Methods and apparatus for wireless device registration

• US 8,407,769 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Salmela, Patrik Mikael, Slavov, Kristian
• Primary Examiner(s): Poltorak, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/135,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20090217348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and methods for associating a “generic” wireless device, i.e., a device that is not pre-programmed with subscription credentials corresponding to a particular operator, with a Home Operator designated by the device'"'"'s owner. The disclosed system and methods further facilitate the automatic linking of a newly activated M2M device to an appropriate server for downloading the subscription credentials for the Home Operator. The disclosed system includes a registration server for maintaining electronic registration data for a plurality of wireless devices and for directing newly activated wireless devices to a server for downloading “permanent” subscription credentials, such as a downloadable USIM. The disclosed system further includes a subscription server for updating registration server entries to reflect an association between a first wireless device and its corresponding home network. In some embodiments, the subscription server may be further configured for downloading subscription credentials to subscribing wireless devices.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining electronic registration data for a plurality of wireless devices, the method performed by a registration server in a communications network, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of preliminary device identifiers and corresponding security codes, wherein each preliminary device identifier is associated with a wireless device;

receiving a registration update request for a first wireless device, the registration update request comprising a first device identifier, home network data for the first wireless device, and a first candidate security code;

authenticating the registration update request by comparing the first candidate security code to a stored security code corresponding to the first device identifier; and

storing the home network data for the first wireless device in association with the first device identifier and corresponding security code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the home network data comprises updating prior home network data associated with the first device identifier and corresponding security code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the home network data for the first wireless device comprises a network address for use by the first wireless device in downloading subscription credentials.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a security code update request, the security code update request comprising a second device identifier, a second candidate security code, and an updated security code;

authenticating the security code update request by comparing the second candidate security code to a second stored security code corresponding to the second device identifier; and

storing the updated security code in association with the second device identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein storing the updated security code in association with the second device identifier comprises replacing the second stored security code with the updated security code.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a connection request from the first wireless device corresponding to the first device identifier; and

sending at least a portion of the home network data to the first wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said portion of the home network data comprises one of a network address and a pointer to a network address, for use by the first wireless device in downloading subscription credentials.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored security code corresponding to the first device identifier comprises a one-time security code, and wherein the method further comprises rejecting a second registration update request comprising the first device identifier and the one-time security code.

9. A method for updating registration data for wireless devices, the method comprising:

receiving a subscription request for a first wireless device, the subscription request comprising a preliminary device identifier and a corresponding security code;

sending a registration update request to a registration server, the registration update request comprising the preliminary device identifier, the corresponding security code, and home network data for the first wireless device, wherein the home network data identifies a network address for downloading subscription credentials;

receiving a credential download request from the first wireless device via the network address identified by the home network data; and

sending subscription credentials to the first wireless device for use in accessing network services.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting the registration server from a plurality of available registration servers based on the preliminary device identifier.

11. A registration server for maintaining electronic registration data for a plurality of wireless devices, the registration server comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a plurality of preliminary device identifiers and corresponding security codes, wherein each preliminary device identifier is associated with a wireless device;

a network interface; and

a processing unit configured to

receive a registration update request via the network interface, the registration update request comprising a first device identifier, a first candidate security code, and home network data for a first wireless device;

authenticate the registration update request by comparing the first candidate security code to a stored security code corresponding to the first device identifier; and

store the home network data in the storage unit in association with the first device identifier and corresponding security code.

12. The registration server of claim 11, wherein the processing unit is configured to store the home network data by updating prior home network data associated with the first device identifier and storing the updated home network data in the storage unit in association with the first device identifier.

13. The registration server of claim 11, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

receive a security code update request via the network interface, the security code update request comprising a second device identifier, a second candidate security code, and an updated security code;

authenticate the security code update request by comparing the second candidate security code to a second stored security code corresponding to the second device identifier; and

store the updated security code in the storage unit in association with the second device identifier.

14. The registration server of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is configured to store the updated security code in association with the second device identifier by replacing the second stored security code with the updated security code.

15. The registration server of claim 11, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

receive a connection request via the network interface from the first wireless device corresponding to the first device identifier; and

send at least a portion of the home network data to the first wireless device via the network interface.

16. The registration server of claim 15, wherein said portion of the home network data comprises one of a network address and a pointer to a network address, for use by the first wireless device in downloading subscription credentials.

17. The registration server of claim 11, wherein the stored security code corresponding to the first device identifier comprises a one-time security code, and wherein the processing logic is further configured to reject a second registration update request comprising the first device identifier and the one-time security code.

18. A subscription server for updating registration data for wireless devices, the subscription server comprising a network interface and a processing unit configured to:

receive a subscription request for a first wireless device via the network interface, the subscription request comprising a preliminary device identifier and a corresponding security code for the first wireless device;

send a registration update request to a registration server via the network interface, the registration update request comprising the preliminary device identifier, the corresponding security code, and home network data for the first wireless device, wherein the home network data identifies a network address for downloading subscription credentials;

receive a credential download request from the first wireless device via the network interface, wherein the credential download request is addressed to the network address identified by the home network data; and

send subscription credentials to the first wireless device for use in accessing network services.

19. The subscription server of claim 18, wherein the processing unit is further configured to select the registration server from a plurality of available registration servers based on the preliminary device identifier.