Virtual subscriber identity module for network connection

1. A virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM) for an apparatus, the vSIM comprising:

a memory configured to store a remote SIM (rSIM) implemented as a software card; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:

register to a first network and download a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via the rSIM;

search for a second network using the vSIM profile and receive a vSIM authentication request from the second network while searching for the second network;

perform a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request; and

complete a registration to the second network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the second network.

2. The vSIM according to claim 1 , wherein the vSIM authentication procedure comprises:

transmitting the vSIM authentication request to the vSIM server via the rSIM;

receiving a vSIM authentication reply from the vSIM server via the rSIM; and

transmitting the vSIM authentication reply to the second network using the vSIM profile.

3. The vSIM according to claim 1 , wherein the vSIM further comprises:

a radio frequency chip coupled to an antenna of the apparatus; and

a connector configured to connect with a slot of the apparatus.

4. The vSIM according to claim 3 , wherein the slot and the connector comprise an M.2 interface, and the vSIM is configured to be embedded in the apparatus.

5. The vSIM according to claim 3 , wherein the slot and the connector comprise a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and the vSIM is configured to be externally connected to the apparatus.

6. The vSIM according to claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store vSIM connectivity management instructions that are executable by the at least one processor.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a slot; and

a virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM), comprising:

a connector configured to connect to the slot;

a memory configured to store a remote SIM (rSIM) implemented as a software card; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and the connector and configured to:

register to a first network and download a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via the rSIM;

search for a second network using the vSIM profile and receive a vSIM authentication request from the second network while searching for the second network;

perform a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request; and

complete a registration to the second network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the second network.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the vSIM authentication procedure comprises:

transmitting the vSIM authentication request to the vSIM server via the rSIM;

receiving a vSIM authentication reply from the vSIM server via the rSIM; and

transmitting the vSIM authentication reply to the second network using the vSIM profile.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an antenna, and the vSIM further comprises a radio frequency chip coupled to the antenna.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the slot and the connector comprise an M.2 interface, and the vSIM is embedded in the apparatus.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the memory is further configured to store vSIM connectivity management instructions that are executable by the at least one processor.

12. A virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM) server for communicating with an apparatus, the vSIM server configured to:

provide a vSIM profile to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a vSIM and connecting to the vSIM server via a remote SIM (rSIM), the rSIM being implemented as a software card stored in a memory of the vSIM,

wherein the vSIM profile allows the vSIM of the apparatus to:

search for a network using the vSIM profile and receive a vSIM authentication request from the network while searching for the network;

perform a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request; and

complete a registration to the network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the network.

13. The vSIM server according to claim 12 , wherein when the vSIM of the apparatus performs the vSIM authentication procedure, the vSIM server is configured to:

receive the vSIM authentication request from the vSIM of the apparatus; and

transmit a vSIM authentication reply to the vSIM of the apparatus.

14. A method performed by an apparatus for connecting to a first network, the apparatus comprising a virtual Subscriber Identity Module (vSIM), and the method comprising:

registering to a second network and downloading a vSIM profile from a vSIM server via a remote SIM (rSIM), the rSIM being implemented as a software card stored in a memory of the vSIM;

searching for the first network using the vSIM profile and receiving a vSIM authentication request from the first network while searching for the first network;

performing a vSIM authentication procedure via the rSIM in response to receiving the vSIM authentication request; and

completing a registration to the first network using the vSIM profile for activating a vSIM service to connect to the first network.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the vSIM authentication procedure comprises:

transmitting the vSIM authentication request to the vSIM server via the rSIM;

receiving a vSIM authentication reply from the vSIM server via the rSIM; and

transmitting the vSIM authentication reply to the first network using the vSIM profile.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

executing vSIM connectivity management instructions that are stored in the memory of the vSIM.