SoftBank Group has been granted a patent for a method to authenticate mobile subscribers for using foreign applications when they are outside their home telecom carrier’s network zone. The method involves establishing a data transmission connection, identifying the home telecom carrier through a global IP address, and receiving a subscriber authentication token. This allows mobile subscribers to use foreign applications in a similar manner to their home country. GlobalData’s report on SoftBank Group gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on SoftBank Group, Track and trace supply chains was a key innovation area identified from patents. SoftBank Group's grant share as of September 2023 was 54%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Authentication of mobile devices for using foreign applications in foreign zones
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11775950B2) describes a method for authenticating a mobile device in a foreign zone to use a foreign application supported by a foreign telecom carrier's network. The method involves several steps to establish a secure connection and authenticate the mobile device.
Firstly, a data transmission connection is established between the mobile device and the home telecom carrier's network. Then, the home telecom carrier is identified by checking the global IP address generated by the network. This identification can be done through the foreign application or a foreign authentication server in the foreign telecom carrier's network.
Once the home telecom carrier is identified and the mobile device is authenticated, a subscriber authentication token is received from the home telecom carrier's network. This token is obtained through the foreign application, the foreign application server, and a home authentication server in the home telecom carrier's network.
The method also includes additional steps for validating the subscriber and transferring digital property. These steps involve sending authentication requests, receiving Mobile Subscriber International Subscriber Directory Numbers (MSISDNs), and exchanging authentication tokens between the foreign application, foreign application server, and home authentication server.
Furthermore, the patent describes the use of a distributed ledger, specifically a blockchain data structure, to record remittances made through the foreign wallet application. This allows for secure and transparent tracking of digital property transfers.
Overall, this patent presents a method for securely authenticating a mobile device in a foreign zone to use a foreign application supported by a foreign telecom carrier's network. The method involves multiple steps to establish a connection, identify the home telecom carrier, and authenticate the mobile device. Additionally, the patent introduces the use of a distributed ledger, specifically a blockchain, for recording remittances made through a foreign wallet application.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
