Method to dynamically select a mobile operator subscription based on the terminal location, on the received signal strengths and on business agreements, corresponding secure element and home subscriber server

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023011460-A1
Application number	US-202017782640-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2020
Priority date	Dec 6, 2019
Publication date	Jan 12, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a method for dynamically selecting a mobile subscription for a secure element cooperating with a terminal in a telecommunication system comprising a network visited by the terminal and a HSS of a server The method includes sending from the secure element a random e-IMSI ephemeral IMSI in a first attachment request message to the HSS through the visited network, the visited network having the best received signal and having a roaming agreement with an e-IMSI service provider; and transmitting 101 from the HSS to the secure element in a signaling message a PLMN list of all the local operators having a commercial agreement with the e-IMSI service provider.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for dynamically selecting a mobile subscription for a secure element cooperating with a terminal ( 10 ) in a telecommunication system comprising a network ( 11 ) visited by said terminal and a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) ( 12 ) of a server, said method comprising:
a—Sending ( 100 ) from said secure element a random e-IMSI (ephemeral IMSI) in a first attachment request message to said HSS ( 12 ) through the visited network ( 11 ), said visited network ( 11 ) having the best received signal and having a roaming agreement with an e-IMSI service provider: b—Transmitting ( 101 ) from said HSS ( 12 ) to said secure element in a signaling message a PLMN list of all the local operators having a commercial agreement with said e-IMSI service provider: c—Transmitting ( 102 ) from said secure element to said HSS ( 12 ) through said visited network ( 11 ) in an authentication failure message an identity of said secure element; and d—Determining effing at the level of said HSS ( 12 ) if said service provider has a commercial agreement with the operator of said visited network ( 11 ) and, if yes, reserving by said HSS ( 12 ) a subscription from said operator and sending ( 103 ) the corresponding IMSI to said secure element through an answer.

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein if the test of step —d— is negative, said method further comprises:
e—Selecting by the modem of said terminal in the PLMN list provided at step —d— the preferred local network of a MNO ( 11 ) having enough signal strength;
f—Sending ( 104 ) by said secure element through the network of this local network MNO ( 11 ) a second e-IMSI in a signaling attachment request message to said HSS ( 12 );
g—After having retrieved the network information of said local MNO ( 11 ), reserving by said HSS ( 12 ) a subscription from said local MNO ( 11 ) and sending ( 105 ) the corresponding IMSI to said secure element through an answer.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said secure element is a UICC.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said secure element is an eUICC or an iUICC or a soft SIM and where step d— and g— is used for a bootstrap temporary connectivity in order to load an operational profile from the selected MNO using GSMA RSP.

5 . A secure element cooperating with a terminal ( 10 ) in a telecommunication system comprising a network ( 11 ) visited by said terminal and a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) ( 12 ) of a server, said secure element comprising a computer program having instructions for
Sending ( 100 ) from said secure element a random e-IMSI (ephemeral IMSI) in a first attachment request message to said HSS ( 12 ) through the visited network ( 11 ), said visited network ( 11 ) having the best received signal and having a roaming agreement with an e-IMSI service provider; Transmitting ( 101 ) from said HSS ( 12 ) to said secure element in a signaling message a PLMN list of all the local operators having a commercial agreement with said e-IMSI service provider; Transmitting ( 102 ) from said secure element to said HSS ( 12 ) through said visited network ( 11 ) in an authentication failure message an identity of said secure element; and Determining at the level oi said HSS ( 12 ) if said service provider has a commercial agreement with the operator of said visited network ( 11 ) and, if yes, reserving by said HSS ( 12 ) a subscription from said operator and sending ( 103 ) the corresponding IMSI to said secure element through an answer.

6 . A HSS of a server comprising a computer program having instructions for implementing the method according to any of the claims 1 to 4 .

Assignees

• Thales Dis France Sas

Inventors

• Lamberton Marc
• Schwartz Arnaud
• Morandi Sylvain
• Schaetzel Maria

Classifications

• H04W8/02

  Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks · CPC title

• H04M15/00

  Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP} · CPC title

• H04W8/26

  Network addressing or numbering for mobility support · CPC title

• H04M15/751

  Card based account, e.g. smart card, SIM card or USIM · CPC title

• H04M15/715 Primary

  Activating new subscriber or card · CPC title