System and method for preventing the unauthorized use of a mobile communication device

• US 6,173,172 B1
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos Company Limited (Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nippon Shinpan Co. Ltd. (Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Yasuaki, Masuda, Hidehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US08/979,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/406, 455/407, 455/550, 455/558, 455/575, 380/23
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The invention provides for the disabling of a communication device even when information has been obtained unlawfully which is required for communication, such as unique identification information of a communication device (SID) and a unique identification information of a subscriber (PID). The invention provides for the storing as at least a unique identification information of a communication device, a unique identification information of subscriber, and a first identification information derived from the unique identification information of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber into a memory area of mobile communication device; derive a second identification information from the unique identification information of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber being stored, at a time when using the communication device, comparing the first identification information being stored in the communication device and the second identification information and permitting a use of the communication device when the first and second identification information have been matched.

Claims

1. A method of preventing an unauthorized use of a mobile communication device comprising:

storing unique identification information of a communication device, unique identification information of a subscriber and a first identification information derived from the unique identification information of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber into at least one memory storage area of a mobile communication device;

deriving a second identification information from the unique identification of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber being stored at a time when said communication device is in use;

wherein said second identification information is derived within said device;

comparing the first identification information stored in said communication device and the second identification information; and

permitting use of said communication device based upon the comparison of said first and second identification information when they match.

2. A method of preventing the unauthorized use of a mobile communication device according to claim 1, further comprising, when a result of comparing the first identification information and the second identification has not matched, subsequently disabling the use of said communication device.

3. A method of preventing the unauthorized use of a mobile communication device according to claim 1, further comprising, when a result of comparing the first identification information and the second identification has not matched, subsequently disabling the use of said communication device.

4. A unauthorized use prevention system of a mobile communication device, comprising:

a mobile communication device in which at least unique identification information of a communication device, unique identification information of a subscriber, and a first identification information derived from the unique identification information of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber are stored;

means for reading said stored information;

means for deriving a second identification information from the unique identification information of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber stored in said mobile communication device;

wherein said second identification information is derived within said device;

means for comparing the first identification information stored in said communication device and the second identification information derived by said means for deriving the second identification information; and

means for permitting use of said communication device when said first and second identification information are found to match by said means for comparing.

5. A unauthorized use prevention system of a mobile communication device according to claim 4, wherein, when a result of comparing the first identification information and the second identification information has not matched, subsequently disabling the use of said communication device.

6. A method of preventing an unauthorized use of a mobile communication device comprising:

storing unique identification information of a communication device, unique identification information of a subscriber and a first identification information derived from the unique identification information of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber into at least one memory storage area of a mobile communication device;

deriving a second identification information from the unique identification of the communication device and the unique identification information of the subscriber being stored at a time when said communication device is in use;

comparing the first identification information stored in said communication device and the second identification information;

permitting use of said communication device based upon the comparison of said first and second identification information when they match; and

wherein said comparison occurs within said device.