Electronic device and unique information management method

• US 6,763,249 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shirai, Kouji
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/785,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20010016502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/403, 455/412.1, 455/410, 455/404.1, 455/411, 455/517, 340/568.1, 340/539, 340/568.7, 235/380, 235/439, 235/475, 235/482, 235/483, 235/486
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

An electronic device includes a device main body, card controller, and device controller. The use of the device main is permitted by inserting an authentic user identification card on which personal information of a holder is recorded. The card controller detects removal/insertion of the user identification card from/into the device main body during a power-off state. The device controller displays a warning representing removal/insertion of the card on the basis of the detection result of the card controller in power-on operation. A unique information management method for the electronic device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a device main body whose use is permitted by inserting an authentic user identification card on which personal information of a holder is recorded;

card control means for detecting removal/insertion of the user identification card from/into said device main body during a power-off state; and

device control means for displaying a warning representing removal/insertion of the card on the basis of a detection result of said card control means in power-on operation.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein

said device further comprises memory means for storing card removal/insertion information of the user identification card, and

said card control means always monitors whether the user identification card is inserted in said device main body, and when removal/insertion of the card is detected, writes card removal/insertion information in said memory means.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said device control means displays a warning on the basis of the card removal/insertion information written in said memory means.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein every time removal/insertion of the user identification card is detected, said card control means sequentially writes card insertion/removal information in the memory means, and creates a log of the card insertion/removal information.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein said device main body includes a portable telephone which communicates with a base station by radio.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the card removal/insertion information includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of removal time of the user identification card, position information of the portable telephone, a removal location of the user identification card, and a reception field strength from the base station when the user identification card was removed.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said card control means periodically transmits a confirmation signal to the user identification card, and when said card control means does not receive any response to the confirmation signal, detects removal/insertion of the card.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said card control means always confirms a physical connection state to the user identification card, and when said card control means cannot confirm physical connection to the user identification card, detects removal/insertion of the card.

9. An electronic device which permits use when a user identification card on which personal information of a holder is recorded is inserted, comprising:

detection means for detecting whether the user identification card was removed and inserted; and

control means for displaying a warning including at least removal time of the user identification card when said detection means detects insertion/removal of the user identification card.

10. A unique information management method for an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

permitting use of a device main body when an authentic user identification card on which personal information of a holder is recorded is inserted;

detecting removal/insertion of the user identification card from/to the device main body during a power-off state; and

displaying a warning representing removal/insertion of the card on the basis of a detection result in power-on operation.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

always monitoring whether the user identification card is inserted in the device main body; and

storing card removal/insertion information when removal/insertion of the card is detected.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of displaying a warning comprises the step of displaying a warning on the basis of the stored card removal/insertion information.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the storing step comprises the step of sequentially writing card insertion/removal information, and creating a log of the card insertion/removal information every time removal/insertion of the user identification card is detected.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the device main body includes a portable telephone which communicates with a base station by radio.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the card removal/insertion information includes at least one information selected from the group consisting of removal time of the user identification card, position information of the portable telephone, a removal location of the user identification card, and a reception field strength from the base station when the user identification card was removed.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of periodically transmitting a confirmation signal to the user identification card, and when no response to the confirmation signal is received, detecting removal/insertion of the card.

17. A method according to claim 10, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of always confirming a physical connection state to the user identification card, and when physical connection to the user identification card cannot be confirmed, detecting removal/insertion of the card.