FIELD

The described embodiments set forth techniques for provisioning and activating electronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) for mobile wireless devices newly purchased via online or retail sales channels. One or more eSIMs are reserved for the mobile wireless device as part of a sales order and later activated when device activation of the mobile wireless device occurs after receipt by a user.

BACKGROUND

Many mobile wireless devices are configured to use removable Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICCs) that enable the mobile wireless devices to access services provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). In particular, each UICC includes at least a microprocessor and a read-only memory (ROM), where the ROM is configured to store an MNO profile that the wireless device can use to register and interact with an MNO to obtain wireless services via a cellular wireless network. A profile may also be referred to as subscriber identity module (SIM). Typically, a UICC takes the form of a small removable card, commonly referred to as a SIM card, which is inserted into a UICC-receiving bay of a mobile wireless device. In more recent implementations, UICCs are being embedded directly into system boards of wireless devices as embedded UICCs (eUICCs), which can provide advantages over traditional, removable UICCs. The eUICCs can include a rewritable memory that can facilitate installation, modification, and/or deletion of one or more electronic SIMs (eSIMs) on the eUICC, where the eSIMs can provide for new and/or different services and/or updates for accessing extended features provided by MNOs. An eUICC can store a number of MNO profiles—also referred to herein as eSIMs—and can eliminate the need to include UICC-receiving bays in wireless devices.

A mobile wireless device, at initial acquisition by an end user via a sales channel, can include a SIM card associated with a particular MNO, but cannot be ordered with only an eSIM for the MNO. Moreover, mobile wireless devices purchased as SIM-free, can require a user to acquire and insert an active SIM card in order to activate the mobile wireless device for cellular wireless service. There exists a need for methods to provide for purchasing a mobile wireless device with one or more eSIMs reserved for the mobile wireless device and subsequently activated as part of a device activation process performed on the mobile wireless device after acquisition by the user.

SUMMARY

This Application sets forth techniques for provisioning and activating electronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) for mobile wireless devices newly purchased via online or retail sales channels. One or more eSIMs are reserved for the mobile wireless device as part of a sales order and later activated when device activation of the mobile wireless device occurs after receipt by a user. During purchase of the mobile wireless device, a user can select an option for eSIM installation in place of (or in addition to) physical SIM installation for access to services of a particular mobile network operator (MNO). The reserved eSIM can be used to replace a previously used SIM/eSIM for an existing customer of the MNO, such as when upgrading a mobile wireless device to a new model, or can be a new eSIM for a new mobile wireless device added to an existing customer account or for a new customer account. A phone number associated with the eSIM can be newly assigned or ported from a previous subscription. User verification, to validate enabling subscription to cellular wireless service based on the eSIM for the mobile wireless device, occurs as part of a device activation process for the mobile wireless device. A set of device manufacturer servers can interact with the mobile wireless device and with MNO servers to cause activation of the eSIM for the mobile wireless device. As part of a sales order process, a device manufacturer server receives from an MNO server a message indicating an eSIM is reserved for provisioning to the mobile wireless device, the message including identifiers for the mobile wireless device and for the reserved eSIM. The message also includes an indication whether activation of the eSIM is delayed until device activation of the mobile wireless device. During the device activation process for the mobile wireless device, after receipt of the mobile wireless device by the user, activation of the eSIM is authorized and confirmed by communication between the mobile wireless device and both the device manufacturer servers and the MNO servers. Activation of the eSIM can occur before or after deactivation of a previous eSIM for which subscription service is transferred to the mobile wireless device. In some embodiments, the mobile wireless device accounts for propagation delay of an activation process through MNO servers by disabling and re-enabling the eSIM until initial attachment to a cellular wireless network of the MNO succeeds.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments.

This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

