Method and system for setting security of a portable terminal

• US 8,643,466 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Chang Jun, Choi, Ju Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US12/583,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.64, 340/5.61, 340/5.7, 455/41.1, 455/558, 455/66.1, 455/569.2, 455/456.1, 348/222.1, 348/231.3, 348/552, 705/39, 705/26, 705/21, 235/492, 235/379, 235/375
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for setting security of a portable terminal by utilizing an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) function of a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card used in Third Generation portable terminals. For this, USIM card information is registered in an access control server, and the USIM card information of the portable terminal is sensed through a RFID reader installed at a point of entry of a secure area, and the security setting of the portable terminal is automatically performed according to the registration of USIM card information in the access control server.

Claims

1. A method for setting security of a portable terminal including a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card having an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) function, the method comprising:

registering, in an access control server, USIM card information stored in the USIM card of the portable terminal, with the registration used to disable at least one function of the portable terminal, wherein the registered USIM card information uniquely identifies the portable terminal;

sensing the USIM card information by a RFID reader when the portable terminal approaches the RFID reader;

requesting confirmation of the prior registration of the sensed USIM card information to the access control server by the RFID reader;

transmitting the confirmation of the prior registration of the USIM card information to the RFID reader by the access control server;

transmitting a security setting signal to the portable terminal by the RFID reader when the USIM card information is determined to be previously registered in the access control server;

establishing a security setting in such a manner that the portable terminal receiving the security setting signal is unable to execute the at least one function of the portable terminal; and

responsive to the registration of the USIM card information, disabling the at least one function of the portable terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting an alarm message in case the USIM card information is not registered in the access control server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling the opening of an entrance gate according to the registration of the USIM card information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein controlling the opening of the entrance gate comprises:

confirming the security setting completion of the portable terminal;

opening the entrance gate in case the security setting of the portable terminal is completed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a time reception of the USIM card information by the access control server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the USIM card information includes at least one of:

a telephone number, an apparatus serial number and a qualified certificate which stores personal certification information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a security setting signal to the portable terminal comprises:

transmitting a user security level corresponding to the USIM card information; and

restricting one or more functions of portable terminal according to the user security level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes at least one of a camera photographing function, a mobile disk function of storing data, a recording function, and a file transmission function using local area wireless communications.

9. A system of security setting of a portable terminal comprising:

an access control server that receives, stores, and registers USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card information of a USIM card of the portable terminal with the registration used to disable at least one function of the portable terminal, wherein the registered USIM card information uniquely identifies the portable terminal;

a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader that senses the previously registered USIM card information included in the portable terminal, and requests confirmation, to the access control server, of the prior registration of the USIM card information in the access control server, and transmits a security setting signal to the portable terminal in case the USIM card information is previously registered; and

wherein the portable terminal includes the USIM card having the previously registered USIM card information and having an RFID function, wherein, responsive to the registration, the at least one function operable on the portable terminal is disabled when receiving the security setting signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the RFID reader transmits an alarm message in case the sensed USIM card information is not registered.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the RFID reader controls the opening of an entrance gate according to the registration of the USIM card information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the RFID reader confirms whether the security setting of the portable terminal is completed and opens the entrance gate when the security setting is completed.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the USIM card information includes at least one of:

a telephone number, an apparatus serial number and a qualified certificate which stores personal certification information.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the access control server further stores a time of reception of registration confirmation request of the USIM card information.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the access control server further stores a user security level corresponding to the USIM card information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the portable terminal comprises:

an interface unit to which the USIM card is inserted;

a controller that restricts some preset functions when receiving a security setting signal;

a display unit that outputs an image which notifies a user of a security setting state, and outputs a pop-up window which provides information that a function menu is restricted after execution of security setting menu is requested; and

a storage unit that stores a function restriction list which establishes at least one function that is restricted according to the security level of the user.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one functions include at least one of:

a camera photographing function, a mobile disk function of storing data, a recording function, and a file transmission function using local area wireless communications.

18. A portable terminal comprising:

a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card including a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) function and stored USIM card information previously registered in an access control server, with the registration used to disable at least one function of the portable terminal, wherein the USIM card information uniquely identifies the portable terminal;

a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including code which, when accessed by the processor, causes the processor to;

receive a security setting signal sent by an RFID reader after confirmation by the access control server of the prior registration, in the access control server, of the USIM card information;

execute a security program stored in said memory, wherein said security program prevents execution of at least one executable function within said portable terminal; and

use the registration of the USIM card information to disable the at least one function of the portable terminal.

19. The portable terminal of claim 18 wherein said security setting signal includes a user security level.

20. The portable terminal of claim 19, wherein said memory includes a function restriction list which represents which of said functions are restricted based on said user security level.