Patent · US Active

Electronic access client distribution apparatus and methods

US9419970B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
14References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 2014
Grant dateAug 16, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 1, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W88/06
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for distributing access control clients. In one exemplary embodiment, a network infrastructure is disclosed that enables delivery of electronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) to secure elements (e.g., electronic Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (eUICCs), etc.) The network architecture includes one or more of: (i) eSIM appliances, (ii) secure eSIM storages, (iii) eSIM managers, (iv) eUICC appliances, (v) eUICC managers, (vi) service provider consoles, (vii) account managers, (viii) Mobile Network Operator (MNO) systems, (ix) eUICCs that are local to one or more devices, and (x) depots. Moreover, each depot may include: (xi) eSIM inventory managers, (xii) system directory services, (xiii) communications managers, and/or (xiv) pending eSIM storages. Functions of the disclosed infrastructure can be flexibly partitioned and/or adapted such that individual parties can host portions of the infrastructure. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide redundancy, thus ensuring maximal uptime for the overall network (or the portion thereof).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.