System for controlling additional function of communications terminal and the communications terminal

• US 20060052134A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2139 Recurrent verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A technology is disclosed for providing an additional function control system which permits a carrier to select whether or not an additional function possessed by a communications terminal can be made available. A communications network is connected to a communications terminal when using a communications function of the communications terminal which is subscribed to a communication service. An additional function controller manages the additional function of the communications terminal, and provides the communications terminal with additional function control information for controlling the operation of the additional function. The communications terminal comprises an additional function unit for providing the additional function, and limits the operation of the additional function unit based on the additional function control information from the additional function controller.

Claims

1. An additional function control system for controlling an additional function of a terminal having a communications function which requires a connection to a network and for controlling an additional function which does not require a connection to a network, said system comprising:

a communications terminal including an additional function unit for providing the additional function, for limiting the operation of said additional function unit based on additional function control information for controlling the operation of the additional function;

a communications network connected to said communications terminal when using the communications function of said communications terminal which is subscribed to a communication service; and

an additional function controller connected to said communications network for managing the additional function of said communications terminal and for supplying the additional function control information to said communications terminal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information from said additional function controller through said communications network.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information from a computer which has received the additional function control information from said additional function controller.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said additional function control information defines a permission time during which the additional function is made available, and

said communications terminal makes the additional function available for a time corresponding to the permission time.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said additional function control information defines a utilization time limit to which the additional function is made available, and

said communications terminal makes the additional function available until the utilization time limit expires.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said additional function is provided by said additional function unit at a plurality of levels,

said additional function control information defines a level selected from the plurality of levels, and

said communications terminal makes the additional function available at the selected level.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said communications terminal comprises a plurality of said additional function units that provide additional functions that are each different from one another, and

makes operable only an additional function unit which provides an additional function selected from the plurality of additional functions.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communications network permits a connection for a communication between said communications terminal and said additional function controller irrespective of whether or not said communications terminal is subscribed to the communication service provided thereby.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communications network permits a connection in response to a request for a communication from said communications terminal when a carrier identification code included in terminal identification information of said communications terminal indicates that said communications terminal is for use with the carrier of said communications network and the destination of the communication is said additional function controller.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said communications terminal has a removable subscriber identifier which stores subscriber information,

said additional function controller manages the additional function corresponding to said subscriber identifier, and

said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information from said additional function controller before utilizing the additional function, when said subscriber identifier is attached to said communications terminal, to make said additional function unit operable based on the additional function control information, and stops the operation of said additional function unit when said subscriber identifier is removed therefrom.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein:

said additional function controller holds a remaining time during which the additional function is available in said subscriber identifier when said subscriber identifier is not attached to said communications terminal, and

said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information including the remaining time from said additional function controller when said subscriber identifier is attached thereto, manages the remaining time while said subscriber identifier remains attached thereto, and sends the remaining time to said additional function controller before said subscriber identifier is removed therefrom.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said communications terminal sends the remaining time to said additional function controller when a predetermined manipulation is made by a user for removing said subscriber identifier.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein:

said communications terminal notifies said additional function controller of a utilization time when the additional function will be utilized, and

said additional function controller manages a remaining time during which the additional function is available corresponding to said subscriber identifier, and updates the remaining time using the utilization time notified from said communications terminal.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein limitations to the utilization of the additional function are released in said communications terminal when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein:

said additional function controller manages whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, and instructs said communications terminal which satisfies the predetermined condition to release the limitations to the utilization of the additional function, and

said communications terminal releases the limitations to the utilization of the additional function in response to the instruction from said additional function controller.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition is satisfied when a period of subscription to the communication service exceeds a predetermined period.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communications terminal manages a password for utilizing the additional function, requests a user to enter the password when the additional function is utilized, and operates the additional function under the condition that the correct password is entered.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said password is given to said communications terminal from said additional function controller.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein:

said password is a one-time password, and

said communications terminal generates a next password when the user enters the password to utilize the additional function again.

20. A communications terminal having a communications function which requires a network connection and an additional function which does not require a network connection, comprising:

an additional function unit for providing the additional function; and

a control unit for limiting the operation of said additional function unit based on additional function control information provided from an additional function controller for managing the additional function.

21. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein said control unit connects to a network using the communications function to acquire the additional function control information from said additional function controller.

22. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein said control unit acquires the additional function control information from a computer which receives the additional function control information from said additional function controller.

23. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein:

said additional function control information defines a permission time during which the additional function is available, and

said control unit makes the additional function available for a time corresponding to the permission time.

24. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein:

said additional function control information defines a utilization time limit during which the additional function is available, and

said control unit makes the additional function available until the utilization time limit is finished.

25. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein:

said additional function is provided by said additional function unit at a plurality of levels,

said additional function control information defines a level selected from the plurality of levels, and

said control unit makes the additional function available at the selected level.

26. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein:

said communications terminal comprises a plurality of said additional function units that provide additional functions that are each different from one another, and

said control unit makes operable only an additional function unit which provides an additional function selected from the plurality of additional functions.

27. The communications terminal according to claim 20, further comprising a subscriber identifier unit which stores subscriber information that is designed to be removable,

wherein said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information from said additional function controller before utilizing the additional function, when said subscriber identifier is attached to said communications terminal, to make said additional function unit operable based on the additional function control information, and stops the operation of said additional function unit when said subscriber identifier is removed therefrom.

28. The communications terminal according to claim 27, wherein:

said additional function controller has a function of holding a remaining time during which the additional function is available in said subscriber identifier when said subscriber identifier is not attached to said communications terminal, and

said control unit of said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information including the remaining time from said additional function controller when said subscriber identifier is attached, manages the remaining time while said subscriber identifier remains attached, and sends the remaining time to said additional function controller before said subscriber identifier is removed.

29. The communications terminal according to claim 28, wherein said control unit sends the remaining time to said additional function controller when a predetermined manipulation is made by a user for removing said subscriber identifier.

30. The communications terminal according to claim 27, wherein:

said control unit notifies said additional function controller of a utilization time when the additional function is utilized, and

said additional function controller manages a remaining time during which the additional function corresponding to said subscriber identifier is available, and updates the remaining time using the utilization time notified from said communications terminal.

31. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein limitations to the utilization of the additional function in said communications terminal are released when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

32. The communications terminal according to claim 31, wherein:

said additional function controller manages whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, and instructs said communications terminal when the predetermined condition is satisfied, to release the limitations to the utilization of the additional function, and

said control unit of said communications terminal releases the limitations to the utilization of the additional function in response to instructions from said additional function controller.

33. The communications terminal according to claim 31, wherein said predetermined condition is satisfied when a period of subscription to the communication service exceeds a predetermined period.

34. The communications terminal according to claim 20, wherein said control unit manages a password for utilizing the additional function, requests a user to enter the password when the additional function is utilized, and operates the additional function under the condition that the correct password has been entered.

35. The communications terminal according to claim 34, wherein said password is given to said communications terminal from said additional function controller.

36. The communications terminal according to claim 35, wherein:

said password is a one-time password, and

said control unit generates a next password when the user enters the password to utilize the additional function again.