Mobile communication device and method for disabling applications

• US 8,811,971 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2008
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Corda, Alexandre, Wane, Ismaila
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/670,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20100330958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,220 Days
• Field of Search: 379/193, 455/410, 455/411, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/466, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/574, 455/558, 455/550.1, 726/27, 713/193, 713/194, 713/189, 713/154, 380/201, 380/274, 340/5.31, 711/152
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A mobile communication device (1) is connectable to a memory device (MIF) that comprises a plurality of memorysectors (0-F), wherein at least one application is stored in at least one memory sector. the memory sectors are protected against unauthorized access 5 by sector keys (key A, key B, 4). The mobile communication device (1) comprises an applications manager (MAM) being adapted to disable the stored applications (TK1, AC1, AC2, TR2, TR3, CP1, TR4, AC3, TK3) when triggered by an external trigger event.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device capable of being secured when lost or stolen, the mobile communication device comprising:

a memory device comprising a plurality of memory sectors, wherein at least one application is stored in at least one memory sector, wherein the memory sectors are protected against unauthorized access by sector keys; and

an applications manager configured to disable the stored applications remotely by Near Field Communication (NFC) when triggered by an external trigger event received from an external source, wherein the applications manager disables the stored applications by changing the sector keys.

2. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory device is a contactless smart card and the applications include at least one of tickets, coupons, and access controls.

3. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external trigger event is a disabling instruction sent from an external source to the mobile communication device.

4. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein disabling the stored applications further comprises erasing the applications from the memory device.

5. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein erasing the applications from the memory device further comprises rewriting the respective sectors of the memory device with empty information or random data.

6. The mobile communication device as claimed claim 1, wherein disabling the stored applications further comprises scrambling the applications in the memory device.

7. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

16. A telecommunication system comprising a Mobile Network Operator (MNO), a plurality of mobile communication devices according to claim 1 and a Trusted Service Manager, wherein the Trusted Service Manager is adapted to establish communication with a mobile communication device by request of the Mobile Network Operator and to instruct the mobile communication device to disable applications being stored in a memory device that is connected to the mobile communication device.

17. The mobile communication device as claimed claim 6, wherein disabling the stored applications further comprises writing random information at random locations of the respective sectors of the memory device.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the external source is a trusted services manager that securely distributes and manages the applications.

8. A method for disabling applications in a mobile communication device that is connected to a memory device comprising a plurality of memory sectors, wherein the method comprises:

receiving a disable instruction; and

remotely disabling by Near Field Communication (NFC) the stored applications when triggered by the disable instruction, wherein the step of remotely disabling the stored applications comprises changing the sector keys of the memory device, the memory sectors are protected against unauthorized access by sector keys, and each application is stored in at least one memory sector.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the memory device is a contactless smart card and the applications are selected from the group consisting of tickets, coupons, and access controls.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein disabling instruction is sent from an external server to the mobile communication device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein disabling the stored applications further comprises erasing the applications from the memory device.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein erasing the applications from the memory device further comprises rewriting the respective sectors of the memory device with empty information or random data.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein disabling the stored applications further comprises scrambling the applications in the memory device by writing random information at random locations of the respective sectors of the memory device.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the external server is a trusted services manager that securely distributes and manages the applications.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory device is a contactless smart card.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium in the memory of a mobile communication device being connectable to a memory device comprising a plurality of memory sectors wherein at least one application is stored in at least one memory sector, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprises instructions for performing, when running on the mobile communication device:

receiving a disable instruction; and

remotely disabling by Near Field Communication (NFC) the stored applications when triggered by the disable instruction, wherein the step of remotely disabling the stored applications comprises changing the sector keys of the memory device, and the memory sectors are protected against unauthorized access by sector keys.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions are downloadable from a remote server via a communication network.