VIRTUAL SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE FOR NETWORK CONNECTION

Abstract

The present invention provides a virtual subscriber identity module (vSIM) for network connection. The vSIM includes a memory and at least one processor. The memory is configured to store a remote SIM (rSIM) implemented as a software card. The at least one processor is coupled to the memory and configured to: register to a first network and download a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via the rSIM; and complete a registration to a second network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the second network. The present invention further provides an apparatus including the vSIM, a vSIM server for communicating with the apparatus, and a method performed by the apparatus.

Description

FIELD

The invention relates to a vSIM module, and more particularly, to a vSIM module for a portable apparatus.

BACKGROUND

With the development of network technology, many apparatuses can be connected to a network to obtain more network services. Currently, portable apparatuses can be connected to a network via an SIM card or eSIM technology.

However, the current SIM card or eSIM technology does not allow the user's portable apparatus to access other networks within a country, and can only access a network provided by a network service provider through the SIM card or eSIM profile provided by the network service provider. If the user intends to access other networks, he/she needs to purchase a SIM card or subscription provided by other network service providers, and manually replace the SIM card or eSIM profile in the portable apparatus so as to access the networks provided by other network service providers.

In addition, the current SIM card or eSIM technology does not allow the user's portable apparatus to access networks in a different country. If the user intends to access networks in a different country, he/she also needs to purchase a SIM card or subscription provided by network service providers in a different country, and manually replace the SIM card or eSIM profile in the portable apparatus so as to access the networks provided by network service providers in a different country.

In addition, the current SIM card module or eSIM module has a disadvantage, that is, a dedicated SIM management program and a complex driver (e.g., MBIM driver) need to be developed in the operating system (e.g., Windows operating system or Chrome operating system) of the user's portable apparatus so as to manage the SIM card and network connection information.

Due to the above disadvantage of the current SIM card module or eSIM module, it causes inconvenience to developers at the development side and to users at the use side.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a virtual subscriber identity module (vSIM) for network connection. The vSIM may be embedded in or externally connected to the apparatus and may achieve the advantage that the apparatus can access other networks within a country or access networks in a different country without manually replace the SIM card. In addition, the developer does not need to develop a dedicated SIM management program and a complex driver in the operating system of any apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vSIM for an apparatus is provided. The vSIM includes a memory and at least one processor. The memory is configured to store a remote SIM (rSIM) implemented as a software card. The at least one processor is coupled to the memory and configured to: register to a first network and download a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via the rSIM; and complete a registration to a second network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the second network.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a slot and a vSIM module. The vSIM module includes a connector, a memory, and at least one processor. The connector is configured to connect to the slot. The memory is configured to store an rSIM implemented as a software card. The at least one processor is coupled to the memory and the connector and configured to: register to a first network and download a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via the rSIM; and complete a registration to a second network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the second network.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a vSIM server for communicating with an apparatus is provided. The vSIM server is configured to provide a vSIM profile to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a vSIM and connects to the vSIM server via an rSIM implemented as a software card stored in a memory of the vSIM. The vSIM profile allows the vSIM of the apparatus to complete a registration to a network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the network.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method performed by an apparatus for connecting to a first network is provided. The apparatus includes a vSIM and the method includes: registering to a second network and downloading a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via an rSIM, the rSIM being implemented as a software card stored in a memory of the vSIM; and completing a registration to the first network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the first network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent with the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vSIM module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a vSIM module embedded in a portable apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a vSIM module externally connected to a portable apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a vSIM connectivity management program executed to activate a vSIM service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementations. It should be noted that the present invention should not be limited to the specific embodiments described below. In addition, for the sake of simplicity, detailed descriptions of well-known technologies that are not directly related to the present invention are omitted in order to prevent confusion in understanding the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, it shows a block diagram of a vSIM module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vSIM module 100 includes a radio frequency (RF) chip 110, a baseband processor (BP) 120, an application processor (AP) 130, an antenna 140, a connector 150, and a memory 160. The RF chip 110 is coupled to the antenna 140 and the baseband processor 120. The application processor 130 is coupled to the baseband processor 120, the connector 150, and the memory 160.

The memory 160 is, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 160 stores a vSIM connectivity management program 170. The vSIM connectivity management program 170 may be implemented as instructions executed by the application processor 130.

The radio frequency chip 110 is coupled to the antenna 140 for receiving and transmitting signals.

The baseband processor 120 is configured to execute conversion between a digital signal and an analog signal, modulation or coding for digital signals, and the like.

The application processor 130 is configured to execute the vSIM connectivity management program 170 to activate a vSIM service.

The connector 150 is, for example, a connector of an M.2 interface or a connector of a USB interface, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the radio frequency chip 110, the baseband processor 120, the application processor 130, and the memory 160 may be implemented as a System on a Chip (SoC).

Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a vSIM module 100 embedded in a portable apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The portable apparatus 1 includes a processor 11, a slot 12, and a memory 13. The portable apparatus 1 may be, for example, a notebook computer, a smartphone, a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a tablet computer, etc. The memory 13 is, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 13 may store an operating system 14, such as Windows operating system or Chrome operating system. The processor 11 may run this operating system 14. The slot 12 is provided in the portable apparatus 1 and is, for example, a slot of an M.2 interface, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The vSIM module 100 can be connected to the slot 12 of the portable apparatus 1 via the connector 150 so as to be embedded in the portable apparatus 1. When the vSIM module 100 is connected to the slot 12 of the portable apparatus 1 via the connector 150, the portable apparatus 1 and the vSIM module 100 can transmit data to each other for communication.

Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a vSIM module 100 externally connected to a portable apparatus 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The portable apparatus 2 includes a processor 21, a slot 22, and a memory 23. The portable apparatus 2 may be, for example, a notebook computer, a smartphone, a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a tablet computer, etc. The memory 23 is, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 23 may store an operating system 24, such as Windows operating system or Chrome operating system. The processor 22 may run this operating system 24. The slot 22 is provided in the portable apparatus 2 and is, for example, a slot of a USB interface, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The vSIM module 100 can be connected to the slot 22 of the portable apparatus 2 via the connector 150 so as to be externally connected to the portable apparatus 2. When the vSIM module 100 is connected to the slot 22 of the portable apparatus 2 via the connector 150, the portable apparatus 2 and the vSIM module 100 can transmit data to each other for communication.

Please also refer to FIGS. 2,3 and 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a vSIM connectivity management program 170 executed to activate a vSIM service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S1110, an rSIM (Remote SIM) is loaded. In one embodiment, the rSIM may be implemented as a physical card and inserted into a card slot (not shown) of the portable apparatus or the vSIM module 100. In another embodiment, the rSIM may be implemented as a software card and stored in the memory of the vSIM module 100. The rSIM is configured to connect to a network before downloading a vSIM profile from a vSIM server, and configured to assist in completing a vSIM authentication (for example, a vSIM authentication request is transmitted to the vSIM server via the rSIM, and a vSIM authentication reply is received from the vSIM server via the rSIM) in a procedure where the vSIM searches for the network.

In step S1120, a network is searched via the rSIM.

In step S1130, it is determined whether the rSIM successfully registers to the network. If yes, execute step S1140, and if no, return to step S1120.

In step S1140, rSIM data is activated.

In step S1150, a vSIM profile is downloaded from a vSIM server.

In step S1160, a vSIM is loaded. The vSIM may be a software card and stored in the memory of the vSIM module 100.

In step S1170, the network is searched via the vSIM.

In step S1180, it is determined whether a vSIM authentication request is received from the network. If yes, execute step S1190, and if not, return to step S1170.

In step S1190, the vSIM authentication request is transmitted to a vSIM server via the rSIM.

In step S1200, a vSIM authentication reply is received from the vSIM server via the rSIM.

In step S1210, the vSIM authentication reply is transmitted to the network via the vSIM.

In step S1220, a registration to the network is completed via the vSIM.

In step S1230, a vSIM service is activated (for example, a network provided by a foreign network service provider is connected).

In addition, in one embodiment, the vSIM module 100 for a portable apparatus disclosed in the present disclosure may operate together with a vSIM application program. Please refer to FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, the vSIM application program may be installed on the operating system 14 of the portable apparatus 1 and stored in the memory 13 (not shown), and the processor 11 may run the vSIM application program. The vSIM application program is configured to provide the user with various management and control functions for the vSIM so as to provide the user with a better use experience. In one embodiment, the various management and control functions for the vSIM include, for example, managements and controls for the name of the operator to which the current vSIM belongs, the Cell ID in which the vSIM resides, and the signal strength, and the like.

In this way, the vSIM module 100 for a portable apparatus disclosed by the present disclosure can be embedded in or externally connected to the portable apparatus, and can activate a vSIM service so as to achieve the advantage that the portable apparatus can access other networks within a country or access networks in a different country without manually replace the SIM card. In addition, the developer does not need to develop a dedicated SIM management program and a complex driver (e.g., MBIM driver) in the operating system of a portable apparatus to manage the SIM card and network connection information.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the specific structure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the present invention also includes any design changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, various modifications can be made to the present invention within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, components having the same effect described in the above embodiments may be substituted for each other.

Claims

1. A virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM) for an apparatus, the vSIM comprising: a memory configured to store a remote SIM (rSIM) implemented as a software card; andat least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to: register to a first network and download a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via the rSIM; andcomplete a registration to a second network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the second network.

2. The vSIM according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: search for the second network using the vSIM profile and receive a vSIM authentication request from the second network while searching for the second network; andperform a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request.

3. The vSIM according to claim 2, wherein the vSIM authentication procedure comprises: transmitting the vSIM authentication request to the vSIM server via the rSIM;receiving a vSIM authentication reply from the vSIM server via the rSIM; andtransmitting the vSIM authentication reply to the second network using the vSIM profile.

4. The vSIM according to claim 1, wherein the vSIM further comprises: a radio frequency chip coupled to an antenna of the apparatus; anda connector configured to connect with a slot of the apparatus.

5. The vSIM according to claim 4, wherein the slot and the connector comprise an M.2 interface, and the vSIM is configured to be embedded in the apparatus.

6. The vSIM according to claim 4, wherein the slot and the connector comprise a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and the vSIM is configured to be externally connected to the apparatus.

7. The vSIM according to claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store a vSIM connectivity management program executable by the at least one processor.

8. An apparatus, comprising: a slot;a virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM), comprising: a connector configured to connect to the slot;a memory configured to store a remote SIM (rSIM) implemented as a software card; andat least one processor coupled to the memory and the connector and configured to: register to a first network and download a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via the rSIM; andcomplete a registration to a second network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the second network.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: search for the second network using the vSIM profile and receive a vSIM authentication request from the second network while searching for the second network; andperform a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the vSIM authentication procedure comprises: transmitting the vSIM authentication request to the vSIM server via the rSIM;receiving a vSIM authentication reply from the vSIM server via the rSIM; andtransmitting the vSIM authentication reply to the second network using the vSIM profile.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises an antenna, and the vSIM further comprises a radio frequency chip coupled to the antenna.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the slot and the connector comprise an M.2 interface, and the vSIM is embedded in the apparatus.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the memory is further configured to store a vSIM connectivity management program executable by the at least one processor.

14. A virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM) server for communicating with an apparatus, configured to: provide a vSIM profile to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a vSIM and connecting to the vSIM server via a remote SIM (rSIM) implemented as a software card stored in a memory of the vSIM,wherein the vSIM profile allows the vSIM of the apparatus to:complete a registration to a network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the network.

15. The vSIM server according to claim 14, wherein the vSIM profile further allows the vSIM of the apparatus to: search for the network using the vSIM profile and receive a vSIM authentication request from the network while searching for the network; andperform a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request.

16. The vSIM server according to claim 15, wherein when the vSIM of the apparatus performs the vSIM authentication procedure, the vSIM server is configured to: receive the vSIM authentication request from the vSIM of the apparatus; andtransmit a vSIM authentication reply to the vSIM of the apparatus.

17. A method performed by an apparatus for connecting to a first network, the apparatus comprising a virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM), and the method comprising: registering to a second network and downloading a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via a remote SIM (rSIM), the rSIM being implemented as a software card stored in a memory of the vSIM; andcompleting a registration to the first network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the first network.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: searching for the first network using the vSIM profile and receiving a vSIM authentication request from the first network while searching for the first network; andperforming a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the vSIM authentication procedure comprises: transmitting the vSIM authentication request to the vSIM server via the rSIM;receiving a vSIM authentication reply from the vSIM server via the rSIM; andtransmitting the vSIM authentication reply to the first network using the vSIM profile.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising. executing a vSIM connectivity management program stored in the memory of the vSIM.