Method for the programming of an instrument, especially a mobile telephone

• US 6,484,024 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sagem Communications (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Sagem SA (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Darnault, Patrick, Marjollet, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Naghmeh
• Application Number:
  US09/434,407
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/418, 455/420, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/229 Hierarchy of users of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

To facilitate the customization of instruments, especially mobile telephones whose operation is validated by a chip card, it is planned to use a cargo chip card provided in its memory firstly with complementary function elements and, secondly, with unloading units. As and when the functions are unloaded into the mobile telephone, the units are obliterated. It is shown that in this way the distribution of the services is organized in a simple manner in preventing piracy on the one hand and complicated procedures on the other.

Claims

1. A method for the programming of an instrument wherein:

instructions to be performed by this instrument are stored in a program memory of the instrument,

wherein the method comprises the following steps;

instruction elements to be executed are recorded in a cargo chip card,

a step of unloading these instruction elements coming from a chip card reader of the instrument is recorded in a program for resetting the instrument,

the cargo chip card is placed in the instrument,

the resetting program is used to activate the unloading of the instruction elements,

the instructions are then executed by means of these instruction elements,

instructions to be executed by the instrument are stored in a program memory of the instrument in latched form, and

keys for the unlatching of the latched stored instructions are unloaded into the cargo chip card.

2. A method for the programming of an instrument wherein:

instructions to be performed by this instrument are stored in a program memory of the iustrument,

wherein the method comprises the following steps;

instruction elements to be executed are recorded in a cargo chip card,

a step of unloading these instruction elements coming from a chip card reader of the instrument is recorded in a program for resetting the instrument,

the cargo chip card is placed in the instrument,

the resetting program is used to activate the unloading of the instruction elements,

the instructions are then executed by means of these instruction elements,

instructions to be executed by the instrument are stored in a program memory of the instrument in latched form, and

keys for the unlatching of the latched stored instructions are unloaded from the cargo chip card.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of counting the number of unloading operations during an unloading of the instruction elements in the instrument.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the resetting program is activated in an operation for putting the instrument into service.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein:

in the resetting program, a test is performed to find out if the chip card linked with the reader is a cargo chip whose contents must be unloaded, and

if necessary, a test is performed to find out if the cargo chip card has already been unloaded into the program memory of the instrument.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein:

to use the unloaded instructions, the instrument is reset.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the number of unloading operations are counted in the cargo chip during an unloading of the instruction elements in the instrument.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the instructions are recorded in a volatile memory of the instrument.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the instructions are recorded in a non-volatile memory of the instrument.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein:

at the time of the unloading, an intermediary is asked to take action in order to confirm the loading options.

11. The method of claim 2, further including the step of providing a double card reader in the instrument for reading the chip card and the cargo chip card.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the instruction elements are selected from the group including source instructions, executable instructions, and keys.