Mobile communication apparatus having anti-theft and auto-notification functions

• US 9,241,058 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Jain, Anku, Kumar, Amit, Tu, Guan-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US12/773,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/418, 455/419, 455/558
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 an anti-theft control circuit and a transmission control circuit. The anti-theft control circuit has an information management module and a security module. The information management module is used for storing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database. The transmission control circuit is used for transmitting data and/or signals. When the transmission control circuit receives a remote message, the security module examines whether the remote message is a predetermined legitimate remote control message; wherein if YES, the transmission control circuit sends out at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database to an electronic apparatus indicated by the remote message.

Claims

1. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

an anti-theft control circuit comprising;

an information management module storing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database; and

a security module; and

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;

wherein if YES, the transmission control circuit obtains at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database to be transmitted and selects at least one available carrier from a plurality of carriers and at least one corresponding data transmission application programs according to data to be transmitted, and using the at least one corresponding data transmission application programs to send out the at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database according to a predetermined contact information,

whereby enabling an original owner to get back at least the record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database,

wherein the transmission control circuit further transmits a signal for enabling a phone number corresponding to a second SIM card to reach a predetermined location and for enabling the remote message to be sent out and then received by the mobile communication apparatus.

2. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote message is sent from a remote electronic apparatus, and the remote message is compiled and/or encoded by the remote electronic apparatus;

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

wherein when the content of the remote message is decoded successfully, and then the remote message is confirmed as the predetermined legitimate remote control message.

3. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display panel, wherein 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 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.

4. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the at least one corresponding data transmission application programs further locks and encrypt the at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database before sending out the at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail.

5. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the security module executes different security actions corresponding to different security classes to protect the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database according to the remote message.

6. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote message is not displayed on a display panel of the mobile communication apparatus.

7. A method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database, which is stored in the mobile communication apparatus;

detecting whether a first SIM card is replaced by a second SIM card;

transmitting a signal for enabling a phone number corresponding to the second SIM card to reach a predetermined location and for enabling the remote message to be sent out and then received by the mobile communication apparatus;

sending out at least a record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database to a predetermined contact information when detecting that the first SIM card is replaced by the second SIM card by the SIM-card-detection module; and

deleting the at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database after sending out at least a record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database.

8. The method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

getting second identification information from the second SIM card; and

comparing the second identification information with a prestored first identification information corresponding to the first SIM card;

detecting that the first SIM card is replaced by the second SIM card when the second identification information is different from the first identification information.

9. The method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second identification information is international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID) codes, wherein the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is a unique number associated with mobile communication apparatus within a communication system, and the Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID) codes are digit numbers physically printed on a SIM card.

10. A method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database, which is stored in the mobile communication apparatus;

receiving a remote message;

examining whether the remote message is a predetermined legitimate remote control message;

transmitting a signal for enabling a phone number corresponding to a second SIM card to reach a predetermined location and for enabling the remote message to be sent out and then received by the mobile communication apparatus;

sending out at least a record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database to a predetermined contact information when detecting that the remote message is the predetermined legitimate remote control message; and

deleting at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database when detecting that the remote message is the predetermined legitimate remote control message after sending out at least a record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising locking and encrypting the at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database before the at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail is sent out.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising executing different security actions corresponding to different security classes to protect the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database according to the remote message.

13. A method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database, which is stored in the mobile communication apparatus;

detecting whether a first SIM card is replaced by a second SIM card;

transmitting a signal for enabling a phone number corresponding to the second SIM card to reach a predetermined location and for enabling a remote message to be sent out and then received by the mobile communication apparatus; and

locking up and encrypting at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database when detecting the first SIM card is replaced by the second SIM card by the mobile communication apparatus,

whereby enabling an original owner to get back at least the record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database.

14. The method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

getting second identification information from the second SIM card; and

comparing the second identification information with a prestored first identification information corresponding to the first SIM card;

detecting that the first SIM card is replaced by the second SIM card when the second identification information is different from the first identification information.

15. The method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first and second identification information is international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID) codes, wherein the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is a unique number associated with mobile communication apparatus within a communication system, and the Integrated Circuit Card Identification (ICCID) codes are digit numbers physically printed on a SIM card.

16. A method for protecting personal data applied in a mobile communication apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database, which is stored in the mobile communication apparatus;

receiving a remote message;

examining whether the remote message is a predetermined legitimate remote control message;

transmitting a signal for enabling a phone number corresponding to a second SIM card to reach a predetermined location and for enabling the remote message to be sent out and then received by the mobile communication apparatus; and

locking up and encrypting at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database when detecting that the remote message is the predetermined legitimate remote control message,

whereby enabling an original owner to get back at least the record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database.

17. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

an anti-theft control circuit comprising;

an information management module storing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database; and

a security module; and

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

wherein the transmission control circuit transmits a signal for enabling a phone number corresponding to a second SIM card to reach a predetermined location and for enabling the remote message to be sent out and then received by the mobile communication apparatus when the anti-theft control circuit detects that a first SIM card is changed to the second SIM card;

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;

wherein if YES, the transmission control circuit sends out at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database to an electronic apparatus indicated by the remote message;

wherein the security module executes different security actions to protect the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database according to the remote message, the security actions corresponds to different security classes, and the remote message is not displayed on a display panel of the mobile communication apparatus.

18. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

an anti-theft control circuit to detect whether a first SIM card of an original owner of the mobile communication apparatus is changed to a second SIM card; and

a transmission control circuit to transmit a signal for enabling a phone number corresponding to the second SIM card to reach a predetermined location and for enabling a remote message to be sent out and then received by the mobile communication apparatus responsive to detection of the first SIM card of an original owner of the mobile communication apparatus being changed to a second SIM card corresponding to an unauthorized user.

19. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 18, wherein the anti-theft control circuit further comprises:

a security module to determine whether the first SIM card is replaced by the second SIM card; and

an information management module storing a user personal data.

20. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transmission control circuit further transmits the user personal data to the first phone number when the first SIM card is replaced by the second SIM card.

21. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein after the user personal data is transmitted, the security module waits a confirmation signal output by an electronic device corresponding to the first phone number.

22. The mobile communication apparatus of claim 18, wherein when the transmission control circuit receives a predetermined legitimate remote message, the predetermined legitimate remote message is not shown on a display panel of the mobile communication apparatus.

23. A mobile communication apparatus comprising:

an anti-theft control circuit comprising;

a SIM-card-detection module detecting whether a first SIM card is replaced by a second SIM card;

an information management module storing a user personal database comprising at least one of a phonebook database, a schedule database, and an e-mail database; and

a security module; and

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

wherein after the SIM-card-detection module detects the first SIM card is replaced by the second SIM card, the transmission control circuit obtains at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database to be transmitted and selects at least one available carrier from a plurality of carriers and at least one corresponding data transmission application programs according to data to be transmitted, and using the at least one corresponding data transmission application programs to send out the at least one record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, and the e-mail database according to a predetermined contact information,

whereby enabling an original owner to get back at least the record of the phonebook database, the schedule database, or the e-mail database.