containing a SIM card, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

means for receiving via the established close range communication link provisioning data stored in the SIM card, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

means for terminating the close range communication link upon completing reception of the provisioning data.

38. The mobile device of claim 37, further comprising means for establishing a second communication link between the mobile device and a wireless communication network using the received provisioning data.

39. The mobile device of claim 37, further comprising:

means for transmitting an authentication credential from the mobile device to the personal article via the established close range communication, the authentication credential having a content to enable the personal article to authenticate the mobile device as authorized to receive the provisioning data stored on the SIM card.

40. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the means for establishing a close range communication link is limited to a range of approximately 0-20 cm and utilizes a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

41. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the means for establishing a close range communication link utilizes a BlueTooth®

communication protocol.

42. The mobile device of claim 38, wherein the second communication link is established to make a wireless data communication call, and further comprising:

means for storing the received provisioning data to memory; and

means for deleting the provisioning data from memory once the wireless data communication call is completed.

43. The mobile device of claim 37, further comprising:

means for storing the received provisioning data to memory;

means for determining whether provisioning data stored in memory has expired based on the time-limited validity; and

means for deleting the provisioning data from memory if it is determined that the provisioning data stored in memory has expired.

44. A mobile device comprising:

means for receiving updated provisioning data via a cellular communication network;

means for storing the updated provisioning data in memory;

means for establishing a close range communications link between the mobile device and a personal article, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

means for transmitting the received updated provisioning data to the personal article via the close range communications link for storage in a SIM card housed within the personal article; and

means for terminating the close range communication link upon completing transmission of the updated provisioning data.

45. The mobile device of claim 44, further comprising

means for transmitting an authentication credential from the mobile device to the personal article, the authentication credential having a content to enable the personal article to authenticate the mobile device as being authorized to transmit the updated provisioning data to the personal article.

46. The mobile device of claim 44, wherein the means for establishing a close range communications link is limited to a range of approximately 0-20 cm and utilizes a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the means for establishing close range communications link utilizes a BlueTooth®

communication protocol.

48. A personal article, comprising:

a body-worn article selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

means for establishing a close range communication link between the personal article and a mobile device, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter;

means for transmitting provisioning data stored in a SIM card housed within the personal article to the mobile device via the established close range communication link, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

means for terminating the close range communication link upon completing transmission of the provisioning data.

49. The personal article of claim 48, further comprising:

means for receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device;

means for authenticating the mobile device using the received authentication credential; and

means for terminating the close range communication link between the personal article and a mobile device if the mobile device is not authenticated.

50. The personal article of claim 49, further comprising means for requesting the authentication credential from the mobile device.

51. A personal article, comprising:

a body-worn personal article selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

means for establishing a close range communication link between the personal article and a mobile device, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter;

means for receiving updated provisioning data from the mobile device via the established close range communication link;

means for terminating the close range communication link upon completing reception of the updated provisioning data; and

means for storing the received updated provisioning data in a SIM card housed within the personal article.

52. The personal article of claim 51, further comprising:

means for receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device;

means for authenticating the mobile device using the received authentication credential; and

means for terminating the close range communication link between the personal article and the mobile device if the mobile device is not authenticated.

53. The personal article of claim 52, further comprising means for requesting the authentication credential from the mobile device.

54. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a mobile device to perform steps comprising:

establishing a close range communication link between the mobile device and a personal article containing a SIM card, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

receiving via the established close range communication link provisioning data stored in the SIM card, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing reception of the provisioning data.

55. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising establishing a second communication link between the mobile device and a wireless communication network using the received provisioning data.

56. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

transmitting an authentication credential from the mobile device to the personal article via the established close range communication, the authentication credential having a content to enable the personal article to authenticate the mobile device as authorized to receive the provisioning data stored on the SIM card.

57. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising establishing the close range communication link limited to a range of approximately 0-20 cm using a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

58. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising establishing the close range communication link using a BlueTooth®

communication protocol.

59. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 54, wherein the second communication link is established to make a wireless data communication call, and the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

storing the received provisioning data to memory; and

deleting the provisioning data from memory once the wireless data communication call is completed.

60. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

storing the received provisioning data to memory;

determining whether provisioning data stored in memory has expired based on the time-limited validity; and

deleting the provisioning data from memory if it is determined that the provisioning data stored in memory has expired.

61. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a mobile device to perform steps comprising:

receiving updated provisioning data on the mobile device via a cellular communication network;

storing the received updated provisioning data in memory;

establishing a close range communications link between the mobile device and a personal article, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

transmitting the received updated provisioning data to the personal article via the close range communications link for storage in a SIM card housed within the personal article; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing transmission of the provisioning data.

62. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 61, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

transmitting an authentication credential from the mobile device to the personal article, the authentication credential having a content to enable the personal article to authenticate the mobile device as being authorized to transmit the updated provisioning data to the personal article.

63. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 61, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising establishing the close range communications link limited to a range of approximately 0-20 cm using a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

64. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 61, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising establishing the close range communications link using a BlueTooth®

communication protocol.

65. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a personal article to perform steps comprising:

establishing a close range communication link between the personal article and a mobile device, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

transmitting the provisioning data stored in a SIM card housed within the personal article to the mobile device via the established close range communication link, wherein validity of the provisioning data is time-limited; and

terminating the close range communication link upon completing transmission of the provisioning data.

66. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 65, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device;

authenticating the mobile device using the received authentication credential; and

terminating the close range communication link prior to transmitting the provisioning data stored in the SIM card to the mobile device if the mobile device is not authenticated.

67. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 66, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising requesting the authentication credential from the mobile device.

68. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a personal article to perform steps comprising:

establishing a close range communication link between the personal article housing a SIM card and a mobile device, wherein said close range communication link is limited by transmitter power or round-trip communication delay to a range of less than about one meter and the personal article is an article worn on a user'"'"'s body selected from the group consisting of wristwatches and decorative jewelry;

receiving updated provisioning data from the mobile device via the established close range communication link;

terminating the close range communication link upon completing reception of the updated provisioning data; and

storing the received updated provisioning data in the SIM card housed within the personal article.

69. The non-transitory e storage medium of claim 68, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

receiving an authentication credential from the mobile device;

authenticating the mobile device using the received authentication credential; and

terminating the close range communication link prior to receiving the received updated provisioning data if the mobile device is not authenticated.

70. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 69, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising requesting the authentication credential from the mobile device.