Control device, communication apparatus, control system, control method and storage medium

• US 9,712,656 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Tomoharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyzocha, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/669,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,289 Days
• Field of Search: 713155, 713159, 713164, 713165, 713166, 713167, 713168, 713171, 713172, 713182, 713184, 713185, 726 17, 726 19, 726 20, 726 26, 726 27, 726 29, 726 30, 455410, 455411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A control system which can control a function of a device depending on the result of authentication of an external device that exists outside the device and prevent others from using the device without permission is provided. The control system includes a control device (100) which controls at least one function (1), and at least one external device (900-1 to n: n is an arbitrary integer) which exists outside the control device (100). The control device (100) authenticates the external devices (900-1 to n), and controls the function (1) depending on the number of authenticated devices which can be authenticated and the number of unauthenticated devices which can not be authenticated.

Claims

1. A control device that controls a plurality of functions and is in communication with a plurality of external devices, the control device comprising a hardware processor configured to:

authenticate the external devices;

count the number of the authenticated devices and the number of unauthenticated devices;

restrict a first one of the functions if a first function restricting condition is satisfied, the first condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being greater than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices being non-zero, and

restrict a second one of the functions if a second function restricting condition is satisfied, the second condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being less than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the authenticated devices being non-zero.

2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to retain control matters depending on the number of the authenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices,

wherein the hardware processor refers to the memory to specify control matter depending on the number of the authenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices, and controls the restricted function based on the specified control matter.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the hardware processor

counts and retains the number of the authenticated devices;

counts and retains the number of the unauthenticated devices; and

refers to the memory to specify control matter depending on the number of authenticated devices retained and the number of unauthenticated devices retained, and controls the restricted function based on the specified control matter.

4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the memory retains the function restricting conditions made up of the number of the authenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices in association with control matters for controlling the restricted functions, and

the hardware processor refers to the memory to specify control matter that meets a function restricting condition depending on the number of the authenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices, and controls the restricted function based on the specified control matter.

5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the functions include a voice communication function that performs voice communication with connecting to a subscriber network, and

the hardware processor controls the voice communication function to stop the voice communication if the number of the unauthenticated devices exceeds a specific number, even when an authenticated device exists.

6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the functions include a data communication function that performs data communication with connecting to a subscriber network, and

the hardware processor controls the data communication function to stop the data communication, when the number of the unauthenticated devices is larger than the number of the authenticated devices.

7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the functions include a radio communication function that performs radio communication, and

the hardware processor controls the radio communication function to stop the radio communication, when the number of the unauthenticated devices is larger than the number of the authenticated devices.

8. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the functions include an access function for various information recorded in a recording medium, and

the hardware processor controls the access function to be inhibited from accessing the various information, when the number of the unauthenticated devices is larger than the number of the authenticated devices.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the functions include an erasure function that erases various information recorded in a recording medium, and

the hardware processor controls the erasure function to erase the various information, when the number of the unauthenticated devices is larger than the number of the authenticated devices.

10. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the functions include an encryption function that encrypts various information recorded in a recording medium, and

the hardware processor controls the encryption function to encrypt the various information, when the number of the unauthenticated devices is larger than the number of the authenticated devices.

11. The control device according to claim 8, wherein the various information includes at least one of personal information, phonebook information, and schedule information.

12. A system comprising:

communication apparatus having functions; and

a control device to control the functions of the communication apparatus, the control device comprising a hardware processor configured to;

authenticate external devices communicating with the communication apparatus;

count the number of the authenticated devices and the number of unauthenticated devices;

restrict a first one of the functions if a first function restricting condition is satisfied, the first condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being greater than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices being non-zero, and

restrict a second one of the functions if a second function restricting condition is satisfied, the second condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being less than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the authenticated devices being non-zero.

13. A control system comprising:

a control device that controls a plurality of functions; and

a plurality of external devices that are in communication with the control device,

wherein the control device includes a hardware processor configured to;

authenticate the external devices,

count the number of the authenticated devices and the number of unauthenticated devices;

restrict a first one of the functions if a first function restricting condition is satisfied, the first condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being greater than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices being non-zero, and

restrict a second one of the functions if a second function restricting condition is satisfied, the second condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being less than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the authenticated devices being non-zero.

14. A control method performed in a control device that controls a plurality of functions and is in communication with a plurality of external devices, comprising;

authenticating the external devices;

counting the number of the authenticated devices and the number of unauthenticated devices;

restricting a first one of the functions if a first function restricting condition is satisfied, the first condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices and being greater than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices being non-zero, and

restrict a second one of the functions if a second function restricting condition is satisfied, the second condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being less than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the authenticated devices being non-zero.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a control program for causing a control device which controls a plurality of functions and is in communication with a plurality of external devices to execute:

authenticating the external devices;

counting the number of the authenticated devices and the number of unauthenticated devices;

restricting a first one of the functions if a first function restricting condition is satisfied, the first condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being greater than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the unauthenticated devices being non-zero, and

restricting a second one of the functions if a second function restricting condition is satisfied, the second condition being determined by a number of the authenticated devices being less than a number of the unauthenticated devices and the number of the authenticated devices being non-zero.