Location-based update of subscriber identity information in a wireless device

• US 9,648,492 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mallikarjunan, Raghuveer, Barakat, Wael S
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, DUNG LE
• Application Number:
  US13/648,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20140099916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 4554352, 4554321, 455457
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• 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 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Location-based subscriber identity update in a wireless user equipment (UE) device. A location of the UE may be determined. An indication of a plurality of network connectivity options may be provided via a user interface. The plurality of network connectivity options may be provided based on the location of the UE. User input selecting a network connectivity option may be received via the user interface. The UE may be configured according to the selected network connectivity option in response to the user input.

Claims

1. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, the UE comprising:

a radio, comprising one or more antennas for performing wireless communication;

a display;

a processing element operatively coupled to the radio and the display, wherein the processing element is configured to;

determine a location of the UE;

provide an indication of a plurality of network connectivity options via a user interface that is displayed on the display, wherein the plurality of network connectivity options are provided based on the location of the UE, and wherein the plurality of network connectivity options comprise two or more of;

using a first subscriber identity that is the active subscriber identity for the UE; and

purchasing and obtaining a second subscriber identity via a wireless link, wherein, in response to selection of purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity, the UE is configured to automatically provide payment information stored by the UE to purchase the second subscriber identity;

receive input selecting a network connectivity option from the plurality of network connectivity options via the user interface; and

configure the UE according to the network connectivity identity option in response to the input.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein receiving input comprises selecting purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity via the wireless link, wherein the processing element is further configured to:

provide an indication of one or more subscriber identity provider options via the user interface;

receive input selecting the second subscriber identity provider via the user interface;

receive the second subscriber identity from the selected subscriber identity provider via the wireless link; and

configure the UE to use the second subscriber identity as the active subscriber identity.

3. The UE of claim 1, wherein receiving input comprises selecting purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity via the wireless link, wherein the processing element is further configured to:

provide an indication of one or more subscription plan options available from the subscriber identity provider via the user interface; and

receive input selecting a subscription plan option via the user interface.

4. The UE of claim 1, wherein receiving input comprises selecting purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity via the wireless link, wherein the processing element is further configured to:

provide an indication of one or more purchase options for the second subscriber identity via the user interface;

receive input selecting a purchase option for the second subscriber identity via the user interface; and

configure payment for the second subscriber identity to the selected subscriber identity provider according to the selected purchase option via the wireless link.

5. The UE of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to:

determine that an active subscriber identity is not local to the location of the UE,

wherein the plurality of network connectivity options are provided also based on determining that the active subscriber identity is not local to the location of the UE.

6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network connectivity options further comprise one or more of:

activating an alternate subscriber identity stored on the UE; and

operating in an airplane mode.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network connectivity options further comprise an alternate subscriber identity is local to the location of the UE.

8. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the processing element is configured to determine the location of the UE via one or more wireless communication technologies.

9. The UE of claim 8, wherein the one or more wireless communication technologies comprise one or more of:

one or more cellular wireless technologies;

one or more global navigational satellite systems;

or

one or more versions of IEEE 802.11.

10. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the UE comprises an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM), wherein configuring the UE according to the selected network connectivity option comprises provisioning the eSIM according to a selected subscriber identity.

11. The UE of claim 1, wherein to configure the UE according to the selected network connectivity option, the processing element is further configured to:

configure the UE to use a selected subscriber identity; and

register with a network using the selected subscriber identity, wherein said registering is performed using cellular wireless communication.

12. A method for selecting a subscriber identity based on location for a wireless user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:

determining a location of the UE;

determining that an active subscriber identity of the UE is not local to the location of the UE;

providing an indication of a plurality of options for operating the UE in the location via a user interface, wherein the plurality of options are provided based on determining that the active subscriber identity of the UE is not local to the location of the UE, wherein the plurality of options comprise using the active subscriber identity and purchasing and obtaining a second subscriber identity via a wireless link;

receiving input selecting the option to purchase and obtain the second subscriber identity;

purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity via the wireless link based on the input, wherein said purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity comprises automatically providing payment information stored by the UE to purchase the second subscriber identity; and

operating the UE using the second subscriber identity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of options comprise one or more of:

operating the UE using a subscriber identity which is local to the location, wherein the subscriber identity which is local to the location is stored on the UE;

or

operating the UE without an active subscriber identity.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein operating the UE using the active subscriber identity which is not local to the location comprises roaming.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to the input selecting the option to purchase and obtain the second subscriber identity:

providing an indication of one or more service plans available in the location via the user interface;

receiving input selecting a service plan via the user interface; and

requesting the selected service plan via the wireless link.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving temporary subscriber identity information via the wireless link in response to requesting the selected service plan via the wireless link;

registering for cellular service from a cellular service provider via the wireless link using the temporary subscriber identity information, wherein the cellular service provider is a provider of the selected service plan;

configuring payment for the selected service plan via the wireless link; and

receiving permanent subscriber identity information via the wireless link in response to configuring payment.

17. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving information identifying the one or more available service plans available at the location from a cellular service provider via the wireless link.

18. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

scanning for cellular signals;

identifying one or more cellular service providers available at the location based on scanning for cellular signals; and

establishing the wireless link with a cellular service provider available at the location.

19. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

receiving information identifying one or more cellular service providers available at the location from a cellular service provider via the wireless link.

20. The method of claim 12,

wherein the UE comprises an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) storing the active subscriber identity information.

21. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions for selecting subscriber identity settings based on location for a wireless user equipment (UE) device, wherein the UE comprises an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM), wherein when executed at the UE, the program instructions cause the UE to:

determine a mobile country code (MCC) corresponding to a location of the UE;

determine that an MCC of an active subscriber identity of the eSIM does not match the MCC corresponding to the location of the UE;

provide an indication of a plurality of network connectivity options via a user interface in response to determining that the MCC of the active subscriber identity of the eSIM does not match the MCC corresponding to the location of the UE, wherein the plurality of options comprise using the active subscriber identity and purchasing and obtaining a second subscriber identity via a wireless link;

receive input selecting the option to purchase and obtain the second subscriber identity;

purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity via the wireless link based on the input, wherein said purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity comprises automatically providing payment information stored by the UE to purchase the second subscriber identity; and

updating the eSIM according to use the second subscriber identity.

22. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, the UE comprising:

a radio, comprising one or more antennas for performing cellular communication;

a memory medium; and

one or more processing elements configured to execute program instructions comprised on the memory medium;

wherein the UE is configured to;

determine that the UE is in a location for which an active subscriber identity of the UE does not provide local cellular service;

provide a plurality of network connectivity options in response to determining that the UE is in a location for which an active subscriber identity of the UE does not provide local cellular service, wherein the plurality of network connectivity options comprise;

using the active subscriber identity;

activating an alternate subscriber identity stored on the UE; and

purchasing and obtaining a subscriber identity via cellular communication and activating the purchased subscriber identity, wherein, in response to selection of purchasing and obtaining the second subscriber identity, the UE is configured to automatically provide payment information stored by the UE to purchase the subscriber identity;

receive input selecting a network connectivity option; and

configure the UE according to the selected network connectivity option in response to the input.

23. The UE of claim 22,

wherein the active subscriber identity corresponds to a cellular service provider that provides roaming cellular service in the location via one or more roaming agreements between the cellular service provider and one or more cellular service providers that provide local cellular service in the location.

24. The UE of claim 22,

wherein the alternate subscriber identity stored on the UE corresponds to a cellular service provider that provides local service in the location.

25. The UE of claim 22,

wherein the purchased subscriber identity corresponds to a cellular service provider that provides local service in the location.