Methods and systems for routing authentication and/or identification data of a cellular subscriber

• US 9,204,303 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simgo Asset Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gimso Mobile Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben Shlush, Avi, Shmueli, Eyal
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US14/111,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20140051398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 455/458
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system for registering a cellular device. The system comprises a non cellular communication module which establishes a non cellular communication connection with a remote network node over a non cellular communication network and acquires identification and/or authentication data of a subscriber of a visited cellular network from the remote network node over the non cellular communication connection, a subscriber authentication unit adaptor configured for engaging with contacts of a subscriber authentication unit socket of a hosting cellular device, and a managing module which receives the identification and/or authentication data from the non cellular communication module and provides the identification and/or authentication data to the hosting cellular communication via the authentication unit adaptor so as to allow to registering the hosting cellular communication to the visited cellular network.

Claims

1. A system for registering a cellular device, comprising:

a processor and a memory embodying executable instructions which, when executed by the processor function as a non cellular communication module which establishes a non cellular communication connection with a remote network node over a non cellular communication network and acquires identification and authentication data of a subscriber of a visited cellular network from said remote network node over said non cellular communication connection;

a subscriber authentication unit adaptor configured for engaging with contacts of a subscriber authentication unit socket of a hosting cellular device; and

a managing module which receives said identification and authentication data from said non cellular communication module and provides said identification and authentication data to a communication interface of said authentication unit adaptor;

wherein said authentication unit adaptor forwards said identification and authentication data to said hosting cellular communication so as to allow to registering said hosting cellular communication to said visited cellular network;

wherein said non cellular communication module being installed on said hosting cellular device;

wherein said non cellular communication module acquires said identification and authentication data via a communication port of said hosting cellular device;

wherein said subscriber authentication unit adaptor and said managing module are installed in a socket communication device which further comprises an integrated subscriber identification module (SIM) card socket for engaging with contacts of a SIM card hosting an on-chip authentication data, said socket communication device provides said on-chip identification and authentication data via said subscriber authentication unit adaptor to register said on-chip identification and authentication data in a home cellular network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification and authentication data comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication interface comprises a wireless communication unit for establishing a wireless connection with said hosting cellular device, said identification and authentication data being provided via said wireless connection.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said non cellular communication module acquires said identification and authentication data by establishing a non cellular communication session with said remote network node using a non cellular communication interface of said hosting cellular device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said subscriber authentication unit socket is a subscriber identification module (SIM) card socket.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said socket communication device further comprises a switch for switching between a first connection between said integrated SIM card socket and said subscriber authentication unit adaptor and a second connection between said managing module and said subscriber authentication unit adaptor.

7. A method for registering a cellular device, comprising:

establishing a non cellular communication connection over a non cellular communication network between a cellular device and a remote network node;

receiving from a visited cellular network, at said cellular device, at least one request for at least one of identification and authentication of a subscriber during a network registration process;

routing said at least one request, via said non cellular communication connection, to said remote network node;

receiving from said remote network node, by a managing module, identification and authentication data, and providing said identification and authentication data to a communication interface of said authentication unit adaptor;

forwarding said identification and authentication data by said authentication unit adaptor to said hosting cellular communication; and

routing at least one response to said at least one request, via said non cellular communication connection, to said visited network so as to

register said cellular device to said visited cellular network;

wherein said subscriber authentication unit adaptor and said managing module are installed in a socket communication device which further comprises an integrated subscriber identification module (SIM) card socket for engaging with contacts of a SIM card hosting an on-chip authentication data, said socket communication device provides said on-chip identification and authentication data via said subscriber authentication unit adaptor to register said on-chip identification and authentication data in a home cellular network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said routing at least one response comprises acquiring identification and authentication data of said subscriber over said non cellular communication connection;

forwarding said identification and authentication data to said cellular device via a subscriber authentication unit socket thereof; and

registering said cellular device to said visited cellular network using said authentication data.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting an initiation of a roaming process on said hosting cellular device and halting said roaming process in response to said detection.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using an integrated subscriber authentication unit socket to acquire on-chip identification and authentication data from a subscriber authentication unit engaged therewith;

wherein said registering comprises identifying a location of said hosting cellular device and determining accordingly whether to provide said identification and authentication data or said on-chip identification and authentication data to said hosting cellular device via said subscriber authentication unit socket.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

using said non cellular communication connection to acquire an additional identification and authentication data from said remote network node;

providing said hosting cellular device with said additional identification and authentication data via said subscriber authentication unit socket; and

registering said hosting cellular device to another visited cellular network using said additional identification and authentication data.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said routing at least one response comprises routing said at least one response via a subscriber authentication unit socket of said cellular device.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said remote network node is a gateway connected to;

a home cellular network of said subscriber;

further comprising;

connecting local calls received at said gateway via said home cellular network to said cellular device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said connecting is performed by using an international leg of a cellular service provider.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said connecting is performed via said communication connection.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one request comprises routing said at least one request via a subscriber authentication unit socket of said cellular device.

17. A system for establishing a communication session between cellular peers, comprising:

a socket communication device, engaged with a subscriber authentication unit socket of a cellular device to provide, via said subscriber authentication unit socket, remotely acquired identification and authentication data for registration of a user with a first cellular network;

a first gateway, connected to said first cellular network, which registers on-chip identification and authentication data associated with said user with said first cellular network;

a second gateway connected to a second cellular network; and

a processor and a memory embodying executable instructions which, when executed by the processor function as a network node which in response to receiving a request for the allocation of said identification and authentication data transmitted over a non cellular connection with said cellular device when said cellular device identifies a roaming state, transmits said remotely acquired identification and authentication data over said non cellular connection with said cellular device, said cellular device forwards said remotely acquired identification and authentication data to said socket communication device

wherein said first gateway establishes a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) connection with said second gateway when a call is received for said user from a peer so as to establish a communication session between said user and said peer using said VoIP connection, over said first and second cellular networks;

wherein a subscriber authentication unit adaptor and a managing module are installed in a socket communication device which further comprises an integrated subscriber identification module (SIM) card socket for engaging with contacts of a SIM card hosting an on-chip authentication data, said socket communication device provides said on-chip identification and authentication data via said subscriber authentication unit adaptor to register said on-chip identification and authentication data in a home cellular network.