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

• US 9,503,884 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• 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:
  US14/861,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 logical flags;

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 not found on the list of authorized terminals,

wherein one of the plurality of logical flags is associated with a 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.

2. The wireless device according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of logical flags is associated with a terminal profile validation process, the processor being configured to implement the terminal profile validation process to compare identifying information to the list of authorized terminals.

4. The wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the removable memory comprises at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).

5. The 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 profiles.

6. The wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the activity reports comprise 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 the backend server.

7. The wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the removable memory stores at least one of a current Terminal Profile Data, last accepted International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a current IMEI, and a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICC-ID).

8. The wireless device according to claim 1 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.

3. 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 logical flags;

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 the 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 at least one of the terminal profile data and the IMEI of the wireless device are not found on the list of authorized terminals,

wherein one of the plurality of logical flags is associated with an OTA provisioning process, the processor being configured to implement the OTA provisioning process to allow OTA 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.

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

10. The wireless device according to claim 3 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.

11. The wireless device according to claim 3 wherein the activity reports comprise 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.

12. The wireless device according to claim 3 wherein the removable memory stores at least one of a current Terminal Profile Data, last accepted International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a current IMEI, and a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) Integrated Circuit Card ID (ICC-ID).

13. The wireless device according to claim 3 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.