# US 10,375,569 B2 · Method and apparatus for provisioning mobile subscriber identification information to multiple devices and provisioning network elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,569 B2 - Document ID: US10375569B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/872,377 - Filed: 2018-01-16 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-29 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.; AT&T Mobility II LLC - Applicants: AT&T Mobility II LLC; At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Walter Cooper Chastain; Stephen Emille Chin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375569B2 ## CPC - H04W 12/04: Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA] - H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - H04W 8/20: Transfer of user or subscriber data - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04W 60/005: {Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming} - H04L 2101/654: International mobile subscriber identity [IMSI] numbers - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that manages utilization of mobile subscriber identity information including enabling use of such information by different communication devices. The use of a same generic mobile subscriber identity information by multiple devices can be based on intercepting registration requests. Other embodiments are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication device, comprising: a universal integrated circuit card storing a shared international mobile subscriber identity that was provisioned to the universal integrated circuit card by equipment of an entity; a processing system including a processor and being coupled with the universal integrated circuit card; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: accessing the universal integrated circuit card to determine the shared international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) using a secret key, wherein the secret key is uniquely associated with the universal integrated circuit card; requesting registration with a network operated by a service provider that is distinct from the entity, wherein the requesting of the registration includes providing a first registration request including the shared IMSI and identification information that is obtained by an identity proxy function of the network; receiving a second IMSI via an over-the-air interface with the network; storing the second IMSI in the universal integrated circuit card; and providing a second registration request including the second IMSI to the network to facilitate a registration process for the communication device, wherein completion of the registration process enables subscriber services for the communication device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises an integrated circuit card identifier, wherein the first registration request is a first time that the communication device has requested registration with the network, and wherein the entity is a manufacturer of a group of universal integrated circuit cards that includes the universal integrated circuit card. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The communication device of claim 2, wherein the second IMSI is not shared with any other communication devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: during a simulated registration initiated by the identity proxy function according to the shared international mobile subscriber identity, providing an authentication response to the identity proxy function, wherein the providing the authentication response enables the identity proxy function to cause a reassignment of the second IMSI to the communication device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The communication device of claim 4, wherein the simulated registration and the registration process facilitated by the second registration request utilize the secret key uniquely associated with the universal integrated circuit card. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The communication device of claim 5, wherein the secret key is provisioned to the universal integrated circuit card by the equipment of the entity and is distinct from other secret keys provisioned by the equipment of the entity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity, and wherein the communication device is a machine-to-machine communication device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: storing a transport key, wherein the over-the-air interface utilizes the transport key. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the shared international mobile subscriber identity is a limited service international mobile subscriber identity that enables communication with network elements and does not enable the subscriber services. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: obtaining, from a communication device by an identity proxy function executed by a processing system including a processor, a registration request that includes a shared international mobile subscriber identity and identification information and uses a secret key uniquely associated with the communication device, wherein the shared international mobile subscriber identity was provisioned to a universal integrated circuit card of the communication device by equipment of an entity, and wherein the identity proxy function is operated by a service provider that is distinct from the entity; reassigning, via an over-the-air interface, a second international mobile subscriber identity to the communication device; and facilitating a registration process for the communication device based on the second international mobile subscriber identity, wherein completion of the registration process enables subscriber services for the communication device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the shared international mobile subscriber identity is a limited service international mobile subscriber identity that enables communication with network elements and does not enable the subscriber services. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the identification information comprises an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity, and wherein the communication device is a machine-to-machine communication device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the identification information comprises an integrated circuit card identifier, and wherein the entity is a manufacturer of a group of universal integrated circuit cards that includes the universal integrated circuit card. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: during a simulated registration initiated by the identity proxy function according to the shared international mobile subscriber identity, receiving, from the communication device by the identity proxy function, an authentication response, wherein the receiving the authentication response enables the identity proxy function to cause the reassigning of the second international mobile subscriber identity to the communication device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the simulated registration and the registration process utilize the secret key uniquely associated with the universal integrated circuit card. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the secret key is provisioned to the universal integrated circuit card by the equipment of the entity and is distinct from other secret keys provisioned by the equipment of the entity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising: receiving, by the identity proxy function, secret key mapping information indicating each of the other secret keys indexed to a corresponding one of a group of universal integrated circuit cards. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the over-the-air interface utilizes a transport key stored by the communication device. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: provisioning, by a server comprising a processing system including a processor, each of a group of universal integrated circuit cards with a unique one of a plurality of secret keys, wherein each of the group of universal integrated circuit cards has stored thereon a shared international mobile subscriber identity; and providing, to equipment of a service provider by the server, secret key mapping information indicating each of the secret keys indexed to a corresponding one of the group of universal integrated circuit cards, wherein the server is operated by an entity that is distinct from the service provider, wherein the secret key mapping information is utilized by an identity proxy function operated by the service provider to respond to a registration request generated by a communication device that is utilizing one of the group of universal integrated circuit cards, wherein the identity proxy function causes a reassignment, via an over-the-air interface, of a second international mobile subscriber identity to the communication device responsive to the registration request, wherein the second international mobile subscriber identity is utilized in completion of a registration process that enables subscriber services for the communication device, and wherein the shared international mobile subscriber identity is a limited service international mobile subscriber identity that enables communication with network elements of the service provider and does not enable the subscriber services. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the entity is a manufacturer of the group of universal integrated circuit cards.