Password-protected pager

• US 5,933,764 A
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Katayama, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/861,771
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 455/38.4, 455/566, 455/575, 455/186.1, 455/38.1, 455/31.1, 455/418, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 340/825.51, 340/825.52, 340/825.31, 395/186, 395/188.01, 395/185.01
• US Class Current: 340/7.51
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for

Abstract

A radio selective calling receiver protects security by remaining inoperable despite manipulation of switches by a third party. The receiver includes a switch state detector which detects the manipulated state of switches of the switch unit, and that, when functions are selected while a password input mode is in effect, withholds command input by selection switches when the correct password is not inputted, outputs the withheld command input when the correct password is inputted. The receiver also includes an input password judging unit which collates an input password with a collation password stored in a collation password memory, judges whether or not the inputted password is correct, and outputs a judgment result; a password input control unit that causes a display unit to display a request for password input when in the password input mode; a function/item selection control unit that outputs a selected function activation signal and a selected item command signal based on command input from the switch state detector; and a password input mode setting unit that sets or cancels the password input mode.

Claims

1. A radio selective calling receiver which operates in a "password input mode" that requires input of a password when receiver functions are selected and in a "password input not required mode" that does not require input of a password when receiver functions are selected, said receiver comprising:

a control unit which, when switches are manipulated to select functions in said "password input mode," displays a message directing input of a password, following which correct input of said password is checked before a function selected by said switches is activated, and which, when switches are manipulated to select functions in said "password input not required mode," causes said selected functions to be immediately activated; and

a unit which sets and alters said "password input mode" and said "password input not required mode" in accordance with selections on a menu screen.

2. A radio selective calling receiver comprising an antenna that receives radio waves from a base station, a radio unit that generates and outputs a digital signal transmitted from a base station by demodulating a radio frequency signal outputted from said antenna, a memory that stores data inputted from a subscriber and received data from a base station, and a control unit that controls operation of said receiver, wherein

when functions are selected, said control unit executes different control depending on whether a "password input mode" that requires input of a password or a "password input not required mode" that does not require input of a password is in effect, and

said control unit further comprises:

(A) function/item selection control means that controls selection and activation of functions as well as selection of selection items;

(B) display means that displays menu screens including screens for selecting said functions and said selection items;

(C) menu screen setting means that generates said menu screens;

(D) switch state detection means which detects a manipulated state of said switches and which, if function selections switches are manipulated during said "password input mode" that requires input of a password when selecting functions, stores command input by said selection switches into said memory until input of a correct password, reads out said command input stores in said memory when said password is correctly inputted and outputs to said function/item selection control means;

if function selection switches are manipulated during a "password input not required mode" that does not require input of a password when selecting functions, immediately outputs said command input to said function/item selection control means; and

which, when a command input switch of a selection item is manipulated, immediately outputs to the function/item selection control means whether in the "password input mode" or "password input not required mode";

(E) collation password storage means that stores in advance collation passwords for collating with said inputted password;

(F) input password judgment means that collates a password inputted by said switches with a collation password that is read from said memory and judges whether there is a match or not, and outputs a judgment result notification signal of said password;

(G) password input control means which, when function selection switches are manipulated during said "password input mode," receives command input of said function selection switches that is outputted from the switch state detection means and causes display requesting input of a password on said display means;

which outputs to said input password judging means when said password is outputted from said switch state detection means; and

which transfers said password judgment result notification signal from said input password judging means to said switch state detection means; and

(H) password input mode setting means that sets and cancels said "password input mode" by said switches in accordance with a menu screen displayed on said display means.

3. A radio selective calling receiver comprising:

password input mode setting means for setting said receiver to operate in a "password input mode" or a "password input not required mode," said "password input mode" corresponding to a mode which requires input of a password in order for functions of said receiver to be selected and said "password input not required mode" corresponding to a mode which does not require input of a password for said functions to be selected;

switching means for selecting said functions;

means for immediately activating said functions when said functions are selected by said switching means and said receiver is in said "password input not required mode;

" and

means for displaying a message requesting input of a password when said functions are selected by said switching means and said receiver is in said "password input mode."

4. The radio selective calling receiver of claim 3, further comprising:

means for storing a correct password;

means for receiving input of a password;

judging means for comparing said input password to said correct password; and

selecting means for selecting said functions in said "password input mode" when said judging means determines that said input password matches said correct password in said memory.

5. The radio selective calling receiver of claim 3, wherein said message display means displays a menu for allowing a user to set or alter said receiver to one of said "password input mode" and said "password input not required mode."

6. A method for controlling access to messages received by a radio selective calling receiver, comprising:

setting said receiver to operate in a "password input mode" or a "password input not required mode," said "password input mode" corresponding to a mode which requires input of a password in order for functions of said receiver to be selected and said "password input not required mode" corresponding to a mode which does not require input of a password for said functions to be selected;

selecting said functions;

immediately activating said functions in response to selection of said functions and when said receiver is in said "password input not required mode;

" and

displaying a message requesting input of a password in response to selection of said functions and when said receiver is in said "password input mode."

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing a correct password;

receiving input of a password;

comparing said input password to said correct password; and

selecting said functions in said "password input mode" when said input password matches said correct password in said memory.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying a menu for allowing a user to set or alter said receiver to one of said "password input mode" and said "password input not required mode."