Method for switching a subscription from a first MNO to a second MNO

• US 9,603,002 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales DIS France SA
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Nishi, Kenji, Burianne, Yannick
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US14/239,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20140206338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for switching a subscription of a user from a first MNO (1) to a second MNO (2), characterized in that it comprises requesting to a remoter server switching from the first MNO to the second MNO and temporary storing data updates related to the second MNO in a dedicated file.

Claims

1. A method for switching a subscription of a user from a first mobile network called first MNO to a second mobile network called second MNO, comprising the following steps:

requesting to a remote server, by a Subscription Switch Management (SSM) agent comprised in a token configured to communicate with a mobile device, switching from the first MNO to the second MNO;

checking, by the Subscription Switch Management, if it already possesses necessary data for the subscription switch, and if not;

requesting to the second MNO by said remote server to create a new account for the user, said new account comprising new subscription data and new authentication data linked to the second MNO;

sending, by the remote server to the token, data updates comprising the new subscription data and new authentication data;

temporary storing in the token data updates related to the second MNO in a dedicated file;

requesting the user'"'"'s switching authorization after temporary storing of data updates is completed, and based upon authorized, switching the subscription from the first MNO to the second MNO;

receiving and processing by the token an authentication command to generate an event for the subscription Switch Management (SSM) to judge if the subscription switch is effective and completed on the network side;

if the subscription is not effective and completed on the network side, switching back the subscription from the second MNO to the first MNO.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising setting a first flag, said first flag being configured to be set to “

on”

when the user authorizes the switch from the first MNO to the second MNO.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising setting a second flag, said second flag being configured to be set to “

on”

when the temporary storing of data updates is complete so as to unauthorise modification of data related to the first MNO to be updated.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising setting said second flag to “

off”

after the first flag is set to “

on”

, and then processing a final update, said final update consisting in updating data related to the first MNO by data updates related to the second MNO.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising setting the first flag to “

off”

upon the final update.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein data updates comprise data for attaching the user to the second MNO.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising clearing temporarily stored data updates and clearing flags relating to the subscription switch when said subscription switch is aborted.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising requesting the mobile device to refresh its memory.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising sending a message to the remote server so as said remote server informs the first MNO of the end of the subscription of the user and so as the second MNO processes the switch at its side.

11. The method according to claim 3, further comprising setting said second flag to “

off”

after the first flag is set to “

on”

, and then processing a final update, said final update consisting in updating data related to the first MNO by data updates related to the second MNO.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising requesting the mobile device to refresh its memory.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising sending a message to the remote server so as said remote server informs the first MNO of the end of the subscription of the user and so as the second MNO processes the switch at its side.

10. A subscription switch system comprising

a first mobile network (MNO),

a second mobile network (MNO),

a mobile device, said mobile device being attached to the first MNO,

a token, said token comprising subscriber'"'"'s identity data related to the first MNO and configured to communicate with said mobile device,

a remote server configured to communicate with the first MNO, the second MNO and the token, wherein the token comprises means for starting and managing the subscription switch from the first MNO to a second MNO, the token being configured to request to a remote server to switch from the first mobile network to the second mobile network and temporary storing data updates related to the second mobile network in a dedicated file,

the token being further configured to request the user'"'"'s switching authorization after temporary storing of data updates is completed, and based upon authorized, switching the subscription from the first MNO to the second MNO, to receive and process the token an authentication command to generate an event for the Subscription Switch Management (SSM) to judge if the subscription switch is effective and completed on the network side, and if the subscription switch is not effective and completed on the network side, to switch back the subscription from the second MNO to the first MNO.

14. The subscription switch system of claim 10 wherein the token is further configured to set a first flag, said first flag being configured to be set to “

on”

when the user authorizes the switch from the first MNO to the second MNO.

15. The subscription switch system of claim 10 wherein the token is further configured to after temporary storing of data updates is completed, requesting authorization from the user to perform the switch of mobile networks.

16. The subscription switch system of claim 14 wherein the token is further configured to after temporary storing of data updates is completed, requesting authorization from the user to perform the switch of mobile networks.

17. The subscription switch system of claim 10 wherein the token is further configured to set a second flag, said second flag being configured to be set to “

on”

when the temporary storing of data updates is complete so as to unauthorise modification of data related to the first MNO to be updated.

18. The subscription switch system of claim 14 wherein the token is further configured to set a second flag, said second flag being configured to be set to “

on”

when the temporary storing of data updates is complete so as to unauthorise modification of data related to the first MNO to be updated.

19. A hardware token for communicating with a mobile device and allowing switching a subscription of a user from a first mobile network called first MNO to a second mobile network called second MNO, said hardware token being configured to:

request, to a remote server by a Subscription Switch Management (SSM) agent comprised in the token, to switch from the first MNO to the second MNO for the remote server to request to the second MNO the creation of anew account for the user, said new account comprising new subscription data and new authentication data linked to the second MNO;

receive from said remote server, data updates comprising said new subscription data and new authentication data;

store temporary data updates related to the second MNO in a dedicated file;

request the user'"'"'s switching authorization after temporary storing of data updates is completed, and based upon authorized, switch the subscription from the first MNO to the second MNO;

receive and process by the token an authentication command to generate an event for the Subscription Switch Management (SSM) to judge if the subscription switch is effective and completed on the network side;

if the subscription switch is not effective and completed on the network side, switch back the subscription from the second MNO to the first MNO.

20. A remote server for switching a subscription of a user from a first mobile network called first MNO to a second mobile network called second MNO, said remote server being configured to:

receive a request from a Subscription Switch Management (SSM) agent comprised in a token configured to communicate with a mobile device, to switch from the first MNO to the second MNO;

request to the second MNO to create a new account for the user, said new account comprising new subscription data and new authentication data linked to the second MNO;

send to the token data updates comprising the new subscription data and new authentication data for said token to temporary store data updates related to the second MNO in a dedicated file and to request the user'"'"'s switching authorization after temporary storing of data updates is completed;

send to the token an authentication command for it to be processed based on the new authentication data to generate an event for the Subscription Switch Management (SSM) to judge if the subscription switch is effective and completed on the network side and for the token to switch back the subscription from the second MNO to the first MNO) if subscription is not effective and completed on the network side.