New patents are issued by the USPTO on Tuesdays. Today's Spotlight Patents concern aspects of blockchain (distributed ledger, smart contracts) and digital rights management broadly construed. Assigned to Verizon, the first patent addresses techniques for using blockchains in conjunction with virtual SIM cards. Assigned to Telepathy Labs, the second patent addresses techniques for deprovisioning.
10,412,575, "System and method for virtual SIM card," assigned to Verizon.
Abstract
A method is provided for using virtual subscriber identity modules (vSIMs) for client devices. A network device receives a selection of network services to be associated with a virtual subscriber identity module (vSIM); initiates creation of a blockchain including a vSIM certificate for the network services; associates the vSIM certificate with a user account; receives, from a client device associated with the user account, an access request for the vSIM certificate; activates, in response to the access request, the client device for access to the network services; and provides instructions to update the blockchain in response to the activating. Thus, the vSIM can be retrieved and used by any one of different devices associated with the user account or loaned to other users.
10,404,740, "System and method for deprovisioning," assigned to Telepathy Labs, Inc.
Abstract
A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying a first user in a network. Access to at least a portion of the network is available to at least one of the first user and a second user based upon, at least in part, one or more attributes of the first user. If there is a determination of a change in an attribute of the one or more attributes of the first user has occurred, removing at least a portion of the access to at least the portion of the network from at least one of the first user and the second user based upon, at least in part, the change in the attribute of the one or more attributes of the first user.
