MOBILE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS HAVING ANTI-THEFT AND AUTO-NOTIFICATION FUNCTIONS

• US 20070082705A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Kumar, Amit, Tu, Guan-Hua, Jain, Anku
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile communication apparatus comprises a first SIM card, an anti-theft control circuit, a transmission control circuit, and a security module. The first SIM card is engaged with the mobile communication apparatus and has corresponding first identification information. The anti-theft control circuit has a SIM-card-detection module and an information management module. The SIM-card-detection module is used for detecting whether the first SIM card is replaced by a second SIM card and generating a corresponding detection result. The information management module is used for storing the corresponding first identification information, predetermined contact information, and a user personal database. The transmission control circuit is used for transmitting data and/or signals. The security module provides a data security class. When the SIM-card-detection module generates the detection result, the transmission control circuit will send a notice signal according to the predetermined contact information, and when the security module receives the detection result, a data security procedure in the security module is enabled to protect the data in the user personal database according to the set data security class.

Claims

1. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

a first SIM card, comprising corresponding first identification information, being coupled to the mobile communication apparatus;

an anti-theft control circuit comprising;

a SIM-card-detection module for detecting whether the first SIM card is replaced by a second SIM card, and generating a corresponding detection result; and

an information management module for storing the first identification information corresponding to the first SIM card, a predetermined contact information, and a user personal database;

a transmission control circuit for transmitting data and/or signal; and

a security module providing a data security class;

wherein when the SIM-card-detection module generates the detection result, the transmission control circuit sends out a notice signal according to the predetermined contact information stored in the information management module, and when the security module receives the detection result, a data security procedure in the security module is enabled to protect the data in the user personal database according to the set data security class.

2. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein a subscriber needs to input a first security code before storing and/or modifying the predetermined contact information stored in the information management module;

and wherein after the inputted first security code is confirmed to be correct, the corresponding identification information of the SIM card currently coupled to the mobile communication apparatus will be stored and/or modified in the information management module.

3. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user personal database comprises a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database.

4. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein the contact information is an e-mail address stored in the information management module in advance;

and wherein the transmission control circuit sends out an e-mail to be the notice signal according to the e-mail address and transmits the data in the user'"'"'s personal database to an electronic apparatus which receives the e-mail.

5. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, the SIM-card-detection module comprising:

a detector for detecting a second SIM card currently coupled to the mobile communication apparatus to get second identification information corresponding to the second SIM card; and

a comparator for comparing the second identification information with the prestored first identification information;

wherein the SIM-card-detection module generates the corresponding detection result if the second identification information is different from the first identification information.

6. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second SIM card has a corresponding second phone number which comprises a country code and an operator code, and the notice signal comprises the second phone number.

7. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 5, wherein the security module provides a plurality of data security classes for setting;

and wherein a subscriber needs to input a second security code before setting and/or modifying the data security class, and only after the inputted second security code is confirmed to be correct, the subscriber is allowed to set and/or to modify the data security class of the mobile communication apparatus.

8. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 7, wherein the subscriber is able to disable the function of the anti-theft control circuit through inputting the second security code.

9. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security module comprises four data security classes for setting and the data security classes comprises:

a data security class 3;

sending out the notice signal according to the predetermined contact information, locking up and encrypting all data in the user personal database stored in the information management module, and sending all of the data according to the predetermined contact information;

a data security class 2;

sending out the notice signal according to the predetermined contact information, locking up and encrypting all data in the user personal database stored in the information management module;

a data security class 1;

locking up and encrypting all data in the user personal database stored in the information management module; and

a data security class 0;

doing nothing.

10. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mobile communication apparatus further comprises a communication circuit for establishing a communication linkage, and the first SIM card has a corresponding first phone number serving as the predetermined contact information;

and wherein when the SIM-card-detection module generates the detection result and transmits the detection result to the security module;

the security module informs the transmission control circuit to dial the first phone number via the communication circuit for sending out the notice signal automatically.

11. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 7, wherein after the notice signal is sent out, the security module waits for a confirmation signal to confirm that the notice signal has been transmitted according to the predetermined contact information successfully, and wherein if the security module does not receive the confirmation signal in a predetermined period, the security module repetitiously sends the notice signal until the confirmation signal is received.

12. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 4, wherein when and/or after the transmission control circuit sends out the data in the user personal database according to the predetermined contact information, the security module avoids the showing of information related to that data transmission or/and deletes all corresponding records of that data transmission.

13. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein when and/or after the notice signal is transmitted, the security module avoids the showing of information related to that notice signal transmission or/and deletes all corresponding records of that notice signal transmission;

and wherein when and/or after the confirmation signal is received, the security module avoids the showing of information related to that confirmation signal reception or/and deletes all corresponding records of that confirmation signal reception.

14. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, the transmission control circuit comprising:

a carrier control module for selecting one available carrier from a plurality of carriers for transmitting data; and

a data transmission module for selecting a corresponding data transmission application program for transmitting data according to the carrier that has been selected;

wherein the carrier control module selects the carrier based upon the size of the data to be transmitted.

15. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the carriers are provided in a communication system, and the communication system is one of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), WCDMA and CDMA2000;

and wherein the data transmission application program is one of an e-mail application program, a short message service (SMS) application program, and a multimedia message service (MMS) application program.

16. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication apparatus comprises a unique international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) for identification.

17. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first identification information comprises at least one of a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) code and first Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID).

18. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 17, wherein the information management module stores the at least one of the first IMSI code and the first ICCID.

19. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second identification information comprises at least one of a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) code and first Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID).

20. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

an anti-theft control circuit comprising;

a subscriber information management module for storing a user personal database; and

a security module providing a plurality of data security classes for setting and having a third security code to perform a corresponding data security procedure on the data in the user personal database;

a transmission control circuit for transmitting data and/or signals;

wherein when the transmission control circuit receives a remote message, the security module examines whether the remote message is a predetermined legitimate remote control message according to the third security code;

wherein if YES, the corresponding data security procedure is performed on the data in the user personal database according to the remote message.

21. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein the remote message is sent from a remote electronic apparatus, comprising an interface program for receiving a inputted fourth security code, and the remote message is compiled and/or encoded by the remote electronic apparatus to be the predetermined legitimate remote control message based upon the fourth security code;

wherein when the security module receives the remote message, the content of the remote message is decoded based upon the third security code stored in the security module;

wherein if the fourth security code is same as the third security code, the content of the remote message is decoded successfully, and then the remote message is confirmed to be the predetermined legitimate remote control message.

22. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 21, wherein the security module comprises four data security classes for setting, and the data security procedure is determined according to the set data security class, the data security classes comprises:

a data security class 3;

sending a notice signal according to the contact information, locking up and encrypting all data in the user personal database stored in the subscriber information management module, and transmitting all of the data according to the contact information;

a data security class 2;

sending the notice signal according to the first contact information, locking up and encrypting all data in the user personal database stored in the subscriber information management module;

a data security class 1;

locking up and encrypting all data in the user personal database stored in the subscriber information management module; and

a data security class 0;

doing nothing;

wherein the contact information is one of a first contact information included in the remote message and a second contact information stored in the subscriber information management module.

23. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein the mobile communication apparatus further comprises a display panel, and the remote message received by the transmission control circuit is a remote control short message;

wherein if the security module confirms that the remote control short message is the predetermined legitimate remote control message, the security module will prevents the remote control short message from being displayed on the display panel so as to keep the user currently using the mobile communication apparatus from being aware of the existence of the remote control short message.

24. A method for signal detection and notification applied in a mobile communication apparatus, the method comprising:

(a) providing a first SIM card to be coupled to the mobile communication apparatus, the first SIM card comprising a corresponding first identification information;

(b) storing in the mobile communication apparatus the fist identification information corresponding to the first SIM card, a predetermined contact information, and a user personal database;

(c) detecting whether the first SIM card is replaced by a second SIM card and generating a corresponding detection result;

(d) providing a data security class; and

(e) if the detection result is generated, sending out a notice signal according to the predetermined contact information; and

(f) performing a data security procedure to protect the data in the user personal database according to the set data security class.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a subscriber needs to input a first security code before storing or/and modifying the predetermined contact information;

and wherein after the inputted first security code is confirmed to be correct, the corresponding identification information of the SIM card currently coupled to the mobile communication apparatus is stored or/and modified.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the contact information is an e-mail address, and an e-mail is sent out according to the e-mail address to be the notice signal, and the data stored in the mobile communication apparatus is transmitted to an electronic apparatus which receives that e-mail.

27. The method of claim 25, the step (c) further comprising:

(c1) detecting a second SIM card presently coupled to the mobile communication apparatus to get second identification information corresponding to the second SIM card;

(c2) comparing the second identification information with the first identification information stored in the mobile communication apparatus; and

(c3) generating the corresponding detection result when the second identification information is different from the first identification information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the second SIM card has a corresponding second phone number which comprises a country code and an operator code, and the notice signal comprises the second phone number.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the mobile communication apparatus provides a plurality of data security classes for setting;

and wherein a subscriber needs to input a second security code before setting or/and modifying the data security class, and only after the inputted second security code is confirmed to be correct, the subscriber is allowed to set or/and to modify the data security class of the mobile communication apparatus.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the mobile communication apparatus provides four data security classes for setting, and the data security classes comprises:

a data security class 3;

sending out the notice signal according to the predetermined contact information, locking up and encrypting the data stored in the mobile communication apparatus, and transmitting the data according to the predetermined contact information;

a data security class 2;

sending out the notice signal according to the predetermined contact information, locking up and encrypting the data stored in the mobile communication apparatus;

a data security class 1;

locking up and encrypting the data stored in the mobile communication apparatus; and

a data security class 0;

doing nothing.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein after the notice signal is sent out, the mobile communication apparatus waits for an confirmation signal to confirm that the notice signal has been transmitted according to the predetermined contact information successfully;

and wherein if the mobile communication apparatus does not receive the confirmation signal in a predetermined period, the mobile communication apparatus repetitiously sends the notice signal until the confirmation signal is received.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the first SIM card has a corresponding first phone number serving as the predetermined contact information;

and wherein when the detection result is generated, the mobile communication apparatus will dial the first phone number for sending out the notice signal automatically.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein when and/or after the data stored in the mobile communication apparatus is transmitted according to the predetermined contact information, the information related to that data transmission will be prevented from being shown and all records related to that data transmission will be deleted.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein when and/or after the notice signal is transmitted, the information related to that notice signal transmission is prevented from being shown and all corresponding records of that notice signal transmission will be deleted;

and wherein when and/or after the confirmation signal is received, the information related to that confirmation signal reception will be prevented from being shown and all corresponding records of that confirmation signal reception will be deleted.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the mobile communication apparatus will select one available carrier from a plurality of carriers for data transmission, and will select a corresponding data transmission application program according to the selected carrier;

wherein the mobile communication apparatus selects the carrier based upon the size of the data to be transmitted.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the carriers are provided in a communication system, and the communication system is one of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), WCDMA and CDMA2000;

and wherein the data transmission application program is one of an e-mail application program, a short message service (SMS) application program, and a multimedia message service (MMS) application program.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the first identification information comprises at least one of a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) code and first Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID).

38. The method of claim 27, wherein second identification information comprises at least one of a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) code and first Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID).

39. A method for data security applied in a mobile communication apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of data security classes and storing a third security code;

receiving a remote message, and examining the remote message by applying the third security code; and

confirming the remote message to be a predetermined legitimate remote control message according to the third security code; and

performing a data security procedure on the data stored in the mobile communication apparatus according to the remote message.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the remote message is sent out from a remote electronic apparatus, comprising an interface program for receiving a fourth security code, and the remote message is compiled and/or encoded by the remote electronic apparatus to be the predetermined legitimate remote control message based upon the fourth security code;

wherein when the remote message is received by the mobile communication apparatus, the content of the remote message will be decoded based upon the third security code stored in the mobile communication apparatus;

wherein if the fourth security code is same as the third security code, the content of the remote message will be decoded successfully, and the remote message is confirmed to be the predetermined legitimate remote control message by the mobile communication apparatus.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the mobile communication apparatus comprises four data security classes for setting, and the data security procedure is determined according to the set data security class, the data security classes comprises:

a data security class 3;

sending a notice signal according to the contact information, locking up and encrypting all data stored in the mobile communication apparatus, and transmitting all of the data according to the contact information;

a data security class 2;

sending the notice signal according to the first contact information, locking up and encrypting all data stored in the s mobile communication apparatus;

a data security class 1;

locking up and encrypting all data stored in the mobile communication apparatus; and

a data security class 0;

doing nothing;

wherein the contact information is one of a first contact information included in the remote message and a second contact information stored in the mobile communication apparatus.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the mobile communication apparatus further comprises a display panel, and the remote message received by the mobile communication apparatus is a remote control short message;

and wherein if the remote control short message is confirmed to be the predetermined legitimate remote control message, the remote control short message will be prevented from be displayed on the display panel so as to keep the user currently using the mobile communication apparatus from being aware of the existence of the remote control short message.