Patent Description:
These systems may employ technologies such as code-division multiple access (CDMA), time-division multiple access (TDMA), frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communications devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).

In some cases, a UE may include a SIM. The SIM may be an entity or component of the UE that contains identity information which uniquely identifies a subscriber to a particular wireless service of a system or network operator. In some cases, the UE may be provided with a SIM for connecting the UE with a wireless network where the SIM does not include a SIM profile. Accordingly, a procedure may be defined with which the UE may connect to the wireless network despite not having been provided with a SIM profile. <CIT> describes a method of transmitting a request message to a market server to request information on subscription plans offered by at least one operator, receiving a response message including the information on the subscription plans offered by the at least one operator from the market server, and displaying a subscription plan list based on the information on the subscription plans offered by the at least one operator, the subscription plan list presenting the subscription plans in an order of priority.

The invention is defined in the set of claims.

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, or apparatuses that support techniques for a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default subscriber identity module (SIM) profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

A user equipment (UE) may employ techniques to communicate with other devices of a wireless network. In some cases, the UE may be provided with a SIM (which may alternatively, in some cases, be referred to as a SIM card) for connecting the UE with the wireless network where the SIM does not include a SIM profile. To access the wireless network, the UE may use a configured procedure to acquire the wireless network and download a SIM profile that the UE may use to access the wireless network, for example, via an attach procedure.

The techniques described herein provide an access procedure in which the UE may use a network key to attach to the wireless network via the base station. Once the network detects that the UE has attached to the network (e.g., via one or more network devices), the network may notify a remote provisioning platform (e.g., a remote SIM provisioning platform) to correspondingly notify the SIM of the UE that a provider profile is available. Based on this notification that the provider profile is available, the UE may reconnect with the wireless network and download the provider profile using connectivity provided by way of the network key. The SIM of the UE may then switch to using the provider profile to communicate with the wireless network.

According to the techniques described herein, procedures are provided by which the UE may access the wireless network using a network key, rather than, for example, a bootstrap profile, or other techniques that may involve the use of additional hardware, circuit board complexity, or signaling complexity. That is, in some cases, the SIM may be a virtual SIM (or eSIM) which may implement the functions of a normal SIM using, for example, a software configuration. As compared to a procedure using the network key for the attach procedure, a bootstrap profile, for example, may include particular credentials that may be used to generically access wireless networks of multiple providers, whereas a network key may be particularly configured to access a particular provider. Accordingly, the network key may reduce a complexity to access the wireless network, for example, relative to using the bootstrap profile. In some cases, the bootstrap profile may also increase a manufacturing cost of the SIM. For example, a bootstrap profile may be implemented via an additional structural component of the SIM. A network key, on the other hand, may not include additional hardware or structural components to implement. Thus, an access procedure using the network key may reduce a complexity and manufacturing cost of the SIM and thus of the UE.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects of the disclosure are also described in the context of process flows. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system <NUM> includes base stations <NUM>, UEs <NUM>, and a core network <NUM>. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some cases, the wireless communications system <NUM> may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, or communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices.

The term "cell" refers to a logical communications entity used for communication with a base station <NUM> (e.g., over a carrier), and may be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID)) operating via the same or a different carrier.

Duplexing in unlicensed spectrum may be based on frequency-division duplexing (FDD), time-division duplexing (TDD), or a combination of both.

For example, wireless communications system <NUM> may use a transmission scheme between a transmitting device (e.g., a base station <NUM>) and a receiving device (e.g., a UE <NUM>), where the transmitting device is equipped with multiple antennas and the receiving device is equipped with one or more antennas.

In one example, a base station <NUM> may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays to conduct beamforming operations for directional communications with a UE <NUM>. For instance, some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) may be transmitted by a base station <NUM> multiple times in different directions, which may include a signal being transmitted according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. Transmissions in different beam directions may be used to identify (e.g., by the base station <NUM> or a receiving device, such as a UE <NUM>) a beam direction for subsequent transmission and/or reception by the base station <NUM>.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by a base station <NUM> in a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device, such as a UE <NUM>). In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based on a signal that was transmitted in different beam directions. For example, a UE <NUM> may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the base station <NUM> in different directions, and the UE <NUM> may report to the base station <NUM> an indication of the signal it received with a highest signal quality, or an otherwise acceptable signal quality. Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted in one or more directions by a base station <NUM>, a UE <NUM> may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times in different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE <NUM>), or transmitting a signal in a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

The single receive beam may be aligned in a beam direction determined based on listening according to different receive beam directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highest signal-to-noise ratio, or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening according to multiple beam directions).

A carrier may be associated with a pre-defined frequency channel (e.g., an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN)), and may be positioned according to a channel raster for discovery by UEs <NUM>. In some examples, signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM)).

The organizational structure of the carriers may be different for different radio access technologies (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR).

A physical control channel and a physical data channel may be multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using time-division multiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques.

Devices of the wireless communications system <NUM> (e.g., base stations <NUM> or UEs <NUM>) may have a hardware configuration that supports communications over a particular carrier bandwidth, or may be configurable to support communications over one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may include base stations <NUM> and/or UEs <NUM> that support simultaneous communications via carriers associated with more than one different carrier bandwidth.

Wireless communications system <NUM> may support communication with a UE <NUM> on multiple cells or carriers, a feature which may be referred to as carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation.

In some cases, an eCC may utilize a different symbol duration than other component carriers, which may include use of a reduced symbol duration as compared with symbol durations of the other component carriers.

Wireless communications system <NUM> may be an NR system that may utilize any combination of licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum bands, among others. The flexibility of eCC symbol duration and subcarrier spacing may allow for the use of eCC across multiple spectrums. In some examples, NR shared spectrum may increase spectrum utilization and spectral efficiency, specifically through dynamic vertical (e.g., across the frequency domain) and horizontal (e.g., across the time domain) sharing of resources.

Each UE <NUM> may contain one or more SIMs, which may alternative be referred to as SIM cards. A SIM may be an entity or component of the UE <NUM> that contains an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), which may uniquely identify a subscriber to a particular wireless service of a system operator. Without a valid IMSI, service may not be accessible to the UE <NUM>. The SIM may provide a means to authenticate a user of the UE <NUM>. The SIM may also store other subscriber-related information or applications such as text messages and phone book contacts. The UE <NUM> may have a subscription to access a particular network or communications system, and the subscription may be associated with access credentials, user information, billing or charging information, usage information, and the like for the user of the UE <NUM>. In some cases, the SIM may be associated with and/or include information, access credentials, and the like to access the communications system. Examples of SIMs include a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) provided for in standards of the "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP) LTE standard and/or a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM) provided for in standards of the "3rd Generation Partnership Project <NUM>" (3GPP2). A Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) may be another term to the SIM may be referred.

The SIM may be an integrated circuit that securely stores the IMSI and the related key used to identify and authenticate the UE <NUM>. The SIM may also contain a unique serial number (e.g., an integrated circuit card ID (ICCID)), security authentication and ciphering information, temporary information related to the local network, a list of the services, a personal identification number (PIN), and a personal unblocking code (PUK) for PIN unlocking. In some cases, a SIM may also refer to a virtual SIM, which may be implemented as a remote SIM profile loaded in an application on the UE <NUM>, and which may enable normal SIM functions on the UE <NUM>.

In some cases, a remote server, such as a subscription manager or other network entity, may provide a SIM profile to a UE <NUM> that is to begin a connection procedure with the wireless communications system <NUM>. The SIM profile may be derived from information that a mobile network operator (MNO) provides to the remote server. The remote server may then store the SIM profile. In some cases, the SIM profile may be downloaded by the UE <NUM> and saved on a SIM or virtual SIM of the UE <NUM>. The UE <NUM> may subsequently enable the SIM profile to communicate using the wireless communications system <NUM>. In various examples, the remote server may authenticate the UE <NUM> to confirm that the UE <NUM> is authorized to connect to the network operator by any of a variety of existing authentication processes.

The techniques described herein provide an access procedure in which a UE <NUM> may use a network key to attach to a wireless network, for example, in situations in which a SIM of the UE <NUM> does not include a preconfigured SIM profile. For example, the SIM of the UE <NUM> may use the network key to attach to the wireless network via an MME. The UE may then establish a communication link with the wireless network. Once the MME detects that the UE <NUM> has attached to the network, the MME may notify a remote provisioning platform (e.g., a remote SIM provisioning platform) to notify the SIM of the UE <NUM> that a provider profile for the UE <NUM> is available. Based on the notification that the provider profile is available, the UE <NUM> may connect with the remote provisioning platform and download the provider profile using connectivity provided by way of the network key. The SIM of the UE <NUM> may then switch to using the provider profile to communicate with the wireless network.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may implement aspects of the wireless communications system <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. The wireless communications system <NUM> includes a base station <NUM>-a and a UE <NUM>-a, which may be examples of the corresponding devices as described with reference to <FIG>. In some cases, the base station <NUM>-a may include various functions and entities (not shown), such as an MME and a remote provisioning platform. Communications over the wireless communications system <NUM> may include various uplink transmissions <NUM> from the UE <NUM>-a to the base station <NUM>-a and downlink transmissions <NUM> from the base station <NUM>-a to the UE <NUM>-a.

The UE <NUM>-a may employ techniques to communicate with other devices of the wireless communications system <NUM>. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-a may be provided with a SIM for connecting the UE with a wireless network (e.g., the wireless communications system <NUM>) where the SIM does not include a SIM profile. To access the wireless network (e.g., via the base station <NUM>-a), the UE <NUM>-a may use a configured procedure to acquire the wireless network and download a SIM profile that the UE <NUM>-a may use to access the wireless network, for example, via an attach procedure.

According to access procedures for some wireless communications systems, the UE <NUM>-a may use a bootstrap profile to access the wireless network. For example, a SIM of the UE <NUM>-a may use the bootstrap profile to attach to the wireless network via the base station <NUM>-a and accordingly establish a communication link with the wireless network. Once the wireless network detects that the UE <NUM>-a has attached to the wireless network, the wireless network may notify a remote provisioning platform to correspondingly notify the SIM of the UE <NUM>-a that a provider profile <NUM> is available. Based on this notification that the provider profile <NUM> is available, the UE <NUM>-a may reconnect with the wireless network and download the provider profile <NUM> using connectivity provided by way of the bootstrap profile. The SIM of the UE <NUM>-a may then switch from using the bootstrap profile to using the provider profile <NUM> to communicate with the wireless network.

The techniques described herein may provide an access procedure in which the UE <NUM>-a may not use a bootstrap profile to access the wireless network. For example, a SIM of the UE <NUM>-a may use a network key <NUM> to attach to the wireless network via the base station <NUM>-a. Once the network detects that the UE <NUM>-a has attached to the network, the network may notify a remote provisioning platform (e.g., a remote SIM provisioning platform) to correspondingly notify the SIM of the UE <NUM>-a that a provider profile <NUM> (e.g., a provider-specific configuration) is available. Based on this notification, the UE <NUM>-a may reconnect with the wireless network and download the provider profile <NUM> using connectivity provided by way of the network key <NUM>. The SIM of the UE <NUM>-a may then switch to using the provider profile <NUM> to communicate with the wireless network. For example, the UE <NUM>-a may generate and/or load SIM configuration data into a cache of the SIM to be used to communicate with the wireless network. The SIM configuration data may include, for example, one or more of: a subscriber identifier, administrative data, an access control class, location area information, a location update status, a temporary subscriber identity, a globally unique temporary identifier, a last visited network and tracking area, an attach/detach completion status, a hash function to be used for a security context, a SIM service table, or a combination thereof. The SIM of the UE <NUM>-a may then use the SIM configuration data to communicate with the wireless network.

According to the techniques described herein, procedures are provided by which the UE <NUM>-a may access the wireless network using a network key <NUM>, rather than, for example, a bootstrap profile. In some cases, a bootstrap profile may include particular credentials that may be used to generically access wireless networks of multiple providers, whereas a network key <NUM> may be particularly configured to access a particular provider. Accordingly, using the network key <NUM> may reduce a complexity to access the wireless network relative to using a bootstrap profile. In some cases, the bootstrap profile may also increase a manufacturing cost of the SIM card. For example, a bootstrap profile may be implemented as an additional structural component of the SIM. A network key <NUM>, on the other hand, may not be implemented using additional hardware or additional structural components. Thus, an access procedure using the network key may reduce a complexity and manufacturing cost of the SIM and thus of the UE.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may implement aspects of the wireless communications system <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG> and the wireless communications system <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. The wireless communications system <NUM> may include a UE <NUM>-b, which may be an example of the UEs <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. The wireless communications system <NUM> may also include a remote provisioning platform <NUM> (e.g., a remote SIM provisioning platform) and an MME <NUM>. In some cases, the remote provisioning platform <NUM> and the MME <NUM> may be functions of and collocated at a base station, as described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, and in other cases the remote provisioning platform <NUM> and the MME <NUM> may be located at different physical locations and/or at different physical entities. The wireless communications system <NUM> may include various uplink transmissions <NUM> from the UE <NUM>-b to different network functions, such as the remote provisioning platform <NUM> and the MME <NUM>, and downlink transmissions <NUM> from the network functions to the UE <NUM>-b.

The techniques described herein provide an access procedure in which the UE <NUM>-b may use a network key <NUM> to attach to a wireless network. For example, an eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-b (or, alternatively, other types of SIMs, e.g., a USIM) may use the network key <NUM> to attach to the wireless network via the MME <NUM>. The UE <NUM>-b may then establish a communication link <NUM> with the wireless network. Once the MME <NUM> detects that the UE <NUM>-b has attached to the network, the MME <NUM> may notify the remote provisioning platform <NUM> to correspondingly notify the eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-b that a provider profile <NUM> for the UE <NUM>-b is available. Based on this notification that the provider profile <NUM> is available for the UE <NUM>-b, the UE <NUM>-b may connect with the remote provisioning platform <NUM> and download the provider profile <NUM> using connectivity provided by way of the network key <NUM>. The eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-b may then switch to using the provider profile <NUM> to communicate with the wireless network.

In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may have a set of capabilities that may, individually or in some combinations, facilitate the UE <NUM>-b to perform the attach procedure as described herein. For example, the UE <NUM>-b may have a capability to power on with an eSIM <NUM> including a master file, such as an eSIM <NUM> that does not include an associated SIM profile. In some cases, the eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-a may include an integrated circuit card identifier (e.g., an ICCID). The UE <NUM>-a may use the ICCID as a way to identify a set of information (e.g., one or more network parameters) that the UE <NUM>-may use to access the wireless network.

In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may have a capability to generate a network key <NUM>. For example, after the UE <NUM>-b has attached to and authenticated with a wireless network (e.g., the wireless communications system <NUM>), the UE <NUM>-b may generate a globally unique temporary identifier (e.g., a Globally Unique Temporary UE Identity (GUTI), or other operator-specific data). In some cases, the globally unique temporary identifier may be used as the network key <NUM>. In some cases, the MME <NUM> may assign a particular globally unique temporary identifier to the UE <NUM>-b when the UE <NUM>-b attaches to the wireless network and has completed identity and authentication procedures. In some cases, the assigned globally unique temporary identifier may be particular to the MME <NUM>, and when the UE <NUM>-b connects to a new MME <NUM> (e.g., the new MME <NUM> being different from another MME with which the UE <NUM>-b was previously connected), the new MME <NUM> may assign a new globally unique temporary identifier to the UE <NUM>-b.

After having acquired the globally unique temporary identifier from the MME <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-b may store the globally unique temporary identifier in the eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-b. The UE <NUM>-b may then use the stored globally unique temporary identifier, for example, as the network key <NUM>, to bypass one or more portions of an initialization sequence. For example, the globally unique temporary identifier may allow the UE <NUM>-b to bypass an identity procedure and/or an authentication procedure (e.g., an RRC authentication procedure) of an initialization sequence. In some cases, a globally unique temporary identifier may expire after a certain time period (e.g., after <NUM> hours).

In some cases, the globally unique temporary identifier may include an MME identifier (e.g., a <NUM>-bit universal Globally Unique MME Identifier (GUMMEI)) and a temporary subscriber identifier (e.g., a <NUM>-bit M-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (M-TMSI)). In some cases, the MME identifier may be defined according to one or more MMEs <NUM>. In some cases, the MME identifier may be preloaded on the UE <NUM>-b (e.g., during provision or manufacturing), and the value of the value of the MME identifier may be whitelisted for communications with each of the MMEs <NUM>. In some cases, the MME identifier may be common across different UEs <NUM>. Alternatively, the MME identifier may be different from one UE <NUM> to another UE <NUM>. In some cases, the temporary subscriber identifier may be generated based on a UE identifier (e.g., an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)), for example, using a hash algorithm. Accordingly, the temporary subscriber identifier may be unique to each UE <NUM>. In some cases, the globally unique temporary identifier may be based on a combination of the MME identifier and the temporary subscriber identifier.

In some cases, the eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-b may use one or more additional parameters to access and/or communicate with other wireless devices of the wireless network, including, for example, a globally unique temporary identifier, a hash function to be used for a non-access stratum (NAS) security context, an access control class, a SIM service table, and the like. In some cases, these and other parameters may be saved in one or more stored files on the eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-b. That is, the eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-b may store one or more files, including various master files (MFs), elementary files (EFs), and/or dedicated files (DFs). For example, the eSIM <NUM> of the UE <NUM>-a may store: an EF_Evolved Packet System Location Information (EF_EPSLOCI) file storing a globally unique temporary identifier, a last visited network and tracking area (e.g., a last visited registered Tracking Area Identify (TAI), and an attach/detach completion status indicating, for example, a normal or abnormal completion status (e.g., an Evolved Packet System (EPS) update status); a NAS Security ContextHash file; an EF_Access Control Class (EF_ACC) file storing a parameter to control access attempts by devices of one or more access control classes; and/or an EF_SIM Service Table (EF_SST) file indicating the services that may be allocated, and whether, if allocated, the service is activate (if, e.g., a service is not allocated or not activated in the SIM, the UE <NUM>-b may not select this service). In some cases, one or more of these parameters may be provisioned as part of the network key <NUM> (e.g., additionally to the globally unique temporary identifier).

In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may connect to the wireless network via an Internet PDN, which may provide the UE <NUM>-b access to the Internet. For example, user IP packets may be transferred through a S-GW, where the S-GW may be connected to a P-GW. The P-GW may be connected to a network operator's IP services. In some cases, the network operator's IP services may include access to one or more of the Internet, Intranet(s), an IMS, a PS Streaming Service, and the like. In other cases, the UE <NUM>-b may connect to the wireless network, for example, via an IMS PDN connection, which may, for example, be routed through at least one network device for IMS services. The IMS services may include, for example, voice over LTE (VoLTE) services.

In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may have a capability to receive a short message service (SMS) transmission that may provide for data downloading via SMS point-point (PP). For example, procedures for remote SIM provisioning and/or management of M2M connections may allow for "over-the-air" provisioning of an initial operator subscription and for a subsequent change of subscription from one operator to another. In such cases, some M2M remote SIM provisioning procedures may not be modified, and an SMS message may be used to initiate a data download via SMS PP. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may have a capability to support bearer independent protocol (BIP), that is, a mechanism at the interface between the SIM and the UE <NUM>-b that provides access to the data bearers supported by the UE <NUM>-b. For example, the eSIM <NUM> may trigger remote SIM provisioning upon receiving the SMS message used to initiate a data download via SMS PP using BIP (e.g., which may include commands such as "OPEN CHANNEL," "SEND DATA," "RECEIVE DATA," etc.), for example, using a command from the PDN such as an "OPEN CHANNEL REQUEST" command. Once the remote SIM provisioning completes, the eSIM <NUM> may issue signaling (e.g., indicating a "REFRESH" command) allowing the provider profile to be activated for network acquisition.

In some cases, the wireless communications system <NUM> may operate according to an assumption that a SIM is present for the UE <NUM>-b. In some cases, the wireless communications system <NUM> may implement full service procedures. In some cases, "full service" may, for example, refer to a set of services that do not substantially limit the capabilities of the UE <NUM>-b. Further, one or more state machines of the wireless communications system <NUM> may change state based on some data (e.g., administrative data). In some cases, access control information may identify the UE <NUM>-b as a personal user device, and an access control configuration may limit the services of the UE <NUM>-b to be personal services.

In some cases, a UE <NUM> operated by an emergency service provider may be company-provisioned to provide access to and/or control of both personal services and emergency services. Accordingly, if, for example, a catastrophic event were to occur, the network may permit devices with emergency services subscriptions to use the network and may not permit devices that do not have emergency services subscriptions to use the network. In some cases, the state machines of the wireless communications system <NUM> may communicate with the wireless network using a provider profile <NUM>, as similarly described herein. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may have a capability to communicate using, for example, SMS transmissions or other data transmission. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may use full service procedures to communicate SMS transmissions or other data transmission.

In some cases, a modem at the UE <NUM>-b may receive data packets from, for example, a base station and deliver the received data packets to a corresponding application hosted by the UE <NUM>-b that may use the information in the received data packet. Analogously, the modem at the UE <NUM>-b may facilitate transmitting data packets, for example, to a base station, in some cases, based on a particular application hosted at the UE <NUM>-b. In some cases, the modem may implement full service procedures, that is, a full set of services that may not limit the capabilities of the UE <NUM>-b. To implement such full service procedures (e.g., when using a globally unique temporary identifier), the modem may use a set of SIM parameters (e.g., a limited set of SIM parameters that may be less than the set of SIM parameters that may be used for other purposes, e.g., an initial attach procedure). For example, the modem may use SIM parameters included in, for example: an EF_Administrative Data (EF_AD) file including information relating to a mode of operation corresponding a type of the SIM, such as one or more of: a normal mode of operation (to be used by, e.g., public land mobile network (PLMN) subscribers), a type approval mode of operation (e.g., to allow specific use of the UE <NUM>-b during type approval procedures), a cell testing mode of operation (e.g., to allow testing of a cell before commercial use of this cell), a manufacturer specific mode of operation (e.g., to allow the manufacturer of the UE <NUM>-b to perform testing of the UE <NUM>-b, e.g., during a maintenance phases), among other like administrative data information, an EF_Access Control Class (EF_ACC) file storing a parameter to control access attempts by devices of one or more access control classes, and other like information. Based on the information (e.g., stored in the EF_Access Control Class file), the modem may correspondingly provision different classes of devices.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a process flow <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the process flow <NUM> may implement aspects of the wireless communications system <NUM>, the wireless communications system <NUM>, and the wireless communications system <NUM>, as described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively. The process flow <NUM> shows an example of an access procedure in which a UE may use a network key to attach to a wireless network.

At <NUM>, for example, after powering on, the UE may look for a SIM configuration data file. For example, the UE may locate the data file stored in memory of the UE, where the data file may contain a set of SIM configuration parameters. In some cases, the SIM configuration data file may include a limited set of SIM parameters that, for example, parameters sufficient for limited capabilities of the UE with which the UE may perform the access procedure. For example, a SIM of the UE may not provide a preconfigured provider specific configuration.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine whether the UE found the SIM configuration data file. In some cases, the UE may determine that the SIM configuration data file is not found. At <NUM>, if, for example, the UE determines that the SIM configuration data file is not found at <NUM>, the UE may acknowledge that an error has occurred. In this situation, the UE may, for example, terminate and/or restart the attach procedure.

At <NUM>, if, for example, the UE determines that the SIM configuration data file is found at <NUM>, the UE may load the SIM configuration data. For example, the UE may load the SIM configuration data into a SIM cache. For example, the UE may establish a communication link with the wireless network, and an MME may detect that the UE has attached to the network. The MME may notify a remote provisioning platform to correspondingly notify the SIM of the UE that a provider profile (e.g., a provider-specific configuration) for the UE is available. Based on the notification that the provider profile for the UE is available, the UE may connect with the remote provisioning platform and download the provider profile using connectivity provided by way of a network key. The UE may then generate and/or load SIM configuration data into a cache of the SIM. The SIM configuration data may include, for example, one or more: a subscriber identifier, administrative data, an access control class, location area information, a location update status, a temporary subscriber identity, a globally unique temporary identifier, a last visited network and tracking area, an attach/detach completion status, a hash function to be used for a security context, a SIM service table, (including specific parameters such as: EF_IMSI, EF_AD, EF_ACC, EF_LOCI, EF_PSLOCI, and/or EF_ESAPLOCI), and the like. The SIM of the UE may then use the SIM configuration data to communicate with the wireless network.

At <NUM>, the UE may generate SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure to attach to the wireless network. In some cases, the UE may generate a globally unique temporary identifier (e.g., a GUTI). In some cases, the globally unique temporary identifier may include an MME identifier (e.g., a <NUM>-bit universal GUMMEI) and a temporary subscriber identifier (e.g., a <NUM>-bit M-TMSI). In some cases, the globally unique temporary identifier may be based on a combination of the MME identifier and the temporary subscriber identifier.

At <NUM>, the UE may then perform the registration procedure, for example, using the SIM configuration parameters generated at <NUM>. For example, the UE may initiate or reinitiate modem procedures to attach to the wireless network (e.g., using the globally unique temporary identifier).

<FIG> illustrates an example of a process flow <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the process flow <NUM> may implement aspects of the wireless communications system <NUM>, the wireless communications system <NUM>, and the wireless communications system <NUM>, as described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively. The process flow <NUM> shows an example of an access procedure in which a UE <NUM>-c may use a network key to attach to a wireless network, for example, via a base station <NUM>-c, which may each be examples of the corresponding devices as described herein.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-c may power on one or more communication components of the UE <NUM>-c. The communication components may include, for example, one or more radios, one or more transmit and/or receive chains (including, e.g., various radio frequency (RF) and/or digital components) connected to a modem, and the like.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-c may identify an absence of a SIM profile for communications with a wireless network. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-c may be configured with a software capability to identify, for example, upon powering on the one or more communication components at <NUM>, the absence of the SIM profile for communications with the wireless network.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM>-c may transmit to the UE <NUM>-c, and the UE <NUM>-c may receive from the base station <NUM>-c, signaling that may include an indication of one or more parameters of a provider-specific configuration. In some cases, the indication of the one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration may be preconfigured for the UE <NUM>-c and may be based on one or more master files, dedicated files, and/or elementary files preconfigured for the UE <NUM>-c. In some cases, the indication of the one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration preconfigured for the UE <NUM>-c may be based on an integrated circuit card identifier for the UE <NUM>-c.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-c may determine the provider-specific configuration for communications with the wireless network. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-c may determine the provider-specific configuration according to the indication of the one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration, for example, received from the base station <NUM>-c at <NUM>.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-c may generate a set of SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure with the wireless network based on identifying the absence of the SIM profile and the provider-specific configuration. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-c may locate a data file stored in memory of the UE <NUM>-c containing the set of SIM configuration parameters, and the UE <NUM>-c may generate set of SIM configuration parameters according to the data file. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-c may cache the set of SIM configuration parameters in a buffer, and the UE <NUM>-c may perform the registration procedure using the cached set of SIM configuration parameters. In some cases, the set of SIM configuration parameters may include one or more of a subscriber identifier, administrative data, an access control class, location area information, a location update status, a temporary subscriber identity, a globally unique temporary identifier, a last visited network and tracking area, an attach/detach completion status, a hash function to be used for a security context, a SIM service table, and the like.

In some cases, the UE <NUM>-c may also generate a globally unique temporary identifier based on the SIM configuration parameters, where a registration procedure may be performed using the globally unique temporary identifier. In some cases, the globally unique temporary identifier may include an MME identifier and/or a temporary subscriber identifier.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-c may perform the registration procedure with the wireless network, for example, via the base station <NUM>-c, using the set of SIM configuration parameters, as the UE <NUM>-c may have generated at <NUM>. In some cases, UE <NUM>-c may perform the registration procedure according to a set of service capabilities, where the set of service capabilities may be based on the set of SIM configuration parameters.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver <NUM> may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the device <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the transceiver <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. The receiver <NUM> may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The communications manager <NUM> may power on a communication component of a wireless device, such as the device <NUM>, identify an absence of a SIM profile for communications with a wireless network, determine a provider-specific configuration for communications with the wireless network, generate a set of SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure with the wireless network based on identifying the absence of the SIM profile and the provider-specific configuration, and perform the registration procedure with the wireless network using the set of SIM configuration parameters. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager <NUM>, or its sub-components, may be a separate and distinct component in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the communications manager <NUM>, or its sub-components, may be combined with one or more other hardware components, including but not limited to an input/output (I/O) component, a transceiver, a network server, another computing device, one or more other components described in the present disclosure, or a combination thereof in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a device <NUM>, or a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> as described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a communication component <NUM>, a SIM profile manager <NUM>, a provider-specific configuration manager <NUM>, a SIM configuration manager <NUM>, and a registration procedure manager <NUM>. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

The communication component <NUM> may power on a communication component of a wireless device, such as the device <NUM>.

The SIM profile manager <NUM> may identify an absence of a SIM profile for communications with a wireless network.

The provider-specific configuration manager <NUM> may determine a provider-specific configuration for communications with the wireless network.

The SIM configuration manager <NUM> may generate a set of SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure with the wireless network based on identifying the absence of the SIM profile and the provider-specific configuration.

The registration procedure manager <NUM> may perform the registration procedure with the wireless network using the set of SIM configuration parameters.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a communications manager <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a communications manager <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, or a communications manager <NUM> described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a communication component <NUM>, a SIM profile manager <NUM>, a provider-specific configuration manager <NUM>, a SIM configuration manager <NUM>, a registration procedure manager <NUM>, a memory component <NUM>, and a buffer component <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communication component <NUM> may power on a communication component of a wireless device. In some examples, powering on the communication component of the wireless device includes powering on a radio component for communications using a first type of radio access technologies.

The SIM profile manager <NUM> may identify an absence of a SIM profile for communications with a wireless network. In some cases, the wireless device is configured with a software capability to identify, upon powering on the communication component, the absence of the SIM profile for communications with the wireless network, the identifying based on the capability.

In some examples, the provider-specific configuration manager <NUM> may receive signaling including an indication of one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration, where the provider-specific configuration is determined based on the received indication. In some examples, the provider-specific configuration manager <NUM> may determine the provider-specific configuration based on the indication of one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration preconfigured for the wireless device. In some cases, the indication of the one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration preconfigured for the wireless device is based on one or more of master files, dedicated files, and elementary files preconfigured for the wireless device. In some cases, the indication of the one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration preconfigured for the wireless device is based on an integrated circuit card identifier for the wireless device.

The SIM configuration manager <NUM> may generate a set of SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure with the wireless network based on identifying the absence of the SIM profile and the provider-specific configuration. In some cases, the set of SIM configuration parameters includes subscriber identifier, administrative data, an access control class, location area information, a location update status, a temporary subscriber identity, a globally unique temporary identifier, a last visited network and tracking area, an attach/detach completion status, a hash function to be used for a security context, a SIM service table, or a combination thereof.

The registration procedure manager <NUM> may perform the registration procedure with the wireless network using the set of SIM configuration parameters. In some cases, the registration procedure is performed according to a set of service capabilities, the set of service capabilities based on the set of SIM configuration parameters.

In some examples, the registration procedure manager <NUM> may generate a globally unique temporary identifier based on the SIM configuration parameters, where the registration procedure is performed using the globally unique temporary identifier. In some cases, the globally unique temporary identifier includes an MME identifier and a temporary subscriber identifier.

The memory component <NUM> may locate a data file stored in memory of the wireless device containing the set of SIM configuration parameters, where the set of SIM configuration parameters is generated based on the data file.

The buffer component <NUM> may cache the set of SIM configuration parameters in a buffer of the wireless device, where the registration procedure is performed using the cached set of SIM configuration parameters.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of or include the components of device <NUM>, device <NUM>, or a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager <NUM>, an I/O controller <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>).

The communications manager <NUM> may power on a communication component of a wireless device, such as the device <NUM>, identify an absence of a SIM profile for communications with a wireless network, determine a provider-specific configuration for communications with the wireless network, generate a set of SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure with the wireless network based on identifying the absence of the SIM profile and the provider-specific configuration, and perform the registration procedure with the wireless network using the set of SIM configuration parameters.

The processor <NUM> may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor <NUM> may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) to cause the device <NUM> to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile).

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> that supports a modem-assisted network attach procedure without a default SIM profile in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a UE <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, a UE may perform aspects of the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM>, the UE may power on a communication component of a wireless device (e.g., of the UE). The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a communication component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may identify an absence of a SIM profile for communications with a wireless network. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a SIM profile manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine a provider-specific configuration for communications with the wireless network. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a provider-specific configuration manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may generate a set of SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure with the wireless network based on identifying the absence of the SIM profile and the provider-specific configuration. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a SIM configuration manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may perform the registration procedure with the wireless network using the set of SIM configuration parameters. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a registration procedure manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may locate a data file stored in memory of the wireless device (e.g., of the UE) containing the set of SIM configuration parameters, where the set of SIM configuration parameters is generated based on the data file. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a memory component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may cache the set of SIM configuration parameters in a buffer of the wireless device (e.g., of the UE), where the registration procedure is performed using the cached set of SIM configuration parameters. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a buffer component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may receive signaling including an indication of one or more parameters of the provider-specific configuration, where the provider-specific configuration is determined based on the received indication. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a provider-specific configuration manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may generate a globally unique temporary identifier based on the SIM configuration parameters, where the registration procedure is performed using the globally unique temporary identifier. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a registration procedure manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communications systems such as code-division multiple access (CDMA), time-division multiple access (TDMA), frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), single-carrier frequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA), and other systems.

An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), E-UTRA, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) <NUM> (Wi-Fi), IEEE <NUM> (WiMAX), IEEE <NUM>, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR, and GSM are described in documents from the organization named 3GPP. CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents from an organization named 3GPP2.

By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor.

Claim 1:
A method for wireless communications performed by a user equipment, UE, comprising:
powering (<NUM>) on a communication component of the UE;
identifying (<NUM>) an absence of a subscriber identity module, SIM, profile for communications with a wireless network while the UE is provided with a SIM card for connecting the UE to the network;
determining (<NUM>) a provider-specific configuration for communications with the wireless network;
generating (<NUM>) a set of SIM configuration parameters for a registration procedure with the wireless network based at least in part on identifying the absence of the SIM profile and the provider-specific configuration;
generating a globally unique temporary identifier based at least in part on the SIM configuration parameters; and
performing (<NUM>) the registration procedure with the wireless network using the set of SIM configuration parameters and the globally unique temporary identifier.