CN111556485B - Mobile wireless communication device for data-restricted communication comprising an iSIM and a counter - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile wireless communication device for data limited communication including an iSIM and a counter includes a mobile wireless communication interface having an integrated subscriber identity module, a data storage, a sensor configured to detect a data value of a physical quantity at a predetermined time and store it in the data storage, a counter, a voltage feeder, and a controller. The mobile radio communication interface is configured to transmit the data value detected at the predetermined moment to the mobile radio network. The controller is configured to: when the counter reading reaches the counter threshold, the integrated subscriber identity module is permanently disconnected from the voltage feeder to disable the integrated subscriber identity module.

Description

Mobile wireless communication device for data-restricted communication comprising an iSIM and a counter

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mobile radio communication device for data limited communication via a mobile radio network with an Integrated Subscriber Identity Module (iSIM) and a counter and a corresponding method.

Background

Mobile wireless communication devices with one or more SIM cards are increasingly being used in the IoT (Internet of Things) field to network machines. Such devices not only enable machines to be networked, but also generally enable physical and virtual objects to be networked to each other and to allow them to cooperate with each other through communications. The functionality implemented using "internet of things" technology allows interactions between a person and any electronic system through which the network is connected, as well as between the systems themselves. The goal of the internet of things is to automatically collect relevant information from the real world, correlate the information to each other, and make it available to the network. For this reason, communication networks according to the 5G system architecture are increasingly being used, for example, see the 3gpp TS 23.501 standard overview.

In the field of industrial automation and IoT communications, low-cost and resource-saving data transmission is becoming a fundamental requirement. In IoT communications, a large amount of data associated with the various sensors and actuators must be transmitted to the network and vice versa. But the cost of such data transmission should not exceed the budget. Thus, there is a need for data transmission techniques that are capable of cost-transparently transmitting measurement data to a network in order to be able to evaluate the data of the many IoT devices in the network and generate corresponding control commands based on the data.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to propose a cost and resource transparent data transmission concept which ensures communication in a highly cost and resource transparent manner in man-machine, man-machine and/or machine-machine communication.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile radio communications device which is capable of transmitting data to and from a network in a cost and resource transparent manner, in particular by using network slices of a 5G system architecture, for data transmission in accordance with prepaid.

Cost refers to the amount of effort or complexity of resources required to provide a transmission. The cost transparency indicates that the user can overview the resources to be provided.

The mobile wireless communications devices and communications systems described herein may take on various types. The various elements described may be implemented by software or hardware components and may be manufactured by various techniques. The individual components may include, for example, microprocessors, semiconductor chips, ASICs, signal processors, electro-optical circuits, integrated circuits, and/or passive devices.

The mobile wireless communications devices and mobile wireless networks described herein may include various technologies and network standards, such as compliance with 5G system architecture. The 5G system architecture includes the concept of network slicing, i.e., dividing the communication network into individual segments or slices or subnetworks. Here, a network slice is a form of virtual network architecture, wherein the network architecture is divided into virtual elements that can be linked to each other (also by software). Multiple virtual networks can be built on a common physical infrastructure through the concept of network slicing. These virtual networks may then be adapted to the specific requirements of the application, service, device, customer or operator. Here, each virtual network (network slice) comprises a set of independent logical network functions that support the requirements of the respective application case.

Each of these virtual networks or network slices provides resources and network topology for a particular service and traffic using the corresponding network segment. This allows assigning functions such as speed, capacity, connectivity and coverage to meet specific requirements for each application case, but functional components can also be shared among various network slices. For this purpose, each network slice can acquire management capabilities, which can be controlled by the network operator or the user depending on the application. Network slices can be managed and organized independently.

In accordance with the 5G system architecture, the mobile wireless network described herein may be based on a 5G network. Service-oriented 5G networks support very different services, which have very different performance requirements. For example, 5G supports three different service classes: enhanced mobile broadband (emmbb), mass machine-like communication (mctc, also known as IoT, i.e., internet of things), and ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (UR-LLC).

The mobile wireless communications device described below includes a mobile wireless communications interface or simply communications interface that performs many tasks. Such a communication interface may for example comprise a processor responsible for performing the tasks. As used herein, the term "processor" refers to any device (or block or step) that may be used to process a particular task. The processor may be a single processor or a multi-core processor, or may comprise a set of processors, or may comprise a processing mechanism. The processor may process software or firmware or applications, etc.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a mobile radio communications device for data-restricted communications via a mobile radio network, wherein the mobile radio network has a network identity, the mobile radio communications device having the following features: a mobile radio communication interface for communication with a mobile radio network, wherein the communication interface has an integrated subscriber identity module (iSIM: integrated Subscriber Identity Module), wherein the integrated subscriber identity module is implemented as an embedded integrated circuit and permanently stores a mobile radio subscriber identifier, a network identification and a network address of the mobile radio network, wherein the mobile radio subscriber identifier identifies the integrated subscriber identity module in the mobile radio network; a data storage; a sensor configured to detect a value of a physical quantity at a predetermined timing and store it as a data value in the data memory; wherein the mobile wireless communication interface is configured to: reading out the data value detected at the predetermined moment from the data memory, reading out the mobile radio subscriber identifier, the network identification and the network address of the mobile radio network from the integrated subscriber identity module, and transmitting the mobile radio subscriber identifier together with the network identification, the network address of the mobile radio network and the read-out current data value to the network address of the mobile radio network; a counter configured to: starting from the initial counter reading, decrementing the counter reading of the counter by one count each time a data value is sent over the communication interface; a voltage feeder configured to provide a voltage to the integrated subscriber identity module; and a controller configured to: when the counter reading reaches the counter threshold, the integrated subscriber identity module is permanently disconnected from the voltage feeder to disable the integrated subscriber identity module.

Such a mobile wireless communication device ensures cost and resource transparent data transfer by disabling the integrated subscriber identity module when the counter threshold is reached, which ensures communication in a highly cost and resource transparent manner in man-machine, man-machine and/or machine-to-machine communications. When a certain number of data transmissions is reached, the iSIM is disabled, so that no further costs are incurred. This enables prepaid data transfer to the network and vice versa. The communication device is particularly suitable for network slicing of 5G system architectures, as described in more detail below.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile wireless communication device, the integrated subscriber identity module has a voltage feed interface connected to the voltage feed via a thermal fuse link, wherein the controller is configured to feed current to the thermal fuse link to thermally fuse the thermal fuse link to permanently disable the integrated subscriber identity module.

These security measures ensure that the subscriber identity module is not used when the counter threshold is reached, so that no further costs are incurred. The user can use the communication device until the existing credit associated with the counter threshold is exhausted. In this way, the user is always completely cost transparent without incurring unpredictable costs in view of the IoT communication device that the user installs.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile wireless communications device, the controller is configured to feed current to the thermal link in response to the counter reading reaching a counter threshold, thereby permanently disabling the mobile wireless communications interface with the integrated subscriber identity module.

A technical advantage thus achieved is that the mobile wireless communications device is automatically disabled by thermally blowing a thermal fuse with a current when a counter threshold is reached. From this point on, no further costs are incurred, so that the user can achieve complete cost transparentization. If the user still wishes to continue using the communication device, he can again reset the counter to its initial counter reading and replace the thermal fuse or replace the entire communication device.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile wireless communications device, the initial counter reading of the counter is permanently stored in the counter.

A technical advantage of this is that the initial counter reading is predefined and can be associated with, for example, credits or an amount of data indicating the number of data transmissions made by the available communication device. The user knows the number of times he can make data transmissions with the communication device before disabling the ikvi.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile radio communications device, the mobile radio communications interface is configured to delete the transmitted data values from the memory.

This provides the technical advantage that the recording time of the sensor data can be prolonged if the transmitted data values are deleted from the memory after each transmission, without any unnecessary data having been transmitted being stored in the data memory.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile radio communications device, the controller is configured to control the communications interface to transmit the detected data value between two successive predetermined times, and the mobile radio communications interface is configured to transmit the detected data value in response to control by the controller.

The technical advantage thus achieved is that the communication device can be made to operate particularly efficiently by recording data at respective predetermined moments and then transmitting the data to the network when no recording has taken place, i.e. between two successive predetermined moments. The actions to be processed are distributed in time, so that the performance of the communication interface can be fully utilized optimally.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile wireless communications device, the sensor is a temperature sensor and the physical quantity is temperature.

The technical advantage achieved in this way is that temperature values can be transmitted to the network efficiently.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile wireless communication device, the mobile wireless subscriber identifier is an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity ).

A technical advantage of this is that data transmitted in the network can be associated to the corresponding mobile wireless communication device based on the IMSI in order to always know where the recorded data originates. IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity ) is a unique mobile wireless subscriber identifier that is not multi-party assigned and thus allows unique identification of data.

In an exemplary embodiment of the mobile wireless communication device, the mobile wireless network is a subnetwork of a 5G mobile wireless network, the mobile wireless communication device is an IoT communication device, wherein the mobile wireless subscriber identifier is stored in an cryptographically encoded manner in the integrated subscriber identity module by using a public encryption key, wherein the public encryption key is associated with the mobile wireless network, and wherein the mobile wireless communication interface is configured to transmit the cryptographically encoded mobile wireless subscriber identifier.

This provides the technical advantage that the mobile radio communication device with an ikvi can be used for 5G communication networks, in particular for network slices, and that the cost or the number of data transfers still remaining is always ensured to be transparent based on the counter. The advantage of the 5G system architecture is thus utilized, namely that the virtual network architecture on the common physical infrastructure is specifically adapted to the requirements of applications, services, devices, clients or operators, supporting logical network functions, assigning functions such as speed, capacity, connectivity and network coverage to applications to meet the special requirements of each application situation, and sharing functional components across various network slices, etc. The user is always completely cost-and resource-transparent due to the counter-based data transfer.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for data-restricted communication via a mobile radio communication device, wherein the mobile radio network has a network identification, the mobile radio communication device comprising a mobile radio communication interface for communication with the mobile radio network, wherein the mobile radio communication interface has an integrated subscriber identity module (iSIM: integrated Subscriber Identity Module), wherein the integrated subscriber identity module is embodied as an embedded integrated circuit and permanently stores the mobile radio subscriber identifier, the network identification and a network address of the mobile radio network, wherein the mobile radio subscriber identifier identifies the integrated subscriber identity module in the mobile radio network; wherein the mobile wireless communications device further comprises a data store, a sensor, a counter, and a voltage feeder configured to provide a voltage to the integrated subscriber identity module; wherein the method comprises the following steps: detecting a data value of the physical quantity at a predetermined timing by a sensor and storing it in a data memory; reading out the data value detected at the predetermined moment from the data memory and reading out the mobile radio subscriber identifier, the network identification and the network address of the mobile radio network from the integrated subscriber identity module; and transmitting the mobile wireless subscriber identifier to the network address of the mobile wireless network via the mobile wireless communication interface together with the network identification, the network address of the mobile wireless network and the read current data value; and decrementing, by the counter, the counter reading of the counter by one count from the initial counter reading each time the data value is transmitted over the communication interface; when the counter reading reaches the counter threshold, the integrated subscriber identity module is permanently disconnected from the voltage feeder to disable the integrated subscriber identity module.

Such an approach ensures cost and resource transparent data transfer by disabling the integrated subscriber identity module when the counter threshold is reached, which ensures communication in a highly cost and resource transparent manner in human, human and/or machine communication. When a certain number of data transmissions is reached, the iSIM is disabled, so that no further costs are incurred. This enables prepaid data transfer to the network and vice versa. The method is particularly applicable to network slicing of 5G system architectures, as described in detail below.

Drawings

Specific embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment, wherein a mobile wireless communication device for data limited communication according to the present disclosure has an integrated subscriber identity module and counter;

fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment, wherein a mobile wireless communication device for data limited communication according to the present disclosure has an integrated subscriber identity module, counter and thermal link;

fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile wireless communication device for data limited communication with an ikim and a counter according to the present disclosure in a 5G communication system according to an exemplary embodiment compliant with the 3gpp TS 23.501 standard;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a method of mobile wireless communication with data restriction by means of an integrated subscriber identity module and counter according to the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description is made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the inventive concepts. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. It is to be understood that features of the various embodiments described herein may also be combined with each other, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Various aspects and embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals generally refer to like elements. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that one or more aspects or embodiments may be practiced with a lesser degree of specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and elements are shown in schematic form in order to facilitate describing one or more aspects or embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the inventive concepts.

Furthermore, while a particular feature or aspect of one of the various embodiments may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature or aspect may be combined with one or more other features or aspects of the other implementations for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "includes," has, "" with, "or other variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term" comprising. The terms "coupled" and "connected," along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that such terms are used to indicate that two elements co-operate or interact with each other regardless of whether they are in direct physical or electrical contact. Furthermore, the term "exemplary" should be construed as merely illustrative, and not an indication of the best or optimal condition. The following is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

The network access entity, the mobile radio communication device and the functionality of such network access entity and mobile radio communication device are described below. The network access entity ensures access and mobility management in the mobile radio network. Through the network access entity, the mobile wireless communication device can register with its mobile wireless subscriber identifier (e.g., UE ID or IMSI) in the mobile wireless network and receive permission to establish a communication connection. For example, the network access entity in the 5G network may be an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function ) to provide access and mobility management functions. The AMF manages access and mobility control and can also include network slice selection functionality. In a 4G network, the network access entity may also be an MME (mobility management entity). This provides paging functions and conventional communication connections for setting up a call, as well as control purpose signaling. The network access entity connects the core network to the access network and manages the localities of all mobile wireless communication devices in the radio cells it is connected to.

The network access entity also establishes a secure relationship with the mobile wireless communication device so that a secure element, such as a key, may be subsequently installed in the Network Application Function (NAF) of the mobile wireless communication device and the network access function, such as by network protocol Diameter and hypertext transfer protocol (http).

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile wireless communication system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment, wherein a mobile wireless communication device 130 for data limited communication according to the present disclosure has an integrated subscriber identity module 150 and a counter 170.

The mobile wireless communication device 130 is for data limited communication via a mobile wireless network 110 having a network identification 111.

The mobile wireless communication device 130 has a mobile wireless communication interface 140 for communicating with the mobile wireless network 110. The communication interface 140 has an integrated subscriber identity module (iSIM: integrated Subscriber Identity Module) 150 which is implemented as an embedded integrated circuit and permanently stores the mobile radio subscriber identifier 113, the network identification 111 and the network address 112 of the mobile radio network 110. Here, the mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 identifies the integrated subscriber identity module 150 in the mobile wireless network 110.

The mobile wireless communication device 130 further comprises a data memory 180 and a sensor 160 configured to detect the value 162 of the physical quantity 161 at a predetermined moment in time and to store it as a data value 114 in the data memory 180.

The mobile wireless communication interface 140 is configured to: the data value 114 detected at the predetermined moment is read out from the data memory 180, the first mobile radio subscriber identifier 113, the first network identification 111 and the network address 112 of the mobile radio network 110 are read out from the integrated subscriber identity module 150, and the mobile radio subscriber identifier 113 is transmitted to the network address 112 of the mobile radio network 110 together with the network identification 111, the network address 112 of the mobile radio network 110 and the currently read-out data value 114.

The mobile wireless communication device 130 includes a counter 170 configured to: each time a data value 114 is sent over the communication interface 140, the counter reading of the counter 170 is decremented by one count from the initial counter reading.

The mobile wireless communications device 130 includes a voltage feeder 190 configured to provide a voltage to the integrated subscriber identity module 150.

The mobile wireless communication device 130 includes a controller 120 configured to: when the counter reading reaches a counter threshold, the integrated subscriber identity module 150 is permanently disconnected from the voltage feeder 190 to disable the integrated subscriber identity module 150.

The mobile wireless communication device 130 ensures cost and resource transparent data transfer by disabling the integrated subscriber identity module 150 when the counter threshold is reached, which ensures communication in a highly cost and resource transparent manner in man-machine, man-machine and/or machine-to-machine communications.

When a certain number of data transfers is reached, the iSIM 150 is disabled by the controller 120, so that no further cost or effort is incurred. This enables prepaid data transfer to the network 110 and vice versa. As detailed in fig. 3, the communication device 130 is particularly suitable for network slicing of 5G system architecture.

The mobile wireless network 110 is identified by its network identification (ID 1) 111 and is addressable via its network address 112. For example, there is a network access entity in the mobile wireless network 110 that coordinates access to the mobile wireless network 110. The mobile wireless network 110 may then be addressed or accessed via the network address of the network access entity. The network access entity recognizes the network identity 111 of the mobile radio network 110 and may manage access to the mobile radio network 110.

As will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 3, the network access entity of the mobile wireless network 110 may be, for example, a RAN (Radio Access Network ) entity, such as a base station in a 5G network or a radio access entity or AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function ) entity.

The communication system 100 is shown by way of example only in this figure. It may also include additional mobile wireless networks that may employ a similar configuration to the network 110 shown in this figure. In addition, networks with other radio access technologies, such as WLAN or WiFi networks, may also be implemented in addition to or instead of the mobile wireless network 110. Additional mobile wireless communications devices 130 may also be located and communicate within the communications system 100.

In addition to the integrated subscriber identity module 150 shown in fig. 1, the mobile wireless communication device 130 may also include additional such subscriber identity modules, which may be modules for accessing other mobile wireless networks, for example, based on other network access technologies.

Permanent storage represents: even if power is turned off, the mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 is stored in the integrated subscriber identity module 150 along with the network identification 111 and the network address 112 of the mobile wireless network 110.

The mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 is for example an identifier of a subscriber in the mobile wireless network 110, such as an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity ), i.e. a number for uniquely identifying a network subscriber in the mobile wireless network 110. The mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 may include parameters for identifying and authenticating subscribers in the mobile wireless network 110.

Here, the data 114 may be associated with the subscriber identity module 150. For example, data 114 may be data that may no longer be stored in subscriber identity module 150 and thus transferred to data store 180. This may involve, for example, measured values measured by subscriber identity module 150, such as recorded image or voice data, or temperature values, pressure values, level values, amperage, voltage values, etc. By storing the data 114 in the data memory 180, these measurements are not affected in case of a failure of the subscriber identity module 150.

The mobile wireless communications device 130 may further include a first actuator or interface of the first actuator configured to derive or read control commands for controlling the actuator from the data 114 in the data store 180 and forward the control commands to the actuator or interface of the actuator to correspondingly drive the actuator.

The actuators may be, for example, machine components that may be controlled by the data 114. The actuator may be, for example, an automated or home appliance that can only be controlled via data 114 in a house or residence. Alternatively or in addition, the actuator may be, for example, a speaker or vibration device of the mobile wireless communications device 130 that may be controlled and activated via the data 114.

Mobile wireless network 110 may be, for example, a subnet or slice of a 5G mobile wireless network, as detailed, for example, with reference to fig. 3.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile wireless communication system 200 according to an exemplary embodiment, wherein a mobile wireless communication device 130 for data limited communication according to the present disclosure has an integrated subscriber identity module 150, a counter 170 and a thermal link 192. The communication device 130 corresponds to the communication device 130 described above with reference to fig. 1, wherein a thermal fuse 192 is additionally implemented at the voltage feed interface 191 of the iksim 150.

The integrated subscriber identity module 150 has a voltage feed interface 191 which is connected to a voltage feed 190 via a thermal fuse link 192. The controller 120 is configured to feed the current 121 to the thermal link 192 to thermally blow the thermal link 192 to permanently disable the integrated subscriber identity module 150. Thermal link 192 may be implemented, for example, as a thermal fuse.

The controller 120 may be configured to feed the thermal link 192 with the current 121 in response to the counter reading reaching the counter threshold, thereby permanently disabling the mobile wireless communication interface 140 with the integrated subscriber identity module 150.

When the counter threshold is reached, the mobile wireless communication device may be automatically disabled by thermally blowing the thermal link 192 with the current 121. From this point on, no further costs are incurred, so that the user can always achieve complete cost transparentization. If the user still wishes to continue using the communication device 130, he can reset the counter to its initial value and replace the thermal link 192, or he can replace the entire communication device.

The initial counter reading of the counter 170 may be, for example, permanently stored in the counter 170.

In this way, the initial counter reading may be predefined and associated with, for example, a credit or an amount of data indicating the number of times data 114 is transmitted by the available communication device 130. The user can learn the number of times he can transmit data 114 with the communication device 130 before disabling the iksim 150.

The mobile wireless communication interface 140 may delete the transmitted data value 114 from the memory 180.

In this way, by deleting the transmitted data value from the memory 180 after each transmission, any unnecessary data that has been transmitted is not stored in the data memory 180, and thus the recording time of the sensor data can be prolonged.

The controller 120 may be configured to control the mobile radio communication interface 140 to transmit the respective detected data value 114 between two successive predetermined moments. The mobile wireless communication interface 140 may transmit the corresponding detected data value 114 in response to control of the controller 120.

In this way, the communication device 130 records data at predetermined moments and then transmits the data to the network 110 when no recording occurs (i.e. between two consecutive predetermined moments), i.e. it can work particularly efficiently.

The sensor 160 may be, for example, a temperature sensor, and the physical quantity 161 may be temperature.

The mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 is, for example, an IMSI, i.e. a number used to uniquely identify a network subscriber in the mobile wireless network 110. The mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 may include parameters for identifying and authenticating subscribers in the mobile wireless network 110.

As described in detail below with reference to fig. 3, the mobile wireless network 110 may be a subnet of a 5G mobile wireless network. The mobile wireless communication device 130 may be, for example, an IoT communication device. The mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 may be stored in an cryptographically encoded manner in the integrated subscriber identity module 150 by using a public encryption key. Here, the public encryption key may be associated with the mobile wireless network 110. The mobile wireless communication interface 140 may be configured to transmit the cryptographically encoded mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113.

In this way, as described below with reference to fig. 3, the mobile wireless communication device 130 with the iksim 150 can be used for 5G communication networks, in particular network slicing, and based on the counter 170, always ensures transparency of the cost or the number of data transmissions or the remaining number of data transmissions.

This makes it possible to take advantage of the 5G system architecture as detailed in fig. 3, i.e. the virtual network architecture on the common physical infrastructure specifically adapts to the requirements of the application, service, device, customer or operator, support logical network functions, allocate functions such as speed, capacity, connectivity and network coverage for the application to meet the special requirements of each application case, and share functional components across various network slices, etc. Because the data 114 is transmitted based on the counter, the user is always completely cost and resource transparent.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile wireless communication device 130 for data limited communication with an iksim 150 and a counter 170 according to the present disclosure in a 5G communication system 300 according to an exemplary embodiment conforming to the 3gpp TS 23.501 standard. Fig. 3 schematically illustrates blocks included in such a 5G communication system 300 (hereinafter also referred to as 5G network 300, or as next generation network).

The mobile wireless communication device 130 corresponds to a User Equipment (UE) or client terminal that may be operated by a subscriber to initiate a communication in a 5G network, i.e. to start a communication (mobile originating, MO) or to accept a communication (mobile terminating, MT). The mobile wireless communications device 130 may also initiate communications without user interaction, e.g., it may be a machine terminal such as for an automobile, machine, robot or other device.

The (R) AN (radio access network) entity 331 represents a (radio) access network used by the mobile wireless communication device 130 to gain access to the 5G communication network. The interface between the mobile wireless communication device 130 and the (R) AN may be AN air interface when the access network 331 is a wireless network or a wired interface when the access network 331 is a wired network.

The AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function ) entity 340 represents access and mobility management functions to manage access and enable mobility control. AMF 340 may also include a network slice selection function. Mobility management is generally not required for wireless access.

SMF (Session Management Function ) entity 341 represents a session management function. The SMF entity 341 establishes a session and manages the session according to a network policy or network plan.

The UPF (User Plane Function ) entity 332 represents user plane functions. Such user plane functionality may be used in various configurations and locations depending on the type of service.

PCF (Policy Control Function ) entity 342 represents a policy (or planning) control function. PCF entity 342 is used to provide a policy framework that includes network slicing, roaming, and mobility management. This corresponds to the function of PCRF in 4G systems.

The UDM (Unified Data Management), unified data management) entity 352 provides public data management. With this data management, subscriber data and profiles can be saved. This corresponds to the function of HSS in 4G systems but can be used for mobile and wired access in NG Core networks.

The communication interface 140 may for example transmit the data 114 to the block UDM 352 together with the network parameters 111, 112, 113 as described above with reference to fig. 1-2. This enables, for example, measurements or measurement parameters recorded by the mobile radio communications device 130 to be stored in the network 300.

DN (Data Network) 333 provides a Data Network through which Data can be transferred, for example, from one mobile wireless communication device 130 to another mobile wireless communication device 130 or UE. For example, two machine terminals 130 as described above with reference to fig. 1-2 may communicate with each other via a data network 333.

Thus, data 114 may be transmitted from mobile wireless communication device 130 to another mobile wireless communication device or another UE via DN 333.

The AUSF (Authentication Server Function ) entity 351 provides an authentication function that the subscriber or mobile wireless communication device 130 can use to log into the network. The integrated subscriber identity module 150 may authenticate, for example, via block AUSF 351 in the 5G network 300.

The AF (Application Function ) entity 351 provides application functions with which specific services, such as services set up or used by the integrated subscriber identity module 150, can be performed.

NSSF (Network Slice Selection Function ) entity 350 provides the function of selecting a particular network slice. Thus, for example, integrated subscriber identity module 150 may select a first slice or a second slice in 5G communication system 300 and thereby communicate or transmit its data 114 thereto.

The 5G communication system 300 shown in fig. 3 corresponds to a 5G system architecture conforming to the 3gpp TS 23.501 standard, and represents the structure of a NG (Next Generation) network consisting of Network Functions (NF) and reference points connecting NF. In the 3gpp TS 23.501 standard, however, the terminal Equipment is generally specified only by the UE (User Equipment), rather than the particular implementation shown in fig. 3 with integrated subscriber identity module issim 150 and counter 170. The mobile wireless communication device 130 or UE is connected to a radio Access Network (Radio Access Network, RAN) 331 or AN Access Network (AN) 331. The mobile wireless communication device 130 or UE is also connected to an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) 340.RAN 331 represents a base station using a new RAT (Radio Access Technology ) and LTE-advanced technology, while AN 331 represents a general base station with non-3 GPP access, e.g., wiFi. The next generation core network or 5G communication system 300 shown in fig. 4 is composed of various Network Functions (NF). In fig. 3, there are seven next generation cores NF, namely (1) AMF 340, (2) Session Management Function (SMF) 341, (3) Policy Control Function (PCF) 342, (4) Application Function (AF) 343, (5) authentication server function (AUSF) 351, (6) User Plane Function (UPF) 332, and (7) User Data Management (UDM) 352. The integrated subscriber identity module 150, 160 may select one or more network functions from among to initiate communication.

The Network Function (NF) represents a processing function that the 3GPP takes over in the next generation (NextGen or NG). It has both functional behavior and acts as an interface. NF can be implemented as a network element on dedicated hardware, as a software instance, or as a virtualized function on a suitable platform (e.g., cloud infrastructure).

The AMF or AMF entity 340 provides UE-based authentication, authorization, mobility management, etc. For example, the AMFs 340 are access technology independent, and thus the mobile wireless communication device 130 is connected to a single AMF 340. In other words, even a mobile wireless communication device 130 requiring multiple access technologies is connected to only a single AMF 340.

The AMF 340 forms, for example, a network entity having a network identity 111 and a network address 112 as described above with reference to fig. 1-2 and is responsible for terminating or replying to a message or communication request from the integrated subscriber identity module 150 of the mobile radio communication interface 140 to initiate communication of the integrated subscriber identity module 150 in the mobile radio network 110.

The AMF 340 may further process messages or communication requests from the integrated subscriber identity module 150 of the mobile wireless communication interface 140 and forward them to a second mobile wireless network, such as a second network slice of the communication system 300, to initiate communication of the integrated subscriber identity module 150, such as in the second network slice.

The SMF or SMF entity 341 is responsible for session management and assigns one or more IP addresses to the mobile wireless communication device 130. The SMF 341 also selects the UPF332 and controls the UPF332 in terms of data transfer (e.g., with respect to the transfer data 114). When the mobile wireless communication device 130 has multiple sessions, a respective SMF 341 may be associated with each session to control it individually and possibly provide multiple functions in each session.

AF or AF entity 343 provides information about packet traffic and provides this information to PCF 342, which is responsible for policy control to guarantee quality of service (QoS). Based on this information, PCF 342 determines mobility and session management criteria for AMF 340 and SMF 341 to function properly.

The AUSF or AUSF entity 351 stores data for authenticating the mobile wireless communications device 130, while the UDM 352 stores subscription data or subscriber data for the mobile wireless communications device 130. The data network DN 333 is not part of the NG core network and provides internet access and operator services.

The presentation of reference points of the architecture can be used to represent refined message flows in the Next Generation (NG) standardization. Reference point N1 301 is defined as transmission signaling between mobile wireless communication device 130 and AMF 340. The reference points connecting AN 331 with AMF 340 and connecting AN 331 with UPF332 are defined as N2302 and N3 303, respectively. There is no reference point between AN 331 and SMF 341, but there is a reference point N11 between AMF 340 and SMF 341. This means that SMF 341 is controlled by AMF 340. The N4 304 is used by the SMF 341 and the UPF332 so that the UPF332 can be set using control signals generated by the SMF 341 and the UPF332 can report its status to the SMF 341. N9 309 is a reference point connecting between different UPFs 332 and correspondingly N14 314 is a reference point between different AMFs 340. N15 315 and N7 307 are defined so that PCF 342 may apply its criteria to AMF 340 or SMF 341.AMF 340 requires N12 312 to perform authentication of mobile wireless communication device 130. The reason for defining N8 308 and N10 310 is that AMF 340 and SMF 341 require subscription data for mobile wireless communication device 130.

Next generation networks aim to achieve a separation of the user plane and the control or control plane. The user plane transmits user data traffic and the control plane transmits signaling in the network. In fig. 3, the UPF 332 is located in the user plane, while all other network functions (i.e., AMF 340, SMF 341, PCF 342, AF 343, AUSF351, and UDM 352) are located in the control plane. The separation of the user plane from the control plane ensures independent expansion of resources on each network plane. This separation also allows the UPF 332 to be provided in a distributed manner separate from the functionality of the control plane.

The NG architecture consists of modular functionality. For example, AMF 340 and SMF 341 are independent functions in the control plane. Separate AMFs 340 and SMFs 341 allow independent development and extension. Other control plane functions (such as PCF 342 and AUSF 351) can also be separated. The modular functional design shown in fig. 4 also allows the next generation network to flexibly support various services.

Each network function interacts directly with another NF. In the control plane, a series of interactions between two NFs is defined as a service, so that it is possible to reuse the service. The service allows support for modularity. The user plane supports interactions such as forwarding operations between different UPFs 332.

The next generation network supports roaming, i.e. mobile radio network subscribers are able to automatically answer or dial calls, send and receive data or access other mobile radio network services in a mobile radio network other than their home network. There are two types of application scenarios, one is local routing (HR) and the other is local grooming (LBO). In this way, the communication device 130 can also send its data 114 to its home network via the visited mobile radio network using the above-described functionality.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a method 400 of mobile wireless communication with data restriction by means of an integrated subscriber identity module 150 and counter 170 according to the present disclosure.

The method 400 is for use in a mobile wireless communications device 130, such as that shown in fig. 1-3, for data limited communications via a mobile wireless network 110. The mobile radio network 110 has a network identification 111. The mobile wireless communication device 130 includes a mobile wireless communication interface 140 for communicating with the mobile wireless network 110 having an integrated subscriber identity module iSIM (Integrated Subscriber Identity Module) 150. As described above with reference to fig. 1-3, the integrated subscriber identity module 150 is implemented as an embedded integrated circuit and permanently stores the mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 and the network identification 111 and network address 112 of the mobile wireless network 110.

The mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 identifies the integrated subscriber identity module 150 in the mobile wireless network 110. As described above with reference to fig. 1-3, the mobile wireless communications device 130 further includes a data store 180, a sensor 160, a counter 170, and a voltage feeder 190 configured to provide a voltage to the integrated subscriber identity module 150.

The method 400 includes the steps of:

as described above with reference to fig. 1 to 3, the data value of the physical quantity is detected 401 by the sensor 160 at a predetermined timing and stored 402 in the data memory 180.

As described above with reference to fig. 1 to 3, the data values detected at the predetermined instants are read 403 from the data storage 180 and the first mobile radio subscriber identifier 113, the first network identification 111 and the network address 112 of the mobile radio network 110 are read 404 from the integrated subscriber identity module 150; and transmitting 405 the mobile wireless subscriber identifier 113 to the network address 112 of the mobile wireless network 110 via the mobile wireless communication interface 140 together with the network identification 111, the network address 112 of the mobile wireless network 110 and the read current data value;

as described above with reference to fig. 1-3, starting with an initial counter reading, each time a data value is sent through the communication interface 140, the counter reading of the counter is decremented by one count by the counter;

As described above with reference to fig. 1-3, when the counter reading reaches the counter threshold, the integrated subscriber identity module 150 is permanently disconnected 407 from the voltage feeder 190 to disable the integrated subscriber identity module.

These steps correspond, for example, to the functions described above with reference to fig. 1 to 3.

An aspect of the invention also includes a computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, comprising software code portions for performing, when the computer program product is run on a computer, the method 400 described with reference to fig. 4 or the procedures described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. The computer program product may be stored on a non-transitory medium suitable for a computer and comprises a computer readable program medium that causes the computer to perform the method 400 or to implement or control network components of a communication network as described with reference to fig. 1-3.

The computer may be a PC, such as a PC in a computer network. The computer may be implemented as a chip, ASIC, microprocessor or signal processor and may be arranged in a computer network, such as the communication network described with reference to fig. 1-3.

It goes without saying that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, unless otherwise specifically indicated. As in the specification and the drawings, the various elements presented in a related manner need not be directly related to each other; intermediate elements may be provided between the relevant elements. It goes without saying that the embodiments of the invention can also be implemented in separate circuits, in partly integrated circuits or in fully integrated circuits or in programmed devices. The term "exemplary" is used merely as an example and is not intended to be optimal or optimal. While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or similar implementations may be substituted for the embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the inventive concepts.

Claims (10)

1. A mobile radio communication device (130) for data limited communication via a mobile radio network (110), wherein the mobile radio network (110) has a network identification (111), characterized in that the mobile radio communication device (130) comprises:

a mobile wireless communication interface (140) for communicating with the mobile wireless network (110), wherein the mobile wireless communication interface (140) has an integrated subscriber identity module (150); -the integrated subscriber identity module (150) is implemented as an embedded integrated circuit and permanently stores a mobile wireless subscriber identifier (113), the network identification (111) and a network address (112) of the mobile wireless network (110); -the mobile radio subscriber identifier (113) identifies the integrated subscriber identity module (150) in the mobile radio network (110);

A data memory (180);

a sensor (160) configured to detect a value (162) of a physical quantity (161) at a predetermined timing and store it as a data value (114) in the data memory (180);

wherein the mobile wireless communication interface (140) is configured to: -reading out a data value (114) detected at a predetermined moment from the data memory (180), -reading out the mobile radio subscriber identifier (113), the network identification (111) and the network address (112) of the mobile radio network (110) from the integrated subscriber identity module (150), and-transmitting the mobile radio subscriber identifier (113) together with the network identification (111), the network address (112) of the mobile radio network (110) and the currently read-out data value (114) to the network address (112) of the mobile radio network (110);

a counter (170) configured to: -decrementing the counter reading of the counter (170) by one count each time the data value (114) is transmitted over the mobile wireless communication interface (140), starting from an initial counter reading;

-a voltage feeder (190) configured to provide a voltage to the integrated subscriber identity module (150); and

A controller (120) configured to: when the counter reading reaches a counter threshold, the integrated subscriber identity module (150) is permanently disconnected from the voltage feeder (190) to disable the integrated subscriber identity module (150).

2. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 1, wherein the integrated subscriber identity module (150) has a voltage feed interface (191) connected to the voltage feed (190) via a thermal fuse link (192), wherein the controller (120) is configured to feed current (121) to the thermal fuse link (192) to thermally fuse the thermal fuse link (192) to permanently disable the integrated subscriber identity module (150).

3. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 2, wherein the controller (120) is configured to feed the thermal link (192) with current (121) in response to the counter reading reaching the counter threshold, thereby permanently disabling the mobile wireless communication interface (140) with the integrated subscriber identity module (150).

4. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 1 wherein the initial counter reading of the counter (170) is permanently stored in the counter (170).

5. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless communication interface (140) is configured to delete the transmitted data value (114) from the data store (180).

6. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 1, wherein the controller (120) is configured to control the mobile wireless communication interface (140) to transmit the detected data value (114) between two consecutive predetermined times; the mobile wireless communications interface (140) is configured to transmit the detected data value (114) in response to control by the controller (120).

7. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 1, wherein the sensor (160) is a temperature sensor and the physical quantity (161) is temperature.

8. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless subscriber identifier (113) is an international mobile subscriber identity.

9. The mobile wireless communication device (130) of claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless network (110) is a subnet of a 5G mobile wireless network, the mobile wireless communication device (130) is an IoT communication device, wherein the mobile wireless subscriber identifier (113) is cryptographically stored in the integrated subscriber identity module (150) by using a public encryption key associated with the mobile wireless network (110), the mobile wireless communication interface (140) configured to transmit the cryptographically encoded mobile wireless subscriber identifier (113).

10. A method (400) of data limited communication via a mobile radio communication device (130) through a mobile radio network (110), wherein the mobile radio network (110) has a network identification (111), the mobile radio communication device (130) comprises a mobile radio communication interface (140) for communication with the mobile radio network (110), wherein the mobile radio communication interface (140) has an integrated subscriber identity module (150), the integrated subscriber identity module (150) being implemented as an embedded integrated circuit and permanently storing a mobile radio subscriber identifier (113), the network identification (111) and a network address (112) of the mobile radio network (110), the mobile radio subscriber identifier (113) identifying the integrated subscriber identity module (150) in the mobile radio network (110); wherein the mobile wireless communications device (130) further comprises a data store (180), a sensor, a counter, and a voltage feeder configured to provide a voltage to the integrated subscriber identity module; characterized in that the method (400) comprises the steps of:

-detecting (401) a value of a physical quantity at a predetermined moment by means of the sensor and storing (402) it as a data value in the data memory (180);

-reading (403) from the data storage (180) a data value detected at a predetermined moment in time and reading (404) from the integrated subscriber identity module (150) the mobile radio subscriber identifier (113), the network identification (111) and the network address (112) of the mobile radio network (110), and-sending (405) the mobile radio subscriber identifier (113) together with the network identification (111), the network address (112) of the mobile radio network (110) and the currently read data value to the network address (112) of the mobile radio network (110) via the mobile radio communication interface (140);

-decrementing (406) a counter reading of the counter by one count by the counter each time a data value is sent over the mobile wireless communication interface (140) starting from an initial counter reading;

when the counter reading reaches a counter threshold, the integrated subscriber identity module is permanently disconnected (407) from the voltage feeder to disable the integrated subscriber identity module.