Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100325516 | SYMBOL ENCODING FOR TOLERANCE TO SINGLE BYTE ERROR - The present invention provides a method that protects symbol types by characterizing symbols as one of two types—DATA or NON_DATA, generating a symbol characterization bit, placing the symbol characterization bit at both ends of the symbol, and transmitting the symbol with the symbol characterization bits at both ends. Thus, a single byte error may affect a type bit in two consecutive symbols, and will affect one or the other of the type bits in a single symbol, but cannot affect both type bits in a single symbol. | 12-23-2010 |
20120030537 | SYMBOL ENCODING FOR TOLERANCE TO SINGLE BYTE ERRORS - The present invention provides a method that protects symbol types by characterizing symbols as one of two types—DATA or NON_DATA, generating a symbol characterization bit, placing the symbol characterization bit at both ends of the symbol, and transmitting the symbol with the symbol characterization bits at both ends. Thus, a single byte error may affect a type bit in two consecutive symbols, and will affect one or the other of the type bits in a single symbol, but cannot affect both type bits in a single symbol. | 02-02-2012 |
20120047227 | VIRTUAL ACCESS MODULE DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS AND METHODS - Apparatus and methods for distributing electronic access client modules for use with electronic devices. In one embodiment, the access client modules are virtual subscriber identity modules (VSIMs) that can be downloaded from online services for use with cellular-equipped devices such as smartphones. The online services may include a point of sale (POS) system that sells electronic devices to users. A broker may be used to facilitate the selection of a virtual subscriber identity module. A provisioning service may also be used to provision the selected VSIM. | 02-23-2012 |
20120108205 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STORAGE AND EXECUTION OF ACCESS CONTROL CLIENTS - Methods and apparatus for secure provision of access control entities (such as electronic or virtual Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) components) post-deployment of the host device on which the access control entity will be used. In one embodiment, wireless (e.g., cellular) user equipment is given a unique device key and endorsement certificate which can be used to provide updates or new eSIMs to the user equipment in the “field”. The user equipment can trust eSIM material delivered by an unknown third-party eSIM vendor, based on a secure certificate transmission with the device key. In another aspect, an operating system (OS) is partitioned into various portions or “sandboxes”. During operation, the user device can activate and execute the operating system in the sandbox corresponding to the current wireless network. Personalization packages received while connected to the network only apply to that sandbox. Similarly, when loading an eSIM, the OS need only load the list of software necessary for the current run-time environment. Unused software can be subsequently activated. | 05-03-2012 |
20120117635 | SIMULACRUM OF PHYSICAL SECURITY DEVICE AND METHODS - A simulacrum security device and methods. In one embodiment, a simulacrum or likeness of a physical security device is provided for use in conjunction with a software emulation of the security device. In one implementation, a “faux SIM card” is provided that does not contain Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) information itself, but instead enables a user to download Electronic SIM (eSIM) information (e.g., from a network or eSIM server) which is loaded into a software emulation of a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) device. The faux card is printed with an activation code, scan pattern, or other activation or access information. The subscriber purchases the faux card, and enters the activation code into a device; the entered activation code enables the device to log onto a network, and download the appropriate eSIM data. Delivery of eSIM information as enabled by the faux card addresses deficiencies in existing SIM distribution schemes, provides users with an enhanced perception of security, and further addresses various legal requirements. | 05-10-2012 |
20120260086 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND STORING ELECTRONIC ACCESS CLIENTS - Apparatus and methods for efficiently distributing and storing access control clients within a network. In one embodiment, the access clients include electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs), and an eSIM distribution network infrastructure is described which enforces eSIM uniqueness and conservation, distributes network traffic to prevent “bottle necking” congestion, and provides reasonable disaster recovery capabilities. In one variant, eSIMs are securely stored at electronic Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) appliances which ensure eSIM uniqueness and conservation. Access to the eUICC appliances is made via multiple eSIM depots, which ensure that network load is distributed. Persistent storage is additionally described, for among other activities, archiving and backup. | 10-11-2012 |
20120260090 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR STORING ELECTRONIC ACCESS CLIENTS - Apparatus and methods for storing and controlling access control clients. In one embodiment, transmitting and receiving devices ensure that only one copy of an eSIM is active at any time. Specifically, each transferred eSIM is encrypted for the destination device; the eSIM from the source device is deleted, deactivated, or otherwise rendered unusable. Various aspects of network infrastructure are also described, including electronic Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) appliances, and mobile devices. Various scenarios for transfer of eSIMs are also disclosed. | 10-11-2012 |
20120260095 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONIC ACCESS CLIENTS - Apparatus and methods for controlling the distribution of electronic access clients to a device. In one embodiment, a virtualized Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) can only load an access client such as an electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) according to an activation ticket. The activation ticket ensures that the virtualized UICC can only receive eSIMs from specific carriers (“carrier locking”). Unlike prior art methods which enforce carrier locking on a software application launched from a software chain of trust (which can be compromised), the present invention advantageously enforces carrier locking with the secure UICC hardware which has, for example, a secure code base. | 10-11-2012 |
20130122864 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES FOR ACCESS CONTROL CLIENTS - Methods and apparatus for managing access control clients (e.g., electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs)). In one embodiment, secure elements (e.g., electronic Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (eUICCs)) and management entities of secure elements are associated with credentials. Post-deployment managerial operations can be executed, by transmitting the requested operation with the appropriate credentials. For example, a device can receive secure software updates to electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs), with properly credentialed network entities. | 05-16-2013 |
20130151910 | SYMBOL ENCODING FOR TOLERANCE TO SINGLE BYTE ERRORS - The present invention provides a method that protects symbol types by characterizing symbols as one of two types—DATA or NON_DATA, generating a symbol characterization bit, placing the symbol characterization bit at both ends of the symbol, and transmitting the symbol with the symbol characterization bits at both ends. Thus, a single byte error may affect a type bit in two consecutive symbols, and will affect one or the other of the type bits in a single symbol, but cannot affect both type bits in a single symbol. | 06-13-2013 |
20130205390 | NETWORK ASSISTED FRAUD DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHODS - Methods and apparatus for detecting fraudulent device operation. In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a device is issued a user access control client that is uniquely associated with a shared secret that is securely stored within the network and the access control client. Subsequent efforts to activate or deactivate the access control client require verification of the shared secret. Each change in state includes a change to the shared secret. Consequently, requests for a change to state which do not have the proper shared secret will be disregarded, and/or flagged as fraudulent. | 08-08-2013 |
20140088731 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLED SWITCHING OF ELECTRONIC ACCESS CLIENTS WITHOUT REQUIRING NETWORK ACCESS - Methods and apparatus for providing controlled switching of electronic access control clients without requiring network access are set forth herein. In one embodiment, a method for swapping of subscriptions and/or profiles for electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) without network supervision that prevents possibly malicious high frequency switching is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments offer reasonable management capabilities for network operators, without compromising the flexibility of eSIM operation. | 03-27-2014 |
20140099925 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION COMPONENTS OVER A WIRELESS NETWORK - Methods and apparatus enabling programming of electronic identification information of a wireless apparatus. In one embodiment, a previously purchased or deployed wireless apparatus is activated by a cellular network. The wireless apparatus connects to the cellular network using an access module to download operating system components and/or access control client components. The described methods and apparatus enable updates, additions and replacement of various components including Electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) data, OS components. One exemplary implementation of the invention utilizes a trusted key exchange between the device and the cellular network to maintain security. | 04-10-2014 |
20140222688 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SECURE ELEMENT TRANSACTIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF ASSETS - Methods and apparatus for the deployment of financial instruments and other assets are disclosed. In one embodiment, a security software protocol is disclosed that guarantees that the asset is always securely encrypted, that one and only one copy of an asset exists, and the asset is delivered to an authenticated and/or authorized customer. Additionally, exemplary embodiments of provisioning systems are disclosed that are capable of, among other things, handling large bursts of traffic (such as can occur on a so-called “launch day” of a device). | 08-07-2014 |
20140298018 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND STORING ELECTRONIC ACCESS CLIENTS - Apparatus and methods for efficiently distributing and storing access control clients within a network. In one embodiment, the access clients include electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs), and an eSIM distribution network infrastructure is described which enforces eSIM uniqueness and conservation, distributes network traffic to prevent “bottle necking” congestion, and provides reasonable disaster recovery capabilities. In one variant, eSIMs are securely stored at electronic Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) appliances which ensure eSIM uniqueness and conservation. Access to the eUICC appliances is made via multiple eSIM depots, which ensure that network load is distributed. Persistent storage is additionally described, for among other activities, archiving and backup. | 10-02-2014 |
20140349705 | VIRTUAL ACCESS MODULE DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS AND METHODS - Apparatus and methods for distributing electronic access client modules for use with electronic devices. In one embodiment, the access client modules are virtual subscriber identity modules (VSIMs) that can be downloaded from online services for use with cellular-equipped devices such as smartphones. The online services may include a point of sale (POS) system that sells electronic devices to users. A broker may be used to facilitate the selection of a virtual subscriber identity module. A provisioning service may also be used to provision the selected VSIM. | 11-27-2014 |
20150031413 | ELECTRONIC ACCESS CLIENT DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS AND METHODS - 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). | 01-29-2015 |
20150074780 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STORAGE AND EXECUTION OF ACCESS CONTROL CLIENTS - Disclosed herein is a technique for securely provisioning access control entities (e.g., electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) components) to a user equipment (UE) device. In one embodiment, a UE device is assigned a unique key and an endorsement certificate that can be used to provide updates or new eSIMs to the UE device. The UE device can trust eSIM material delivered by an unknown third-party eSIM vendor, based on a secure certificate transmission with the unique key. In another aspect, an operating system (OS) is partitioned into various sandboxes. During operation, the UE device can activate and execute the OS in the sandbox corresponding to a current wireless network. Personalization packages received while connected to the network only apply to that sandbox. Similarly, when loading an eSIM, the OS need only load the list of software necessary for the current run-time environment. Unused software can be subsequently activated. | 03-12-2015 |