Method and apparatus for controlling utilization of a process added to a portable communication device
DCFirst Claim
1. A method in a communication system operated by a service provider, the method for controlling utilization of a module added to a portable communication device comprising a transceiver which communicates with a fixed portion of the communication system, the method comprising in the portable communication device the steps of:
- receiving a request for utilization of the module;
in response, acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the module; and
disallowing the utilization of the module, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus in a communication system operated by a service provider controls utilization of a module (602, 606) added to a portable communication device (122) including a transceiver (302) which communicates with a fixed portion (102) of the communication system. The portable communication device (122) receives (604) a request for utilization of the module. In response, the portable communication device (122) acts (612) to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the module. The portable communication device (122) disallows (640) the utilization of the module, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method in a communication system operated by a service provider, the method for controlling utilization of a module added to a portable communication device comprising a transceiver which communicates with a fixed portion of the communication system, the method comprising in the portable communication device the steps of:
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receiving a request for utilization of the module; in response, acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the module; and disallowing the utilization of the module, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A portable communication device in a communication system operated by a service provider, the portable communication device for controlling utilization of a module added thereto, the portable communication device comprising:
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a transceiver for communicating with a fixed portion of the communication system; a processor coupled to the transceiver for controlling the portable communication device; a memory coupled to the processor for storing information used by the portable communication device; user controls coupled to the processor for receiving a request for utilization of the module; an authorization element coupled to the processor for acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the module; and a disallower element coupled to the processor for disallowing the utilization of the module, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A controller for use in a fixed portion of a communication system, the controller comprising:
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a processor for controlling operation of the controller; a memory coupled to the processor for storing information used by the controller; a transmitter interface coupled to the processor for transmitting a message to a portable communication device; a receiver interface coupled to the processor for receiving a communication from the portable communication device; apparatus, for authorizing utilization;
of a process added to the portable communication device, the apparatus comprising;a process lister element coupled to the processor maintaining in the memory a list of authorized processes corresponding to the portable communication device; a request receiver element coupled to the processor for receiving a request for an external authorization from the portable communication device, the request comprising at least a process name and a process size corresponding to a process, along with a secure checksum and an address identifying the portable communication device; a list checker element coupled to the processor for checking the list of authorized processes corresponding to the portable communication device identified by the address, to determine whether the module corresponding to the module name is authorized; an external authorization element coupled to the processor for transmitting the external authorization to the portable communication device in response to the module being authorized for the portable communication device; and an authorization denial element coupled to the processor for transmitting a "not authorized" signal to the portable communication device in response to the process not being authorized for the portable communication device.
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12. A method in a communication system operated by a service provider, the method for controlling utilization of a process added to a portable communication device comprising a transceiver which communicates with a fixed portion of the communication system, the method comprising in the portable communication device the steps of:
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receiving a request for utilization of the process; in response, acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the process by making a determination of whether an internal authorization exists for utilizing the process, the determination made from an authorization record stored in the portable communication device, and communicating with the fixed portion to obtain the usage authorization as an external authorization, in response to the internal authorization being absent from the authorization record; allowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being obtained; and disallowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A portable communication device in a communication system operated by a service provider, the portable communication device for controlling utilization of a process added thereto, the portable communication device comprising:
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a transceiver for communicating with a fixed portion of the communication system; a processor coupled to the transceiver for controlling the portable communication device; a memory coupled to the processor for storing information used by the portable communication device; user controls coupled to the processor for receiving a request for utilization of the process; an authorization element coupled to the processor for acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the process, the authorization element comprising; a determination element for making a determination of whether an internal authorization exists for utilizing the process, the determination made from an authorization record stored in the portable communication device, and a radio authorizer element coupled to the determination element for communicating with the fixed portion to obtain the usage authorization as an external authorization, in response to the internal authorization being absent from the authorization record; a second allower element coupled to the radio authorizer element for allowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being obtained; and a disallower element coupled to the processor for disallowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method in a communication system operated by a service provider, the method for controlling utilization of a process added to a portable communication device comprising a transceiver which communicates with a fixed portion of the communication system, the method comprising in the portable communication device the steps of:
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receiving a request for utilization of the process; allowing the utilization of the process; thereafter acting to obtain a usage authorization through a first radio channel of the communication system; and disabling further utilization of the process, in response to receiving no external authorization reply through a second radio channel of the communication system within a predetermined time interval after the step of acting to obtain the usage authorization through the first radio channel is executed.
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21. A method in a communication system operated by a service provider, the method for controlling utilization of a process added to a portable communication device comprising a transceiver which communicates with a fixed portion of the communication system, the method comprising in the portable communication device the steps of:
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receiving a request for utilization of the process; in response, acting to obtain a usage authorization from the fixed portion of the communication system for utilizing the process; in the fixed portion of the communication system comprising the steps of; maintaining a list of authorized processes corresponding to the portable communication device, receiving a request for an external authorization from the portable communication device, the request comprising at least a process name and a process size corresponding to the process, along with a secure checksum and an address identifying the portable communication device, checking the list of authorized processes corresponding to the portable communication device identified by the address, to determine whether the process corresponding to the process name is authorized, transmitting the external authorization to the portable communication device in response to the process being authorized for the portable communication device, transmitting a "not authorized" signal to the portable communication device in response to the process not being authorized for the portable communication device; allowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being obtained; and disallowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable.
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22. A method in a communication system operated by a service provider, the method for controlling utilization of a process added to a portable communication device comprising a transceiver which communicates with a fixed portion of the communication system, the method comprising in the portable communication device the steps of:
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receiving a request for utilization of the process, wherein the process comprises a software module; in response, acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the process; creating an internal authorization in response to obtaining an external authorization, comprising the step of generating a process verification from selected bytes of the software module, wherein the generating step comprises the steps of; choosing the selected bytes of the software module by an address pointer defined by a random process, thereafter performing on the software module an algorithm responsive to the selected bytes to calculate a checksum value, wherein the checksum value and the address pointer become a portion of the process verification, and thereafter storing the internal authorization in an authorization record, comprising the step of placing the process verification into the authorization record as a portion of the internal authorization; and allowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being obtained.
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23. A portable communication device in a communication system operated by a service provider, the portable communication device for controlling utilization of a process added thereto, the portable communication device comprising:
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a transceiver for communicating with a fixed portion of the communication system; a processor coupled to the transceiver for controlling the portable communication device; a memory coupled to the processor for storing information used by the portable communication device; user controls coupled to the processor for receiving a request for utilization of the process; an authorization element coupled to the processor for acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the process, the authorization element comprising; a first allower element for allowing the utilization of the process, and a radio authorizer element coupled to the first allower element for acting to obtain the usage authorization through a first radio channel of the communication system; and a disallower element coupled to the processor for disallowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable, the disallower element comprising a second disabler element coupled to the radio authorizer element for disabling further utilization of the process, in response to receiving no external authorization reply through a second radio channel of the communication system within a predetermined time interval after the radio authorizer element acts to obtain the usage authorization through the first radio channel.
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24. A portable communication device in a communication system operated by a service provider, the portable communication device for controlling utilization of a process added thereto, the portable communication device comprising:
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a transceiver for communicating with a fixed portion of the communication system; a processor coupled to the transceiver for controlling the portable communication device; a memory coupled to the processor for storing information used by the portable communication device; user controls coupled to the processor for receiving a request for utilization of the process; an authorization element coupled to the processor for acting to obtain a usage authorization for utilizing the process, wherein the process comprises a software module; a creator element for creating an internal authorization in response to obtaining an external authorization, comprising a generator element for generating a process verification from selected bytes of the software module, wherein the generator element comprises; a chooser element for choosing the selected bytes of the software module by an address pointer defined by a random process; and a checksum calculator element coupled to the chooser element for performing on the software module an algorithm responsive to the selected bytes to calculate a checksum value, wherein the checksum value and the address pointer become a portion of the process verification, and a storer element coupled to the creator element for storing the internal authorization in an authorization record in the memory, the storer element comprising a placer element for placing the process verification into the authorization record as a portion of the internal authorization; and a disallower element coupled to the processor for disallowing the utilization of the process, in response to the usage authorization being unobtainable.
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Specification