Mobile device having an IC card function

• US 7,641,122 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Connected Technologies Limited, NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Ono, Yoshihiro, Ebara, Takayuki, Inui, Shinichiro, Nagasawa, Hideyuki, Shin, Takahiro, Hamada, Wataru, Furuki, Kenetsu, Naruse, Naoki, Watanabe, Hideaki, Yoshinaga, Hisashi, Nakajima, Yuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Seung H
• Application Number:
  US10/971,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20050224587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 235/439, 23547201-47203, 235/492, 455/558
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

To provide a technology for making it possible to control enable/disable of an IC card function provided in a mobile device. A mobile device including an IC card unit for executing an IC card function, and a communication unit for carrying out communication through a radio telephone line detects a voltage of a battery unit for supplying an electric power to each of the IC card unit and the communication unit, judges whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with the detected voltage value, and issues an enable/disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the Judgment results.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

an IC card unit executing an IC card function;

a function unit executing a function of at least one of communication and display and outputting a signal indicative of an operation of the function unit;

a control unit when electric power is supplied thereto, receiving the signal output from the function unit and judging whether or not the IC card function can be used based on the signal received from the function unit, and outputting judgment results; and

an instruction hold unit storing an enable state in response to the judgment results indicating that the IC card function can be used or storing a disable state in response to the judgment results indicating that the IC card cannot be used, and issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit according to the stored state, even in non-operation state of the control unit when electric power is not supplied to the control unit.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein an input unit receiving information from a user is provided as the function unit, and

the control unit judges whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with the input information from the input unit.

3. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the input information from the input unit is password or biometrics information.

4. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the IC card unit has a plurality of functions,

the control unit judges for each function whether or not the function can be used, and

the instruction hold unit issues for each function an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein a communication unit carrying out communication with any of other devices is provided as the function unit, and

the control unit judges whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with a signal received at the communication unit.

6. The mobile device according to claims 1, further comprising:

a battery unit supplying an electric power to at least the IC card unit and the function unit; and

a power supply monitoring unit detecting a voltage from the battery unit,

wherein when the voltage detected by the power supply monitoring unit is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the instruction hold unit issues a disable instruction to the IC card unit.

7. The mobile device according to claim 6, wherein when the voltage detected by the power supply monitoring unit is equal to or smaller than a first threshold, the instruction hold unit issues an enable instruction to the IC card unit, while halting the function unit, and when the voltage detected by the power supply monitoring unit is equal to or smaller than a second threshold, the instruction hold unit issues a disable instruction to the IC card unit.

8. The mobile device according to claim 6, further comprising a storage unit storing therein enable/disable information issued from the instruction hold unit,

when the battery unit is attached/detached, the control unit reads out the enable/disable information before the attachment/detachment from the storage unit, and make the instruction hold unit to issue the same instruction as the enable instruction or the disable instruction before the attachment/detachment to the IC card unit.

9. A mobile device, comprising:

an IC card unit executing an IC card function;

a communication unit carrying out communication through a radio telephone line;

a battery unit supplying an electric power to at least the IC card unit and the communication unit;

a power supply monitoring unit detecting a voltage from the battery unit;

a control unit when electric power is supplied thereto, judging whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with the voltage value detected by the power supply monitoring unit, and outputting the judgment results; and

an instruction hold unit issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit in response to reception of the judgment results, and holding the enable/disable state even in non-operation state of the control unit when electric power is not supplied to the control unit.

10. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein when the voltage detected by the power supply monitoring unit is equal to or smaller than a first threshold, the instruction hold unit issues an enable instruction to the IC card unit, while halting the communication unit, and

when the voltage detected by the power supply monitoring unit is equal to or smaller than a second threshold, the instruction hold unit issues a disable instruction to the IC card unit.

11. An IC card function controlling method for controlling an IC card function executed by a mobile device including an IC card unit executing the IC card function, a control unit and a function unit executing at least one of a communication function and a display function, comprising the steps of:

outputting from the function unit a signal indicative of operation of the function unit;

judging whether or not the IC card function can be used based on the signal indicative of the operation of the function unit, and outputting a judgment result when electric power is supplied to the control unit; and

storing an enable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function can be used;

storing a disable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function cannot be used;

issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the stored state when electric power is not supplied to the control unit; and

holding the enable state until a new judgment result is output.

12. The IC card function controlling method according to claim 11, wherein when the mobile device includes an input unit receiving information from a user as the function unit,

in accordance with the input information through the input unit, a judgment related to whether or not the IC card function can be used is carried out.

13. The IC card function controlling method according to claim 12, wherein the input information is password or biometrics information.

14. The IC card function controlling method according to claim 11, wherein when the IC card unit has a plurality of functions,

in the step of judging whether or not the IC card function can be used, the judgment whether or not the IC card function can be used is carried out for each function, and

in the step of issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit, the instruction whether or not the IC card function can be used is issued for each function.

15. The IC card function controlling method according to claim 11, wherein when the mobile device includes a communication unit carrying out communication with any of other devices as the function unit,

in the step of judging whether or not the IC card function can be used, the judgment related to whether or not the IC card function can be used is carried out in accordance with a signal received at the communication unit.

16. The IC card function controlling method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein when the IC card function controlling method further comprises a step of detecting a voltage of a battery unit supplying an electric power to the IC card unit and the function unit,

when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.

17. The IC card function controlling method according to claim 16, wherein when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a first threshold, the enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit while halting the function unit, and when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a second threshold, a disable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.

18. The IC card function controlling method according to claim 16, wherein when the battery unit is attached/detached, the enable/disable information before the attachment/detachment is read out from a storage unit to issue the same instruction as the enable instruction or the disable instruction before the attachment/detachment to the IC card unit.

19. An IC card function controlling method for controlling an IC card function executed by a mobile device including an IC card unit executing the IC card function, a control unit and a communication unit carrying out communication through a radio telephone line, comprising the steps of:

detecting a voltage of a battery unit supplying an electric power to the IC card unit and the communication unit;

judging whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with the detected voltage value when electric power is supplied to the control unit; and

issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the judgment results when electric power is not supplied to the control unit.

20. The IC card function controlling method according to claim 19, wherein when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a first threshold, an enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit, while halting the communication unit, and when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a second threshold, a disable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.

21. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program for controlling an IC card function executed by a mobile device including an IC card unit executing the IC card function, a control unit and a function unit executing at least one of a communication function and a display function, the program executing a method comprising the steps of:

outputting from the function unit a signal indicative of an operation of the function unit;

judging whether or not the IC card function can be used based on the signal indicative of the operation of the function unit, and outputting a judgment result when electric power is supplied to the control unit;

storing an enable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function can be used;

storing a disable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function cannot be used;

issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the stored state when electric power is not supplied the control unit; and

holding the enable state until a new judgment result is output.

22. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 21, wherein when the mobile device includes an input unit receiving information from a user as the function unit, and the program executing the method further comprising:

a judgment whether or not the IC card function can be used is carried out in accordance with the input information through the input unit.

23. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 22, wherein the input information is password or biometrics information.

24. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 21, wherein when the IC card unit has a plurality of functions,

in the step of judging whether or not the IC card function can be used, the instruction whether or not the IC card function can be used is carried out for each function, and

in the step of issuing the enable instruction or the disable instruction to the IC card unit, the judgment whether or not the IC card function can be used is issued for each function.

25. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 21, wherein when the mobile device includes a communication unit carrying out communication with any of other devices as the function unit,

in the step of judging whether or not the IC card function can be used, the judgment related to whether or not the IC card function can be used is carried out in accordance with a signal received at the communication unit.

26. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 21, wherein when the IC card function controlling method further includes a step of detecting a voltage of a battery unit supplying an electric power to the IC card unit and the function unit,

when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.

27. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 26, wherein when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a first threshold, the enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit while halting the function unit, and when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a second threshold, a disable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.

28. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 26, wherein when the battery unit is attached/detached, the enable/disable information before the attachment/detachment is read out from a storage unit to issue the same instruction as the enable instruction or the disable instruction before the attachment/detachment to the IC card unit.

29. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program for controlling an IC card function executed by a mobile device including an IC card unit executing the IC card function, a control unit and a communication unit carrying out communication through a radio telephone line, the program executing a method comprising the steps of:

detecting a voltage of a battery unit supplying an electric power to the IC card unit and the communication unit;

judging whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with the detected voltage value when electric power is supplied to the control unit; and

issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the judgment results when electric power is not supplied to the control unit.

30. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program according to claim 29, wherein when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a first threshold, an enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit, while halting the communication unit, and when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a second threshold, a disable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.

31. A mobile device, comprising:

an IC card unit executing an IC card function;

a function unit executing a function of at least one of communication and display;

a control unit when electric power is supplied thereto, judging whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with an operation of the function unit, and outputting judgment results;

an instruction hold unit storing an enable state in response to the judgment results indicating that the IC card function can be used or storing a disable state in response to the judgment results indicating that the IC card cannot be used, and issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit according to the stored state, even in non-operation state of the control unit when electric power is not supplied to the control unit;

a battery unit supplying an electric power to at least the IC card unit and the function unit; and

a power supply monitoring unit detecting a voltage from the battery unit,

wherein when the voltage detected by the power supply monitoring unit is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the instruction hold unit issues a disable instruction to the IC card unit.

32. An IC card function controlling method for controlling an IC card function executed by a mobile device including an IC card unit executing the IC card function, a control unit and a function unit executing at least one of a communication function and a display function, comprising the steps of:

judging whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with an operation of the function unit, and outputting a judgment result when electric power is supplied to the control unit; and

storing an enable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function can be used;

storing a disable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function cannot be used;

issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the stored state when electric power is not supplied to the control unit;

holding the enable state until a new judgment result is output; and

detecting a voltage of a battery unit supplying an electric power to the IC card unit and the function unit, and

when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.

33. A storage medium which stores an IC card function controlling program for controlling an IC card function executed by a mobile device including an IC card unit executing the IC card function, a control unit and a function unit executing at least one of a communication function and a display function, the program executing a method comprising the steps of:

judging whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with an operation of the function unit, and outputting a judgment result when electric power is supplied to the control unit;

storing an enable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function can be used;

storing a disable state in response to the judgment result indicating that the IC card function cannot be used;

issuing an enable instruction or a disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the stored state when electric power is not supplied to the control unit;

holding the enable state until a new judgment result is output; and

detecting a voltage of a battery unit supplying an electric power to the IC card unit and the function unit, and

when the detected voltage is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the enable instruction is issued to the IC card unit.