Information terminal apparatus, information processing apparatus and information communication system

• US 20040044911A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takada, Masayuki, Muto, Takayasu
• Granted Patent: US 8,539,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

When transmitting position/time information calculated by means of a GPS function to a server apparatus, authentication is carried out with the server apparatus. The position/time information may be certified as legitimate measured by a portable apparatus with a GPS reception function employed by a user. When transmitting information related to the position and the time acquired from a portable phone terminal having the GPS function and a network function by means of the GPS function to the server apparatus, authentication is carried out between the portable phone terminal and the server apparatus. The position/time information is transmitted to the server apparatus, only if the server apparatus is authenticated as a legitimate counterpart for connection. A secret key holding section is provided for holding different secret keys for different apparatuses. The position/time information measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite is digitally signed by means of the secret key. The identification information and the position/time information having the digital signature are then transmitted to a counterpart.

Claims

1. An information terminal apparatus comprising:

a reception means for receiving a satellite signal transmitted from an artificial satellite constituting a global navigation system;

a communication means for transmitting/receiving a variety of information data to/from an information processing apparatus via a communication network; and

an authentication means for determining whether said information processing apparatus comprises a legitimate counterpart for connection, based on authentication information transmitted/received by said communication means, and for permitting said communication means to transmit position/time information related to a current position and/or current time calculated from said satellite signal, only if said information processing apparatus is authenticated as the legitimate counterpart for connection.

2. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said communication means transmits information used for calculation of an own current position and/or current time included in said satellite signal, through said information processing apparatus, as said position/time information.

3. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an calculation means for calculation of an own current position and/or current time based on said satellite signal;

and

wherein said communication means transmits information indicative of an own current position and/or current time calculated by said calculation means as said position/time information.

4. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a calculation means for calculation of an own current position and/or current time based on said satellite signal;

a condition determination means for determining whether an own current position and/or current time calculated by said calculation means matches a condition related to position and/or time;

wherein

said communication means transmits to said information processing apparatus a result of said determination by said condition determination means as said position/time information.

5. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said communication means acquires information indicative of said condition from said information processing apparatus.

6. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a storage means for storing said information indicative of said condition.

7. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said storage means has recorded information therein related to the information processing apparatus for connection corresponding to said condition;

and

said communication means transmits the result of determination by said condition determination means to the information processing apparatus corresponding to the satisfied condition.

8. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an accuracy changing means for changing accuracy of current position and/or accuracy of current time included in said position/time information according to at least one of a request from a user and an information processing apparatus for connection therewith.

9. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said communication means acquires from said information processing apparatus identification information for identifying each information processing apparatus as said authentication information; and

said authentication means notifies a user of said identification information and determines that said information processing apparatus is a legitimate counterpart for connection when the user inputs information identifying that said information processing apparatus comprises a legitimate counterpart for connection therewith.

10. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said communication means acquires data string information including a data string from said information processing apparatus, and

said authentication means determines that said information processing apparatus comprises a legitimate counterpart for connection if said data string information acquired through said communication means matches a predetermined data string information.

11. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an encryption means for encrypting and/or decrypting, by means of a predetermined encryption system, a variety of information data transmitted/received by said communication means.

12. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said encryption means generates a key based on said position/time information and encrypts and/or decrypts the variety of information data by means of said key.

13. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said encryption means performs encryption and/or decryption by means of a common key encryption system using a common key.

14. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said authentication means performs authentication by communicating predetermined authentication information to said information processing apparatus by means of the common key encryption system using the common key.

15. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said encryption means performs encryption and/or decryption by means of a public key encryption system using a public key and a secret key.

16. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said authentication means performs authentication by transmitting/receiving an electronic signature to/from said information processing apparatus by means of said public key encryption system.

17. The information terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication means permits said communication means to acquire assist information used for capturing said satellite signal from said information processing apparatus only if said information processing apparatus is authenticated as a legitimate counterpart.

18. An information terminal apparatus comprising:

a position/time calculation means for calculating an own current position and/or current time from a satellite signal transmitted from an artificial satellite constituting a global navigation system;

a communication means for transmitting/receiving a variety of information data to/from an information processing apparatus via a communication network;

an authentication means for determining whether said information processing apparatus comprises a legitimate counterpart for connection according to authentication information transmitted/received by said communication means; and

an encryption means for generating a key based on information related to said information processing apparatus authenticated by said authentication means and the current position and/or the current time information calculated by said position/time calculation means, and encrypting and/or decrypting a variety of information data transmitted/received by the communication means.

19. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a communication means for transmitting/receiving, via a communication network, a variety of information data to/from an information processing apparatus which receives a satellite signal transmitted from an artificial satellite constituting a global navigation system; and

an authentication means for authenticating rights to acquire said position/time information by communication of authentication information with said information terminal apparatus through said communication means when acquiring position/time information related to a current position and/or a current time of said information terminal apparatus, by means of said communication means, calculated from said satellite signal.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a calculation means for calculating a current position of said information terminal apparatus according to said position/time information acquired through said communication means.

21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising an encryption means for encrypting and/or decrypting, by means of an encryption system, a variety of information data transmitted/received by said communication means.

22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

said communication means transmits/receives a variety of information data to/from another information processing apparatus connected via a communication network;

and

said authentication means determines whether said another information processing apparatus comprises a legitimate counterpart for connection according to authentication information transmitted/received to/from said another information processing apparatus when inquired by said another information processing apparatus for a position of said information terminal apparatus at a predetermined time, and allows said communication means to transmit the information related to the position of said information terminal apparatus only if the information processing apparatus is authenticated as a legitimate counterpart for connection.

23. An information communication system comprising:

an information terminal apparatus for receiving a satellite signal transmitted from an artificial satellite constituting a global navigation system; and

an information processing apparatus for inquiring said information terminal apparatus for position/time information related to current position and/or current time of said information terminal apparatus, calculated from said satellite signal;

wherein

said information terminal apparatus is connected to said information processing apparatus via a communication network; and

authentication is performed upon communication of authentication information between said information terminal apparatus and said information processing apparatus; and

transmission of said position/time information from said information terminal apparatus to said information processing apparatus is permitted only if said information processing apparatus is authenticated as a legitimate counterpart for connection.

24. A portable apparatus comprising:

a secret key holding section for holding different secret keys for different apparatuses;

,

an identification information holding section for holding identification information of an apparatus or identification information of a user of said apparatus;

a digital signature means for providing a digital signature of a position/time information indicating position and time of reception of said electromagnetic wave measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite, by means of said secret key held in said secret key holding section; and

a communication means for transmitting to a communication counterpart said identification information held in said identification information holding section and said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto.

25. The portable apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

a public key holding section for holding a public key of a communication counterpart for notification of said position/time information; and

an encryption means for encrypting said position/time information prior to said digital signature by means of said public key of said communication counterpart.

26. The portable apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

a public key holding section for holding a public key of said communication counterpart;

, and

an encryption means for encrypting said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto by means of the public key of said communication counterpart.

27. A portable apparatus comprising:

a secret key holding section for holding different secret keys for different apparatuses;

,

an identification information holding section for holding identification information of an apparatus or identification information of a user of said apparatus;

a digital signature means for providing a digital signature for a position/time information indicating position and time of reception of said electromagnetic wave measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite, by means of said secret key held in said secret key holding section; and

a storage means for storing in externally readable form said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto.

28. The portable apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:

a public key holding section for holding a public key of a communication counterpart for notification of said position/time information; and

an encryption means for encrypting said position/time information prior to said digital signature by means of said public key of said communication counterpart.

29. The portable apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:

a public key holding section for holding a public key of said communication counterpart;

, and

an encryption means for encrypting said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto by means of the public key of said communication counterpart.

30. A portable apparatus comprising:

an IC card mounting section;

a means for providing said IC card with position/time information measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite, the position/time information indicating position and time of reception of said electromagnetic wave; and

a communication means for transmitting to a communication counterpart an IC card user identification information held in said IC card and said position/time information from said IC card, having a digital signature attached thereto.

31. The portable apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

data having said digital signature attached to said position/time information encrypted is outputted from said IC card by means of the public key of said communication counterpart; and

said communication means transmits said encrypted position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto to said communication counterpart.

32. The portable apparatus according to claim 30, wherein

said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto and encrypted by means of the public key of said communication counterpart is outputted from said IC card;

and

said communication means transmits said encrypted information from said IC card to said communication counterpart.

33. A portable apparatus comprising:

an IC card mounting section;

a means for providing said IC card with position/time information measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite, the position/time information indicating position and time of reception of said electromagnetic wave; and

a storage means for storing in externally readable form an IC card user identification information held in said IC card and said position/time information from said IC card, having a digital signature attached thereto.

34. The portable apparatus according to claim 33, wherein

data having said digital signature attached to said position/time information encrypted is outputted from said IC card by means of the public key of said communication counterpart;

and

said encrypted position/time information from said IC card, having said digital signature attached thereto is stored in said storage section.

35. The portable apparatus according to claim 33, wherein

said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto and encrypted by means of the public key of said communication counterpart is outputted from said IC card;

and

said encrypted information from said IC card is stored in said storage section.

38. The IC card according to claim 33, further comprising:

a public key holding section for holding a public key of said communication counterpart;

, and

an encryption means for encrypting said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto by means of the public key of said communication counterpart.

36. An IC card to which position/time information measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite and indicating place and time of reception of said electromagnetic wave is inputted, said IC card comprising:

a secret key holding section for holding a secret key,

an identification information holding section for holding identification information of a user of said IC card;

a digital signature means for providing a digital signature for output to said position/time information by means of said secret key held in said secret key holding section.

37. The IC card according to claim 36, further comprising:

a public key holding section for holding a public key of a communication counterpart for notification of said position/time information; and

an encryption means for encrypting said position/time information prior to said digital signature by means of said public key of said communication counterpart.

39. A method of transmitting position/time information comprising:

a positioning step of receiving an electromagnetic wave from a positioning satellite and measuring a reception position and time;

a digital signature step of providing a digital signature of position/time information indicating said reception position and time acquired in said positioning step by means of a secret key;

a communication step of transmitting to a communication counterpart said position/time information having said digital signature attached thereto;

, and

a transmission step of transmitting identification information of an apparatus or identification information of a user of said apparatus to said communication counterpart in one of prior, after and at time of transmission of said position/time information.

40. The method of transmitting position/time information according to claim 39, further comprising an encryption step of encrypting said position/time information prior to said digital signature step by means of a public key of said communication counterpart;

wherein

said position/time information transmitted to said communication counterpart in said communication step is encrypted.

41. The method of transmitting position/time information according to claim 39, further comprising an encryption step of encrypting said position/time information having attached said digital signature thereto by means of a public key of said communication counterpart held in said public key holding section, said encryption step provided between said digital signature step and said communication step.