Mobile communications system and operation method thereof

• US 20010018339A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Murakami, Takuya
• Granted Patent: US 6,879,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

A mobile communication system including a fixed station, a detection unit, and mobile terminals, which provides a wireless communication for the mobile terminals. The detection unit detects a utilization condition indicative of a state where the mobile terminals are being used. The fixed station contains a storage unit that stores a utilization-admission condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are permitted to be used, and a processing unit for executing communications with the mobile terminals. The processing unit therefore halts communications with the mobile terminals in accordance with the utilization condition and utilization-admission condition.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system including a fixed station and mobile terminals, for providing a wireless communication for the mobile terminals, comprising:

a first detection means for detecting a utilization condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are being used;

a storage means for storing a utilization-admission condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are permitted to be used; and

processing means for executing communications with said mobile terminals,

wherein said fixed station contains said storage means and processing means, and wherein said processing means halts said communications with said mobile terminals in accordance with said utilization condition and utilization-admission condition.

2. A mobile communication system according to

claim 1

, wherein said utilization-admission condition includes a condition where said mobile terminals are prohibited from usage.

3. A mobile communication system according to

claim 1

, wherein said first detection means includes a second detection means for detecting a first location where said mobile terminals exist, said first location being included in said utilization condition and said utilization-admission condition including a second location where said mobile terminals are permitted to be used.

4. A mobile communication system according to

claim 3

, wherein said second detection means is located in said mobile terminals.

5. A mobile communication system according to

claim 3

, wherein said second detection means includes a plurality of base stations capable of communicating with said mobile terminals, and detects said first location depending upon which of said plurality of base stations communicates with said mobile terminals.

6. A mobile communication system according to

claim 3

, wherein said first detection means further includes a third detection means for detecting the communication time when said mobile terminals communicate with said fixed station, said communication time being included in said utilization condition and said utilization-admission condition further including the admission time when said mobile terminals and fixed station are permitted to communicate.

7. A mobile communication system according to

claim 6

, wherein said admission time and second location have correlation each other.

8. A mobile communication system according to

claim 1

, wherein said first detection means includes a fourth detection means for detecting a user attribute associated with user of said mobile terminals, said user attribute being included in said utilization condition, and said utilization-admission condition including attribute of the user who is permitted to use said mobile terminals.

9. A mobile communication system according to

claim 8

, wherein said fourth detection means includes a fifth detection means for detecting user'"'"'s voice patterns, said voice patterns being included in said user attribute.

10. A mobile communication system according to

claim 8

, wherein said fourth detection means includes a sixth detection means for detecting an optical information associated with said user, said optical information being included in said user attribute.

11. A mobile communication system according to

claim 8

, wherein said fourth detection means includes a key, said user attribute including user'"'"'s operation performed with said key.

12. A mobile communication system according to

claim 11

, wherein said user'"'"'s operation includes the operation for inputting a personal identification number.

13. A mobile communication system according to

claim 1

, wherein said mobile terminals include a break-down means for breaking down the functions of said mobile terminals, and wherein said processing means determines by referring to said utilization condition and utilization-admission condition, whether said utilization condition indicates that said mobile terminals are permitted to be used, and said processing means issues a signal indicative of fraudulent use, to said mobile terminals depending upon said determination result, said break-down means breaking down the functions of said mobile terminals in response to said signal so that said mobile terminals become unable to communicate with said processing means.

14. A mobile communication system according to

claim 13

, wherein said mobile terminals further include a software storage means for storing a software whereby said mobile terminals execute the operation, said break-down means breaking down said software in response to said signal.

15. A mobile communication system according to

claim 13

, wherein said break-down means physically breaks down the functions of said mobile terminals in response to said signal.

16. A mobile terminal comprising:

a communication means for communicating with a fixed station; and

a first detection means for detecting a utilization condition indicative of a state of said mobile terminal that is being used,

wherein said communication means transmits said utilization condition to said fixed station.

17. A mobile terminal according to

claim 16

, wherein said first detection means includes a second detection means for detecting a terminal location where said mobile terminal exists, said terminal location being included in said utilization condition.

18. A mobile terminal according to

claim 16

, wherein said first detection means includes a third detection means for detecting attribute of a user who uses said mobile terminal, said attribute being included in said utilization condition.

19. A mobile terminal according to

claim 18

, wherein said third detection means includes a fourth detection means for detecting user'"'"'s voice patterns, said voice patterns being included in said attribute.

20. A mobile terminal according to

claim 18

, wherein said third detection means includes a fifth detection means for detecting an optical information associated with said user, said optical information being included in said attribute.

21. A mobile terminal according to

claim 18

, wherein said third detection means includes a key, said attribute including user'"'"'s operation performed with said key.

22. A mobile terminal according to

claim 21

, wherein said user'"'"'s operation includes the operation for inputting a personal identification number.

23. A mobile terminal according to

claim 16

, further comprising a break-down means for breaking down the functions of said mobile terminal, wherein said communication means receives a signal from said fixed station, and wherein said break-down means breaks down the functions of said communication means in response to said signal.

24. A mobile terminal according to

claim 23

, wherein said communication means includes a software storage means for storing a software whereby said communication means communicates with said fixed station, and wherein said break-down means breaks down said software in response to said signal.

25. A mobile terminal according to

claim 23

, wherein said communication means includes a storage means for storing a terminal identifier and sends said terminal identifier to said fixed station, and wherein said break-down means breaks down said terminal identifier in response to said signal.

26. A mobile terminal according to

claim 23

, wherein said break-down means physically breaks down the functions of said communication means in response to said signal.

27. A fixed station used for a mobile communication system, comprising:

processing means for executing communications with mobile terminals, and

a storage means for storing a utilization-admission condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are permitted to be used,

wherein said processing means halts said communications with said mobile terminals, in accordance with a utilization condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are being used, and with said utilization-admission condition.

28. A fixed station according to

claim 27

, wherein said utilization condition includes a first location where said mobile terminals exist, and said utilization-admission condition includes a second location where said mobile terminals are permitted to be used.

29. A fixed station according to

claim 28

, wherein said utilization condition further includes the communication time when said processing means communicates with said mobile terminals, and said utilization-admission condition further includes the admission time when said mobile terminals are permitted to communicate.

30. A fixed station according to

claim 28

, further comprising a detection means for detecting the location where said mobile terminals exist.

31. A fixed station according to

claim 30

, said detection means includes a plurality of base stations capable of communicating with said mobile terminals, and detects said location depending upon which of said plurality of base stations communicates with said mobile terminals.

32. A fixed station according to

claim 27

, wherein said utilization condition includes a user attribute associated with user of said mobile terminals, and said utilization-admission condition includes attribute of the user who is permitted to use said mobile terminals.

33. A fixed station according to

claim 27

, wherein said processing means determines by referring to said utilization condition and utilization-admission condition, whether said utilization condition indicates that said mobile terminals are permitted to be used, and said processing means issues a signal indicative of fraudulent use, to said mobile terminals depending upon said determination result.

34. An operation method of a mobile communication system comprising the steps of:

communicating with mobile terminals;

detecting a utilization condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are being used; and

halting said communications with said mobile terminals in accordance with said utilization condition, and with a utilization-admission condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are permitted to be used.

35. An operation method according to

claim 34

, further comprising the steps of:

determining by referring to said utilization condition and utilization-admission condition, whether said utilization condition indicates that said mobile terminals are permitted to be used;

sending a signal indicative of fraudulent use, to said mobile terminals depending upon said determination result; and

breaking down the functions of said mobile terminals in response to said signal.

36. An operation method according to

claim 34

, further comprising the steps of:

selecting from among a plurality of base stations a base station that communicates with said mobile terminals, as a location-detection base station; and

deciding the location of said location-detection base station to be a location where said mobile terminals exist.

37. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for performing control of a mobile communication system, including:

computer readable program code means for communicating with mobile terminals;

computer readable program code means for detecting a utilization condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are being used; and

computer readable program code means for halting said communications with said mobile terminals, in accordance with said utilization condition, and with a utilization-admission condition indicative of a state where said mobile terminals are permitted to be used.

38. A computer program product according to

claim 37

, further including:

computer readable program code means for determining by referring to said utilization condition and utilization-admission condition, whether said utilization condition indicates that said mobile terminals are permitted to be used;

computer readable program code means for sending a signal indicative of fraudulent use, to said mobile terminals depending upon said determination result; and

computer readable program code means for breaking down the functions of said mobile terminals in response to said signal.

39. A computer program product according to

claim 37

, further including:

computer readable program code means for selecting from among a plurality of base stations a base station that communicates with said mobile terminals, as a location-detection base station; and

computer readable program code means for deciding the location of said location-detection base station to be a location where said mobile terminals exist.