Multi-factor autonomous SIM lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12081992-B2
Application number	US-202218065302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2022
Priority date	Mar 1, 2019
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, initializing a secure timer in a wireless device, determining whether a subscriber identification module (SIM) card installed in the wireless device comprises a carrier identity that matches a carrier identity stored in the machine-readable medium, establishing a network connection with a trusted server, starting the secure timer if the SIM card and network connection are satisfactory, periodically checking the network connection and SIM card until expiry of the secure timer, penalizing the secure timer responsive to a failure of the network connection or SIM card check, and responsive to expiry of the secure timer, unlocking a SIM lock. Other embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wireless device, comprising:
a processing system including a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
determining whether a valid subscriber identification module (SIM) card is installed in the wireless device;
detecting, from a location beacon of the wireless device, a location of the wireless device;
starting a timer responsive to determining that the valid SIM card is installed in the wireless device and responsive to detecting the location to be within a permitted geographic region; and
continuing to permit the timer to count down responsive to both a further determination that the valid SIM card remains installed in the wireless device and a further detection that the location remains within the permitted geographic region, wherein expiry of the timer allows a SIM lock to be unlocked for the wireless device to provide service with a different installed SIM card.

2. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise penalizing the timer responsive to any determination that the valid SIM card is no longer installed in the wireless device or any detection of the location being outside of the permitted geographic region.

3. The wireless device of claim 2 , wherein the penalizing the timer comprises resetting the timer.

4. The wireless device of claim 2 , wherein the penalizing the timer comprises pausing the timer.

5. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a secure memory, and wherein values for the timer are stored in the secure memory.

6. The wireless device of claim 5 , wherein the wireless device comprises a modem, and wherein the secure memory is located in the modem.

7. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the valid SIM card comprises a carrier identity that matches a carrier identity stored in the memory.

8. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein unlocking the SIM lock permits the wireless device to provide full service with any installed SIM card.

9. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise obtaining biometric data and comparing the biometric data with previously stored biometric data.

10. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise penalizing the timer responsive to a determination that the biometric data does not match the previously stored biometric data.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium in a secure area of a wireless device, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
determining whether a carrier identity of a subscriber identification module (SIM) card installed in the wireless device matches carrier identity information stored in the secure area;
detecting a location of the wireless device;
starting a timer responsive to determining that the carrier identity matches the carrier identity information and responsive to detecting the location to be within a permitted geographic region; and
continuing to permit the timer to count down responsive to both a further determination that the carrier identity matches the carrier identify information and a further detection that the location is within the permitted geographic region, wherein expiry of the timer allows a SIM lock embedded in the secure area to be unlocked for the wireless device to provide service with a different installed SIM card.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein unlocking the SIM lock permits the wireless device to provide full service with any installed SIM card.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the location of the wireless device is outside of a predetermined range, and penalizing the timer based on the determining that the location of the wireless device is outside of the predetermined range.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the location of the wireless device is within a predetermined range, and not penalizing the timer based on the determining that the location of the wireless device is within the predetermined range.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise obtaining biometric data, comparing the biometric data with previously stored biometric data, and penalizing the timer responsive to a determination that the biometric data does not match the previously stored biometric data.

16. A method, comprising:
determining, by a processing system of a wireless device including a processor, whether a valid subscriber identification module (SIM) card is installed in the wireless device;
detecting, by the processing system, a location of the wireless device;
starting, by the processing system, a timer responsive to determining that the valid SIM card is installed in the wireless device and responsive to detecting the location to be within a permitted geographic region; and
continuing to permit, by the processing system, the timer to count down responsive to both a further determination that the valid SIM card remains installed in the wireless device and a further detection that the location is within the permitted geographic region, wherein expiry of the timer allows a SIM lock to be unlocked for the wireless device to provide service with a different installed SIM card.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein unlocking the SIM lock permits the wireless device to provide full service with any installed SIM card.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein values for the timer are stored in a secure memory.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the valid SIM card comprises a carrier identity that matches a carrier identity stored in a secure memory.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising obtaining biometric data, comparing the biometric data with previously stored biometric data, and pausing the timer responsive to a determination that the biometric data does not match the previously stored biometric data.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Chien Ginger
• Zaffino Richard

Classifications

• H04W12/64

  using geofenced areas · CPC title

• H04W12/66

  Trust-dependent, e.g. using trust scores or trust relationships · CPC title

• H04W12/61

  Time-dependent · CPC title

• H04W12/06 Primary

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04L63/0861

  using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231) · CPC title