System, method and apparatus for pairing SIM or UICC cards with authorized wireless devices

• US 8,660,533 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Khan, Shoaib S., Chawdhry, Khurram Humayun, Mejia, Ovidio
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAHEED, KHALID W
• Application Number:
  US13/409,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20120264400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/411, 455/410, 455/432.3, 455/435.1, 455/435.2
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/48 using secure binding, e.g. securely binding identity modules to devices, services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless device and a process of authorizing a wireless device are disclosed. The process includes storing a list of authorized terminals within a memory accessible by a wireless device. The process further includes comparing the list of authorized terminals in the memory to at least one of terminal profile data and an IMEI of the wireless device and allowing network access if at least one of the terminal profile data and the IMEI are found on the list of authorized terminals and limiting network access if at least one of the terminal profile data and the IMEI are not found on the list of authorized terminals.

Claims

1. A process of authorizing a wireless device comprising:

executing a pairing application comprising a plurality of switches, the plurality of switches being associated with at least a terminal profile validation process, an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) Locking process, an OTA (Over The Air) provisioning process, and a SMS (Short Message Service) reporting process;

storing a list of authorized terminals within a memory accessible by a wireless device;

comparing the list of authorized terminals in the memory to at least one of terminal profile data and an IMEI of the wireless device with the pairing application; and

allowing network access if at least one of the terminal profile data and the IMEI are found on the list of authorized terminals and limiting network access if the terminal profile data and the IMEI are not found on the list of authorized terminals.

2. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the memory comprises a removable memory associated with the wireless device.

3. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 2 wherein the removable memory comprises at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).

4. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the list of authorized terminals comprises at least one of a previously stored International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and a listing of authorized terminal profile data values.

5. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising sending a report comprising at least one of a current Terminal Profile Data, last accepted International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a current IMEI, and an Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICC-ID) to a backend server.

6. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 2 further comprising storing securely in the removable memory at least one of a current Terminal Profile Data, last accepted International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a current IMEI, and an UICC Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICC-ID).

7. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one of provisioning and updating Over The Air (OTA) at least one of the plurality of switches of the pairing application and the list of authorized terminals.

8. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the network comprises at least one of a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network and a UMTS/LTE telecommunication network.

9. A process of functioning in at least one of a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network and a UMTS/LTE telecommunication network as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) comprising using the process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1.

16. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of switches is associated with the terminal profile validation process, the terminal profile validation process comparing identifying information to the listing of authorized terminals.

17. The process of authorizing a wireless device according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of switches is associated with the SMS reporting process, the SMS reporting process sending activity reports to at least one of a backend server, a system, a component controlled by a MVNO and a component controlled by a wireless carrier.

10. A wireless device configured to control network authorization comprising:

a removable memory storing a list of authorized terminals within the wireless device;

a processor configured to execute a pairing application comprising a plurality of switches, the plurality of switches being associated with at least a terminal profile validation process, an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) locking process, an OTA (Over The Air) provisioning process, and a SMS (Short Message Service) reporting process;

a comparator to compare the list of authorized terminals in the removable memory to at least one of terminal profile data and an IMEI of the wireless device; and

the wireless device being configured to allow network access if at least one the terminal profile data and the IMEI of the wireless device is found on the list of authorized terminals and the wireless device being further configured to limit network access if the terminal profile data and the IMEI of the wireless device are is not found on the list of authorized terminals.

11. The wireless device according to claim 10 wherein the removable memory comprises at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).

12. The wireless device according to claim 10 wherein the list of authorized terminals comprises at least one of a previously stored International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and a listing of authorized terminal profiles.

13. The wireless device according to claim 10 wherein the wireless device is configured to send a report comprising at least one of the current Terminal Profile Data, last accepted International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), the current IMEI, and an Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICC-ID) to a backend server.

14. The wireless device according to claim 10 further comprising storing securely in the memory at least one of the current Terminal Profile Data, last accepted International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), the current IMEI, and a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICC-ID).

15. The wireless device according to claim 10 wherein the wireless device is configured to provision the pairing application using one of an Over The Air (OTA) process and a non-OTA process.

18. The wireless device according to claim 10 wherein one of the plurality of switches is associated with the terminal profile validation process, the processor being configured to implement the terminal profile validation process to compare identifying information to the listing of authorized terminals.

19. The wireless device according to claim 10 wherein one of the plurality of switches is associated with the SMS reporting process, the processor being configured to implement the SMS reporting process to send activity reports to at least one of a backend server, a system, a component controlled by a MVNO and a component controlled by a wireless carrier.

20. The wireless device according to claim 10 wherein one of the plurality

of switches is associated with the OT A provisioning process, the processor being configured to implement the OT A provisioning process to allow OT A updates to refresh programming and procedures including at least one of an initial application setup, new listings of authorized parameters, revised methods for sending activity reports, updated switch settings, and connectivity with a network.