	US 12,081,992 B2
	Multi-factor autonomous SIM lock
Ginger Chien, Bellevue, WA (US); and Richard Zaffino, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/065,302.
Application 18/065,302 is a continuation of application No. 17/211,265, filed on Mar. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,558,751.
Application 17/211,265 is a continuation of application No. 16/289,756, filed on Mar. 1, 2019, granted, now 10,993,107, issued on Apr. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0114114 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 12/00 (2021.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01); H04L 29/06 (2006.01); H04W 12/06 (2021.01); H04W 12/60 (2021.01); H04W 12/61 (2021.01); H04W 12/64 (2021.01); H04W 12/72 (2021.01)

CPC H04W 12/72 (2021.01) [H04L 63/0853 (2013.01); H04L 63/0861 (2013.01); H04W 12/06 (2013.01); H04W 12/61 (2021.01); H04W 12/64 (2021.01); H04W 12/66 (2021.01)]

20 Claims

1. A wireless device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

determining whether a valid subscriber identification module (SIM) card is installed in the wireless device;

detecting, from a location beacon of the wireless device, a location of the wireless device;

starting a timer responsive to determining that the valid SIM card is installed in the wireless device and responsive to detecting the location to be within a permitted geographic region; and

continuing to permit the timer to count down responsive to both a further determination that the valid SIM card remains installed in the wireless device and a further detection that the location remains within the permitted geographic region, wherein expiry of the timer allows a SIM lock to be unlocked for the wireless device to provide service with a different installed SIM card.