Cellular wireless service plan transfer between non-linked wireless devices

Abstract

This Application sets forth techniques for transfer of a cellular wireless service plan associated with a SIM or an semis between non-linked wireless devices. A target wireless device broadcasts an advertisement beacon requesting transfer of a cellular wireless service plan. After successful authentication with a source wireless device, using a manually entered verification code or a QR verification code, the target wireless device selects a cellular wireless service plan to transfer. The source wireless device obtains a transfer token from an MNO entitlement server for transfer of the selected cellular wireless service plan and provides the transfer token to the target wireless device via a secure, short distance Bluetooth connection or, alternatively, embedded in an encrypted QR code. The target wireless device uses the transfer token to obtain a new eSIM associated with transfer of the cellular wireless service plan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A source wireless device comprising:
 wireless circuitry comprising one or more antennas; and   one or more processors communicatively coupled to the wireless circuitry and to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the source wireless device to:
 receive, from a target wireless device, a Bluetooth advertisement beacon including an action type indicating a request to transfer a cellular wireless service plan to the target wireless device; 
 send, to the target wireless device, a request to initiate a secure Bluetooth connection between the source wireless device and the target wireless device; 
 establish the secure Bluetooth connection with the target wireless device after successful verification of the source wireless device to the target wireless device via an authentication procedure; 
 receive, from the target wireless device, a plan transfer request to transfer a particular cellular wireless service plan associated with a subscriber identity module (SIM) or an electronic SIM (eSIM) selected from a list of cellular wireless service plans received from the source wireless device; 
 obtain, from a mobile network operator (MNO) entitlement server, a transfer token associated with associated with a new eSIM reserved for transfer of the particular cellular wireless service plan; and 
 send, to the target wireless device, a plan transfer response that includes the transfer token. 
   
     
     
         2 . The source wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication procedure comprises the source wireless device further configured to:
 receive, from the target wireless device, an authentication request;   obtain, via an input/output of the source wireless device, a personal identification number (PIN) code value; and   send, to the target wireless device, an authentication response that includes the PIN code value.   
     
     
         3 . The source wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication procedure comprises the source wireless device further configured to:
 scan, via a camera of the source wireless device, a quick response (QR) verification code presented via a display of the target wireless device.   
     
     
         4 . The source wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the Bluetooth advertisement beacon includes a unique identifier for the source wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The source wireless device of  claim 4 , wherein the source wireless device is further configured to upload the unique identifier for the source wireless device to a cloud network service associated with the source wireless device and the target wireless device. 
     
     
         6 . The source wireless device of  claim 5 , wherein the source wireless device is further configured to ignore Bluetooth advertisement beacons that do not include the unique identifier for the source wireless device. 
     
     
         7 . The source wireless device of  claim 5 , wherein the source wireless device is further configured to:
 present, via a display of the source wireless device, a notification alert indicating the request to transfer the cellular wireless service plan to the target wireless device when the Bluetooth advertisement beacon includes the unique identifier for the source wireless device; and   refrain from displaying the notification alert when the Bluetooth advertisement beacon does not include the unique identifier for the source wireless device.   
     
     
         8 . The source wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the Bluetooth advertisement beacon includes a sequence number that differs from Bluetooth advertisement beacons, previously received from the target wireless device, which include the action type indicating the request to transfer the cellular wireless service plan to the target wireless device. 
     
     
         9 . The source wireless device of  claim 8 , wherein the source wireless device is further configured to ignore Bluetooth advertisement beacons that include identical sequence numbers to Bluetooth advertisement beacons, previously received from the target wireless device, which include the action type indicating the request to transfer the cellular wireless service plan to the target wireless device. 
     
     
         10 . The source wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the source wireless device is further configured to:
 measure a received signal strength of the Bluetooth advertisement beacon; and   send the request to initiate the secure Bluetooth connection only when the received signal strength satisfies a signal strength threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The source wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the source wireless device obtains user consent to transfer the cellular wireless service plan to the target wireless device before establishing the secure Bluetooth connection with the target wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The source wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the list of cellular wireless service plans includes for each cellular wireless service plan a phone number and an indication whether the cellular wireless service plan is transferable to the target wireless device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for cellular wireless service transfer from a source wireless device to a target wireless device, the method comprising:
 by the source wireless device:
 receiving, from the target wireless device, a Bluetooth advertisement beacon including an action type indicating a request to transfer a cellular wireless service plan to the target wireless device; 
 sending, to the target wireless device, a request to initiate a secure Bluetooth connection between the source wireless device and the target wireless device; 
 establishing the secure Bluetooth connection with the target wireless device after successful verification of the source wireless device to the target wireless device via an authentication procedure; 
 receiving, from the target wireless device, a plan transfer request to transfer a particular cellular wireless service plan associated with a subscriber identity module (SIM) or an electronic SIM (eSIM) selected from a list of cellular wireless service plans received from the source wireless device; 
 obtaining, from a mobile network operator (MNO) entitlement server, a transfer token associated with associated with a new eSIM reserved for transfer of the particular cellular wireless service plan; and 
 sending, to the target wireless device, a plan transfer response that includes the transfer token. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the authentication procedure comprises:
 by the source wireless device:
 receiving, from the target wireless device, an authentication request; 
 obtaining, via an input/output of the source wireless device, a personal identification number (PIN) code value; and 
 sending, to the target wireless device, an authentication response that includes the PIN code value. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the authentication procedure comprises:
 by the source wireless device:
 scanning, via a camera of the source wireless device, a quick response (QR) verification code presented via a display of the target wireless device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the Bluetooth advertisement beacon includes a unique identifier for the source wireless device; and   the source wireless device is further configured to ignore Bluetooth advertisement beacons that do not include the unique identifier for the source wireless device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the list of cellular wireless service plans includes for each cellular wireless service plan a phone number and an indication whether the cellular wireless service plan is transferable to the target wireless device. 
     
     
         18 . A method for transferring a cellular wireless service plan from a source wireless device to a target wireless device, the method comprising:
 by the source wireless device:
 obtaining, via an input/output of the source wireless device, user consent to generate a quick response (QR) code to transfer the cellular wireless service plan to a target wireless device; 
 obtaining, from a mobile network operator (MNO) entitlement server, a transfer token for transfer of the cellular wireless service plan; 
 generating the QR code based on the transfer token and additional transfer data; and 
 displaying the QR code via a display of the source wireless device for scanning by the target wireless device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 by the source wireless device:   obtaining, via the input/output of the source wireless device, a personal identification number (PIN) code value; and   encrypting the QR code with the PIN code value prior to displaying the QR code.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 by the source wireless device prior to generating the QR code:
 performing a biometric scan and/or requiring a numeric or alphanumeric passcode entry to authenticate a user of the source wireless device.