Implementation and communication methods, apparatus and system of virtual subscriber identity module

• US 9,913,131 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Mehmood B
• Application Number:
  US14/685,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20150215773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• 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;

sending the VSIM installation information to the terminal;

after sending the VSIM installation information to the terminal, 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;

when the activation code is correct, obtaining the identifier of the network side network element corresponding to the identifier of the VSIM according to a mapping relationship between the identifier of the VSIM and an identifier of the network side network element, and sending 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;

receiving, according to the identifier of the VSIM, first response information carrying the identifier of the VSIM sent by the network side network element; and

sending second response information to the terminal according to the identifier of the VSIM.

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.

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, 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.

6. The method according to claim 5, 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.

7. 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;

a sending module, configured to send the VSIM installation information to the terminal;

wherein after the VSIM installation information is sent to the terminal, 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;

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

wherein the sending module is further configured to;

obtain the identifier of the network side network element corresponding to the identifier of the VSIM,

send 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,

receive, according to the identifier of the VSIM, first response information carrying the identifier of the VSIM sent by the network side network element, and

send second response information to the terminal according to the identifier of the VSIM.

8. The VSIM management server according to claim 7, 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.

9. The VSIM management server according to claim 7, 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.

10. The VSIM management server according to claim 7, 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.

11. The VSIM management server according to claim 10, 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.

12. A mobile operator network, comprising:

a mobile switching center; and

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;

a sending module, configured to send the VSIM installation information to the terminal;

wherein after the VSIM installation information is sent to the terminal, 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;

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

wherein the sending module is further configured to;

obtain the identifier of the network side network element corresponding to the identifier of the VSIM,

send 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,

receive, according to the identifier of the VSIM, first response information carrying the identifier of the VSIM sent by the network side network element, and

send second response information to the terminal according to the identifier of the VSIM.