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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11601803-B2
Application number	US-202017139649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2020
Priority date	Oct 11, 2012
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for a terminal comprising a virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM), the method comprising:
sending, by the terminal to a VSIM management server, a VSIM application request, wherein the VSIM application request carries an identifier of a VSIM desired by a user;
receiving, by the terminal from the VSIM management server, VSIM installation information associated with the identifier of the VSIM desired by the user;
installing, by the terminal, the VSIM installation information; and
sending, by the terminal, binding request information comprising the identifier of the VSIM of the terminal,
wherein the binding request information is used to bind the identifier of the VSIM of the terminal and an identifier of a SIM of the terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
sending, by the terminal, activation information to the VSIM management server; and
receiving, by the terminal, information which is in response to the activation information.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the VSIM installation information is generated according to parameter information of the VSIM, and
wherein the parameter information comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or a phone number, or subscriber identity authentication security algorithm information.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the VSIM installation information is generated according to source identification information of parameter information of the VSIM.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the activation information comprises an activation code which is provided by the VSIM management server or is obtained in response to the VSIM installation information being installed.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the activation information comprises the identifier of the VSIM.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the identifier of the VSIM comprises an international mobile subscriber identity of the VSIM.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program, which when executed by a processor of a terminal, cause the terminal to implement a method comprising:
sending a virtual subscriber identity module (VSIM) application request to a VSIM management server, wherein the VSIM application request carries an identifier of a VSIM desired by a user;
receiving, from the VSIM management server, VSIM installation information associated with the identifier of the VSIM desired by the user;
installing the VSIM installation information; and
sending binding request information comprising the identifier of the VSIM of the terminal,
wherein the binding request information is used to bind the identifier of the VSIM of the terminal and an identifier of a SIM of the terminal.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein the method further comprising:
sending activation information to the VSIM management server; and
receiving information which is in response to the activation information.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8 , wherein the VSIM installation information is generated according to parameter information of the VSIM, wherein the parameter information comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or a phone number, or subscriber identity authentication security algorithm information.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 10 , wherein the VSIM installation information is generated according to source identification information of parameter information of the VSIM installation information.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9 , wherein the activation information comprises an activation code which is provided by the VSIM management server or is obtained when the VSIM installation information is installed.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9 , wherein the activation information comprises the identifier of the VSIM.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13 , wherein the identifier of the VSIM comprises an international mobile subscriber identity of the VSIM.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before sending the VSIM application request, the method further comprises:
sending, by the terminal, a location update request to a mobile switching center, wherein the location update request comprises an identifier of a SIM of the terminal; and
receiving, by the terminal, a VSIM application alert from the VSIM management server.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before sending the VSIM application request, the method further comprises:
sending, by the terminal, a location update request to a mobile switching center, wherein the location update request comprises an identifier of a SIM of the terminal; and
receiving, by the terminal, VSIM application address information of the VSIM management server.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 10 , wherein the program is configured to enable the terminal to implement:
sending a location update request to a mobile switching center, wherein the location update request comprises an identifier of a SIM of the terminal; and
receiving a VSIM application alert from the VSIM management server.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 10 , wherein the program is configured to enable the terminal to implement:
sending a location update request to a mobile switching center, wherein the location update request comprises an identifier of a SIM of the terminal; and
receiving VSIM application address information of the VSIM management server.

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Bai Zhidong
• Lu Min
• Wang Bingfu

Classifications

• H04M15/8038

  Roaming or handoff · CPC title

• H04W8/04

  Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server] · CPC title

• H04W8/245 Primary

  from a network towards a terminal · CPC title

• H04W8/205 Primary

  Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier · CPC title

• H04M17/023

  Circuit arrangements · CPC title