US 10,382,961 B2Granted

System and method of preventing unauthorized SIM card usage

AssigneeAdemco Inc.

InventorLaurent Legris

Life of this patent

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Abstract

For security purposes, a limited profile SIM, card which preferably does not permit voice communications is provided. For example, the card might support only SMS-type communications. During installation, when the SIM card is initially inserted, or installed in a respective product, a smart phone, table or laptop computer for example, the SIM card pairs with, or becomes bonded to, the product. That card cannot be used subsequently with any other gsm-type module. Responsive to the evaluation at the server, the server transmits a request to operator services for a selected network, for example a GSM 3G or 4G cellular-type communications network. This request can include information as to the SIM card, product and end user for the network along with a request that the profile of the SIM card be modified to include any and all services to be provided, such as voice and/or data. The end user information can be stored in a communications system data base.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A process comprising:

providing a SIM card having an initially restricted profile that excludes and prevents voice communications until the SIM card is authenticated, but allows for communication via a short message-type service;
installing the SIM card into a first communication device;
responsive to installing the SIM card into the first communication device, automatically transmitting a SIM card identifier and a first identifier of the first communication device to a security server via the short message-type service;
responsive to transmitting the SIM card identifier and the first identifier of the first communication device to the security server, receiving an authentication message from the security server that indicates the security server authenticates the SIM card and the first communication device;
and
responsive to the security server authenticating the SIM card and the first communication device, expanding the initially restricted profile of the SIM card to provide for the voice communications,
further comprising:
pairing the SIM card with the first communication device;
and precluding use of the SIM card with a different communication device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/561,890Filed 5 Dec 2014
Published: US 2016/0165451 A19 Jun 2016
Granted: 13 Aug 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H04W 12/08
Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity: access security
H04B 1/3816
Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of…:…
H04W 12/06
Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity: authentication
H04W 12/12
Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity: detection or prevention of fraud