IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM OF VIRTUAL SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE

• US 20150215773A1
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bai, Zhidong, Lu, Min, Wang, Bingfu
• Granted Patent: US 9,913,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/023 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The present invention provides implementation and communication methods, an apparatus and a system of a virtual subscriber identity module. The implementation method includes: receiving a VSIM application request sent by a terminal, where the VSIM application request carries an identifier of a VSIM desired by the terminal; obtaining corresponding VSIM installation information according to the identifier of the desired VSIM; and sending the VSIM installation information to the terminal, so that the terminal installs the VSIM according to the VSIM installation information. The embodiments of the present invention effectively solve a problem where an existing mobile operator network does not support the VSIM, and provide an effective and convenient operation scheme for an existing domestic or international roaming service.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a virtual subscriber identity module of a terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) application request sent by the terminal, wherein the VSIM application request carries an identifier of a VSIM desired by a user of the terminal;

obtaining corresponding VSIM installation information according to the identifier of the desired VSIM; and

sending the VSIM installation information to the terminal, so that the terminal installs the VSIM according to the VSIM installation information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving a VSIM application request sent by the terminal, the method further comprises:

receiving an identifier of a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the terminal that is sent by a mobile switching center; and

sending VSIM application address information to the terminal according to the identifier of the SIM of the terminal, so that the terminal sends the VSIM application request according to the address information.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining parameter information of the VSIM; and

generating the VSIM installation information according to the parameter information.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the parameter information of the VSIM comprises at least one of:

an international mobile subscriber identity, a phone number and subscriber identity authentication security algorithm information, or source identification information of the parameter information of the VSIM.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein after sending the VSIM installation information to the terminal, so that the terminal installs the VSIM according to the VSIM installation information, the method further comprises:

receiving first activation information sent by the terminal, wherein the first activation information carries an activation code and the identifier of the VSIM;

verifying whether the activation code is correct;

if the activation code is correct, sending second activation information carrying the identifier of the VSIM to a network side network element, or according to a mapping relationship between the identifier of the VSIM and an identifier of the network side network element, obtaining the identifier of the network side network element corresponding to the identifier of the VSIM, and sending the second activation information carrying the identifier of the VSIM to the network side network element corresponding to the identifier of the network side network element, so that the network side network element returns, according to the identifier of the VSIM, first response information carrying the identifier of the VSIM; and

receiving the first response information, and sending second response information to the terminal according to the identifier of the VSIM, so as to activate the VSIM installed by the terminal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein after sending the VSIM installation information to the terminal, so that the terminal installs the VSIM according to the VSIM installation information, the method further comprises:

receiving binding request information sent by the terminal, wherein the binding request information carries the identifier of the VSIM of the terminal; and

performing a binding setting according to the identifier of the SIM of the terminal and the identifier of the VSIM.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein performing a binding setting according to the identifier of the SIM of the terminal and the identifier of the VSIM comprises:

obtaining an identifier of a home location register (HLR) of the VSIM according to the identifier of the VSIM; and

according to the identifier of the HLR, sending binding information carrying the identifier of the SIM and the identifier of the VSIM to the HLR, so that according to the binding information, the HLR correspondingly stores the identifier of the VSIM and the identifier of the SIM, and establishes an association relationship between the identifier of the VSIM and the identifier of the SIM, thus when the mobile switching center receives a paging message carrying the identifier of the SIM, if a query shows that the VSIM bound to the SIM is stored in the HLR, the mobile switching center sends a paging carrying the identifier of the VSIM.

8. A virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) management server, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a VSIM application request sent by a terminal, wherein the VSIM application request carries an identifier of a VSIM desired by a user of the terminal;

a first obtaining module, configured to obtain corresponding VSIM installation information according to the identifier of the desired VSIM; and

a sending module, configured to send the VSIM installation information to the terminal, so that the terminal installs the VSIM according to the VSIM installation information.

9. The VSIM management server according to claim 8, wherein:

the receiving module is further configured to receive an identifier of a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the terminal that is sent by a mobile switching center; and

the sending module is further configured to send VSIM application address information to the terminal according to the identifier of the SIM of the terminal, so that the terminal sends the VSIM application request according to the address information.

10. The VSIM management server according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second obtaining module, configured to obtain parameter information of the VSIM; and

a generating module, configured to generate the VSIM installation information according to the parameter information.

11. The VSIM management server according to claim 8, wherein:

the receiving module is further configured to receive first activation information sent by the terminal, wherein the first activation information carries an activation code and the identifier of the VSIM;

the VSIM management server further comprises;

a verifying module, configured to verify whether the activation code is correct, and if the activation code is correct, generate a verification pass instruction; and

the sending module is further configured to;

send second activation information carrying the identifier of the VSIM to a network side network element according to the verification pass instruction, or according to a mapping relationship between the identifier of the VSIM and an identifier of the network side network element, obtain the identifier of the network side network element corresponding to the identifier of the VSIM, and send the second activation information carrying the identifier of the VSIM to the network side network element corresponding to the identifier of the network side network element, so that the network side network element returns, according to the identifier of the VSIM, first response information carrying the identifier of the VSIM, and after receiving the first response information, sends second response information to the terminal according to the identifier of the VSIM so as to activate the VSIM installed by the terminal.

12. The VSIM management server according to claim 8, wherein:

the receiving module is further configured to receive binding request information sent by the terminal, wherein the binding request information carries the identifier of the VSIM of the terminal; and

the VSIM management server further comprises;

a binding setting module, configured to perform a binding setting according to the identifier of the SIM of the terminal and the identifier of the VSIM.

13. The VSIM management server according to claim 12, wherein the binding setting module comprises:

an obtaining unit, configured to obtain an identifier of a home location register (HLR) of the VSIM according to the identifier of the VSIM; and

a sending unit, configured to;

according to the identifier of the HLR, send binding information carrying the identifier of the SIM and the identifier of the VSIM to the HLR, so that according to the binding information, the HLR correspondingly stores the identifier of the VSIM and the identifier of the SIM, and establishes an association relationship between the identifier of the VSIM and the identifier of the SIM, thus when the mobile switching center receives a paging message carrying the identifier of the SIM, if a query shows that the VSIM bound to the SIM is stored in the HLR, the mobile switching center sends a paging carrying the identifier of the VSIM.

14. A mobile operator network, comprising:

a mobile switching center; and

the virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) management server according to claim 8.

15. A communication method for a virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a call request sent by the terminal, wherein the call request carries an identifier of a first VSIM of the terminal and a mobile subscriber number of a called terminal, the identifier of the first VSIM is obtained by the terminal by installing VSIM installation information, and the VSIM installation information is downloaded by the terminal from a VSIM management server;

according to the identifier of the first VSIM and the mobile subscriber number of the called terminal, controlling call establishment between the terminal and the called terminal;

receiving a paging message sent by a calling terminal, wherein the paging message carries an identifier of a first VSIM of the called terminal; and

according to the identifier of the first VSIM, sending a paging carrying the identifier of the first VSIM.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

querying whether an identifier of a second VSIM or an identifier of a subscriber identity module (SIM), associated with the identifier of the first VSIM, is stored in a home location register (HLR) of the first VSIM, and if the identifier is stored in the HLR of the first VSIM, according to the identifier of the first VSIM, sending a paging carrying the identifier of the first VSIM; and

according to the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM, sending a paging carrying the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a location update request sent by the terminal, wherein the location update request carries the identifier of the first VSIM of the terminal; and

according to the location update request, updating location information corresponding to the identifier of the first VSIM in a home location register (HLR) of the first VSIM.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein according to the location update request, updating location information corresponding to the identifier of the first VSIM in the HLR of the first VSIM comprises:

sending an updating location request to the HLR of the first VSIM according to the identifier of the first VSIM carried in the location update request, so that according to the updating location request, the HLR of the first VSIM returns a subscriber data insertion message carrying subscriber data of the first VSIM; and

receiving the subscriber data insertion message returned by the HLR of the first VSIM, storing the subscriber data of the first VSIM in a visitor location register (VLR) of the first VSIM, and sending subscriber data confirmation message carrying an identifier of the VLR to the HLR of the first VSIM, so that according to the identifier of the VLR, the HLR of the first VSIM updates the location information corresponding to the identifier of the first VSIM, and returns a location update acceptance message.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

if the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM, associated with the identifier of the first VSIM, is obtained, updating location information corresponding to the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM in an HLR of the second VSIM or the SIM, according to the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM.

20. A mobile switching center, comprising:

a first receiving module, configured to receive a call request sent by a terminal, wherein the call request carries an identifier of a first virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) of the terminal and a mobile subscriber number of a called terminal, the identifier of the first VSIM is obtained by the terminal by installing VSIM installation information, and the VSIM installation information is downloaded by the terminal from a VSIM management server;

a processing module, configured to;

according to the identifier of the first VSIM and the mobile subscriber number of the called terminal, control call establishment between the terminal and the called terminal;

a second receiving module, configured to receive a paging message sent by a calling terminal, wherein the paging message carries an identifier of a first VSIM of the called terminal; and

a sending module, configured to;

according to the identifier of the first VSIM, send a paging carrying the identifier of the first VSIM.

21. The mobile switching center according to claim 20, further comprising:

a querying module, configured to query whether an identifier of a second VSIM or an identifier of a subscriber identity module (SIM), associated with the identifier of the first VSIM, is stored in a home location register (HLR) of the VSIM, and if so, generate a query instruction; and

wherein the sending module is further configured to;

according to the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM carried in the query instruction, send a paging carrying the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM.

22. The mobile switching center according to claim 20, further comprising:

a third receiving module, configured to receive a location update request sent by the terminal, wherein the location update request carries the identifier of the first VSIM of the terminal; and

a location updating module, configured to;

according to the location update request, update the location information corresponding to the identifier of the first VSIM in a home location register (HLR) of the first VSIM.

23. The mobile switching center according to claim 22, wherein the location updating module comprises:

a first sending unit, configured to;

according to the identifier of the first VSIM carried in the location update request, send the updating location request to the HLR of the first VSIM, so that according to the updating location request, the HLR of the first VSIM returns a subscriber data insertion message carrying subscriber data of the first VSIM;

a receiving unit, configured to receive the subscriber data insertion message returned by the HLR of the first VSIM;

a storing unit, configured to store in the VLR the subscriber data of the first VSIM carried in the subscriber data insertion message received by the receiving unit, and generate a storage completion instruction; and

a second sending unit, configured to;

after receiving the storage completion instruction, send a subscriber data confirmation message carrying an identifier of the VLR to the HLR of the first VSIM, so that according to the identifier of the VLR, the HLR of the first VSIM updates the location information corresponding to the identifier of the first VSIM, and returns a location update acceptance message.

24. The mobile switching center according to claim 22, wherein the location updating module is further configured to:

when the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM, associated with the identifier of the first VSIM, is obtained, update location information corresponding to the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM in an HLR of the second VSIM or the SIM, according to the identifier of the second VSIM or the identifier of the SIM.

25. A mobile operator network, comprising the mobile switching center, VLR and HLR according to claim 20.