Portable terminal and function limiting method

• US 7,275,695 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arai, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/411,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20060264240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 455/558, 455/410, 455/411, 726/4
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• 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: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable terminal including a noncontact IC card function unit and capable of being used by inserting a subscriber information card is provided, in which a noncontact IC card use permission list on which numbers of subscribers permitted to use a noncontact IC card function are registered is prepared in advance; the subscriber number recorded on the subscriber information card is compared with the noncontact IC card use permission list to judge whether or not the relevant subscriber number is in the list, and if the relevant subscriber number is not included in the list, only the function of noncontact IC card function unit is stopped. Accordingly an arbitrary third party is prevented from using the noncontact IC card function in a portable terminal incorporating a noncontact IC card function and capable of being used by inserting a subscriber information card such as an SIM card.

Claims

1. A portable terminal, including a noncontact integrated circuit (IC) card, configured to receive a subscriber information card, comprising:

a memory unit configured to store a noncontact IC card use permission list on which subscriber numbers identifying subscribers permitted to use the noncontact IC card are registered; and

a controller configured to compare the subscriber number recorded on said subscriber information card with the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit to judge whether or not the subscriber number recorded on said subscriber information card is in the use permission list, and to decide whether or not to permit use of said noncontact IC card based on the judgment result,

wherein in a case where said subscriber number recorded on said subscriber information card is not included in the list, the controller is configured to only stop a function of said noncontact IC card, while permitting functions of the portable terminal to be carried out.

2. The portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein when said portable terminal is powered on, said controller is configured to read the subscriber number of said subscriber information card, and to compare the read subscriber number with the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit.

3. A portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein when the power of said controller is off,

said noncontact IC card is configured to turn on the power of said controller;

and

said controller, after powered on, is configured to read the subscriber number of said subscriber information card and to compare the read subscriber number with the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit.

4. The portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein when the power of said controller is off,

said noncontact IC card is configured to read the subscriber number of said subscriber information card, to compare the read subscriber number and the noncontact IC card use permission list stored in said memory unit to judge whether or not the relevant subscriber number is in the list, and to decide whether or not to permit the use of said noncontact IC card based on the judgment result.

5. A portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein after the function of said noncontact IC card is stopped, said controller is configured to enable the function of said noncontact IC card in response to input password information.

6. A method in a portable terminal, including a noncontact IC card, configured to receive a subscriber information card, comprising steps of:

preparing in advance a noncontact IC card use permission list on which numbers of subscribers permitted to use the noncontact IC card are registered;

judging whether or not a subscriber number recorded on the subscriber information card is in the list by comparing the subscriber number recorded on said subscriber information card with said noncontact IC card use permission list; and

stopping only a function of said noncontact IC card in response to the judgment that the subscriber number recorded in the subscriber information card is not included in said list while permitting functions of the portable terminal to be carried out.

7. A computer program product encoded with instructions, which when executed by an information processor of portable terminal, including a noncontact IC card, configured to receive a subscriber information card, causes the information processor to perform a method comprising steps of:

preparing in advance a noncontact IC card use permission list on which numbers of subscribers permitted to use the noncontact IC card are registered;

judging whether or not a subscriber number recorded on the subscriber information card is in the list by comparing the subscriber number recorded on said subscriber information card with said noncontact IC card use permission list; and

stopping only a function of said noncontact IC card in response to the judgment that the subscriber number recorded in the subscriber information card is not included in said list while permitting functions of the portable terminal to be carried out.