DE102020130180B3 - SMART WEARABLE DEVICE, MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS TERMINAL, MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

A smart wearable device (202) is provided. The intelligent wearable device (202) can have: a short-range wireless communication interface (226) to provide a wireless communication connection (220) with a mobile communication terminal (200), a memory (222) , Which stores at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104), and a processor (224) which is set up to establish a communication connection with the mobile radio communication terminal (200) and the at least one embedded - To send the universal integrated circuit card profile (104) to the mobile radio communication terminal (200) using the established wireless communication connection.

Description

technical field

Various embodiments relate generally to a wearable smart device, a cellular communication terminal, a cellular communication system, and a method of operating a cellular communication system.

background

Relevant information that enables a mobile radio communication terminal (terminal device for short), for example a smartphone, to communicate with a mobile radio communication base station is usually provided to the terminal device as a so-called SIM card, which is inserted into the terminal device , provided. The relevant information, which may also be referred to as a consumer profile, or profile for short, may include a phone number and other information such as a PIN, preferred networks, and the like.

A recent alternative to the hardware SIM card is as in 1 1 illustrates downloading the consumer profile 104, also referred to as an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (embedded UICC) profile or eSIM profile, from a cloud 102 provided by certain cellular operator services, eg, a cellular network -Communications Provider, to a mobile radio communication terminal 100 can be provided.

However, this can cause at least two problems. For example, a Wi-Fi connection may be required to access the cloud with the device to download the eSIM profile (e.g. a profile package).

Furthermore, a level of security and/or data confidentiality may be questionable as the eSIM consumer profile is currently stored in a cloud offered by the provider and the security/confidentiality therefore depends on the certification and credibility of the provider and the services offered.

While some level of user data security can be provided, for example by requiring a password-protected user login to download the eSIM, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed as the profile download can be done wirelessly from a remote location.

The EP 3 672 299 A1 discloses a method for transferring and managing data packets between a first portable SE server implemented in a portable device and a second portable SE server implemented in an embedded UICC, eUICC, the first and second portable SE servers perform offline communication using local data transport protocols in a secured mode, wherein the first or second portable SE server implements first transmission functionalities to perform secure transmission of the data packets, and the first or second portable SE server implements second transmission functionalities implemented to perform an end-to-end backup of the data packets after the secure transmission of the data packets.

The EP 3 672 300 A1 discloses a method for managing eSIM profiles in a user's device comprising an embedded UICC, eUICC, the method being executed by a portable secure element, SE-Server, implemented in a portable local to the user's device, wherein the portable SE server comprises Subscription Manager, SM, functionalities, the method comprising the portable SE server establishing offline communication with the user's device using local data transport protocols in a secured mode, wherein the portable SE server first SM functionalities to perform secure download of the eSIM profiles into the user's device and the portable SE server implements second SM functionalities to perform end-to-end backup of the eSIM profiles after installation in the eUICC .

The U.S. 2016/0 262 009 A1 discloses receiving subscriber identity information for a cellular network at a mobile communication device over a short-range wireless communication network. The subscriber identity information is received by a device issued by a cellular network provider.

overview

An intelligent wearable device according to claim 1, a cellular communication terminal according to claim 7, a cellular communication system according to claim 8 and a method of operating a cellular communication system according to claim 13 are provided. Further embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

A smart wearable device is provided. The intelligent wearable device may include: a short-range wireless communication interface to provide a wireless communication link with a cellular communication terminal, a memory containing at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile stores, and a processor that is set up to establish a communication connection with the mobile radio communication terminal and the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile to the mobile radio communication terminal by means of the established wireless communication -Send connection.

character list

• 1 veranschaulicht ein eSIM-Herunterladen aus einer Cloud durch ein Kommunikations-Endgerät gemäß einem Stand der Technik;
• jede der 2A bis 2C zeigt ein Mobilfunk-Kommunikations-System, das eine intelligente Wearable-Vorrichtung gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsformen aufweist;
• jede der 3A und 3B zeigt ein Mobilfunk-Kommunikations-System, das eine intelligente Wearable-Vorrichtung gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsformen aufweist, und veranschaulicht ein Verfahren zum Betreiben des Mobilfunk-Kommunikations-Systems; und
• 4 zeigt ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben eines Mobilfunk-Kommunikations-Systems gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsformen.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

• 1 illustrates eSIM downloading from a cloud by a communication terminal according to a prior art;
• each of the 2A until 2C FIG. 12 shows a cellular communication system including a smart wearable device according to various embodiments; FIG.
• each of the 3A and 3B 10 shows a cellular communication system including a wearable smart device according to various embodiments, and illustrates a method for operating the cellular communication system; and
• 4 shows a flowchart of a method for operating a mobile radio communication system according to various embodiments.

description

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show by way of illustration specific details and embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.

The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, specimen, or explanation." Any embodiment or configuration described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or configurations.

In various embodiments, a wearable device can be provided that can store an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (embedded UICC) profile, also referred to as a consumer eSIM profile, to store the embedded UICC profile to a cellular communication terminal using short-range wireless communication such as near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, or the like.

In this way, a user can have full control over storage, usage, upload/download and/or modifications of his or her consumer embedded UICC profile. Furthermore, the storage of the embedded UICC profile in the smart wearable device can be used as a backup copy.

In various embodiments, the intelligent wearable can be set up to grant access to the consumer UICC profile only after a successful authentication, for example by password, biometric authentication (e.g. fingerprint) or the like. In other words, the smart wearable may be provided with a security unlock device or system.

In various embodiments, the intelligent wearable can be a chip card, a smart ring, a smart watch or the like.

In various embodiments, a plurality of UICC profiles may be stored in the smart wearable, and the smart wearable may be configured to allow the UICC profile to be downloaded to the mobile radio communication terminal to be selected.

In various embodiments, after downloading, the cellular communication terminal may be fully set up for cellular communication, e.g., with the embedded UICC profile stored in persistent memory, even if the wearable smart device is not present.

In various embodiments, the wearable smart device may be configured to function as a real-time eSIM. In other words, a mobile radio communication terminal according to various embodiments can be set up with the intelligent wearable concept to communicate direction by means of a short-range wireless communication and to retrieve the eSIM profile via it. The profile can be processed to provide cellular communication. For example, the eSIM profile may be stored in non-permanent memory and/or may be provided to circuit elements for handling cellular communications. In other words, the cellular communication terminal can communicate with the smart wearable device using short-range wireless communication (eg, NFC) in a manner similar to how it would communicate with an internal eSIM controller.

In various embodiments, the cellular communication terminal may be configured to terminate cellular communication using the UICC profile provided by the smart wearable when the smart wearable device is removed. For example, the UICC cannot be stored in the mobile radio communication device, or at least not permanently. Optionally, a standard UICC can be permanently stored in the cellular communication terminal, which can be used for cellular communication when no intelligent wearable is connected via short-range wireless communication. This can allow a user to use the cellular communication terminal, e.g.

In various embodiments, the smart wearable device may be configured for multiple tasks, such as user identification, payment, security access, ticketing, and the like.

Each of the 2A until 2C FIG. 12 shows a cellular communication system 201 comprising an intelligent wearable device 202 according to various embodiments and a cellular communication terminal 200. FIG. Each of the 3A and 3B Figure 1 shows a cellular communications system 201 having a wearable smart device 202 according to various embodiments, and illustrates a method of operating the cellular communications system 201.

The smart wearable device 202 may have a short-range wireless communication interface 226 for providing a wireless communication link 220 with a cellular communication terminal 200 .

The smart wearable device 202 may be or include, for example, a smart card, smart ring, smart watch, smart chain, or the like.

The mobile radio communication terminal 200 can be or include, for example, a smartphone, a tablet or the like.

The wearable smart device 202 may include a memory 222 that stores at least one embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profile 104 in various embodiments. Memory 222 may be any type of memory typically used in a smart wearable device for long-term (e.g., permanent) storage of information, e.g., non-volatile memory. In various embodiments, a plurality of embedded universal integrated circuit card profiles 104 may be stored in wearable smart device 202, e.g., in memory 222 thereof.

In various embodiments, the intelligent wearable device 202 may have a processor 224 configured to establish the wireless communication connection 220 with the mobile radio communication terminal 200 and the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile 104 to the mobile radio communication terminal using the established wireless communication connection 220 to transmit.

The processor 224 can be or include, for example, a microprocessor, such as a security processor, which can be set up to provide the wireless short-range communication with the mobile radio communication terminal 200 as a secured, e.g. encrypted, communication and/or may be configured to request and provide user authentication, e.g., through a password and/or biometric authentication, e.g., using a biometric sensor 238 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor), which may be embedded in the smart wearable device 202 verify.

The short-range wireless communication interface 226 may include or be, for example, a near-field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth interface, or a wireless local area network (WLAN, Wi-Fi), or the like. In an alternative embodiment, a short-range wired connection, for example a USB connection, can be used instead of the wireless connection.

In various embodiments, a plurality of embedded UICC profiles 104 can be stored in the smart wearable 202 . In 2C An exemplary embodiment is shown with two embedded UICC profiles 104_1, 104_2. The processor 224 can be set up to select one or more of the plurality of embedded universal integrated circuit card profiles 104_1 , 104_2 and to send this/them to the mobile radio communication terminal 200 . For example, the processor 224 may be configured to transmit a list of selectable Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profiles 104 to the cellular communication terminal 200, which may display the list and a user's selection back to the intelligent Wearable device 202 (or its processor 224) can transmit.

In various embodiments, the plurality of embedded UICC profiles 104 (e.g. 104_1, 104_2) can be downloaded to the mobile radio communication terminal 200. In this case, the mobile radio communication terminal 200 can be set up to select which embedded UICC profile of the plurality of embedded UICC profiles 104 (e.g. 104_1 or 104_2) for a mobile radio communication 342 with a mobile radio communication Base station 340 is to be used. The selected embedded UICC profile 104 can be changeable, for example during operation of the mobile radio communication terminal 200 or after the mobile radio communication terminal 200 has been restarted.

In various embodiments, the intelligent wearable 202 and/or the cellular communication system 201 may be realized through an exclusively software implementation and possibly through adaptations of the consumer eSIM standard. The wearable smart device 202 may, in various embodiments, execute a JavaCard operating system, such as in the prior art, which may or may not be compatible with the eSIM standard depending on the application.

In various embodiments, wearable smart device 202 may also function as just an eSIM profile store. Such an embodiment is in 3A illustrated. In this case, after downloading the eSIM profile(s) 104 from the smart wearable device 202 to the cellular communication terminal 200, the cellular communication terminal 200 may be able to use a cellular communication Interface 232 a mobile communication 342 with a mobile communication base station 340 using the / the eSIM profile / eSIM profile 104, which long-term (e.g. permanently) in a memory 230 of the mobile communication terminal 200 are stored or be able to produce.

In various embodiments, the cellular communication terminal 200 may be provided with dedicated application software that can perform the downloading of the eSIM profile(s) from the smart wearable device 202 .

In the case that the wearable smart device 202 functions as a real-time eSIM, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG 3B As shown, an operating system of the mobile radio communication terminal 200 can be pre-configured to support such a function.

The cellular communication terminal 200, in various embodiments, may include a short-range wireless communication interface 234 to provide a wireless communication link 220 with a smart wearable device 202, and a processor 236 (e.g., a security processor), configured to establish the communication link 220 with the wearable smart device 202 . The processor 236 can further be configured to receive the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile 104 from the intelligent wearable device 202 via the established communication connection 220 and, while the mobile radio communication terminal 200 via connected to the wearable smart device over the wireless communication link 220, initiates cellular communication 342 with a cellular communication base station 340 using the at least one embedded -Universal Integrated Circuit Card Profile 104 to produce.

In other words, in various embodiments, the wearable smart device 202 may be configured to function as a real-time eSIM: The radio communication terminal 200 may be configured to communicate with the wearable smart device 202 via short-range wireless communication 220 communicate and retrieve the eSIM profile 104 through them. The profile 104 may be processed to provide the cellular communications 342, for example, by the processor 236 (e.g., the user's phone number, preferred networks, etc. may be retrieved). The eSIM profile 104 can for example, stored in non-persistent memory and/or may be provided to circuit elements for handling cellular communication 342 . In other words, the cellular communication terminal 200 can communicate with the smart wearable device 202 using short-range wireless communication (eg, NFC) 220 in a manner similar to how it would communicate with an internal eSIM controller.

In various embodiments, the cellular communication terminal 200 may be configured to terminate the cellular communication 342 using the UICC profile 104 provided by the wearable smart device 202 as soon as the wearable smart device 202 is removed. For example, the UICC cannot be stored, or at least not permanently stored, in the mobile radio communication device. Optionally, a (different, e.g. standard) embedded UICC profile 104 can be stored long-term, e.g. permanently, in the mobile radio communication terminal 200, which can be used for the mobile radio communication 342 if no intelligent wearable device 202 is connected via short-range wireless communication 220 . The real-time eSIM functionality may allow a user to temporarily use the cellular communication terminal 200, e.g. a smartphone belonging to another user, for cellular communication 342 using his/her own UICC profile 104, e.g. telephone number, and therefore use it on your own account without affecting the embedded UICC profile 104 of the owner.

4 FIG. 4 shows a flow chart 400 of a method for operating a mobile radio communication system according to various embodiments.

The method can store at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile in a smart wearable device (410), establish a communication connection between the mobile radio communication terminal and the smart wearable device (420) , and sending the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile from the intelligent wearable device to the mobile radio communication terminal using the established communication connection (430).

Various examples are presented below:

Example 1 is a smart wearable device. The intelligent wearable device can have a short-range wireless communication interface to provide a wireless communication connection with a cellular communication terminal, a memory that stores at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile, and a processor that is set up to establish the wireless communication connection with the mobile radio communication terminal and the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile to the mobile radio communication terminal by means of the established wireless communication send connection have.

In example 2, the subject matter of example 1 may optionally include the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile including at least one embedded subscriber identity module consumer profile.

In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 1 or 2 can optionally include that the short-range wireless communication interface is a near-field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth interface, or a wireless local area network (WLAN, Wi-Fi). has or is.

In Example 4, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3 can optionally include the at least one universal integrated circuit card profile including a plurality of universal integrated circuit card profiles.

In example 5, the subject matter according to example 4 can optionally have that the processor is set up to select one of the plurality of universal integrated circuit card profiles and to send this to the mobile radio communication terminal.

In example 6, the object according to any one of examples 1 to 5 can be implemented as a smart card, a smart ring or a smart watch.

In Example 7, the item according to any one of Examples 1 to 6 optionally further comprises a biometric sensor and the processor is configured to send the at least one embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profile after authentication using the biometric sensor.

Example 8 is a mobile radio communication terminal. The mobile radio communication terminal can have a short-range wireless communication interface in order to provide a wireless communication connection with a smart wearable device, and a processor configured to process the wireless communication establish connection with the intelligent wearable device, receive the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile from the intelligent wearable device via the established communication connection, and while the cellular communication terminal via the wireless -Communication connection is connected to the intelligent wearable device, a cellular communication with a cellular communication base station using the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit received from the intelligent wearable device by means of the established communication connection Produce card profile have.

Example 9 is a mobile radio communication system. The cellular communication system may include a smart wearable device according to any one of Examples 1 to 8 and a cellular communication terminal having a short-range wireless communication interface to establish a wireless communication connection with the smart wearable device and a processor configured to establish a communication link with the smart wearable device to receive the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile from the smart wearable device via the established communication link and establish cellular communication with a cellular communication base station using the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile received from the intelligent wearable device via the established communication connection.

In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 9 may optionally include the processor including or consisting of a security controller.

In example 11, the subject matter according to example 9 or 10 can optionally have that the mobile radio communication terminal device further has a memory for storing the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit message received from the intelligent wearable device via the established communication connection. Card profile has.

In example 12, the subject matter according to any one of examples 9 to 11 can optionally include that the mobile radio communication terminal is the mobile radio communication terminal according to example 8.

In example 13, the subject matter of any one of examples 9 to 12 optionally further comprises a user interface for selecting an embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) from a plurality of embedded universal integrated circuit card profiles. profiles stored in the smart wearable device.

In example 14 a method for operating a mobile radio communication system is provided. The method may include: storing at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile in an intelligent wearable device, establishing a communication connection between the mobile radio communication terminal and the intelligent wearable device, and sending the at least an embedded universal integrated circuit card profile from the smart wearable device to the cellular communication terminal via the established communication connection.

In example 15, the subject matter according to example 14 can optionally include establishing a cellular communication between the cellular communication terminal and a cellular communication base station using the at least one embedded- Have universal integrated circuit card profile.

In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 15 can optionally include persistently storing the embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profile in the cellular communication terminal for establishing cellular communication after undocking the smart wearable device.

In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 15 may optionally include, upon disconnecting the smart wearable device and the cellular communication terminal, disconnecting the cellular communication terminal from the cellular communication base station.

In Example 18, the subject matter of any of Examples 14-17 may further include authenticating a user using a biometric sensor integrated into the smart wearable device prior to sending the at least one embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profile.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as illustrated the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

Claims (16)

A smart wearable device (202) comprising: a short-range wireless communication interface (226) to provide a wireless communication link (220) with a cellular communication terminal (200); a memory (222) storing at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104); a processor (224) arranged establish the wireless communication connection (220) with the mobile radio communication terminal (200); to send the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) to the mobile radio communication terminal (200) via the established wireless communication connection (220); and a biometric sensor (238); wherein the processor (224) is further configured to send the at least one embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profile (104) after authentication using the biometric sensor (238). The smart wearable device (202). claim 1 wherein the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) comprises at least one embedded subscriber identity module consumer profile (104). The smart wearable device (202). claim 1 or 2 , wherein the short-range wireless communication interface (226) comprises or is a near-field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth interface or a wireless local area network (WLAN, Wi-Fi). The intelligent wearable device (202) according to any one of Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the at least one universal integrated circuit card profile (104) comprises a plurality of universal integrated circuit card profiles (104, 104_1, 104_2). The smart wearable device (202). claim 4 , wherein the processor (224) is set up to select one of the plurality of universal integrated circuit card profiles (104, 104_1, 104_2) and to send this to the mobile radio communication terminal (200). The intelligent wearable device (202) according to any one of Claims 1 until 5 , set up as a smart card, smart ring or smart watch. A mobile radio communication terminal (200), comprising: a short range wireless communication interface (226) to provide a wireless communication link (220) with a smart wearable device (202); a processor (236) arranged establish the wireless communication link (220) with the smart wearable device (202); receive the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) from the wearable smart device (202) via the established wireless communication link (220); and while the cellular communication terminal (200) is connected to the smart wearable device (202) via the wireless communication link (220) using the wireless communication link (220) established by the smart wearable - device (202) received at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) to establish a mobile radio communication with a mobile radio communication base station (340); and a biometric sensor (238); wherein the processor (224) is further configured to send the at least one embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profile (104) after authentication using the biometric sensor (238). A cellular communication system (201), comprising: an intelligent wearable device (202) according to any one of Claims 1 until 7 ; and a cellular communication terminal (200) comprising: a short-range wireless communication interface (226) for providing a wireless communication link (220) with the smart wearable device (202); and a processor (236) configured to: establish the wireless communication link (220) with the smart wearable device (202); receive the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) from the wearable smart device (202) via the established wireless communication link (220); and using the emp catch at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) to establish cellular communication (342) with a cellular communication base station (340). The mobile radio communication system after claim 8 wherein the processor (236) comprises or consists of a security controller. The mobile radio communication system after claim 8 or 9 : wherein the mobile radio communication terminal (200) further comprises a memory (230) for storing the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit received by means of the established wireless communication connection (220) from the intelligent wearable device (202). -Card profile (104). The mobile radio communication system after claim 8 until 10 , wherein the mobile radio communication terminal (200) according to the mobile radio communication terminal (200). claim 8 is. The mobile radio communication system after claim 8 until 11 , further comprising: a user interface for selecting an embedded universal integrated circuit card profile (104) from a plurality of embedded universal integrated circuit card profiles (104) stored in the smart wearable Device (202) are stored. A method for operating a mobile radio communication system, comprising: storing (410) at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile in a smart wearable device (202); establishing (420) a wireless communication connection (220) between the mobile radio communication terminal (200) and the intelligent wearable device (202); and sending (430) the at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile from the smart wearable device (202) to the cellular communication terminal (200) via the established wireless communication link (220); and wherein the smart wearable device further comprises a biometric sensor and the method further comprises: authenticate using the biometric sensor; and sending the at least one embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card profile after authentication. The procedure after Claim 13 , further comprising: Establishing a cellular communication between the cellular communication terminal (200) and a cellular communication base station (340) using the means of the established wireless communication connection (220) from the intelligent wearable device ( 202) received at least one embedded universal integrated circuit card profile. The procedure after Claim 14 , further comprising: permanently storing the embedded universal integrated circuit card profile in the cellular communication terminal (200) for establishing cellular communication after decoupling of the smart wearable device (202). The procedure after Claim 14 The further comprising: upon disconnecting the smart wearable device (202) from the cellular communication terminal (200), disconnecting the cellular communication terminal (200) from the cellular communication base station (340).

Images