ACCESS DATA PROVISIONING APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20180014184A1
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: SCHELL, Stephan V., HAGGERTY, David T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,327,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for activating a purchased or previously deployed device by a subscriber. In one embodiment, activation includes authenticating the device to a service provider or carrier, and providing the device with data necessary for enabling the service to the device. In one variant, a user device is activated at a retail store, with the assistance of a carrier representative. In another variant, user equipment is activated via a communications network without the assistance of a representative. In yet another variant, the user equipment is activated via the Internet without the assistance of a representative. The provision of access data includes pre-assigning eSIM from a population of unassigned eSIMs to certain devices for various carrier networks. Alternatively, the eSIM may be assigned on an as-needed basis. Unassigned and/or unused eSIMs can be released (or sold back to the vendor) and/or reused. Solutions for eSIM backup and restoration are also described.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) to wireless devices, the method comprising, at an eSIM provisioning server:

assigning a unique identifier to;

(1) a wireless device, and

(2) an eSIM included in a plurality of eSIMs that are not assigned to wireless devices;

receiving a request to activate the wireless device, wherein the request includes the unique identifier; and

causing the wireless device to utilize the eSIM.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further includes information about a user associated with the wireless device, and the method further comprises, prior to causing the wireless device to utilize the eSIM:

updating the eSIM to reflect at least a portion of the information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the wireless device to utilize the eSIM comprises:

providing the eSIM to the wireless device for installation; and

causing the wireless device to activate the eSIM.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in conjunction with assigning the unique identifier to (1) the wireless device, and (2) the eSIM:

providing the eSIM to the wireless device for installation, wherein causing the wireless device to utilize the eSIM comprises;

causing the wireless device to activate the eSIM.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is printed on a physical packaging associated with the wireless device or is stored on a memory that is accessible to the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, prior to assigning the unique identifier to (2) the eSIM:

receiving the unique identifier by way of a read event associated with the physical packaging or the memory.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of eSIMs are received from a Mobile Network Operator (MNO), and the method further comprises:

receiving an indication of an uninstallation of the eSIM at the wireless device; and

disassociating the eSIM from the unique identifier such that the eSIM can be reassigned to a different unique identifier associated with a different wireless device.

8. An electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) provisioning server configured to provision eSIMs to wireless devices, the eSIM provisioning server comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the eSIM provisioning server to;

assign a unique identifier to;

(1) a wireless device, and

(2) an eSIM included in a plurality of eSIMs that are not assigned to wireless devices;

receive a request to activate the wireless device, wherein the request includes the unique identifier; and

cause the wireless device to utilize the eSIM.

9. The eSIM provisioning server of claim 8, wherein the request further includes information about a user associated with the wireless device, and the at least one processor further causes the eSIM provisioning server to, prior to causing the wireless device to utilize the eSIM:

updating the eSIM to reflect at least a portion of the information.

10. The eSIM provisioning server of claim 8, wherein causing the wireless device to utilize the eSIM comprises:

providing the eSIM to the wireless device for installation; and

causing the wireless device to activate the eSIM.

11. The eSIM provisioning server of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor further causes the eSIM provisioning server to, in conjunction with assigning the unique identifier to (1) the wireless device, and (2) the eSIM:

provide the eSIM to the wireless device for installation, wherein causing the wireless device to utilize the eSIM comprises;

causing the wireless device to activate the eSIM.

12. The eSIM provisioning server of claim 8, wherein the unique identifier is printed on a physical packaging associated with the wireless device or is stored on a memory that is accessible to wireless device.

13. The eSIM provisioning server of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor further causes the eSIM provisioning server to, prior to assigning the unique identifier to (2) the eSIM:

receive the unique identifier by way of a read event associated with the physical packaging or the memory.

14. The eSIM provisioning server of claim 8, wherein the plurality of eSIMs are received from a Mobile Network Operator (MNO), and the at least one processor further causes the eSIM provisioning server to:

receiving an indication of an uninstallation of the eSIM at the wireless device; and

disassociating the eSIM from the unique identifier such that the eSIM can be reassigned to a different unique identifier associated with a different wireless device.

15. A method for provisioning electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) to wireless devices, the method comprising, at a wireless device:

receiving an assignment of a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is correspondingly assigned to an eSIM that is selected from a plurality of eSIMs that are not assigned to wireless devices;

receiving a first request to activate the wireless device;

providing, to an eSIM provisioning server, a second request to utilize the eSIM, wherein the second request includes the unique identifier; and

utilizing the eSIM.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second request further includes information about a user associated with the wireless device, and the eSIM is updated to reflect at least a portion of the information.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein utilizing the eSIM comprises:

receiving the eSIM from the eSIM provisioning server;

installing the eSIM on the wireless device; and

activating the eSIM.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the eSIM is received from the eSIM provisioning server prior to receiving the first request to activate the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the unique identifier is printed on a physical packaging associated with the wireless device or is stored on a memory that is accessible to the wireless device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, prior to receiving the assignment of the unique identifier:

obtaining the unique identifier by way of a read event associated with the physical packaging or the memory; and

providing the unique identifier to the eSIM provisioning server.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an indication of an uninstallation of the eSIM; and

issuing, to the eSIM provisioning server, a notification of the uninstallation of the eSIM, wherein the notification permits the eSIM provisioning server to reassign the eSIM to a different unique identifier associated with a different wireless device.

22. A wireless device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless device to;

receive an assignment of a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is correspondingly assigned to an eSIM that is selected from a plurality of eSIMs that are not assigned to wireless devices;

receive a first request to activate the wireless device;

provide, to an eSIM provisioning server, a second request to utilize the eSIM, wherein the second request includes the unique identifier; and

utilize the eSIM.

23. The wireless device of claim 22, wherein the second request further includes information about a user associated with the wireless device, and the eSIM is updated to reflect at least a portion of the information.

24. The wireless device of claim 22, wherein utilizing the eSIM comprises:

receiving the eSIM from the eSIM provisioning server;

installing the eSIM on the wireless device; and

activating the eSIM.

25. The wireless device of claim 24, wherein the eSIM is received from the eSIM provisioning server prior to receiving the first request to activate the wireless device.

26. The wireless device of claim 22, wherein the unique identifier is printed on a physical packaging associated with the wireless device or is stored on a memory that is accessible to the wireless device.

27. The wireless device of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor further causes the wireless device to, prior to receiving the assignment of the unique identifier:

obtain the unique identifier by way of a read event associated with the physical packaging or the memory; and

provide the unique identifier to the eSIM provisioning server.

28. The wireless device of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor further causes the wireless device to:

receive an indication of an uninstallation of the eSIM; and

issue, to the eSIM provisioning server, a notification of the uninstallation of the eSIM, wherein the notification permits the eSIM provisioning server to reassign the eSIM to a different unique identifier associated with a different wireless device.