Method and apparatus for updating rules governing the switching of virtual SIM service contracts
First Claim
1. A method for updating VSIM switching rules that prescribe which service contract account to enable on a mobile device having a VSIM internal memory unit having stored therein provisioning data for a plurality of service contracts, comprising:
- establishing a connection with a remote server using currently enabled provisioning data supporting a first service contract;
downloading updated VSIM switching rules from the remote server;
storing the updated VSIM switching rules to memory;
implementing the updated VSIM switching rules;
comparing the updated VSIM switching rules to current operating conditions to select one of the plurality of service contracts;
retrieving from the VSIM internal memory unit provisioning data of a second service contract if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied;
loading the retrieved provisioning data of the second service contract into a VSIM provisioning buffer; and
implementing the provisioning data of the second service contract from the VSIM provisioning buffer to memory if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing updated rules governing the switching of enabled provisioning data supporting a wireless service contract. A mobile device may be initially programmed with a profile data table and priority list index data table to automatically enable provisioning data supporting one of the plurality of service providers stored in a VSIM internal memory unit to conduct a wireless communication when certain operational parameter values are satisfied. The profile data table and priority list index data table may be automatically updated in response to a variety of triggers.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for updating VSIM switching rules that prescribe which service contract account to enable on a mobile device having a VSIM internal memory unit having stored therein provisioning data for a plurality of service contracts, comprising:
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establishing a connection with a remote server using currently enabled provisioning data supporting a first service contract; downloading updated VSIM switching rules from the remote server; storing the updated VSIM switching rules to memory; implementing the updated VSIM switching rules; comparing the updated VSIM switching rules to current operating conditions to select one of the plurality of service contracts; retrieving from the VSIM internal memory unit provisioning data of a second service contract if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied; loading the retrieved provisioning data of the second service contract into a VSIM provisioning buffer; and implementing the provisioning data of the second service contract from the VSIM provisioning buffer to memory if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for providing wireless communication services to a mobile device having a VSIM internal memory unit capable of storing therein provisioning data for a plurality of service contracts comprising:
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storing a profile data table containing a plurality of profiles, wherein each of the plurality of profiles identifies one combination of operational parameter criteria and an index which corresponds to one of a plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; storing a priority index list data table which identifies an order of service contracts appearing in each of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; downloading the profile data table and priority index list data table to the mobile device; collecting a plurality of operational parameter values from the mobile device; comparing the plurality of collected operational parameter values to the operational parameter criteria stored in the profile data table; identifying one of the plurality of profiles whose combination of operational parameter criteria is satisfied by the collected plurality of operational parameter values; identifying one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of profiles; retrieving the order of service contracts appearing in the identified one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; retrieving provisioning data corresponding to a highest priority service contract listed in the retrieved order of service contracts; and attempting to establish a communication link to a communication network corresponding to the highest priority service contract using the retrieved provisioning data corresponding to the highest priority service contract. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mobile device comprising:
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means for storing provisioning data for a plurality of service contracts; means for establishing a connection with a remote server using currently enabled provisioning data supporting a first service contract; means for downloading updated VSIM switching rules data from the remote server; means for storing the updated VSIM switching rules; means for implementing the updated VSIM switching rules data; means for comparing the updated VSIM switching rules to current operating conditions to select one of the plurality of service contracts; means for retrieving from the VSIM internal memory unit provisioning data of a second service contract if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied; means for loading the retrieved provisioning data of the second service contract into a VSIM provisioning buffer; and means for implementing the provisioning data of the second service contract from the VSIM provisioning buffer to memory if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for providing wireless communication services to a mobile device, comprising:
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means for storing a profile data table containing a plurality of profiles, wherein each of the plurality of profiles identifies one combination of operational parameter criteria and an index which corresponds to one of a plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; means for storing a priority index list data table which identifies an order of service contracts appearing in each of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; means for downloading the profile data table and priority index list data table to the mobile device; means for collecting a plurality of operational parameter values from the mobile device; means for comparing the plurality of collected operational parameter values to the operational parameter criteria stored in the profile data table; means for identifying one of the plurality of profiles whose combination of operational parameter criteria is satisfied by the collected plurality of operational parameter values; means for identifying one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of profiles; means for retrieving the order of service contracts appearing in the identified one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; means for retrieving provisioning data corresponding to a highest priority service contract listed in the retrieved order of service contracts; and means for attempting to establish a communication link to a communication network corresponding to the highest priority service contract using the retrieved provisioning data corresponding to the highest priority service contract. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A server, comprising:
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means for storing a profile data table containing a plurality of profiles, wherein each of the plurality of profiles identifies one combination of operational parameter criteria and an index which corresponds to one of a plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; means for storing a priority index list data table which identifies an order of service contracts appearing in each of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; means for receiving a plurality of operational parameter values from a mobile device; means for comparing the received plurality of operational parameter values to the operational parameter criteria stored in the profile data table; means for identifying one of the plurality of profiles whose combination of operational parameter criteria is satisfied by the received plurality of operational parameter values; means for identifying one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of profiles; and means for downloading the order of service contracts appearing in the identified one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts to the mobile device.
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30. A mobile device comprising:
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means for storing provisioning data for a plurality of service contracts; means for downloading a profile data table and a priority index list data table from a remote server; means for collecting a plurality of operational parameter values; means for comparing the plurality of collected operational parameter values to the operational parameter criteria stored in the profile data table; means for identifying one of the plurality of profiles whose combination of operational parameter criteria is satisfied by the collected plurality of operational parameter values; means for identifying one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of profiles; means for retrieving the order of service contracts appearing in the identified one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts to the mobile device; means for retrieving provisioning data corresponding to a highest priority service contract listed in a downloaded order of service contracts; and means for attempting to establish a communication link to a communication network using the retrieved provisioning data. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A server comprising:
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a server memory having stored therein a plurality of profiles, wherein each of the plurality of profiles specifies a criteria for selecting one of a plurality of prioritized list of service contracts stored in the memory; a server processor coupled to the memory; a communication interface circuit coupled to the processor, the communication interface circuit configured to connect the processor to a communication network, wherein the server processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; storing a profile data table containing a plurality of profiles, wherein each of the plurality of profiles identifies one combination of operational parameter criteria and an index which corresponds to one of a plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; storing a priority index list data table which identifies an order of service contracts appearing in each of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; receiving a plurality of operational parameter values from a mobile device; comparing the received plurality of operational parameter values to the operational parameter criteria stored in the profile data table; identifying one of the plurality of profiles whose combination of operational parameter criteria is satisfied by the received plurality of operational parameter values; identifying one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of profiles; and downloading the order of service contracts appearing in the identified one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts to the mobile device.
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33. A mobile device comprising:
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a mobile device processor; and a mobile device internal memory unit coupled to the mobile device processor, the mobile device internal memory unit including a VSIM provisioning data buffer and having stored thereon provisioning data for a plurality of service contracts within a VSIM memory unit; and wherein the mobile device processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; downloading a profile data table and a priority index list data table from a remote server; collecting a plurality of operational parameter values; comparing the plurality of collected operational parameter values to the operational parameter criteria stored in the profile data table; identifying one of the plurality of profiles whose combination of operational parameter criteria is satisfied by the collected plurality of operational parameter values; identifying one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of profiles; retrieving the order of service contracts appearing in the identified one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts to the mobile device; retrieving provisioning data corresponding to a highest priority service contract listed in a downloaded order of service contracts; and attempting to establish a communication link to a communication network using the retrieved provisioning data. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
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establishing a connection with a remote server using currently enabled provisioning data supporting a first service contract; downloading updated VSIM switching rules data from the remote server; storing the updated VSIM switching rules data to memory; implementing the updated VSIM switching rules; comparing the updated VSIM switching rules to current operating conditions to select one of the plurality of service contracts; and retrieving from the VSIM internal memory unit provisioning data of a second service contract if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied; loading the retrieved provisioning data of the second service contract into a VSIM provisioning buffer; and implementing the provisioning data of the second service contract from the VSIM provisioning buffer to memory if the updated VSIM switching rules for the second service contract are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
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storing a profile data table containing a plurality of profiles, wherein each of the plurality of profiles identifies one combination of operational parameter criteria and an index which corresponds to one of a plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; storing a priority index list data table which identifies an order of service contracts appearing in each of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; downloading the profile data table and priority index list data table to the mobile device; collecting a plurality of operational parameter values from the mobile device; comparing the plurality of collected operational parameter values to the operational parameter criteria stored in the profile data table; identifying one of the plurality of profiles whose combination of operational parameter criteria is satisfied by the collected plurality of operational parameter values; identifying one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts corresponding to the identified one of the plurality of profiles; retrieving the order of service contracts appearing in the identified one of the plurality of prioritized lists of service contracts; retrieving provisioning data corresponding to a highest priority service contract listed in the retrieved order of service contracts; and attempting to establish a communication link to a communication network corresponding to the highest priority service contract using the retrieved provisioning data corresponding to the highest priority service contract. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification