Card-equipped portable telephone with a security feature

• US 6,128,511 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Irie, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US08/901,242
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/411, 455/410, 455/566, 455/551, 455/558, 455/571, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• 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: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable telephone set includes a card, a portable telephone set body, a card insertion detecting circuit, and a control section. The card has a ROM in which the identification information and password of a subscriber are stored in advance. The portable telephone set body has at least a radio section for transmitting/receiving a radio signal, and is used to perform originating and terminating operations. The card insertion detecting circuit detects insertion of the card in the portable telephone set body. The control section sets the portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of the card is detected by the card insertion detecting circuit and the power supply of the portable telephone set is turned on while the card is inserted therein, and sets the portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state.

Claims

1. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having at least radio means for transmitting/receiving a radio signal, and adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detecting means for detecting insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body;

control means for setting said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and for setting said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state; and

power control means for turning on a power supply of said control means in accordance with a detection signal from said card insertion detecting means.

2. A telephone set according to claim 1, wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the correct password is input in the password input wait state and when the power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body.

3. A telephone set according to claim 2, wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein within a predetermined period of time after a last power-off operation, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after a lapse of not less than the predetermined period of time since a last power-off operation.

4. A telephone set according to claim 2, further comprising:

a second memory mounted in said portable telephone set body and adapted to store the identification information and the password read out from said card; and

a battery for supplying power to said memory, and

wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while power is left in said battery, and said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while no power is left in said battery, and said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body.

5. A telephone set according to claim 2, further comprising first and second power supply keys for independently controlling the power supply of said portable telephone set body, and

wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned off by using said first power supply key, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned off by using said second power supply key.

6. A telephone set according to claim 5, wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein within a predetermined period of time after the power supply is turned off by using said second power supply key, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after a lapse of not less than the predetermined period of time since the power supply is turned off by using said second power supply key.

7. A telephone set according to claim 1, further comprising a card slot which is formed in said portable telephone set to allow said card to be inserted therein, and

wherein said card insertion detecting means detects insertion of said card into said card slot.

8. A telephone set according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises:

a central processing unit for executing a control program; and

a second memory storing the control program executed by said central processing unit.

9. A portable telephone set according to claim 1 wherein said power control means turns off the power supply of said control means when the password input in the password input wait state is incorrect.

10. A portable telephone set according to claim 1 wherein said power control means turns off the power supply of said control means immediately when the password input in the password input wait state is incorrect.

11. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having at least radio means for transmitting/receiving a radio signal, and adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detecting means for detecting insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body; and

control means for setting said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and for setting said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state,

wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the correct password is input in the password input wait state and when the power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein within a predetermined period of time after a last power-off operation, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after a lapse of not less than the predetermined period of time since a last power-off operation.

12. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having at least radio means for transmitting/receiving a radio signal, and adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detecting means for detecting insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body; and

control means for setting said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and for setting said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state;

a second memory mounted in said portable telephone set body and adapted to store the identification information and the password read out from said card; and

a battery for supplying power to said memory,

wherein said control means sets said second portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the correct password is input in the password input wait state and when the power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while power is left in said battery, and said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while no power is left in said battery, and said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body.

13. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having at least radio means for transmitting/receiving a radio signal, and adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detecting means for detecting insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body;

control means for setting said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and for setting said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state; and

first and second power supply keys for independently controlling the power supply of said portable telephone set body,

wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the correct password is input in the password input wait state and when the power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned off by using said first power supply key, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned off by using said second power supply key.

14. A telephone set according to claim 13, wherein said control means sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein within a predetermined period of time after the power supply is turned off by using said second power supply key, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after a lapse of not less than the predetermined period of time since the power supply is turned off by using said second power supply key.

15. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having a transmitter/receiver of a radio signal, and being adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detector which detects insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body;

a controller which sets said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detector and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and sets said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state; and

a power controller which turns on a power supply of said controller in accordance with a detection signal from said card insertion detector.

16. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having a transmitter/receiver of a radio signal, and being adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detector which detects insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body; and

controller which sets said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and sets said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state,

wherein said controller sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detector, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the correct password is input in the password input wait state and when the power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

wherein said controller sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein within a predetermined period of time after a last power-off operation, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after a lapse of not less than the predetermined period of time since a last power-off operation.

17. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having a transmitter/receiver of a radio signal, and being adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detector which detects insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body; and

controller which sets said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detector and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and for setting said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state;

a second memory mounted in said portable telephone set body and adapted to store the identification information and the password read out from said card; and

a battery for supplying power to said second memory,

wherein said controller sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detector, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the correct password is input in the password input wait state and when the power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

wherein said controller sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while power is left in said battery, and said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while no power is left in said battery, and said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body.

18. A portable telephone set comprising:

a card having a first memory in which identification information and a password of a subscriber are stored in advance;

a portable telephone set body having a transmitter/receiver of a radio signal, and being adapted to perform originating and terminating operations;

a card insertion detector which detects insertion of said card in said portable telephone set body;

controller which sets said portable telephone set body in a password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detecting means and a power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted therein, and sets said portable telephone set body in a wait state allowing said originating and terminating operations only when a correct password is input in the password input wait state; and

first and second power supply keys for independently controlling the power supply of said portable telephone set body,

wherein said controller sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when insertion of said card is detected by said card insertion detector, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the correct password is input in the password input wait state and when the power supply of said portable telephone set is turned on while said card is inserted in said portable telephone set body, and

wherein said controller sets said portable telephone set body in the password input wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned off by using said first power supply key, and

sets said portable telephone set body in the wait state when the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned on while said card is inserted therein after the power supply of said portable telephone set body is turned off by using said second power supply key.