US-12621652-B2 - Method and apparatus for managing eSIM profiles

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for managing an embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) profile. The method may include installing a common profile in multiple devices to perform provisioning, selecting a representative device from among the multiple devices, establishing a communication channel in the representative device, receiving, by the representative device, profile information for the multiple devices from a server, and transferring, by the representative device, the profile information to the respective devices.

Inventors

• Bo-Heung Chung
• You-Sung Kang
• KEON-WOO KIM
• Byoung-Koo Kim
• Tae-Sung Kim
• Seung-Yong Yoon

Assignees

• ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231128

Priority Date

20230106

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method for managing an embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) profile, comprising: installing a common profile in multiple devices to perform provisioning; selecting a representative device from among the multiple devices and establishing a communication channel in the representative device; receiving, by the representative device, profile information for the multiple devices from a server; and transferring, by the representative device, the profile information to respective devices; wherein, when a device of the multiple devices makes a request for a profile download to the representative device, the representative device transfers profile information about the representative device to the device that makes the request for the profile download.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the profile information is transferred to the respective devices using information of the common profile.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the profile information is encrypted or signed with a secret key of the common profile.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the server receives information for creating a profile and creates the profile using the information.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the server includes Subscription Manager Data Preparation (SM-DP) and Subscription Manager Secure Routing (SM-SR).
6. 6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the SM-DP creates a profile and transfers the created profile to the SM-SR.
7. 7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the SM-SR transfers the profile to an embedded universal IC card (eUICC) of the representative device, and the eUICC installs the profile.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device that makes the request for the profile download installs the profile information received from the representative device.
9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the device that makes the request for the profile download transfers changed profile information to the server.
10. 10 . An apparatus for managing an embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) profile, comprising: memory in which a control program for managing an eSIM profile is stored; and a processor for executing the control program stored in the memory, wherein the processor installs a common profile in multiple devices to perform provisioning, selects a representative device from among the multiple devices, establishes a communication channel in the representative device, enables the representative device to receive profile information for the multiple devices from a server, and enables the representative device to transfer the profile information to respective devices; wherein the processor performs control such that, when a device of the multiple devices makes a request for a profile download to the representative device, the representative device transfers profile information about the representative device to the device that makes the request for the profile download.
11. 11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor transfers the profile information to the respective devices using information of the common profile.
12. 12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the profile information is encrypted or signed with a secret key of the common profile.
13. 13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor performs control such that the server receives information for creating a profile and creates the profile using the information.
14. 14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the server includes Subscription Manager Data Preparation (SM-DP) and Subscription Manager Secure Routing (SM-SR).
15. 15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor performs control such that the SM-DP creates a profile and transfers the created profile to the SM-SR.
16. 16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor performs control such that the SM-SR transfers the profile to an embedded universal IC card (eUICC) of the representative device and such that the eUICC installs the profile.
17. 17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor performs control such that the device that makes the request for the profile download installs the profile information received from the representative device.
18. 18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor performs control such that the device that makes the request for the profile download transfers changed profile information to the server.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0002311, filed on Jan. 6, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to technology for effectively managing embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) profiles in order to support network connectivity of devices with eSIMs operated using a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication method. 2. Description of the Related Art These days, the move to connect and use devices over a network and to thereby provide various services, such as connected cars, carsharing, drones, and smart mirroring services, is rapidly increasing. In this case, Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) or Universal Subscriber Identification Module (USIM) cards in the form of hardware cards are used for the purposes of device identification over the network, billing, and the like. However, it is difficult to use such cards in a detachable manner in devices used for the above-mentioned services. Accordingly, embedded universal IC cards (eUICCs) or embedded Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs), which are not removable by users, are provided, whereby it becomes possible to subscribe to, change, or cancel a mobile communication service via an Over-The-Air (OTA) method. Users download and install subscriber profiles in eSIMs via the OTA method by accessing a provider's network that they want to use. Here, a procedure of downloading the subscriber profile and installing the same in the eSIM is referred to as ‘provisioning’. In conventional provisioning management methods, provisioning is sequentially performed on multiple devices, whereby significant amounts of installation time and cost are consumed. Furthermore, when there is a need to replace or exchange an existing device in the process of operating the device after provisioning, it is necessary to create a new profile and perform provisioning on a new device, so significant amounts of installation time and cost are consumed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for managing an eSIM profile in order to prevent significant amounts of installation time and cost from being consumed when provisioning is performed. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for managing an eSIM profile in order to prevent significant amounts of installation time and cost for provisioning from being consumed when an existing device is exchanged/replaced in a process of operating the device. In order to accomplish the above objects, a method for managing an eSIM profile according to an embodiment may include installing a common profile in multiple devices to perform provisioning, selecting a representative device from among the multiple devices, establishing a communication channel in the representative device, receiving, by the representative device, profile information for the multiple devices from a server, and transferring, by the representative device, the profile information to the respective devices. The profile information may be transferred to the respective devices using information of the common profile. The profile information may be encrypted or signed with a secret key of the common profile. The server may receive information for creating a profile and create the profile using the information. The server may include Subscription Manager Data Preparation (SM-DP) and Subscription Manager Secure Routing (SM-SR). The SM-DP may create a profile and transfer the created profile to the SM-SR. The SM-SR may transfer the profile to the eUICC of the representative device, and the eUICC may install the profile. When any one of the multiple devices makes a request for a profile download to the representative device, the representative device may transfer profile information about the representative device to the device that makes the request for the profile download. The device that makes the request for the profile download may install the profile information received from the representative device. The device that makes the request for the profile download may transfer changed profile information to the server. Also, in order to accomplish the above objects, an apparatus for managing an eSIM profile according to an embodiment includes memory in which a control program for managing an eSIM profile is stored and a processor for executing the control program stored in the memory. The processor may install a common profile in multiple devices to perform provisioning, select a representative device from among the multiple devices, establish a communication channel in the representative device, enable the representative device to receive profile information for the multiple devices from a server, and enable the representative device to transfer the profile information to the respective devices