Direct eSIM transfer between wireless devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12245332-B2
Application number	US-202217932668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2022
Priority date	Sep 16, 2021
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

The described embodiments set forth techniques for transferring an electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) with the same integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) value from a source mobile wireless device to a target mobile wireless device directly with a mobile network operator (MNO) provisioning server. The target mobile wireless device downloads the eSIM from the MNO provisioning server after deletion of the eSIM on the source mobile wireless device and reassignment of the eSIM with the same ICCID value to the target mobile wireless device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for transferring an electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) for access to services of a mobile network operator (MNO) from a source mobile wireless device to a target mobile wireless device, the method comprising:
by the source mobile wireless device:
obtaining, from the target mobile wireless device, device transfer information for transfer of the eSIM;
sending, to an MNO provisioning server, a request for direct transfer of the eSIM having a unique integrated circuit identifier (ICCID) value from the source mobile wireless device to the target mobile wireless device;
receiving, from the MNO provisioning server, a first notification message to delete the eSIM from the source mobile wireless device;
deleting the eSIM from an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) of the source mobile wireless device;
sending, to the MNO provisioning server, a message confirming deletion of the eSIM;
receiving, from the MNO provisioning server, a second notification message indicating completion of eSIM reassignment to the target mobile wireless device; and
providing, to the target mobile wireless device, information for installation of the eSIM on an eUICC of the target mobile wireless device;
wherein:
communication of the device transfer information is via a secure, encrypted communication path; and
the eSIM, after installation on the eUICC of the target mobile wireless device, has an identical ICCID value as the unique ICCID value previously used on the eUICC of the source mobile wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secure, encrypted communication path comprises a direct communication path via a wireless personal area network or a peer-to-peer wireless local area network between the source and target mobile wireless devices.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secure, encrypted communication path comprises an indirect communication path via a cloud network services server managed by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the source and target mobile wireless devices.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
uploading to the cloud network services server, by the source mobile wireless device prior to obtaining the device transfer information, subscription information for one or more eSIMs stored on the eUICC of the source mobile wireless device,
wherein the target mobile wireless device obtains and displays at least a portion of the subscription information for the one or more eSIMs for selection of the eSIM to transfer from the source mobile wireless device to the target mobile wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source mobile wireless device obtains the device transfer information by scanning a dynamic quick response (QR) code displayed on the target mobile wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device transfer information comprises an eUICC identifier (EID) value for the eUICC of the target mobile wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for direct transfer of the eSIM comprises an eUICC identifier (EID) value for the eUICC of the source mobile wireless device, an EID value for the eUICC of the target mobile wireless device, and the unique ICCID value of the eSIM.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information for installation of the eSIM comprises a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for the MNO provisioning server.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information for installation of the eSIM further comprises a MatchingID specific for downloading the eSIM from the MNO provisioning server to the target mobile wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information for installation of the eSIM comprises a device manufacturer device services server from which to obtain a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for the MNO provisioning server.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source mobile wireless device communicates with the MNO provisioning server via a first wireless communication link before deletion of the eSIM and via a second wireless communication link after deletion of the eSIM.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second wireless communication link is established using a limited functionality SIM installed in the source mobile wireless device at a time of manufacture.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source mobile wireless device provides the information for installation of the eSIM by displaying a dynamic quick response (QR) code for scanning by the target mobile wireless device.

14. A source mobile wireless device comprising:
wireless circuitry comprising one or more antennas; and
one or more processors communicatively coupled to the wireless circuitry and to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the source mobile wireless device to transfer to a target mobile wireless device an electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) for access to services of a mobile network operator (MNO) by at least:
obtaining, from the target mobile wireless device, device transfer information for transfer of the eSIM;
sending, to an MNO provisioning server, a request for direct transfer of the eSIM having a unique integrated circuit identifier (ICCID) value from the source mobile wireless device to the target mobile wireless device;
receiving, from the MNO provisioning server, a first notification message to delete the eSIM from the source mobile wireless device;
deleting the eSIM from an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) of the source mobile wireless device;
sending, to the MNO provisioning server, a message confirming deletion of the eSIM;
receiving, from the MNO provisioning server, a second notification message indicating completion of eSIM reassignment to the target mobile wireless device; and
providing, to the target mobile wireless device, information for installation of the eSIM on an eUICC of the target mobile wireless device;
wherein:
communication of the device transfer information is via a secure, encrypted communication path; and
the eSIM, after installation on the eUICC of the target mobile wireless device, has an identical ICCID value as the unique ICCID value previously used on the eUICC of the source mobile wireless device.

15. The source mobile wireless device of claim 14 , wherein the secure, encrypted communication path comprises a direct communication path via a wireless personal area network or a peer-to-peer wireless local area network between the source and target mobile wireless devices.

16. The source mobile wireless device of claim 14 , wherein the secure, encrypted communication path comprises an indirect communication path via a cloud network services server managed by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the source and target mobile wireless devices.

17. The source mobile wireless device of claim 16 , wherein:
execution of the instructions further causes the source mobile wireless device to upload to the cloud network services server, prior to obtaining the device transfer information, subscription information for one or more eSIMs stored on the eUICC of the source mobile wireless device; and
the target mobile wireless device obtains and displays at least a portion of the subscription information for the one or more eSIMs for selection of the eSIM to transfer from the source mobile wireless device to the target mobile wireless device.

18. The source mobile wireless device of claim 14 , wherein the request for direct transfer of the eSIM comprises an eUICC identifier (EID) value

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Jin Sherman X
• Rivera-Barreto Rafael L
• Malthankar Rohan C
• Rodgers Clive E
• Chaugule Raj S
• Li Li

Classifications

• H04W60/04

  using triggered events · CPC title

• H04W8/20

  Transfer of user or subscriber data · CPC title

• H04W8/183 Primary

  Processing at user equipment or user record carrier · CPC title

• H04W12/35

  Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning · CPC title

• H04W12/40

  Security arrangements using identity modules · CPC title