Operating method for communication profile and electronic device supporting the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016150400-A1
Application number	US-201514950996-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 24, 2015
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first communication module configured to establish a communication channel to an external electronic device based on wired communications or short-range communications, a second communication module that supports a communication service provided via a base station; a control module configured to obtain a communication profile required for operating the second communication module using the external electronic device connected through the first communication module, and a memory configured to store the communication profile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a first communication module configured to establish a communication channel to an external electronic device based on wired communications or short-range communications; a second communication module that supports a communication service provided via a base station; a control module configured to obtain a communication profile required for operating the second communication module using the external electronic device connected through the first communication module; and a memory configured to store the communication profile.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control module outputs, through the external electronic device, at least a portion of subscription support information required for obtaining the communication profile.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the control module receives the subscription support information and transfers the subscription support information to the external electronic device, or requests the external electronic device to receive and output the subscription support information.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the control module receives selection information indicating at least one of a service contract option and a communication profile selected from the subscription support information received from the external electronic device.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the control module controls transmission of subscription request information corresponding to the selection information a subscription support server device that has provided the subscription support information.

6 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the control module controls transmission of provisioning-related information to the subscription support server device, wherein the provisioning-related information is related to access to a subscription support server device that supports subscription for the communication service based on the base station.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the control module controls transmission of the provisioning-related information to the subscription support server device via the external electronic device.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control module outputs information including at least one of information indicating whether a provisioning profile related to access to the subscription support server device that supports subscription for the communication service based on the base station is stored in the electronic device or information indicating whether the communication profile is stored in the electronic device.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the control module controls to output a specified normal user interface (UI) when the communication profile exists, or a specified provisioning UI related to proceeding with a provisioning procedure when the communication profile is not stored in the electronic device.

10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the control module controls to output a specified image or specified code information corresponding to provisioning-related information for proceeding with the provisioning procedure when the communication profile is not stored in the electronic device.

11 . A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
establishing a communication channel to an external electronic device; obtaining a communication profile required for operating a second communication module that supports a communication service provided via a base station using the external electronic device connected; and storing the communication profile obtained.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising outputting, through the external electronic device, at least a portion of subscription support information required for obtaining the communication profile.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein outputting the at least the portion of the subscription support information comprises at least one of:
receiving the subscription support information to transfer the subscription support information to the external electronic device to output the subscription support information through the external electronic device; and requesting the external electronic device to obtain and output the subscription support information.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving, from the external electronic device, selection information indicating at least one of a service contract option and a communication profile selected from the subscription support information.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting subscription request information corresponding to the selection information to a subscription support server device that has provided the subscription support information.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting, to the subscription support server device, provisioning-related information related to access to a subscription support server device that supports subscription for the communication service provided via the base station.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting the provisioning-related information to the subscription support server device via the external electronic device.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising at least one of:
outputting information indicating whether there exists a provisioning profile related to access to a subscription support server device that supports subscription for the communication service provided via the base station; and outputting information indicating whether the communication profile is stored in the electronic device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
outputting a specified normal user interface (UI) if the communication profile is stored in the electronic device; and outputting a specified provisioning UI related to proceeding with a provisioning procedure if the communication profile is not stored in the electronic device.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising outputting a specified image or specified code information corresponding to provisioning-related information for proceeding with the provisioning procedure if the communication profile is not stored in the electronic device.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cha Soon Hyun
• Hwang Sun Min
• Yeoum Tae Sun
• Lee Duckey
• Lee Sang Soo

Classifications

• H04W76/14

  Direct-mode setup · CPC title

• H04W8/245 Primary

  from a network towards a terminal · CPC title

• H04W8/183

  Processing at user equipment or user record carrier · CPC title

• H04W8/24 Primary

  Transfer of terminal data · CPC title

• H04W76/023

  Electricity · mapped topic