Logical subscriber identification module (SIM)

• US 9,693,229 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Christian, Susan J., Emery, Alan D., Sathi, Arvind, Siqueira, Fernando M., Thomas, Mathews
• Primary Examiner(s): MILORD, MARCEAU
• Application Number:
  US14/933,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20170134944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 455411, 4554351, 455509, 455466, 4555561, 455433
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/205 involving negotiation or determination of the one or more network security mechanisms to be used, e.g. by negotiation between the client and the server or between peers or by selection according to the capabilities of the entities involved negotiation of communication capabilities H04L69/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A mobile hub can receive from a mobile device a request to authenticate a user of the mobile device with the mobile hub. Responsive to receiving the request, a user profile of the user can be identified. A first of a plurality of mobile networks indicated in the user profile as being available to the user can be identified. The first mobile network can satisfy at least one user specified criterion associated with the user profile. A subscriber authentication associated with the user profile can be selected. The subscriber authentication can be configured to authenticate the user with the first of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the first mobile network. The subscriber authentication can be communicated to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile hub, from a first mobile device a first request to authenticate a user of the first mobile device with the mobile hub;

responsive to receiving the first request, identifying at least a first user profile of the user;

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, identifying, using a processor, a first of a plurality of mobile networks indicated in the first user profile as being available to the user, the first mobile network satisfying at least a first user specified criterion associated with the first user profile;

responsive to identifying the first of the plurality of mobile networks that satisfies the first user specified criterion, selecting a first subscriber authentication associated with the first user profile, the first subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with the first of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the first mobile network;

communicating to the first mobile device the first subscriber authentication;

monitoring, by the mobile hub, communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network;

determining, by the mobile hub, whether the communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network satisfy the first user specified criterion;

responsive to determining that the communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network do not satisfy the first user specified criterion, selecting a second subscriber authentication associated with the first user profile, the second subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with a second of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the second mobile network; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second subscriber authentication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile hub, from the first mobile device at least a second request selecting a second user profile;

responsive to receiving the second request selecting the second user profile, identifying a third of the plurality of mobile networks indicated in the second user profile as being available to the user and that satisfies at least a second user specified criterion associated with the second user profile;

responsive to identifying the third of the plurality of mobile networks that satisfies the second user specified criterion, selecting a second subscriber authentication associated with the second user profile, the second subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with the third of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the third mobile network; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second subscriber authentication.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, selecting at least a first application associated with the first user profile, the first application used by the user on a second mobile device; and

communicating to the first mobile device the first application associated with the first user profile.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile hub, from the first mobile device at least a second request selecting a second user profile;

responsive to receiving the second request selecting the second user profile, selecting at least a second application associated with the second user profile; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second application associated with the second user profile.

5. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile hub, from a first mobile device a first request to authenticate a user of the first mobile device with the mobile hub;

responsive to receiving the first request, identifying at least a first user profile of the user;

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, identifying, using a processor, a first of a plurality of mobile networks indicated in the first user profile as being available to the user, the first mobile network satisfying at least a first user specified criterion associated with the first user profile;

responsive to identifying the first of the plurality of mobile networks that satisfies the first user specified criterion, selecting a first subscriber authentication associated with the first user profile, the first subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with the first of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the first mobile network;

communicating to the first mobile device the first subscriber authentication;

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, selecting a first user interface layout information associated with the first user profile, wherein the first user interface layout information defines a first customized user interface layout of a second mobile device used by the user and is configured to be processed by at least the first mobile device to present on a display of the first mobile device the first customized user interface layout; and

communicating to the first mobile device the first user interface layout information associated with the first user profile.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile hub, from the first mobile device at least a second request selecting a second user profile;

responsive to receiving the second request selecting the second user profile, selecting a second user interface layout information associated with the second user profile, wherein the second user interface layout information defines a second customized user interface layout used by the user and is configured to be processed by at least the first mobile device to present on the display of the first mobile device the second customized user interface layout; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second user interface layout information associated with the second user profile.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor programmed to initiate executable operations comprising;

receiving, by a mobile hub, from a first mobile device a first request to authenticate a user of the first mobile device with the mobile hub;

responsive to receiving the first request, identifying at least a first user profile of the user;

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, identifying a first of a plurality of mobile networks indicated in the first user profile as being available to the user, the first mobile network satisfying at least a first user specified criterion associated with the first user profile;

responsive to identifying the first of the plurality of mobile networks that satisfies the first user specified criterion, selecting a first subscriber authentication associated with the first user profile, the first subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with the first of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the first mobile network;

communicating to the first mobile device the first subscriber authentication;

monitoring, by the mobile hub, communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network;

determining, by the mobile hub, whether the communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network satisfy the first user specified criterion;

responsive to determining that the communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network do not satisfy the first user specified criterion, selecting a second subscriber authentication associated with the first user profile, the second subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with a second of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the second mobile network; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second subscriber authentication.

8. The system of claim 7, the executable operations further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile hub, from the first mobile device at least a second request selecting a second user profile;

responsive to receiving the second request selecting the second user profile, identifying a third of the plurality of mobile networks indicated in the second user profile as being available to the user and that satisfies at least a second user specified criterion associated with the second user profile;

responsive to identifying the third of the plurality of mobile networks that satisfies the second user specified criterion, selecting a second subscriber authentication associated with the second user profile, the second subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with the third of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the third mobile network; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second subscriber authentication.

9. The system of claim 7, the executable operations further comprising:

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, selecting a first user interface layout information associated with the first user profile, wherein the first user interface layout information defines a first customized user interface layout of a second mobile device used by the user and is configured to be processed by at least the first mobile device to present on a display of the first mobile device the first customized user interface layout; and

communicating to the first mobile device the first user interface layout information associated with the first user profile.

10. The system of claim 9, the executable operations further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile hub, from the first mobile device at least a second request selecting a second user profile;

responsive to receiving the second request selecting the second user profile, selecting a second user interface layout information associated with the second user profile, wherein the second user interface layout information defines a second customized user interface layout used by the user and is configured to be processed by at least the first mobile device to present on the display of the first mobile device the second customized user interface layout; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second user interface layout information associated with the second user profile.

11. The system of claim 7, the executable operations further comprising:

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, selecting at least a first application associated with the first user profile, the first application used by the user on a second mobile device; and

communicating to the first mobile device the first application associated with the first user profile.

12. The system of claim 11, the executable operations further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile hub, from the first mobile device at least a second request selecting a second user profile;

responsive to receiving the second request selecting the second user profile, selecting at least a second application associated with the second user profile; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second application associated with the second user profile.

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor programmed to initiate executable operations comprising;

communicating, by the mobile device, to a first mobile hub a request to authenticate a user of the mobile device with the first mobile hub;

responsive to communicating the request, receiving, by the mobile device a subscriber authentication associated with a user profile of the user, the subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with a first of a plurality of mobile networks indicated in the user profile as being available to the user, the first mobile network satisfying at least a first user specified criterion associated with the user profile;

responsive to receiving, by the mobile device, the subscriber authentication, automatically establishing, by the mobile device, presence on the first mobile network using the first subscriber authentication;

responsive to communicating the request, receiving, by the mobile device, from the first mobile hub or a second mobile hub, a user interface layout information associated with the user profile, wherein the user interface layout information defines a customized user interface layout of another mobile device used by the user and is configured to be processed by at least the mobile device to present on a display of the mobile device the customized user interface layout; and

processing, by the mobile device, the user interface layout information to present on the display of the mobile device the customized user interface layout.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, the executable operations further comprising:

responsive to communicating the request, receiving, by the mobile device, from the first mobile hub or a second mobile hub, at least one application used by the user on another mobile device; and

installing the at least one application on the mobile device.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon, the program code executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile hub executed by a processor, from a first mobile device a first request to authenticate a user of the first mobile device with the mobile hub;

responsive to receiving the first request, identifying, by the processor, at least a first user profile of the user;

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, identifying, by the processor, a first of a plurality of mobile networks indicated in the first user profile as being available to the user, the first mobile network satisfying at least a first user specified criterion associated with the first user profile;

responsive to identifying the first of the plurality of mobile networks that satisfies the first user specified criterion, selecting, by the processor, a first subscriber authentication associated with the first user profile, the first subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with the first of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the first mobile network;

communicating, by the processor, to the first mobile device the first subscriber authentication;

monitoring, by the mobile hub, communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network;

determining, by the mobile hub, whether the communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network satisfy the first user specified criterion;

responsive to determining that the communications communicated between the first mobile device and the first mobile network do not satisfy the first user specified criterion, selecting a second subscriber authentication associated with the first user profile, the second subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with a second of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the second mobile network; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second subscriber authentication.

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

receiving, by the mobile hub, from the first mobile device at least a second request selecting a second user profile;

responsive to receiving the second request selecting the second user profile, identifying a third of the plurality of mobile networks indicated in the second user profile as being available to the user and that satisfies at least a second user specified criterion associated with the second user profile;

responsive to identifying the third of the plurality of mobile networks that satisfies the second user specified criterion, selecting a second subscriber authentication associated with the second user profile, the second subscriber authentication configured to authenticate the user with the third of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the third mobile network; and

communicating to the first mobile device the second subscriber authentication.

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

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, selecting a first user interface layout information associated with the first user profile, wherein the first user interface layout information defines a first customized user interface layout of a second mobile device used by the user and is configured to be processed by at least the first mobile device to present on a display of the first mobile device the first customized user interface layout; and

communicating to the first mobile device the first user interface layout information associated with the first user profile.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, the method further comprising:

responsive to identifying the first user profile of the user, selecting at least a first application associated with the first user profile, the first application used by the user on a second mobile device; and

communicating to the first mobile device the first application associated with the first user profile.