Communication Apparatus, Communication Apparatus Protecting Method and Program

• US 20080134303A1
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: REKIMOTO, Junichi
• Application Number:
  US11/942,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A communication apparatus capable of wireless communications with one or more base stations is disclosed. The communication apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from the base station, a judging unit configured to judge whether the communication apparatus is located in an area satisfying a predetermined criterion, in accordance with the signal received at the receiving unit, and an authentication unit configured to perform an authentication process for a user of the communication apparatus if the judging unit judges that the communication apparatus is not located in the area satisfying the criterion.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus capable of wireless communications with one or more base stations, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from the base station;

a judging unit configured to judge whether the communication apparatus is located in an area satisfying a predetermined criterion, in accordance with the signal received at the receiving unit; and

an authentication unit configured to perform an authentication process for a user of the communication apparatus if the judging unit judges that the communication apparatus is not located in the area satisfying the criterion.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a measuring unit configured to measure a signal intensity of each signal received at the receiving unit; and

wherein if the communication apparatus estimated from the signal intensity measured by the measuring unit and known position information of the base station, is located in a preset area, the judging unit judges that the criterion is satisfied.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a notifying unit configured to notify the estimated position of the communication apparatus to a registered contact site if the authentication unit cannot authenticate a user of the communication apparatus.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the authentication unit performs the authentication process for the user of the communication apparatus while the position of the communication apparatus cannot be estimated.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, the authentication unit performs the authentication process for the user of the communication apparatus at a predetermined time interval while the position of the communication apparatus cannot be estimated.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 1, the preset area is variable in accordance with a timing of judging by the judging unit.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit capable of storing base station identification information uniquely assigned to the base station or each of the base stations, and

wherein the judging unit compares base station identification information indicating a transmission source of each signal received at the receiving unit with the base station identification information stored in the storage unit, to judge whether the communication apparatus is located in the area satisfying the criterion.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the judging unit judges that the communication apparatus is not located in the area satisfying the criterion, if the number or a ratio of pieces of the base station identification information indicating the transmission source of each signal received at the receiving unit, relative to pieces of the base station identification information stored in the storage unit, is smaller than a first boundary value.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the judging unit judges that the communication apparatus is not located in the area satisfying the criterion, if the number or a ratio of pieces of the base station identification information indicating the transmission source of each signal received at the receiving unit, relative to pieces of the base station identification information not stored in the storage unit, is larger than a second boundary value.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a data processing unit configured to store, in the storage unit, base station identification information indicating the transmission source of each signal received at the receiving unit, and not stored in the storage unit, if the user of the communication apparatus is not authenticated by the authentication unit.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the data processing unit deletes the base station identification information from the storage unit if the receiving unit does not receive a signal over a predetermined time period.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inhibiting unit configured to inhibit use of the communication apparatus if the authentication unit cannot authenticate the user of the communication apparatus.

13. A communication apparatus protecting method for a communication apparatus capable of wireless communications with one or more base stations, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal transmitted from the base station;

judging whether the communication apparatus is located in an area satisfying a predetermined criterion, in accordance with the received signal; and

performing an authentication process for a user of the communication apparatus, if it is judged that the communication apparatus is not located in the area satisfying the criterion.

14. A program for making a computer function as a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus being capable of wireless communications with one or more base stations and comprising:

receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from the base station;

judging means for judging whether the communication apparatus is located in an area satisfying a predetermined criterion, in accordance with the signal received at the receiving means; and

authenticating means for performing an authentication process for a user of the communication apparatus if the judging means judges that the communication apparatus is not located in the area satisfying the criterion.