Cell phone feature

• US 20040204021A1
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X-Cyte Inc.
• Original Assignee: X-Cyte Inc.
• Inventors: Cocita, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention permits safeguarding of private data entered into a memory chip of a cell phone by permitting the cell phone owner to erase the data in a lost or stolen phone, using an preset erase code and erase command in the cell phone or the network base station, and disabling or erasing circuitry on the memory chip, preferably an EEPROM chip.

Claims

1. A mobile cell phone apparatus with enhanced privacy, comprising:

a) a first memory for storing identification numbers of the apparatus,

b) transmitting/reception means for transmitting and receiving a call in accordance with said identification numbers,

c) a memory device selected from one of an EEPROM, a FLASH, a SRAM with a battery, and a FRAM, said memory device comprising a programmable data base for private data, and a predetermined address for an erase code,

d) means for entering a preset erase code at the predetermined location, and

e) erasing means for erasing said data base on receipt of the erase code.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications circuitry comprises means for receiving an erase code, and said erasing means comprises comparing means for comparing the received erase code to the preset erase code at the predetermined location, means for erasing the data base of private data in response to predetermined relationship of received erase code and preset erase code.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for erasing the database comprises disabling circuitry which permanently erases the database.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the disabling circuitry provides excessive voltage that causes the memory to malfunction.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for erasing the database comprises decoupling the database from its power source.

6. In a mobile telecommunications system comprising a plurality of individual mobile cell phone apparatus, and a mobile telephone switching office, the mobile phone apparatus with enhanced individual user privacy comprising the apparatus of claim 1.

7. The mobile telecommunications system of claim 6, further comprising at least one base station in radio communication with the individual apparatus, at least one radio channel control station in radio communication with the at least one base station.

8. In a mobile telecommunications system with enhanced individual user privacy, comprising a plurality of individual mobile cell phone apparatus and a mobile telephone switching office, at least one selected apparatus having a PROM for storing private data including an erase code, and a unique telephone number, a method for safeguarding data entered into the selected telephone apparatus, said method comprising:

receiving a message containing the erase code from the switching network at the selected mobile phone apparatus, from the switching network, and;

an erase command erases the private data.

9. The mobile telecommunications system with enhanced individual user privacy of claim 8, wherein the erase command is stored in the selected apparatus.

10. The mobile telecommunications system with enhanced individual user privacy of claim 9, wherein the selected apparatus further comprises telecommunications circuitry which compares the erase code of the message with the erase code of the apparatus, and if it finds a match, directs the selected apparatus to perform the erase command.

11. In a mobile telecommunications system with enhanced individual user privacy, comprising a plurality of individual mobile telephone apparatus and a mobile telephone switching office, at least one selected apparatus having a PROM for storing private data, and a unique telephone number, a method for safeguarding data entered into the selected telephone apparatus, said method comprising:

sending a message including an erase code from the selected apparatus to the switching station;

sending a message containing the unique telephone number and its erase code to the switching station;

receiving a disable message from the switching network at the selected mobile phone apparatus;

in response to the disable message, an erase command erases the private data.

12. The mobile telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein the erase command is stored in the selected apparatus.

15. The memory device of claim 12 wherein the memory device is selected from one of an EEPROM, a FLASH, a SRAM with a battery, and a FRAM.

13. A memory device for storing private data in a cell phone, said device comprising a SIM with a subscriber identity, an address for an erase code and means for entering a preset erase code at the address, and means for erasing the private data upon receipt of an on-air signal containing the erase code.

14. The memory device of claim 13, wherein the means for presetting an erase code directly therein comprises means for matching the SIM of the memory device with the SIM of the erase code signal.

16. A cell phone recharging cradle comprising a dock for the cell phone said dock comprising recharging circuitry which connects to the phone when the phone is in the dock, and cell phone interface circuitry which connects to the phone when the phone is in the dock, and upload/download cell phone memory device, said device comprising a micro-controller, comprising an application for comparing the numbers in the cell phone memory with the numbers in the cradle, and downloads to the cradle any new numbers in the phone, and uploads to the phone any numbers in the cradle but not in the phone.

17. A cell phone recharging cradle comprising a dock for the cell phone said dock comprising recharging circuitry which connects to the phone when the phone is in the dock, said cradle further comprising an upload/download slot for a cell phone memory device, said slot comprising a micro-controller, and interface circuitry in communication with a cell phone placed in the dock.

18. The cell phone recharging cradle of claim 17, further comprising an upload/download slot for a cell phone memory device, said slot comprising a micro-controller, and interface circuitry in communication with the memory of a cell phone placed in the dock.

19. The cell phone recharging cradle of claim 17, further comprising an upload/download slot for a cell phone memory device, said slot comprising a micro-controller, and interface circuitry in communication with the cradle memory.