US 12,219,351 B2
Reclaiming of a provisioned credential on user equipment
Srinivasan Balasubramanian, San Diego, CA (US); and Rajeshwar Ponna, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Celona, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Celona, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/697,258.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/279,002, filed on Nov. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/162,422, filed on Mar. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0303768 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. H04W 12/06 (2021.01); H04W 8/18 (2009.01); H04W 12/72 (2021.01)
CPC H04W 12/06 (2013.01) [H04W 8/183 (2013.01); H04W 12/72 (2021.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for use in a wireless communication network, comprising:
a) a network component within the wireless communication network, the network component configured to monitor a credential validity timer value associated with a predetermined subscriber credential, wherein the predetermined subscriber credential is associated with a first user equipment (UE) that is adapted for use in the wireless communication network;
b) a credential release module configured to release the predetermined subscriber credential from its association with the first UE upon expiry of the associated credential validity timer value, the network component deleting information necessary to continue use of the predetermined subscriber credential by the first UE;
c) responsive to the release of the predetermined subscriber credential from its association with the first UE, the network component makes the released subscriber credential available to be assigned and provisioned to a second UE, thereby allowing the second UE access to the wireless communication network;
d) a plurality of UEs including the first and second UEs;
e) an Enterprise Local Credential Database (ELCD);
f) an Enterprise Global Credential Database (EGCD);
g) a Celona (proprietary) Global Credential Database (CGCD); and
h) a SIM credential Provisioning Platform (SPP);
wherein the CGCD specifies and informs the SPP of the credential validity timer value associated with the predetermined subscriber credential, and wherein the SPP provides the predetermined subscriber credential together with the credential validity timer value to the first UE, and wherein upon expiry of the credential validity timer value the first UE sends a message to the SPP thereby releasing the predetermined subscriber credential for reuse by the wireless communication system.