Information terminal device and control method for the same

• US 6,336,038 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Masanobu, Nojima, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US09/204,172
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409, 455/410, 455/411, 455/556, 455/557, 455/550, 455/422, 455/456, 455/569
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An information terminal device and a cellular phone are interconnected by a connector in order to efficiently perform the locking of personal information separate for individual users. A number checking unit compares the phone number of the cellular phone with phone numbers stored in a memory of the information terminal device. In accordance with the phone number of the cellular phone, the information terminal device manages the access to the information stored in an external information storage and a location point list storage.

Claims

1. An information terminal device comprising:

a connector that connects to a cellular phone that communicates with an external device;

a communicator that controls data communication with the cellular phone;

a memory associated with the external device and accessible by the cellular phone, said memory storing data;

a data output unit that outputs the data stored in the memory;

a detector that detects an identification number of the cellular phone when the cellular phone communicates with the communicator; and

an access controller that allows or prevents access to the data stored in the memory depending on whether the cellular phone is pre-registered to access the data,

wherein the access controller prevents the access to the data stored in the memory when the identification number is not pre-registered or the identification number is not detected.

2. An information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing a plurality of identification numbers of cellular phones to be registered, and wherein the access controller controls the access to data stored in the memory separately for each identification number.

3. An information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller is received via a cellular phone connected to the connector.

4. An information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller includes at least one of a received E-mail list, on-line-obtained information obtained from an external device, and a phone number list.

5. An information terminal device according to claim 1 further comprising a navigation device, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller is settable by a user in the navigation device.

6. An information terminal device according to claim 5, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller is received via a cellular phone connected to the connector.

7. An information terminal device according to claim 6, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller includes at least one of a received E-mail list, on-line-obtained information obtained from an external device, and a phone number list.

8. An information terminal device according to claim 5, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller includes at least one of a registered location point list, route data, and locus data.

9. An information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a position detector that detects a present position of a mobile body,

wherein the access controller controls the access to data stored in the memory, in accordance with the position detected by the position detector.

10. An information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a time detector that detects a present time,

wherein the access controller controls the access to data stored in the memory, in accordance with the time detected by the time detector.

11. An information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the access to the data is varied and controlled in correspondence to the identification number that is detected.

12. An information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the external device is installed in a vehicle.

13. An information terminal device comprising:

a communication device that communicates with an external device;

a connector that connects to the communication device, the connector communication with the external device;

a memory associated with the external device and accessible by communication device, said memory storing data;

a data output unit that outputs the data from the memory;

a detector that detects identification data of the communication device when the communication device communicates with the external device; and

an access controller that restricts access to the data stored in the memory depending on whether the communication device is pre-registered to access the data,

wherein the access controller prevents access to the data stored in the memory when the identification data detected by the detector is not pre-registered or the identification data is not detected.

14. An information terminal device according to claim 13, wherein the communication device is a cellular phone, and the identification data is a phone number of the cellular phone.

15. An information terminal device according to claim 13, wherein the information terminal device allows a plurality of pieces of identification data of cellular phones to be registered, and the access to data stored in the memory is controlled separately for each piece of the identification data.

16. An information terminal device according to claim 13, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller is received via the communication device.

17. An information terminal device according to claim 16, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller includes at least one of a received E-mail list, on-line-obtained information obtained from an external device, and a phone number list.

18. An information terminal device according to claim 13, wherein the access to the data is varied and controlled in correspondence to the identification data that is detected.

19. An information terminal device according to claim 13, wherein the external device is installed in a vehicle.

20. A control method for an information terminal device comprising:

providing a cellular phone that communicates with an external device;

providing a connector between the cellular phone and the external device;

controlling data communication with the cellular phone;

storing data in a memory associated with the external device and accessible by the cellular phone;

outputting data stored in the memory;

detecting an identification number of the cellular phone when the cellular phone communicates with the external device; and

preventing an access to data stored in the memory when the identification number is not pre-registered or the identification number is not detected.

21. A control method for an information terminal device according to claim 20 further comprising:

storing a plurality of identification numbers of cellular phones to be registered; and

controlling the access to data stored in the memory separately for each identification number.

22. A control method for an information terminal device according to claim 20 further comprising:

determining whether data stored in the memory is received via the cellular phone; and

preventing the access to the data received via the cellular phone.

23. A control method for an information terminal device according to claim 22, wherein data to be prevented the access includes at least one of a received E-mail list, on-line-obtained information obtained from an external device, and a phone number list.

24. A control method for an information terminal device according to claim 20, wherein data to be prevented the access is set by user in a navigation system.

25. A control method for an information terminal device according to claim 20, further comprising providing the external device in a vehicle.

26. A control method for an information terminal device according to claim 20, further comprising varying and controlling the access to the data in correspondence to the identification number that is detected.

27. A vehicle comprising:

a body defining an interior space; and

an information terminal device installed within the interior space, the information terminal device comprising;

an external device installed in the vehicle and cooperable with a cellular phone;

a connector that connects to the cellular phone, the connector communicating with the external device;

a communicator that controls data communication with the cellular phone;

a memory associated with the external device and accessible by the cellular phone, said memory storing data;

a data output unit that outputs the data stored in the memory;

a detector that detects an identification number of the cellular phone when the cellular phone communicates with the communicator; and

an access controller that allows or prevents access to the data stored in the memory depending on whether the cellular phone is pre-registered to access the data,

wherein the access controller prevents the access to the data stored in the memory when the identification number is not pre-registered or the identification number is not detected.

28. A vehicle according to claim 27, wherein access to the data is varied and controlled in correspondence to the identification number that is detected.

29. A vehicle comprising:

a body defining an interior space; and

an information terminal device installed within the interior space, the information terminal device comprising;

an external device that communicates with a communication device;

a connector that connects to the communication device, the connector communicating with the external device;

a memory associated with the external device and accessible by the communication device, said memory storing data;

a data output unit that outputs the data from the memory;

a detector that detects identification data of the communication device when the communication device communicates with the external device; and

an access controller that restricts access to the data stored in the memory depending on whether the communication device is pre-registered to access the data,

wherein the access controller prevents access to the data stored in the memory when the identification data detected by the detector is not pre-registered or the identification data is not detected.

30. A vehicle according to claim 29, wherein the access to the data is varied and controlled in correspondence to the identification number that is detected.

31. An information terminal device that is accessible by a plurality of individuals, each of said individuals having a cellular telephone, the device comprising:

an external device;

a connector that connects to the cellular phone, the connector communicating with the external device;

a memory, associated with the external device and accessible by the cellular phone, that stores data;

a data output unit that outputs the data stored in the memory;

a detector that detects an identification number of each said cellular phone when each said cellular phone attempts to access the memory; and

an access controller that

     1) prevents access to the data stored in the memory when, for each said cellular phone, the identification number is not pre-registered or detected and

     2) allows access to the data stored in the memory for each said cellular phone for which the identification number thereof is detected and pre-registered to access the data.

32. An information terminal device according to claim 31, wherein the external device is installed in a vehicle.

33. An information terminal device according to claim 31 wherein the access to the data is varied and controlled in correspondence to the identification number that is detected.

34. An information terminal device comprising:

an external device that communicates with a cellular phone;

a connector that connects to the cellular phone, the connector communicating with the external device;

a communicator that controls data communication with the cellular phone;

a memory associated with the external device and accessible by the cellular phone, said memory storing data;

a data output unit that outputs the data stored in the memory;

a detector that detects an identification number of the cellular phone when the cellular phone communicates with the communicator; and

an access controller that allows or prevents access to the data stored in the memory depending on whether the cellular phone is pre-registered to access the data,

wherein the access controller prevents the access to the data stored in the memory when the identification number is not pre-registered or the identification number is not detected.

35. An information terminal device according to claim 34, wherein the data to be controlled by the access controller is received via a cellular phone connected to the connector.

36. An information terminal device according to claim 35, wherein the data to be controlled by the access controller includes at least one of a received E-mail list, on-line-obtained information obtained from an external device, and a phone number list.

37. An information terminal device according to claim 34, further comprising a navigation device, wherein data to be controlled by the access controller is settable by a user in the navigation device.

38. An information terminal device according to claim 37, wherein the data to be controlled by the access controller is received via a cellular phone connected to the connector.

39. An information terminal device according to claim 38 wherein the data to be controlled by the access controller includes at least one of a received E-mail list, on-line-obtained information obtained from an external device, and a phone number list.

40. An information terminal device according to claim 37, wherein the data to be controlled by the access controller includes at least one of a registered location point list, route data, and locus data.

41. An information terminal device according to claim 34, wherein the access to the data is varied and controlled in correspondence to the identification number that is detected.

42. An information terminal device according to claim 34, wherein the external device is installed in a vehicle.

43. An information terminal device according to claim 34, further comprising means for storing a plurality of indentification number of cellular phones to be registered, and wherein the access controller controls the access to the data stored in the memory separately for each identification number.

44. An information terminal device according to claim 34, further comprising a position detector that detects a present position of a mobile body,

wherein the access controller controls the access to the data stored in the memory, in accordance with the position detected by the position detector.

45. An information terminal device according to claim 34, further comprising a time detector that detects a present time, wherein the access controller controls the access to the data stored in the memory, in accordance with the time detected by the time detector.