Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a technique for updating firmware of an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) included in a mobile device. The technique includes the steps of (1) receiving, from a firmware provider, an indication that an updated firmware is available for the eUICC, (2) in response to the indication, providing, to the firmware provider, (i) a unique identifier (ID) associated with the eUICC, and (ii) a nonce value, (3) subsequent to providing, receiving, from the firmware provider, a firmware update package, wherein the firmware update package includes (i) authentication information, and (ii) the updated firmware, (4) subsequent to verifying the authentication information, persisting, to a memory included in the mobile device, a hash value that corresponds to the updated firmware, and (5) installing the updated firmware on the eUICC.
Abstract:
A method for establishing a secure communication channel between an off-card entity and an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) is provided. The method involves establishing symmetric keys that are ephemeral in scope. Specifically, an off-card entity, and each eUICC in a set of eUICCs managed by the off-card entity, possess long-term Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) information. When a secure communication channel is to be established between the off-card entity and an eUICC, the eUICC and the off-card entity can authenticate one another in accordance with the respectively-possessed PKI information (e.g., verifying public keys). After authentication, the off-card entity and the eUICC establish a shared session-based symmetric key for implementing the secure communication channel. Specifically, the shared session-based symmetric key is generated according to whether perfect or half forward security is desired. Once the shared session-based symmetric key is established, the off-card entity and the eUICC can securely communicate information.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for user authentication and human intent verification of administrative operations for eSIMs of an eUICC included in a mobile device are disclosed. Certain administrative operations, such as import, modification, and/or export, of an eSIM and/or for an eUICCs firmware can require user authentication and/or human intent verification before execution of the administrative operations are performed or completed by the mobile device. A user of the mobile device provides information to link an external user account to an eSIM upon (or subsequent to) installation on the eUICC. User credentials, such as a user name and password, and/or information generated therefrom, can be used to authenticate the user with an external server. In response to successful user authentication, the administrative operations are performed. Human intent verification can also be performed in conjunction with user authentication to prevent malware from interfering with eSIM and/or eUICC functions of the mobile device.
Abstract:
A method for establishing a secure communication channel between an off-card entity and an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) is provided. The method involves establishing symmetric keys that are ephemeral in scope. Specifically, an off-card entity, and each eUICC in a set of eUICCs managed by the off-card entity, possess long-term Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) information. When a secure communication channel is to be established between the off-card entity and an eUICC, the eUICC and the off-card entity can authenticate one another in accordance with the respectively-possessed PKI information (e.g., verifying public keys). After authentication, the off-card entity and the eUICC establish a shared session-based symmetric key for implementing the secure communication channel. Specifically, the shared session-based symmetric key is generated according to whether perfect or half forward security is desired. Once the shared session-based symmetric key is established, the off-card entity and the eUICC can securely communicate information.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for controlling the distribution of electronic access clients to a device. In one embodiment, a virtualized Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) can only load an access client such as an electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) according to an activation ticket. The activation ticket ensures that the virtualized UICC can only receive eSIMs from specific carriers (“carrier locking”). Unlike prior art methods which enforce carrier locking on a software application launched from a software chain of trust (which can be compromised), the present invention advantageously enforces carrier locking with the secure UICC hardware which has, for example, a secure code base.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium for providing telecommunications carrier configuration at activation of a mobile device. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes receiving a request for activation of a mobile device, and during activation of the mobile device, determining for the mobile device a telecommunications carrier from a number of telecommunications carriers, and identifying information associated with the determined telecommunications carrier for configuring the mobile device.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for user authentication and human intent verification of administrative operations for eSIMs of an eUICC included in a mobile device are disclosed. Certain administrative operations, such as import, modification, and/or export, of an eSIM and/or for an eUICCs firmware can require user authentication and/or human intent verification before execution of the administrative operations are performed or completed by the mobile device. A user of the mobile device provides information to link an external user account to an eSIM upon (or subsequent to) installation on the eUICC. User credentials, such as a user name and password, and/or information generated therefrom, can be used to authenticate the user with an external server. In response to successful user authentication, the administrative operations are performed. Human intent verification can also be performed in conjunction with user authentication to prevent malware from interfering with eSIM and/or eUICC functions of the mobile device.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus enabling programming of electronic identification information of a wireless apparatus. In one embodiment, a previously purchased or deployed wireless apparatus is activated by a cellular network. The wireless apparatus connects to the cellular network using an access module to download operating system components and/or access control client components. The described methods and apparatus enable updates, additions and replacement of various components including Electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) data, OS components. One exemplary implementation of the invention utilizes a trusted key exchange between the device and the cellular network to maintain security.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for large scale distribution of electronic access control clients. In one aspect, a tiered security software protocol is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a server electronic Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) and client eUICC software comprise a so-called “stack” of software layers. Each software layer is responsible for a set of hierarchical functions which are negotiated with its corresponding peer software layer. The tiered security software protocol is configured for large scale distribution of electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs).
Abstract:
The embodiments set forth techniques for an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) to conditionally require, when performing management operations in association with electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs), human-based authentication. The eUICC receives a request to perform a management operation in association with an eSIM. In response, the eUICC determines whether a policy being enforced by the eUICC indicates that a human-based authentication is required prior to performing the management operation. Next, the eUICC causes the mobile device to prompt a user of the mobile device to carry out the human-based authentication. The management operation is then performed or ignored in accordance with results of the human-based authentication.