U.S. patent application number 09/033613 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-23 for removable memory device for portable terminal device.
Invention is credited to HAYASHI, KEIICHI, SAKAJIRI, NORIYASU.
Application Number | 20010016895 09/033613 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 12808640 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010016895 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAKAJIRI, NORIYASU ; et
al. |
August 23, 2001 |
REMOVABLE MEMORY DEVICE FOR PORTABLE TERMINAL DEVICE
Abstract
A removable memory device includes a memory for storing
individual information therein, a memory manager for protecting the
memory when the removable memory device is not connected to a
portable terminal device and for allowing access thereto when the
removable memory device is connected, a data input/output part as a
data sending/receiving port to/from a data input/output part of the
portable terminal device, and a controller for detecting an
interconnection with the portable terminal device through the data
input/output part and for controlling the memory manager. The
removable memory device protects the individual information stored
within it from being illegally used.
Inventors: |
SAKAJIRI, NORIYASU; (TOKYO,
JP) ; HAYASHI, KEIICHI; (TOKYO, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY & LARDNER
WASHINGTON HARBOUR
3000 K STREET N W SUITE 500
P O BOX 25696
WASHINGTON
DC
200078696
|
Family ID: |
12808640 |
Appl. No.: |
09/033613 |
Filed: |
March 3, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
711/115 ;
711/164 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/725 20130101;
H04M 1/72409 20210101; G06F 21/79 20130101; H04M 1/275 20130101;
H04M 2250/14 20130101; H04M 1/2745 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
711/115 ;
711/164 |
International
Class: |
G06F 012/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 4, 1997 |
JP |
9-48627 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device for
storing individual information including operation of the portable
terminal device therein to be removed from said portable terminal
device, comprising: an input port configured to receive a command
for removing the removable memory device from the portable terminal
device; and a control unit configured to protect information within
the removable memory device when a verification command is received
by the input port.
2. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein said verification command is entered
based on a request output through an information input/output
device connected to said portable terminal device, and wherein said
verification command is received by said control unit through said
information input/output device.
3. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device as set
forth in claim 2, wherein said information input/output device is a
personal computer.
4. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein, when said removable memory device is
illegally separated from said portable terminal device, the
information stored within said removable memory device is
erased.
5. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein, when said removable memory device is
illegally connected to said portable terminal device, said
removable memory device prohibits operation of said portable
terminal device using the information stored within said removable
memory device.
6. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device as set
forth in claim 2, wherein said control unit is housed in said
information input/output device.
7. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device as set
forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit is housed in said
portable terminal device.
8. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device, the
removable memory device configured to store individual information
related to operation of the portable terminal device, the removable
memory device comprising: an input port configured to receive an
operator command for removing the removable memory device from the
portable terminal device, the operator command being entered
through a computer communicatively connected to the portable
terminal device; and an erase unit configured to erase the
information within the removable memory device when both a) and b)
occur, where a) a particular password is not entered through the
computer, and b) the removable memory device is removed from the
portable terminal device.
9. A removable memory device for a portable terminal device as set
forth in claim 8, wherein, when the particular password is entered
through the computer, the removable memory device is allowed to be
removed from the portable terminal device without erasing any of
the information stored within the removable memory device.
10. A system for allowing for protecting information stored within
a removable memory device that is connectable to a portable
terminal device, the information relating to operation of the
portable terminal device, the system comprising: an input port
configured to receive a command for removing the removable memory
device from the portable terminal device; and a control unit
configured to Protect information within the removable memory
device when a verification command is received by the input
port.
11. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said control unit is
housed in said removable memory device.
12. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said control unit is
housed in said portable terminal device.
13. A system for transferring individual information stored in a
removable memory device initially coupled to a first portable
terminal device, to a second portable terminal device for which
said removable memory device is to be later coupled, the system
comprising: a computer configured to place said first portable
terminal device in a maintenance mode when said first portable
terminal device is coupled to said computer, said first portable
terminal device including a data input/output part for receiving a
remove command for said removable memory device when said first
portable terminal device is coupled to said computer while in said
maintenance mode, a controller configured to accept the remove
command and to output a request for a password to be entered via
said computer, wherein said controller compares the entered
password to a stored password to determine whether there is a
coincidence, wherein, if there is a coincidence, said controller
protects the information stored in said removable memory device and
informs said computer that said removable memory device can be
removed from said first portable terminal device, and wherein, when
said second portable terminal device is coupled to said computer
and said removable memory device is coupled to said second portable
terminal device and placed in a connection mode, said controller
requests to enter the password via said computer in order to allow
said second portable terminal device to access the information
stored in said removable memory device without erasing the
information.
14. A system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller is
housed in said removable memory device.
15. A system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said controller is
housed in both said first and second portable terminal devices.
16. A method for providing removal of a memory device for a
portable terminal device configured to store individual information
related to operation of the portable terminal device, the method
comprising the steps of: a) receiving an operator command for
removing the removable memory device from the portable terminal
device, the operator command be entered through a computer
communicatively connected to the portable terminal device; b) based
on the received operator command, requesting entry of a particular
password to be entered through the computer; and c) erasing the
information within the removable memory device when both i) and ii)
occur, where i) the particular password is not entered through the
computer in response to the request made in the step b), and ii)
the removable memory device is removed from the portable terminal
device.
17. A method for a portable terminal device as set forth in claim
16, wherein, when the particular password is entered through the
computer in response to the request made in the step b), the
removable memory device is allowed to be removed from the portable
terminal device without erasing any of the information stored
within the removable memory device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to removable memory devices.
In particular, the present invention relates to a removable memory
device for a portable terminal device that can be removably
connected to such a portable terminal device as, e.g., a portable
telephone and can store therein ID information, a telephone number
list, and so on, etc., inherent in each portable terminal
device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Such a portable terminal device as a portable telephone
comprises a memory device which stores therein, for example, such a
telephone number list as abbreviated dialing numbers or such
individual information as ID information inherent in each portable
terminal device, entered by a user. When a user wants to exchange
the portable terminal device with another due to user's upgrading
to a newer device, it is desirable to enable copying of the
individual information already stored in the portable terminal
device used so far to a new portable terminal device and also to
enable use of the new portable terminal device with the same
individual information.
[0005] Disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Publication No. Hei-4-302245 is a system wherein an information
memory device for storing information necessary for operation of a
radio telephone set, i.e., operation lock/unlock information, radio
telephone participation information, or attached function
restriction information, private information (i.e., individual
information) such as a telephone number list, as explained in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. Hei-4-302245,
is made in the form of an ID card or a chip and the information
memory device is arranged to be removably connected to the radio
telephone device.
[0006] In that system, when it is desired to exchange the radio
telephone device with a newer device, by just removing the
information memory device from the old radio telephone device and
then attaching it to the new radio telephone device, the user can
use the new radio telephone device under the same environment (that
is, the same individual information) as that of the old radio
telephone device.
[0007] However, the prior art radio telephone device has a problem
that, since anyone can simply remove the information memory device
therefrom, when another user removes the information memory device
from other's radio telephone device and attaches the information
memory device to his or her own radio telephone device, he or she
can use it with use of the other's individual information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the above, the present invention has been made,
and an object of the present invention is to provide a removable
memory device for a portable terminal device which, when a user
wants to exchange an old portable terminal device with new one and
to use the new portable terminal device with individual information
used so far, can reliably shift the individual information, can
shorten a time necessary for the information shift to a large
extent and can prevent easy illegal use of the individual
information of the portable terminal device by others.
[0009] With the removable memory device for the portable terminal
device in accordance with the present invention, when a user wants
to exchange an old terminal device with new one, the user is
required to protect an individual information already stored in the
memory device.
[0010] In more detail, the memory device has a controller for
judging an input command from a personal computer connected to the
portable terminal device when the memory device is disconnected
from the portable terminal device and a memory manager for
protecting the memory at the time of the removal.
[0011] When the removable memory device of the present invention is
illegally removed from the portable terminal device, the individual
information stored in the memory is erased.
[0012] More specifically, the memory device has a controller for
detecting a connection with the portable terminal and a memory
manager having a function of erasing the memory.
[0013] The removable memory device in accordance with the present
invention can be removed from the portable terminal device when a
remove command (e.g., password) is entered.
[0014] For this reason, when wanting to exchange the terminal
device, the user can exchange the individual information in a short
time and also can prevent the user or a third party from illegally
removing the memory device from the terminal device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above-mentioned objects and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, with like
reference numerals indicating corresponding parts throughout, and
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a removable memory device in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a configuration for explaining the shifting
operation of individual information of a portable terminal device
using the removable memory device in accordance with the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the shifting operation
of the individual information of the portable terminal device using
the removable memory device in accordance with the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the
removable memory device according to the first embodiment of the
present invention when the removable memory device was illegally
removed from the portable terminal device.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a removable memory device and a
part of a portable terminal device in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the
removable memory device according to the second embodiment of the
present invention when the removable memory device was illegally
removed from the portable terminal device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The present invention will be explained in connection with
the drawings. Embodiments of the present invention will then be
explained in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a
related system will be discussed.
[0023] Explanation will now be made as to how to copy the
individual information to another portable terminal device in a
related portable terminal device.
[0024] Initially, a first portable terminal device, as a copy
originator, is connected to such an intermediate controller as a
personal computer to transfer the individual information already
stored in the memory device of the first portable terminal device
to the intermediate controller. Next, after the first portable
terminal device is removed from the intermediate controller, a
second portable terminal device, as a copy destinator, is connected
to the intermediate controller to transfer to the second portable
terminal device the individual information transferred from the
first portable terminal device to the intermediate controller. The
second portable terminal device stores in its own memory device the
individual information transferred from the intermediate
controller, at which stage the copying operation of the individual
information is completed.
[0025] However, the related method has had a problem that the
individual information is first transferred from the first portable
terminal device to the intermediate controller and then stored in
the memory device of the second portable terminal device, so that
there is a danger that erroneous transfer of the individual
information or data destruction during transmission may take place
and an increased amount of information involves a longer transfer
time.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a removable memory device in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] A removable memory device 1 is made up of a memory 5 for
storing individual information therein, a memory manager 6 for
protecting the memory when the removable memory device 1 is not
connected to a portable terminal device and for allowing access
thereto when the removable memory device is connected, a data
input/output part 4 as a data sending/receiving port to/from a data
input/output part 2 of the portable terminal device, and a
controller 3 for detecting an interconnection with the portable
terminal device through the data input/output part 4 and for
controlling the memory manager 6.
[0028] Explanation will next be made as to the shifting operation
of the individual information of the portable terminal device using
the removable memory device in accordance with the present
invention, by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a configuration
for explaining the shifting operation of the individual information
of the portable terminal device using the removable memory device
in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart
for explaining the operation thereof. Explanation will be made
herein as to the shifting operation of the individual information
stored in portable terminal device A in FIG. 2 to a portable
terminal device B, by referring to steps (F-1) to (F-16) in FIG.
3.
[0029] First of all, by connecting the portable terminal device A
to a personal computer 10, the portable terminal device A is put in
its maintenance mode (step (F-1)). The maintenance mode may either
be automatically entered when the portable terminal device A is
connected to the personal computer 10, or the maintenance mode may
be entered after a command to enter the maintenance mode is input
via the personal computer 10.
[0030] In most systems, a command is required to enter the
maintenance mode, but some systems allow for an
automatically-entered maintenance when the portable terminal device
A is connected to the personal computer 10.
[0031] The personal computer 10 acts as an information input/output
apparatus for inputting commands, etc., to the portable terminal
device or for displaying thereon information received from the
portable terminal device. In the maintenance mode of the portable
terminal device, the portable terminal device can do transactions
on various types of maintenances. In the maintenance mode, when it
is not associated with the removable memory device, the portable
terminal device shifts to various types of maintenance modes (steps
(F-2), (F-16)).
[0032] In this maintenance mode, next, a maintenance operator
selects a removable mode for the removable memory device 1. More
specifically, the operator enters a remove command into the
portable terminal device A connected to the personal computer 10
(steps (F-2) and (F-3)). This remove command is accepted by the
controller 3 of the removable memory device 1 via the data
input/output part 2 of the Portable terminal device A and the data
input/output part 4 of the removable memory device 1 (refer to FIG.
1).
[0033] The controller 3, after accepting the remove command,
requires a password from the maintenance operator. The maintenance
operator, in response to the password request, enters the password
(password for the removal) from the personal computer 10 (step
(F-4)). When the controller 3 finds a password coincidence between
the operator-entered password and a password stored in the
removable memory device 1 (step (F-5)), the controller 3 issues to
the memory manager 6 a command to protect the memory 5 (step
(F-6)). In the step (F-5), when the maintenance operator removes
the removable memory device 1 from the portable terminal device A
without finding a password coincidence in the controller 3, the
contents stored in the memory 5 is erased and the memory 5 is
initialized. The removable memory device 1 may be removed from the
portable terminal device A without erasing the contents stored in
the memory 5. In this case, as described later, when the portable
terminal device B mounted the removable memory device 1 is
connected to the personal computer 10, the contents stored in the
memory 5. The password stored in the removable memory device 1 is
typically only changeable by a user with system privileges or the
like, and cannot be changed by a normal user. This password may be
stored in the removable memory device (either in the controller 3
or the memory 5) during manufacture of the removable memory device
1, for example.
[0034] The memory manager 6, when receiving the instruction,
protects the memory 5 and then issues a notification of completion
of the memory protection to the controller 3 (step (F-7)). The
controller 3, when receiving the notification, informs the personal
computer 10 that the portable terminal device A is removable from
the personal computer 10 via the portable terminal device A (step
(F-8)). The personal computer 10, when receiving the removable
notification, informs the maintenance operator to remove the
portable terminal device A from the personal computer 10 and to
remove the removable memory device 1 from the portable terminal
device A.
[0035] The maintenance operator, after receiving the removal notice
by means of the personal computer 10, removes the removable memory
device 1 from the portable terminal device A (step (F-9)), mounts
the removable memory device 1 into the portable terminal device B
with protecting the contents stored in the memory 5, connects the
portable terminal device B to the personal computer 10, selects a
connection mode of the removable memory device 1 from the
maintenance mode (F-1), and then enters on the personal computer 10
a connect command to the portable terminal device B (steps (F-2)
and (F-3)).
[0036] Even when the controller 3 receives this connect command, as
in the remove command explained previously, the controller 3
demands the password of the maintenance operator (step (F-10)).
When the controller 3 finds a coincidence of the password entered
by the maintenance operator (step (F-11)), the controller issues a
memory release instruction to the memory manager 6 (step (F-12)).
In the step (F-11), when the maintenance operator removes the
removable memory device 1 from the portable terminal device A
without finding a password coincidence in the controller 3, the
contents stored in the memory 5 is erased and the memory 5 is
initialized.
[0037] This instruction causes the memory manager 6 to release the
memory 5 and to inform the controller 3 of completion of the memory
release (step (F-13)). The controller 3, after receiving the
notification, informs the personal computer 10 of completion of the
connection of the removable memory device 1 via the portable
terminal device B (step (F-14)). Thereafter, the maintenance
operator is permitted to separate the portable terminal device B
from the personal computer 10. After the portable terminal device B
is separated from the personal computer 10, the operator can use
the portable terminal device B (step (F-15)).
[0038] Explanation will then be made as to the operation of the
removable memory device 1 according to the first embodiment when
the operator removes the removable memory device 1 from the
portable terminal device without following the above procedure, by
referring to a flowchart of FIG. 4.
[0039] The controller 3, when confirming a connection of the
portable terminal device through the data input/output part 4 (step
(S-1)) and the memory protection is not carried out (step (S-2))
and the memory 5 is not newly mounted (step (S-3)) (that is, when
incorrect removal is carried out), issues a memory erase
instruction to the memory manager 6. The memory manager 6, when
receiving the memory erase instruction, completes erasing of the
contents stored in the memory 5 and then informs the controller 3
of completion of the memory erase. The controller 3, after
receiving the notification, newly utilizes the memory 5 (step
(S-4)).
[0040] In the step (S-2), when the memory protection is carried
out, the contents stored in the memory 5 is not erased even if the
maintenance operator removes the removable memory device 1 from the
portable terminal device A. In the step (S-3), when the memory 5 is
newly mounted, the memory 5 is initialized.
[0041] When the operator connects the removable memory device 1 to
the portable terminal device without following the aforementioned
procedure, the present invention can be arranged so that the
portable terminal device prohibits its operation using the
individual information stored in the removable memory device 1
connected thereto.
[0042] As has been explained in the foregoing, the removable memory
device in accordance with the present invention is arranged so that
an operator is required to enter the remove command (password)
after connected from the personal computer and at the time of
connection, operator's input of the connect command (password) from
the personal computer causes the memory to be released. This
enables the memory having the individual information already stored
therein to be protected, so that illegal access can be prevented
and shift of the individual information can be easily realized even
at the time of exchange between portable terminal devices.
[0043] A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5. In
that figure, the controller 3' is provided in the portable terminal
device A', which is external to the remote memory device 1'. FIG. 6
is a flowchart for explaining the operation according to the second
embodiment. In FIG. 6, when the removable memory device 1' is
disconnected from a portable terminal device A' and then later
reconnected to the same portable terminal device A' or to another
portable terminal device (step S-5), and the memory 5 is not
protected (step S-6), and the memory 5 is not newly mounted (step
S-7), the controller 3' issues a command to the memory manager 6 to
erase the contents stored in the memory 5 if the memory 5 is not
protected. After a non-protected memory 5 has been erased, the
memory manager 6 informs the controller 3' of completion of the
memory erase (via the data input output part 4 of the removable
memory device 1' and the data input/output part 2 of the portable
terminal device A'). The controller 3', after receiving the
notification, newly utilizes the memory 5 (step S-8). Thus, in the
second embodiment, the memory 5 is not immediately erased under
command of a controller 3 external to the removable memory device
1' after disconnection of a removable memory device 1' from a
portable terminal device A', in which the removable memory device
has a non-new, non-protected memory (as in the first embodiment),
but instead the erasure is performed by a controller 3' external to
the removable memory device 1' at a time when the removable memory
device 1' is reconnected to a portable terminal device A' (having a
controller 3' housed therein). In an alternative embodiment, the
controller is housed in the personal computer 10.
[0044] While embodiments have been described herein, modification
of the described embodiments may become apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art, following the teachings of the
invention, without departing from the scope of the invention as set
forth in the appended claims. For example, other ways of disabling
the removable memory device may be contemplated while remaining
within the teachings of the invention, such as, for example,
disabling the data input/output part 4 or the memory manager 6, and
not erasing the memory 5. For the data input/output part, this
would require a control signal (not shown in FIG. 1) from the
controller 3 to the data input/output part 4, where that control
signal would disable the data input/output part 4.
[0045] Further, in the embodiments of the invention, a maintenance
operator enters commands, a password, and so on, from a personal
computer 10. However, the maintenance operator may be able to enter
them from a portable terminal device A.
[0046] Moreover, in the embodiments of this invention, the
maintenance operator enters commands, a password, and so on, but a
user of a portable terminal device A may be able to enter them.
* * * * *