Systems and methods for reusing a subscriber identity module for multiple networks

• US 9,173,093 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GigSky, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GigSky, Inc.
• Inventors: Rishy-Maharaj, Ravi, Wyant, Ira Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, AJAY P
• Application Number:
  US13/480,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20120302284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/751 Card based account, e.g. smart card, SIM card or USIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7556 by SIM, e.g. smart card account in SCP, SDP or SN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A system for utilizing a SIM device for connecting and subscribing to a local network of local mobile server systems on an ad hoc basis is provided. The system includes a SIM device that has computer readable medium storing instructions that cause the SIM device to store credential data including an authentication key from the local mobile server systems on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer. A local network of a local mobile server systems allows a SIM device to connect and subscribe to the local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis. At the local network of local mobile service systems a subscription request is received and credential data from the local network to the SIM device is transmitted on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.

Claims

1. A system for utilizing a subscriber identity module (SIM) device for connecting and subscribing to a local, network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

a SIM device having a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a subscription profile having subscription data and one or more machine readable instructions, which when invoked cause the SIM device to

receive and store credential data including an authentication key from the local mobile service systems; and

add a new subscription to the subscription profile;

wherein the storing occurs on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.

2. The system of claim 1, the SIM device having a non-transitory machine-readable medium with instructions, which, when invoked, may add new or update existing terms of services in the subscription profile stored on the SIM device in order to track up-to-date information regarding services provided by at least one of the local mobile service systems.

3. A system for utilizing a subscriber identity module (SIM) device for connecting and subscribing to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis comprising:

a SIM device having a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a subscription profile having subscription data and one or more machine readable instructions, which when invoked cause the SIM device to

receive and store credential data including an authentication key from the local mobile service systems; and

add a new subscription to the subscription profile or update an existing subscription in the subscript profile;

wherein the storing occurs on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer; and

wherein the local network is a mobile network operator which owns or controls access to a radio spectrum license from a regulatory or government entity.

4. A system for utilizing a SIM device for connecting and subscribing to a local network of local mobile server systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

a SIM device having;

a non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more machine readable instructions, which when invoked cause the SIM device to

store credential data including at least an authentication key from the local mobile server systems,

wherein the storing occurs on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer, wherein the one or more machine readable instructions, when invoked, are capable of causing the storing of three or ore currently valid authentication keys that belong to one user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the three or more authentication keys is associated with a different mobile server system.

6. A system for utilizing a subscriber identity module (SIM) device for connecting and subscribing to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

a SIM device having a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a subscription profile having subscription data and one or more machine readable instructions, which when invoked cause the SIM device to

receive and store credential data including an authentication key from the local mobile service systems; and

add a new subscription to the subscription profile, the new subscription having been prepurchased by an entity other than a user of the SIM device and providers of the local mobile service systems and then given to the user;

wherein the storing occurs on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a wireless device communicatively coupled to the SIM device.

8. The system of claim 7, the computer readable medium storing thereon one or more machine instructions to operate a mobile hotspot by transmitting data with a transceiver in order to transmit data from a local network to a networked device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more machine readable instructions, which when invoked cause the SIM device to receive the credential data from the local network of the local mobile server system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiving at the SIM device of credential data from the local network of the local mobile server system occurs via service fulfillment server systems by the local network transmitting the credential data to the service fulfillment server system and the service fulfillment server systems transmitting the credential data to the SIM device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiving at the SIM device of credential data from the service fulfillment server systems occurs via a wireless device in that the service fulfillment server systems transmitted the credential data to the wireless device and the wireless device transmitted the credential data to the SIM device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the service fulfillment server system and the local mobile service systems are owned by different entities.

14. The method of claim 6, the SIM device having a non-transitory machine-readable medium with instructions, which, when invoked, stores three or more authentication keys.

15. A method for utilizing a local network of local mobile service systems to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to the local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoe basis, comprising:

receiving at the local network of local mobile service systems a subscription request; and

in response to the receiving of the subscription request,

approving the subscription request by at least one of the local mobile service systems, and

transmitting credential data from the local network to the SIM device,

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the credentials include an authentication key and an international mobile subscriber identity.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the local network is a mobile network operator which owns or controls access to a radio spectrum license from a regulatory or government entity.

18. A method for utilizing a local network of local mobile service systems to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to the local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the local network of local mobile service systems a subscription request and

in response to the receiving of the subscription request,

approving the subscription request by at least one of the local mobile service systems, and

transmitting credential data from the local network to the SIM device,

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has eft the manufacturer; and

wherein the subscription request is received by the local network from a service fulfillment server system, the service fulfillment server being a server that coordinates data subscriptions and allows the SIM device located outside coverage area of the SIM device'"'"'s current subscriptions to subscribe to a local network with local network coverage.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting new terms of service from the local network to the service fulfillment server system, wherein the new terms of service are different from terms of a service associated with credential information that are stored in the SIM device.

20. A method for utilizing, a local network of a local mobile server systems to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to the local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the local network of local mobile service systems a subscription request; and

transmitting credential data from the local network to the SIM device,

wherein the receiving and transmitting occurs on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer, wherein the local network is a mobile network operator which owns or controls access to a radio spectrum, license from a regulatory or government entity.

21. A method for utilizing a local network of local mobile service systems to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to the local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the local network of local mobile service systems a subscription request; and

in response to the receiving of the subscription request,

approving the subscription request by at least one of the local mobile service systems,

transmitting credential data from the local network to the SIM device,

receiving credential data at the local network in order to authenticate the SIM device and

allowing the SIM device access to the local network;

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.

22. A method for utilizing a service fulfillment server system to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the service fulfillment server system a subscription request from the SIM device;

transmitting from the service fulfillment server system to the SIM device a selection of at least one available subscription option to at least one of the local mobile service systems;

receiving at the service fulfillment server system credential data from the local service systems; and

as a result of the subscription request and receipt of the credential data, transmitting, from the service fulfillment server system, the credential data to the SIM device,

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the local network of the local mobile server systems is controlled by a mobile network operator which owns or controls access to a radio spectrum license from a regulatory or government entity.

24. A method for utilizing a service fulfillment server system to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the service fulfillment server system credential data from the local mobile service systems; and

transmitting, from the service fulfillment server system, the credential data to the SIM device;

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer, and

wherein the credentials include, an authentication key and an international mobile subscriber identity.

25. A method for utilizing a service fulfillment, server system to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis comprising:

receiving at the service fulfillment server system a subscription request from the SIM device;

transmitting from the service fulfillment server system to the SIM device a selection of at least one available subscription option to at least one of the local mobile service systems;

receiving at the service fulfillment server system credential data from the local mobile service systems; and

as a result of the subscription request and receipt of the credential data, transmitting, from the service fulfillment server system the credential data to the SIM device,

wherein the receiving and transmitting occurs on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer;

wherein the transmitting occurs via a wireless device, the service fulfillment server system transmitting the credential data to the wireless device and the wireless device transmitting the credential data to the SIM device.

26. A method for utilizing a service fulfillment server system to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the service fulfillment server system a subscription request from the SIM device;

transmitting from the service fulfillment server system to the SIM device a selection of at least one available subscription option to at least one of the local mobile service systems;

receiving at the service fulfillment server system credential data from the local mobile service systems; and

as a result of the subscription request and receipt of the credential data, transmitting, from the service fulfillment server system, the credential data to the SIM device,

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer;

wherein the credential data includes one or more authentication keys and one or more international mobile subscriber identities.

27. A method for utilizing a service fulfillment server system to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the service fulfillment server system a subscription request from the SIM device;

transmitting from the service fulfillment server system to the SIM device a selection of at least one available subscription option to at least one of the local mobile service systems;

receiving at the service fulfillment server system credential data from the local mobile service systems; and

as a result of the subscription request and receipt of the credential data, transmitting, from the service fulfillment server system, the credential data to the SIM device,

transmitting new or updated terms of service from the service fulfillment server system to the SIM device;

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.

28. A method for utilizing a service fulfillment server system to allow a SIM device to connect and subscribe to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

receiving at the service fulfillment server system a subscription request from the SIM device;

transmitting from the service fulfillment server system to the SIM device a selection of at least one available subscription option to at least one of the local mobile service systems;

receiving at the service fulfillment server system credential data from the local mobile service systems; and

as a result of the subscription request and receipt of the credential data, transmitting, from the service fulfillment server system, the credential data to the SIM device,

wherein the receiving and transmitting occur on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer, wherein the service fulfillment server system and the local mobile service systems are owned by different entities.

29. A system for utilizing a subscriber identity module (SIM) device for connecting and subscribing to a local network of local mobile service systems on an ad hoc basis, comprising:

a SIM device having a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a subscription profile having subscription data and one or more machine readable instructions, which when invoked cause the SIM device to

receive and store credential data including, an authentication key from the local mobile service systems; and

update an existing subscription in the subscription profile;

wherein the storing occurs on an ad hoc basis after the SIM device has left the manufacturer.