Management method and management server for using SIM cards

• US 9,998,913 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soracom, Inc. (KDDI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Soracom, Inc. (KDDI Corporation)
• Inventors: Tamagawa, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khai M
• Application Number:
  US15/691,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20170366963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

In a management method and a management server for using a plurality of SIM cards, a large number of users can start use easily. First, an MVNO 230A that has obtained one or more SIM cards logs in to a management screen provided by an MVNE 210 in association with a user ID of the MVNO 230A. From the standpoint of the MVNE 210, it is determined whether a user ID of a user who has accessed a management screen of a management server of the MVNE 210 is under MVNO contract (S301). When the user ID is under MVNO contract, an identification number given to each SIM card and a passcode for authentication given as needed are received as registration information (S302). If the management server of the MVNE 210 can receive necessary registration information, each SIM card of which an identification number is specified by the registration information is associated with the user ID as an SIM card used by the MVNO 230A and the association is registered in the management server of the MVNE 210 or a database 211 accessible therefrom (S303).

Claims

1. A management method for using a plurality of SIM cards, comprising steps of:

receiving registration information for registering one or more SIM cards; and

associating one or more SIM cards, one or more identification numbers of which are specified by the received registration information, with a user ID of a user of the plurality of SIM cards,

wherein communication status for each identification number is changeable on a management screen provided for the user ID,

wherein communication quality for each identification number is at least one of speed limit, capacity limit and time slot limit and changeable on the management screen, and

wherein management of the communication quality is performed on an instance on a cloud.

2. The management method according to claim 1, wherein management of the communication status for each identification number is started as inactive.

3. The management method according to claim 1, wherein the communication status is changeable by selecting from at least more than two of inactive, in-use, cancelled, and dispatching.

4. The management method according to claim 3, wherein management of the communication status is performed on an instance on a cloud.

5. The management method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

receiving a change application of a user of one or more SIM cards associated with the user ID; and

generating registration information for one or more SIM cards which are targeted by the change application in response to the change application.

6. The management method according to claim 5, wherein communication status of one or more SIM cards which are targeted by the change application is changed in response to receiving the change application.

7. The management method according to claim 1,

wherein the registration information includes one or more identification numbers of the one or more SIM cards;

wherein the step of receiving the registration information comprises the steps of

detecting a click or tap of a registration button on a management screen provided for the user ID;

displaying an input screen for registering the one or more SIM cards in response to detection; and

associating the one or more SIM cards, one or more identification numbers of which are input on the input screen, with the user ID.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable program storage medium, storing a program for having a computer perform a management method for using a plurality of SIM cards, the management method comprising steps of:

receiving registration information for registering one or more SIM cards; and

associating one or more SIM cards, one or more identification numbers of which are specified by the received registration information, with a user ID of a user of the plurality of SIM cards,

wherein communication status for each identification number is changeable on a management screen provided for the user ID,

wherein communication quality for each identification number is at least one of speed limit, capacity limit and time slot limit and changeable on the management screen, and

wherein management of the communication quality is performed on an instance on a cloud.

9. A management server for using a plurality of SIM cards, comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving registration information for registering one or more SIM cards; and

an associating unit for associating one or more SIM cards, one or more identification numbers of which are specified by the received registration information, with a user ID of a user of the plurality of SIM cards,

wherein communication status for each identification number is changeable on a management screen provided for the user ID,

wherein communication quality for each identification number is at least one of speed limit, capacity limit and time slot limit and changeable on the management screen, and

wherein management of the communication quality is performed on an instance on a cloud.