Electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) transfer via activation code
A mechanism for sharing electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) credentials between two mobile communication devices is described. This includes establishing, by a source user equipment (UE) comprising a first of the mobile communication devices, a data connection with a subscription manager data preparation (SMDP+) server associated with eSIM credentials stored at the source UE. The source UE notifies the SMDP+ server of an intent to transfer the eSIM credentials. The source UE receives metadata describing an activation code containing identification data for the eSIM credentials. The source UE forwards the activation code to a destination UE comprising a second of the mobile communication devices. The activation code is forwarded to support a download of the eSIM credentials to the destination UE from the SMDP+ server.
1. A method of sharing electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) credentials between two mobile communication devices, comprising:
establishing, by a source user equipment (UE) comprising a first of the mobile communication devices, a data connection with a subscription manager data preparation (SMDP+) server associated with eSIM credentials stored at the source UE;
notifying, by the source UE, the SMDP+ server of an intent to transfer the eSIM credentials;
receiving, by the source UE, metadata describing an activation code containing identification data for the eSIM credentials; and
forwarding, by the source UE, the activation code to a destination UE comprising a second of the mobile communication devices, the activation code forwarded to support a download of the eSIM credentials to the destination UE from the SMDP+ server.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by a local profile assistant (LPA) at the source UE, user input via a user interface (UI), the user input requesting a transfer of the eSIM credentials, prior to establishing the data connection with the SMDP+ server.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
deleting, by the source UE, the eSIM credentials stored at the source UE after notifying the SMDP+ server of the intent to transfer the eSIM credentials.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
disabling, by the source UE, the eSIM credentials stored at the source UE by placing the eSIM credentials in an inactive state after notifying the SMDP+ server of the intent to transfer the eSIM credentials.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
notifying, by the source UE, the SMDP+ server that the eSIM credentials have been deactivated prior to receiving the metadata describing the activation code containing the identification data for the eSIM credentials.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activation code is a quick response (QR) code, and wherein forwarding the activation code to the destination UE includes displaying the QR code on a display at the source UE.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forwarding the activation code to the destination UE includes transmitting the activation code to the destination UE via a wireless interface.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activation code includes a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) address of the SMDP+ server, a matching identifier (ID) associated with the eSIM credentials, an indication that a confirmation code validation is required, or combinations thereof.
9. A method of sharing electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) credentials between two mobile communication devices, comprising:
receiving, by a destination user equipment (UE) comprising a second of the mobile communication devices, an activation code from a source UE comprising a first of the mobile communication devices, the activation code generated by the source UE based on metadata from a subscription manager data preparation (SMDP+) server, wherein the activation code contains identification data for eSIM credentials associated with the source UE;
obtaining, by the destination UE, the identification data for eSIM credentials from the activation code;
establishing, by the destination UE, a data connection with the SMDP+ server associated with the eSIM credentials based on the identification data for eSIM credentials;
transmitting, by the destination UE, the identification data for eSIM credentials to the SMDP+ server; and
receiving, by the destination UE, the eSIM credentials from the SMDP+ server.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the activation code is a quick response (QR) code, and wherein receiving the activation code includes scanning the QR code from a display at the source UE.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the activation code is received via a wireless interface at the destination UE.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, by the destination UE, an input user defined code from a user; and
forwarding, by the destination UE, the input user defined code to the SMDP+ server for validation.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the activation code includes a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) address of the SMDP+ server, and wherein the FQDN address of the SMDP+ server is employed to establish the data connection with the SMDP+ server.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the identification data for eSIM credentials transmitted to the SMDP+ server includes a matching identifier (ID) associated with the eSIM credentials.
15. A method of sharing electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) credentials between two mobile communication devices, comprising:
establishing, by a subscription manager data preparation (SMDP+) server, a data connection with a source user equipment (UE) comprising a first of the mobile communication devices and containing eSIM credentials;
receiving, by the SMDP+ server, a notification of an intent to transfer the eSIM credentials;
transmitting, by the SMDP+ server, metadata describing an activation code to the source UE, the activation code containing identification data for the eSIM credentials;
establishing, by the SMDP+ server, a data connection with a destination UE comprising a second of the mobile communication devices;
receiving, by the SMDP+ server, the identification data for the eSIM credentials from the destination UE; and
initiating, by the SMDP+ server, a download of eSIM credentials from the SMDP+ server to the destination UE.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the notification of the intent to transfer the eSIM credentials indicates the eSIM credentials are queued for deletion on the source UE.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the notification of the intent to transfer the eSIM credentials indicates the eSIM credentials are queued for disabling on the source UE by placing the eSIM credentials in an inactive state.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving, by the SMDP+ server, a notification from the source UE that the eSIM credentials have been deactivated prior to transmitting the metadata describing the activation code containing the identification data for the eSIM credentials.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the activation code includes a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) address of the SMDP+ server, a matching identifier (ID) associated with the eSIM credentials, a user defined code associated with a user, or combinations thereof.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the activation code is a quick response (QR) code, and wherein the metadata describing the activation code supports generating the QR code for display at the source UE and scanning at the destination UE.