Shared-use portable telephone and method of sharing portable telephone

• US 20020045457A1
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

A shared-use portable telephone has a ROM section, a RAM section and a control section. The ROM section comprises a password area for holding passwords and a personal information area for holding personal information. The password area includes a plurality of independent password sub-areas that a plurality of users can utilize, respectively, based on their passwords. The personal information area includes a plurality of independent personal information sub-areas which corresponds to the plurality of the password sub-areas, respectively, and which the users can utilize. The control section copies the personal information stored in the personal information sub-areas to the RAM section that the users use in common, and copies the personal information stored in the RAM section to the personal information area of the ROM section. The personal information sub-areas of the ROM section are used independently of each other, one for each user and never for any other user. Every time the shared-use portable telephone is used, the information stored in the RAM section is copied into the specific area of the ROM section. Hence, the personal information is not erased even when the power supply is turned OFF. Each user can access his or her personal information, but cannot access the personal information of the other users. Each user can therefore use the portable telephone, having no risk that his or her personal data item is accessed by the other users. Additionally, the personal information of the users would not be erased.

Claims

1. A shared-use portable telephone comprising:

a RAM section which is commonly used by a plurality of users;

a ROM section which includes;

a plurality of password sub-areas in each of which a password assigned to one of the users is stored, and

a plurality of personal information sub-areas corresponding to said plurality of the password word sub-areas, and storing a plurality of pieces of personal information managed by the users, respectively; and

a control section which copies said pieces of personal information stored in a personal information sub-area selected based on said password to said RAM section, and copies said pieces of personal information stored in said RAM section to said selected personal information sub-area.

2. The shared-use portable telephone according to claim 1, wherein said personal information is composed of telephone directory data assigned to the user.

3. The shared-use portable telephone according to claim 1, wherein said personal information is composed of identification (ID) data assigned to the user.

4. The shared-use portable telephone according to claim 1, wherein said personal information is composed of function setting information for setting a function peculiar to the user.

5. A method of sharing a portable telephone, comprising:

inputting a password assigned to a user;

inputting a log-in name assigned to the user;

selecting a password sub-area of a ROM section, in which said password of the user should be held, based on said inputted password and log-in name;

judging whether or not said inputted password is identical to said password held in said password sub-area;

selecting a personal information sub-area of said ROM section, in which personal information managed by the user is stored, when a result of said judging indicates that said inputted password is identical to said password held in said password sub-area;

copying said personal information held in said selected personal information sub-area to a RAM section; and

copying said personal information held in said RAM section to said selected personal information sub-area of said ROM section.

6. The method of sharing the portable telephone according to claim 5, further comprising:

automatically turning OFF power supply of the portable telephone when the result of said judging indicates that said inputted password is not identical to said password held in said password sub-area.

7. The method of sharing the portable telephone according to claim 6, wherein said personal information stored in said RAM section is altered.

8. The method of sharing the portable telephone according to claim 7, wherein said log-in name is inputted before said password is inputted.

9. The method of sharing the portable telephone according to claim 5, wherein said personal information stored in said RAM section is altered.

10. The method of sharing the portable telephone according to claim 9, wherein said log-in name is inputted before said password is inputted.

11. The method of sharing the portable telephone according to claim 5, wherein said personal information stored in said RAM section is copied to said personal information sub-area of said ROM section when said power supply is turned OFF.

12. The method of sharing the portable telephone according to claim 11, wherein said log-in name is inputted before said password is inputted.