WO2014053044A1

WO2014053044A1 - Method and system for providing over-the-air mobile device parameter updates

Info

Publication number: WO2014053044A1
Application number: PCT/CA2012/050692
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Perlin; Alexandre Ioulich; Serguei Moutovkin; Michael Shachbanov; Robert Bent
Original assignee: Polar Wireless Corp.
Priority date: 2012-10-02
Filing date: 2012-10-02
Publication date: 2014-04-10

Abstract

A method for updating mobile communication parameters including providing a complimentary subscriber identity module (dual-sided UICC) between an interface between a primary subscriber identity module and a terminal of a mobile device, wherein the dual-sided UICC intercepts requests for communication from the primary SIM and determines whether a communications service should proceed with the dual-sided UICC or via the primary SIM. Upon a condition in which the communications service proceeds via the dual-sided UICC, the method includes detecting a change in location of the mobile device and updating one or more parameters on the dual-sided UICC before reinitializing the mobile device with the updated one or more parameters.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OVER-THE-AIR MOBILE DEVICE

PARAMETER UPDATES

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of mobile device communications, and more particularly to a method and system for providing over-the-air parameter updates for mobile devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Mobile telephone calls made when outside a user's home network generally incur roaming charges that can become extremely costly. Typical mobile telephones have a SEVI (subscriber identity module) card used to identify the user and the base network to which the user belongs. Often times, user's attempting to avoid roaming charges will acquire secondary services directly from a foreign service provider, such as by purchasing a second SEVI card and substituting the second SEVI card for the primary one when in a roaming zone. Alternative solutions include providing special roaming access telephone numbers to route calls through service providers offering discounted rates, however this requires the user to dial extra digits prior to completing each telephone call and to remember these access numbers when travelling. Other users simply rely on calling cards which do save money for outgoing calls, but are not compatible or helpful with incoming calls. Indeed, a user has little or no control over incoming calls and the charges incurred when receiving a call in a roaming zone, other than to ignore the call altogether. Similar problems are encountered with data communications and accessing Internet services (as well as SMS service) when in a roaming zone, particularly as smart phones become more widely used, such as for a travel aid either for leisure and tourist travel or for business travelers. Data communications generally cannot be accessed at discounted roaming rates by way of special access roaming telephone numbers or by calling cards. [0003] One solution to these prior art problems has been proposed by applicant's currently pending PCT International Application No. PCT/CA2011/050379 where there is disclosed the structure and use of a complimentary SIM card, and more generally a complementary dual-sided UICC card, that is employed concurrently with a primary SIM card in a manner such that the complementary dual -sided UICC and primary SIM cards are effectively structurally and functionally coupled when in a phone. The complimentary SIM of the '379 application permits for advanced call and data routing where appropriate while still allowing the primary SIM to control voice and data when a user is in their home network.

[0004] One problem associated with the invention of the '379 application, and indeed with other systems that attempt to employ virtual SIM technologies is there are a large number of mobile service operators that can be provisioned to a roaming user's SIM card with communication parameters that can change over time. Currently, when these parameters change, a new SIM card is required, or in the case of the solution described '379 patent and other similar solutions, a new complementary SIM card would be required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for updating mobile communication parameters in a complimentary dual-sided UICC which is inserted between a primary subscriber identity module (SIM) and a mobile terminal device, wherein the complimentary dual-sided UICC intercepts requests for communication from the primary SIM and determines whether a communications service should proceed with the complimentary dual -sided UICC or via the primary SIM; upon a condition in which the communications service proceeds via the complimentary dual-sided UICC card, detecting a change in location of the mobile device and updating one or more parameters on the dual-sided UICC; and, reinitializing the mobile device with the updated one or more parameters.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, the updating one or more parameters further includes generating by the dual-sided UICC a location update data packet (USSD or SMS message) containing information indicative of a mobile country code (MCC) of visited network, a mobile network code (MNC) of visited network and a dual-sided UICC card identifier number; sending the proprietary location update packet to an application server; generating by the application server the one or more parameters; and, sending those parameters to the dual-sided UICC card.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, the sending step comprises sending via SMS or USSD messaging. Messages are generated by the dual-sided UICC card and are sent via an application toolkit command, for example. Those commands may be described by ISO, 3GPP and ETSI standardization groups.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, the SMS or USSD messaging includes encryption of the user data in the message.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, the dual-sided UICC comprises an application for adopting the one or more parameters which are sent by the dual-sided UICC card or received from the application server.

[00010] According to another aspect of the invention, delivered proprietary messages include one or more selected from group comprising an EVISI number, an authentication key, a DID number, an LNS number, an SMS-C number, dialing mode with the provisioned EVISI, and flags enabling or disabling various mobile services in the region serviced by the provisioned EVISI number.

[00011] According to another aspect of the invention, the sending step comprises sending via a mobile base station operated by a roaming network service provider. [00012] According to another aspect of the invention, the generating via the application server step comprises determining by the application server the one or more parameters, preferably determining on-demand.

[00013] According to another aspect of the invention, the determining step includes optimizing based on one or more of cost and communication quality.

[00014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the dual-sided UICC is placed between the mobile terminal device and the primary SIM card, wherein the dual-sided UICC intercepts a request for communication from the primary SEVI and determines whether a communications service should proceed with the dual-sided UICC or via the primary SEVI; an application server in communication with the mobile base station; the application server configured to receive communications from the dual-sided UICC; wherein the application server includes computer readable instructions thereon for determining one or more parameters and sending the one or more parameters to the dual-sided UICC via the mobile base station.

[00015] According to one aspect of this embodiment, the dual-sided UICC is adapted to generate a location update data packet containing information indicative of one or more of an EVISI number, a mobile country code (MCC) of origin of the dual-sided UICC and a mobile network code (MNC) of origin of the dual-sided UICC; and to send the location update data packet to the application server.

[00016] According to another aspect of this embodiment, the application server is adapted to send the updated parameters to the dual-sided UICC via SMS or USSD messaging.

[00017] According to another aspect of the invention, the SMS or USSD messaging includes encryption.

[00018] According to another aspect of the invention, the dual-sided UICC includes computer readable instructions for adopting the one or more parameters. [00019] According to another aspect of the invention, the one or more parameters includes one or more selected from the group comprising an EVISI number, an authentication key, a DID number, an LNS number, an SMS-C number, dialing mode with the provisioned EVISI, and flags enabling or disabling various mobile services in the region serviced by the provisioned EVISI number.

[00020] Other and further advantages and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, a description of which follows below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00021] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers refer to like elements, wherein:

[00022] Figure 1 shows one system in which the method of the invention may be implemented.

[00023] Figure 2 shows a network arrangement in which the method may be implemented.

[00024] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00025] The preferred embodiment of the invention is implemented with respect to a means for intercepting a request for communications service from a communications device. Examples of this means and its operation are described in the '379 application mentioned above, the contents of which are herein explicitly incorporated by reference. Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a preferred system in which embodiments of the invention are implemented, in which a means for intercepting a request for communications service is provided to a mobile communications device in the form of a dual-sided UICC card 10 that fits into a terminal mobile device 20 and positioned between a SEVI card

15 native to the phone (or alternatively to a user's home network), hereinafter referred to also as the primary SEVI card 15, and an interface 25 between the mobile device 20 and the primary SEVI card 15. The dual-sided UICC card is also referred to as the complementary SEVI card in the '379 application. Accordingly, the terms dual-sided UICC and complementary SEVI are used interchangeable herein and one skilled in the art will understand that a complementary SEVI is one example of a dual-sided UICC card that may be used.

[00026] In this manner, the dual-sided UICC card 10 is positioned to provide a physical link between the primary SEVI card 15 and the interface 25 on the terminal mobile device 20 that would otherwise have interacted with the primary SIM card 15. The dual-sided UICC 10 is thin enough to fit into existing mobile devices between the primary SEVI 15 and the phone interface 25. Communication between the terminal mobile device and dual-sided UICC may be performed according to the ISO, 3GPP and ETSI standards. At the same way performed communication between the dual-sided UICC and the primary SEVI card may use any one of ISO 7816-3/4 or 3 GPP 51-011/51-014/31-102 standards. These terms and standards are known in the art, and accordingly are not described herein in further detail.

[00027] In use, a request for communications service occurs when a user places or receives a telephone call, sends or receives and SMS or attempts to access data services from a mobile device.

The user's requests are intercepted and routed by the dual-sided UICC, via a mobile network operator in the geographical region of where the user currently is (roaming country), to an application server.

The user's requests are routed to the application server in a manner that depends on the service type originating the request, although these would typically be by the dual-sided UICC sending SMS or

USSD message further translated into an HTTP request to the application server.

[00028] The application server undertakes an authentication step to confirm the identity of the user and to ensure that the user, and therefore the dual-sided UICC, are registered with the service provider associated with the dual-sided UICC. The routing of the request to the application server may include a data packet that includes one or more selected from the following: a serial number, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (EVISI) associated with the dual-sided UICC, an MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number) associated with the dual-sided UICC, an MSISDN associated with the primary SEVI, an associated DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number, a VSEVI profile identification, the called phone number, the user's location, and various other data that may be useful in identifying and determining the intended destination of the request for communications. Various other data would be applicable may be included in the data packet for other types of communications services being requested. Authentication of the user may be based on a user data packet, referred to above and may further include a server-side identification using one or more of the following records: a unique account identification number, a call flow scenario identification number, a customer account number, an associated DID number, the mobile country code (MCC) of the primary SEVI, the mobile network code (MNC) of the network operator of the primary SEVI, the phone number associated with the user's device, a flag that indicates if the customer account is active, a flag that indicates if the customer account is a multi-user account, a code unique to the dual-sided UICC, a serial number associated with the dual-sided UICC, a phone number that belongs to the user's user profile, an MSISDN of the current virtual profile and a virtual SEVI profile identification. Once the user has been authenticated as being a customer of the service provider associated with the dual- sided UICC, the application server may proceed to providing authorization for the request for services. Alternatively, if the user cannot be authenticated, the session is terminated. Various ways of completing the call or request for data are possible.

[00029] In carrying out the above-described process flow, it will now be clear that certain parameters associated with the dual-sided UICC are required to interact with the application server and/or with a roaming partner with which the application server interacts, either directly or via the dual-sided UICC. [00030] In order to provide flexibility and greater continuity to the use of the dual-sided UICC (or indeed to any other functionally equivalent physical or virtual device), applicant proposes the herein- described method for providing over the air updates of these certain parameters based on location updates identified by the dual-sided UICC. In particular, parameter updates are provided based on location updates since it is when a user changes locations, that is changes the network on which the mobile device is operating, that new network will attempt to authenticate the user's mobile terminal device (dual-sided UICC card) and if problems are encountered due to changes in the requirements of a network operator, or an altogether new network operator being in existence in the new location.

[00031] Accordingly, in one embodiment the invention provides for a method for using location updates to configure the parameters of the dual-sided UICC card. Broadly, location updates can be delivered from a mobile station to a network operator via SMS or USSD later translated into HTTP or MAP protocols, for example. Other protocols are also possible, and the invention is not to be considered limited to these. While various parameters may be communicated to the dual -sided UICC for providing these over-the-air updates, the especially preferred parameters are the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (EVISI) and its corresponding authentication key (Ki), DID/LNS numbers for the arrangement of call forwarding, and SMS-C number(s) for the delivery of SMS messages. The general functionality, use and standards for these parameters are well known and accordingly not described in further detail herein.

[00032] For the purposes of this description, the term location updates is meant to encompass any signal, including data or otherwise, that gets communicated to and/or from a mobile device to a mobile station that includes information relating to a change in location of the mobile device, and particularly where the change in location requires the mobile device to access services via a different mobile station. Typical switching between available network operators as users travel between different service regions is well known in the art. Applicant provides for a method of updating parameters of the dual-sided UICC when a switch between network operators is detected, or alternatively, when the option of a switch between network operators becomes available to the mobile device.

[00033] In the preferred embodiment, location updates consist of a data packet containing information about a new, or alternatively updated, location of a mobile station. The data packet can be generated by the dual-sided USEVI card though an SMS or USSD message to the operator. Alternatively, the location update event can be registered by the operator's home location register (HLR) when the mobile device is being updated by the visiting network's visitor location register (VLR). HLR can also cause generation of a message to the application server that can trigger communication from the mobile station to the dual-sided USEVI card. The location update event causes creation of the data packet that contains available information regarding the primary SEVI and/or the complementary SEVI card in the mobile device. The data packet is then sent to the an application server of the network operator of the newly detected mobile station and/or the application server of the dual-sided UICC provider. Any reference to a newly detected mobile station in this application applies equally to an already detected mobile station with newly detected updates or newly detected requirements.

[00034] The location update data packet sent from the mobile device preferably includes the dual- sided UICC card's EVISI number, the visitor mobile network country code (MCC) and the visitor mobile network code (MNC). For example, a mobile device user, having a mobile device, entering a new country will have generated by the dual-sided USEVI card a data packet that communicates the EVISI of the dual-sided USEVI card, the country code of where the EVISI is registered, and the network within that country of where the EVISI is registered. This provides sufficient information for the network operator in the new location to identify the user's SEVI (primary or dual-sided UICC, as the case may be) and, along with the identification code EVISI and Ki that may be communicated with the location update data packet or separately, authenticate the mobile device on the new network. [00035] In the case of the dual-sided UICC being used to authenticate the mobile device, and subsequently initiate voice or data messaging, the invention provides for updated parameters to be sent to the dual-sided UICC (with SMS-PP-DD message) that provide for the ability to communicate with the newly found network. In prior art systems, where the dual-sided UICC is not being used, if a newly formed (or recently updated) network is discovered by the mobile device, but the service provider of the SEVI has not provided authentication information for the newly found network, the mobile device will not be able to be authenticated on the new network. According to the invention, this type of authentication information can be updated over the air for the dual-sided UICC, such that the dual-sided UICC is able to provide an optimal location update data packet to the new network. An optimal location update data packet would be one that permits that dual-sided UICC to communicate with a network providing any one of the most cost effective, fastest and/or most secure network available, even if this network requires parameters that are not pre-installed on the dual-sided UICC.

[00036] Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a network arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention. The mobile device 205, includes a primary SEVI and a dual-sided UICC

210. The mobile device 205 is in communication with a mobile base station 215 for accessing the services of a local network operator 220. The network operator 220 communicates with mobile networks around the world as is known in the art. In addition, however, the network operator 220 is also in communication with an application server 225 of the dual-sided UICC service provider. In this arrangement, updated parameters can be pushed to the dual-sided UICC by way of the application server 225 to the mobile base station 215 and finally to the dual-sided UICC. In one embodiment, the updated parameters can be sent in the form of a data packet by either SMS or USSD protocols. Once a location update message is received by the application server 225, the application server 225 generates a new data package containing dual-sided UICC card updates based on the server's internal business logic. For example, the application server 225 may be programmed to identify a particular FMSI for the UICC card with better calling rates in the new location, or access to higher network bandwidth in the new location, typically a new country, and would then issue an SMS or USSD with the new FMSI and related authentication information, such as key Ki. In addition, if the mobile device requires a different SMS-C number from the one already provisioned to the phone, the application server 225 can issue a message containing the new SMS-C number. Finally, in order to enable incoming calls on the home phone number in the visited region, a DID or other local number may also be sent that can be used to enable call forwarding, for example.

[00037] The dual-sided UICC that is present in the mobile device will contain internal logic or an onboard application that permits it to make use of the data packet received from the application server (SMS-PP-DD) containing the new FMSI and related authentication information. Upon receipt, and after authenticating that the received data packet was indeed received from the application server, the new parameters are adopted by the dual-sided UICC. Alternatively, the message may be send in an encrypted format, with decryption keys known only to the application server and to the dual -sided UICC.

[00038] One way of provisioning FMSI and related authentication information is illustrated in the flow chart of Figure 3. After recognition of the roaming location (typically country), the application on the dual-sided UICC sends a request to the application server (via SMS/USSD or other service) for new network registration and authentication parameters. This request would typically include the location update packet such that the application server can use the information in the location update packet to identify preferred or optimal parameters for the new location. Once the application server executes its decision making application and identifies the optimal or preferred dual-sided UICC parameters for the updated location, these parameters are delivered via SMS messages to the complementary SFM. Once the dual-sided UICC application receives these parameters and executes its import logic, the UICC-ME interface of the mobile device is reinitialized (typically rebooted - reboot command related to the UICC-ME protocol described in ISO/3GPP specifications) so that the updated parameters of the dual-sided UICC can be registered in the new location network.

[00039] When delivering new registration and authentication parameters, a new SMS-C number is typically also delivered to the dual-sided UICC from the application server. Once updated and reinitialized, the new SMS-C number is in used by the mobile device (re-initialization process and behavior of the mobile terminal device is specified according to the 3GPP/ETSI standard, for example). The SMS-C number can be provisioned remotely in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the UICC parameters.

[00040] In addition a DID number can also be sent to the dual-sided UICC upon receipt of the location update packet. This can be done to serve multiple purposes. For example, the number can be used for establishing call forwarding or providing the customer with a secondary number local to the region visited by the mobile station. In the case of call forwarding, a mobile station in communication with the dual-sided UICC sends a supplementary service (SS - specified by 3GPP) message to the home carrier of the primary SFM and redirects calls to a local number, thus allowing the delivery of incoming calls while roaming at no additional cost to the subscriber. While a local number in a visiting region allows calls at no charge from other local numbers in the visited region.

[00041] Example I

[00042] A user is in a roaming zone, and outside of the user's home country. The dual-sided UICC card is thus active. When the user enters a new roaming zone, the dual-sided UICC intercepts the request for service and sends either an SMS or USSD message containing location update data packet to the application server. The application server authenticates the user's identity, determines their location and the availability of a roaming partner, checks the account balance, and authorizes or rejects the request for service. The application server also identifies whether there are multiple possible roaming partners and whether preferred or optimal service can be obtained from a roaming partner via different EVISI, and related parameters on the dual-sided UICC card. If new parameters can be provisioned to provide a preferred service, the application server sends an SMS message back to the dual-sided UICC with the updated parameters, that are then imported into the dual-sided UICC and the mobile device reinitiated on the preferred network and/or with the preferred parameters.

[00043] This concludes the description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method for updating mobile communication parameters comprising

providing a complimentary dual-sided Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) between an interface between a primary subscriber identity module and a terminal of a mobile device, wherein said dual-sided UICC intercepts requests for communication from said primary SIM and determines whether a communications service should proceed with said dual-sided UICC or via said primary SIM;

upon a condition in which said communications service proceeds via said dual-sided UICC, detecting a change in location of said mobile device and updating one or more parameters on said dual-sided UICC; and,

reinitializing said mobile device with said updated one or more parameters.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said updating one or more parameters further comprises

generating a location update data packet containing information indicative of one or more of an IMSI number, a mobile country code (MCC) of origin of said dual- sided UICC and a mobile network code (MNC) of origin of said dual-sided UICC; sending said location update packet to an application server;

generating by said application server said one or more parameters; and, sending said one or more parameters to said dual-sided UICC.

A method according to claim 2, wherein said sending step comprises sending via SMS USSD messaging.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said SMS or USSD messaging includes encryption.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said dual-sided UICC comprises an application for adopting said one or more parameters.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more parameters includes one or more selected from the group comprising an EVISI number, an authentication key, a DID number, an LNS number, an SMS-C number, dialing mode with the provisioned EVISI, and flags enabling or disabling various mobile services in the region serviced by the provisioned EVISI number.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein said sending step comprises sending via a mobile base station operated by a roaming network service provider.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein said generating via said application server step comprises determining by said application server said one or more parameters.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said determining includes optimizing based on one or more of cost and bandwidth.

10. A system comprising

a mobile base station for providing communications service to a mobile device having a primary SEVI and a dual-sided UICC, wherein said dual-sided UICC intercepts requests for communication from said primary SEVI and determines whether a communications service should proceed with said dual-sided UICC or via said primary SIM;

an application server in communication with said mobile base station; said application server configured to receive communications from said dual-sided UICC;

wherein said application server includes computer readable instructions thereon for determining one or more parameters and sending said one or more parameters to said dual-sided UICC via said mobile base station.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said dual-sided UICC is adapted to generate a location update data packet containing information indicative of one or more of an IMSI number, a country code of origin of said dual-sided UICC and a network code of origin of said dual-sided UICC; and to send said location update data packet to said application server.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said application server is adapted to send said updated parameters to said dual-sided UICC via SMS or USSD messaging.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein said SMS or USSD messaging includes encryption.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein said dual-sided UICC includes computer readable instructions for adopting said one or more parameters.

15. A system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more parameters includes one or more selected from the group comprising an IMSI number, an authentication key, a DID number, an LNS number, an SMS-C number, dialing mode with the provisioned EVISI, and flags enabling or disabling various mobile services in the region serviced by the provisioned IMSI number