Automated Credential Porting for Mobile Devices

• US 20170289796A1
• Filed: 03/23/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G., Lavine, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,171,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning

Abstract

Devices, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for updating wireless device credentials, the wireless device comprising: a user interface, memory configured to store one or more credentials for enabling the wireless device to obtain one or more services over a wireless access network, and one or more processors configured to execute one or more machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to obtain an indication of a user request to replace a particular credential with a target credential, detect a network-provisioning state change, determine that the particular credential does not match the target credential, initiate a programming session with a network element over a wireless access network, obtain an updated credential from the network element, and assist in storing the updated credential in memory.

Claims

1. A method performed by a network system communicatively coupled to a wireless device by a wireless access network, the method comprising:

receiving, from the wireless device, a request to replace a current phone number of the wireless device with a target phone number;

based on the current phone number and the target phone number, initiating a network-provisioning state change;

sending a message to the wireless device, the message indicating the network-provisioning state change;

receiving a request from the wireless device to initiate a programming session,

establishing a programming session with the wireless device;

obtaining an updated credential phone number from a database, the updated phone number associated with the wireless device;

provisioning one or more network elements in accordance with the updated phone number; and

sending the updated phone number to the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the network-provisioning state change is in response to determining that a registration attempt initiated by the wireless device has failed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the network-provisioning state change is in response to determining that an attempt by the wireless device to place a voice call has failed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the network-provisioning state change is in response to determining that an attempt by the wireless device to send a text message has failed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the network-provisioning state change is in response to determining that an attempt by the wireless device to authenticate with the network element has failed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the network-provisioning state change is in response to determining that an attempt by the wireless device to be authorized for a service has failed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the network-provisioning state change is in response to determining that a network access error has occurred.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a first wireless device, and wherein the target phone number is associated with a second wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the programming session with the wireless device comprises allowing the wireless device to access the network system using a temporary device credential.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the programming session with the wireless device comprises allowing the wireless device to access the network system using a default device credential.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising restricting the types of communications the wireless device is authorized to transact over the wireless access network until the updated phone number has been received by the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request to replace a current phone number further comprises receiving prior wireless service provider subscriber information from the wireless device, the subscriber information associated with the target phone number.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising communicating with a porting server associated with the prior wireless service provider to request, using the subscriber information, that the target phone number be ported from the prior wireless service provider.