GENERATION OF A TIME-DEPENDENT PASSWORD, PARTICULARLY IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20110130120A1
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Hoeksel, Sebastiaan, Koraichi, Najib, Waters, Patrick H.
• Application Number:
  US12/842,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0846 using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords
• 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: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

There is provided a mobile communication device. An exemplary mobile communication device comprises a terminal. The exemplary mobile communication device also comprises a smartcard connected to the terminal, the smartcard comprising a power source and a clock unit that can be supplied with power by the power source. The exemplary mobile communication device additionally comprises a processing unit adapted to generate a time-dependent password based on a time signal from the clock unit.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a terminal;

a smartcard connected to the terminal, the smartcard comprising a power source and a clock unit that can be supplied with power by the power source; and

a processing unit adapted to generate a time-dependent password based on a time signal from the clock unit.

2. The mobile communication device recited in claim 1, wherein the power source can be charged from the terminal when the terminal is turned on.

3. The mobile communication device recited in claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

4. The mobile communication device recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is included in the smartcard.

5. The mobile communication device recited in claim 1, wherein the smartcard is adapted to receive an external time signal and to synchronize the clock unit and the time signal.

6. The mobile communication device recited in claim 5, wherein the external time signal is provided via a communication network to which the mobile communication device can be connected.

7. The mobile communication device recited in claim 5, wherein the smartcard is adapted to check, whether the external time signal is accessible, and to synchronize the clock unit and the time signal, when it is determined that the external time signal is accessible.

8. The mobile communication device recited in claim 1, wherein the smartcard comprises a user identification module for identifying and/or authenticating a subscriber to a mobile communication network to which the mobile communication device can be connected.

9. The mobile communication device recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is unlocked for generating the time-dependent password after an authorization code entered by a user for the mobile communication device is verified successfully.

10. A smartcard for use in a mobile communication device, the smartcard comprising:

a power source;

a clock unit, which can be supplied with power by the power source, the clock unit being adapted to generate a time signal; and

a processing unit adapted to generate a time-dependent password based on the time signal.

11. A method for generating a time-dependent password in a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

supplying a smartcard of the mobile communication device with power from a power source included in the smartcard, the smartcard including a clock unit that generates a time signal; and

generating the time-dependent password in a processing unit based on the time signal.