SECURITY CODE(S) OF APPARATUS HAVING AT LEAST ONE SIM

• US 20130303123A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UROS Technology S.A.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Uros Oy
• Inventors: NOUSIAINEN, Marko, RAHIKAINEN, Ilkka, UHARI, Tommi, KOKKONEN, Jari A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/675 the user being required to insert a coded card, e.g. a smart card carrying an integrated circuit chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/45 using multiple identity modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

An apparatus includes one or more processors, one or more memories. The apparatus is portable and it includes or is coupled with at least one subscriber identification module capable of storing one or more security codes which are used in a security code check for controlling usability of the at least one subscriber identification module with the apparatus. The apparatus obtains a request from the at least one subscriber identification module for at least one security code. The apparatus controls providing an automatic response to the request with at least one security code available to the apparatus for enabling or disabling the use of the at least one subscriber identification module. The apparatus transmits a request for a security code to a server wirelessly. The server transmits wirelessly a code stored in the database to the at least one apparatus as a response to the request.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising one or more processors, one or more memories, the apparatus being portable and comprising or being coupled with at least one subscriber identification module capable of storing one or more security codes which are used in a security code check for controlling usability of the at least one subscriber identification module with the apparatus;

and

the one or more memories are configured to store instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

obtain a request, which is associated with the security code check, from the at least one subscriber identification module for at least one security code, and control providing an automatic response to the request with at least one security code available to the apparatus for enabling or disabling the use of the at least one subscriber identification module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more memories are configured to store at least one security code for at least one subscriber identification module pre-saved therein by a service provider of the apparatus;

and

the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

provide an automatic response to the request with the at least one security code stored in the at least one memory, for enabling the use of the at least one subscriber identification module if the at least one provided security code passes the security check.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises or is operably coupled with a wireless transceiver configured to operate on radio frequency signals of a radio system, and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to wirelessly:

request for the at least one security code from a server of a service provider, and obtain a response from the server for providing the automatic response to the request with at least one security code included in the response from the server, for enabling the use of the at least one subscriber identification module if the at least one provided security code passes the security check.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the instructions stored in the one or more memories, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the equipment to obtain a unique serial number combined with the request from each subscriber identification module, and control providing an automatic response to each of the at least one subscriber identity module on the basis of the unique serial number.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

store each security code obtained from the server in the one or more memories, and in the at least one subscriber identification module on the basis of the request.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises or is operably coupled with a wireless receiver configured to operate on radio frequency signals of a radio system, and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

obtain, through the wireless receiver, a service provider'"'"'s lock command associated with at least one subscriber identification module, and, as a response to the obtained lock command, prevent providing with one or more security codes stored in the one or more memories prior to the lock command for limiting the use of the at least one subscriber identification module associated with the lock command.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus comprises or is operably coupled with a user interface, and the instructions cause, as a response to the obtained lock command, the apparatus to require at least one personal identification number unlock code of at least one subscriber identification module associated with the lock command through the user interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lock command comprises at least one incorrect security code of at least one subscriber identification module for causing a failure in the security code check.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein after the lock command and after the service provider has identified the user, the instructions cause the apparatus to:

obtain, through the wireless receiver, an unlock command, and, as a response to the unlock command, allow providing a response with at least one security code available to the apparatus, for enabling the use of the at least one subscriber identification module if the at least one provided security code passes the security check.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the instructions cause the apparatus to obtain, through the wireless transceiver, at least one new security code of the at least one subscriber identification module transmitted by the service provider and change the at least one security code by storing at least one new security code in the one or more memories and in the at least one subscriber identification module.

11. A server of a service provider which comprises at least one processor, one or more memories and the server comprising or being operably coupled with a wireless transceiver and a server configured to store each security code of each subscriber identification module of at least one apparatus in a database;

and

the one or more memories are configured to store instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server to;

receive a request, through the wireless transceiver, for at least one security code from the at least one apparatus, and transmit, through the wireless transceiver, at least one security code stored in the database to the at least one apparatus as a response to the received request.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the instructions stored in the one or more memories, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server to find, in a database, a security code on the basis of a unique serial number of a subscriber identification module received from the apparatus, and transmit the found security code combined with the unique serial number.

13. The server of claim 11, wherein the server comprising or being operably coupled with a user interface, and the one or more memories store instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server to obtain, from the user interface, an instruction to lock at least one subscriber identification module, and transmit, through the wireless transceiver, a service provider'"'"'s lock command addressed to least one subscriber identification module.

14. A method, the method comprising:

obtaining, in a portable apparatus, a request, which is associated with the security code check, for at least one security code from the at least one subscriber identification module; and

controlling, in an apparatus, providing an automatic response to the request with the at least one security code available to the apparatus for enabling or disabling the use of the at least one subscriber identification module.

15. A method, the method comprising:

receiving a request, through the wireless transceiver, for at least one security code from the at least one apparatus, and

transmitting, through the wireless transceiver, at least one security code stored in a database associated with the server to the at least one apparatus as a response to the received request.