Portable terminal and function limiting method

• US 20060264240A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arai, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/675 the user being required to insert a coded card, e.g. a smart card carrying an integrated circuit chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable terminal including a noncontact IC card function unit and capable of being used by inserting a subscriber information card is provided, in which a noncontact IC card use permission list on which numbers of subscribers permitted to use a noncontact IC card function are registered is prepared in advance; the subscriber number recorded on the subscriber information card is compared with the noncontact IC card use permission list to judge whether or not the relevant subscriber number is in the list, and if the relevant subscriber number is not included in the list, only the function of noncontact IC card function unit is stopped. Accordingly an arbitrary third party is prevented from using the noncontact IC card function in a portable terminal incorporating a noncontact IC card function and capable of being used by inserting a subscriber information card such as an SIM card.

Claims

1. A portable terminal including a noncontact IC card function unit and capable of being used by inserting a subscriber information card, comprising:

a memory unit which stores a noncontact IC card use permission list on which numbers of subscribers permitted to use the noncontact IC card function are registered; and

a controller which compares the subscriber number recorded on said subscriber information card with the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit to judge whether or not the relevant subscriber number is in the list, and which decides whether or not to permit the use of said noncontact IC card function based on the judgment result;

wherein in the case where said relevant subscriber number is not included in the list, only the function of said noncontact IC card function unit is stopped.

2. A portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein when said portable terminal is powered on, said controller reads the subscriber number of said subscriber information card, and compares the read subscriber number with the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit.

3. A portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein when the power of said controller is off,

said noncontact IC card function unit turns on the power of said controller;

and

said controller after powered on reads the subscriber number of said subscriber information card and compares the read subscriber number with the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit.

4. A portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein when the power of said controller is off,

said noncontact IC card function unit reads the subscriber number of said subscriber information card, comparing the read subscriber number and the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit to judge whether or not the relevant subscriber number is in the list, deciding whether or not to permit the use of said noncontact IC card function based on the judgment result.

5. A portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein after the function of said noncontact IC card function unit is stopped, stop setting of the function of said noncontact IC card function unit is canceled by inputting password information.

6. A function limiting method in a portable terminal including a noncontact IC card function unit and capable of being used by inserting a subscriber information card, comprising the steps of:

preparing in advance a noncontact IC card use permission list on which numbers of subscribers permitted to use a noncontact IC card function are registered;

judging whether or not the relevant subscriber number is in the list by comparing the subscriber number recorded on said subscriber information card with said noncontact IC card use permission list; and

stopping only the function of said noncontact IC card function unit, if said relevant subscriber number is not included in said list.