# US 9,883,384 B2 · UE-based network subscription management

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- Number: US 9,883,384 B2
- Document ID: US9883384B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/596,953
- Filed: 2015-01-14
- Published: 2016-01-21
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-16
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Inventors: Soo Bum Lee; Gavin Bernard Horn; Anand Palanigounder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883384B2

## CPC

- H04W 12/04: Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
- H04L 63/0853: {using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234)}
- H04L 63/18: {using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215)}
- H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
- H04W 8/04: Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
- H04W 8/18: Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
- H04W 12/06: Authentication
- H04W 12/08: Access security
- H04W 48/02: Access restriction performed under specific conditions
- H04W 60/00: Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
- H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup
- H04W 8/205: {Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier}
- H04W 12/43: using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
- H04W 12/72: Subscriber identity
- H04W 12/76: Group identity
- 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

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may obtain identification information for a device and may assist in establishing credentials by which the device accesses a wireless network. The UE may establish a connection with the wireless network using its own credentials, and register the device to access the wireless network by associating the identification information for the device with the credentials of the UE. The UE may receive or establish credentials by which the device accesses the wireless network and may communicate these credentials to the device over a local connection. In some cases, the UE may authenticate the device's identification information to determine whether the device is allowed to be registered with the wireless network.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:
obtaining identification information for a device;
establishing a connection with a wireless network based on a network credential of the UE;
transmitting to the wireless network the identification information for the device; and
registering the device for access to the wireless network under a subscription associated with the UE with a network credential for the device that is different from the network credential of the UE, the registering comprising associating the identification information for the device with the network credential of the UE.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
establishing a local communication link with the device, wherein the identification information for the device is obtained over the local communication link.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
sending the network credential for the device over the local communication link.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the network credential for the device comprises at least one of:
a subscription identity associated with the network credential of the UE or a network identifier, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the subscription identity comprises at least one of:
a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) or an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the UE, or any combination thereof, and
wherein the network identifier comprises at least one of: a public key certificate of the wireless network, a public key of the wireless network, or a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the network credential for the device comprises at least one of:
a shared key provisioned by a device manufacturer or a private-public key pair provisioned by a device manufacturer, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
authenticating the identification information for the device by the UE; and
determining whether the device is allowed to be registered with the wireless network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
sending an authentication request to a device authentication server.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
receiving an authentication response from the device authentication server, wherein authenticating the identification information for the device is based on the authentication response.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
sending the identification information to a home subscriber server (HSS) of the UE via the connection with the wireless network.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the identification information for the device comprises at least one of:
scanning a Quick Response (QR) code, utilizing a wireless personal area network (WPAN) connection, utilizing a universal serial bus (USB) link, utilizing a near field communication (NFC) link, utilizing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) link, or accessing a uniform resource locator (URL), or any combination thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information for the device comprises at least one of:
a device identifier, device parameters, a URL, a shared key of the device, a public key of the device, or a public key certificate of the device, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the wireless network with access restrictions for the device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the access restrictions comprise at least one of:
access time duration limits, time of use specifications, maximum bandwidth limits, service parameters, uplink throughput limits, or downlink throughput limits, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein registering the device comprises:
sending a registration request for the device to the wireless network via the connection.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
receiving a registration acknowledgment responsive to the registration request from the wireless network via the connection.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information for the device is of a different kind than the network credential of the UE.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the network credential of the UE is maintained in a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) of the UE or based on information obtained from a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the UE.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the network credential of the UE is provisioned by an operator of the wireless network and the identification information for the device is established by a manufacturer of the device.

### Claim 20

A method of wireless communication performed by a device, comprising:
establishing a connection with a user equipment (UE) over a local communication link;
receiving credentials for accessing a wireless network from the UE over the local communication link, wherein the received credentials for accessing the wireless network are associated with a subscription of the UE, wherein the association with the subscription is based at least in part on an association between identification information of the device transmitted to the wireless network by the UE and a network credential of the UE, and wherein the received credentials are different from the network credential of the UE; and
accessing the wireless network utilizing the received credentials.

### Claim 21

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
means for obtaining identification information for a device;
means for establishing a connection with a wireless network based on a network credential of the apparatus;
means for transmitting to the wireless network the identification information for the device; and
means for registering the device for access to the wireless network under a subscription associated with the apparatus with a network credential for the device that is different from the network credential of the apparatus, the registering comprising associating the identification information for the device with the network credential of the apparatus.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
means for establishing a local communication link with the device, wherein the means for obtaining are operative to obtain the identification information over the local communication link.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:
means for sending credentials for accessing the wireless network to the device over the local communication link.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the credentials for accessing the wireless network comprise at least one of:
a subscription identity associated with the network credential of the apparatus or a network identifier, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the subscription identity comprises at least one of:
a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) or an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the apparatus, or any combination thereof, and
wherein the network identifier comprises at least one of: a public key certificate of the wireless network, a public key of the wireless network, or a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the network credential for the device comprises at least one of:
a shared key provisioned by a device manufacturer or a private-public key pair provisioned by a device manufacturer, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
means for authenticating the identification information for the device; and
means for determining whether the device is allowed to be registered with the wireless network.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:
means for sending an authentication request to a device authentication server.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:
means for receiving an authentication response from the device authentication server, wherein the means for authenticating are operative to authenticate based on the authentication response.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
means for sending the identification information to a home subscriber server (HSS) of the apparatus via the connection with the wireless network.

### Claim 31 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for obtaining the identification information comprise at least one of:
means for scanning a Quick Response (QR) code, means for utilizing a wireless personal area network (WPAN) connection, means for utilizing a universal serial bus (USB) link, means for utilizing a near field communication (NFC) link, means for utilizing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) link, or means for accessing a uniform resource locator (URL), or any combination thereof.

### Claim 32 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification information for the device comprises at least one of:
a device identifier, device parameters, a URL, a shared key of the device, a public key of the device, or a public key certificate of the device, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 33 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
means for providing the wireless network with access restrictions for the device.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the access restrictions comprise at least one of:
access time duration limits, time of use specifications, maximum bandwidth limits, service parameters, uplink throughput limits, or downlink throughput limits, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 35 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for registering the device comprise:
means for sending a registration request for the device to the wireless network via the connection.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:
means for receiving a registration acknowledgment responsive to the registration request from the wireless network via the connection.

### Claim 37 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the identification information for the device is of a different kind than the network credential of the apparatus.

### Claim 38 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the network credential of the apparatus is maintained in a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) or based on information obtained from a subscriber identity module (SIM).

### Claim 39 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the network credential of the apparatus is provisioned by an operator of the wireless network and the identification information for the device is established by a manufacturer of the device.

### Claim 40

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
means for establishing a connection with a user equipment (UE) over a local communication link;
means for receiving credentials for accessing a wireless network from the UE over the local communication link, wherein the received credentials for accessing the wireless network are associated with a subscription of the UE, wherein the association with the subscription is based at least in part on an association between identification information of the apparatus transmitted to the wireless network by the UE and a network credential of the UE, and wherein the received credentials are different from the network credential of the UE; and
means for accessing the wireless network utilizing the received credentials.

### Claim 41

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one processor;
memory in electronic communication with the at least one processor; and
instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
obtain identification information for a device;
establish a connection with a wireless network based on a network credential of the apparatus;
transmit to the wireless network the identification information for the device; and
register the device for access to the wireless network under a subscription associated with the apparatus with a network credential for the device that is different from the network credential of the apparatus by associating the identification information for the device with the network credential of the apparatus.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
establish a local communication link with the device; and
obtain the identification information for the device over the local communication link.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The apparatus of claim 42, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
send the network credential for the device over the local communication link.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the network credential for the device comprises at least one of:
a subscription identity associated with the network credential of the apparatus or a network identifier, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the subscription identity comprises at least one of:
a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) or an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the apparatus, or any combination thereof, and
wherein the network identifier comprises at least one of: a public key certificate of the wireless network, a public key of the wireless network, or a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 46 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the network credential for the device comprises at least one of:
a shared key provisioned by a device manufacturer or a private-public key pair provisioned by a device manufacturer, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 47 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
authenticate the identification information for the device by the apparatus; and
determine whether the device is allowed to be registered with the wireless network.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The apparatus of claim 47, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
send an authentication request to a device authentication server.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The apparatus of claim 48, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
receive an authentication response from the device authentication server; and
authenticate the identification information for the device based on the authentication response.

### Claim 50 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
send the identification information to a home subscriber server (HSS) of the apparatus via the connection with the wireless network.

### Claim 51 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the instructions to obtain the identification information comprise instructions operable to cause the apparatus to:
scan a Quick Response (QR) code, utilize a wireless personal area network (WPAN) connection, utilize a universal serial bus (USB) link, utilize a near field communication (NFC) link, utilize a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) link, or access a uniform resource locator (URL), or any combination thereof.

### Claim 52 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the identification information for the device comprises at least one of:
a device identifier, device parameters, a URL, a shared key of the device, a public key of the device, or a public key certificate of the device, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 53 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
provide the wireless network with access restrictions for the device.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the access restrictions comprise at least one of:
access time duration limits, time of use specifications, maximum bandwidth limits, service parameters, uplink throughput limits, or downlink throughput limits, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 55 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
send a registration request for the device to the wireless network via the connection.

### Claim 56 (depends on 55)

The apparatus of claim 55, the instructions being operable to cause the apparatus to:
receive a registration acknowledgment responsive to the registration request from the wireless network via the connection.

### Claim 57 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the identification information for the device is of a different kind than the network credential of the apparatus.

### Claim 58 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the network credential of the apparatus is maintained in a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) of the apparatus or based on information obtained from a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the apparatus.

### Claim 59 (depends on 41)

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the network credential of the apparatus is provisioned by an operator of the wireless network and the identification information for the device is established by a manufacturer of the device.

### Claim 60

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one processor;
memory in electronic communication with the at least one processor; and
instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
establish a connection with a user equipment (UE) over a local communication link;
receive credentials for accessing a wireless network from the UE over the local communication link, wherein the received credentials for accessing the wireless network are associated with a subscription of the UE, wherein the association with the subscription is based at least in part on an association between identification information of the apparatus transmitted to the wireless network by the UE and a network credential of the UE, and wherein the received credentials are different from the network credential of the UE; and
access the wireless network utilizing the received credentials.

### Claim 61

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable to:
obtain identification information for a device;
establish a connection with a wireless network based on a network credential of a user equipment (UE);
transmit to the wireless network the identification information for the device; and
register the device for access to the wireless network under a subscription associated with the UE with a network credential for the device that is different from the network credential of the UE by associating the identification information for the device with the network credential of the UE.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 61, the instructions being further executable to:
establish a local communication link with the device, and
obtain the identification information for the device over the local communication link.

### Claim 63 (depends on 62)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 62, the instructions being further executable to:
send credentials for accessing the wireless network to the device over the local communication link.

### Claim 64 (depends on 61)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 61, the instructions being further executable to:
authenticate the identification information for the device by the UE; and
determine whether the device is allowed to be registered with the wireless network.

### Claim 65

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable to:
establish a connection with a user equipment (UE) over a local communication link;
receive credentials for accessing a wireless network from the UE over the local communication link, wherein the received credentials for accessing the wireless network are associated with a subscription of the UE, wherein the association with the subscription is based at least in part on an association between identification information of a device transmitted to the wireless network by the UE and a network credential of the UE, and wherein the received credentials are different from the network credential of the UE; and
access the wireless network utilizing the received credentials.