JP2000013831A - Unauthorized use preventing method for pager and pager having unauthorized use preventing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent unauthorized use of a pager by illegal copying of an ID code by comparing the code value calculated from an identification code with a comparison code stored in a volatile memory and discontinuing the subsequent operation if no matching is secured between these codes. SOLUTION: A CPU 2 receives an ID code, the system information, the frequency data and an identification code of every contractor from a code programmer 9 and stores the received data in a prescribed area of an EEPROM 7. Then the CPU 2 calculates a comparison code B that is obtained by a prescribed calculation method from the received identification code and stores the code B in a prescribed area of an SRAM 6. When the power supply of the pager device 10 is applied or a system is started again, the device 10 reads an identification code A out of the EEPROM 7 and then calculates a calculation code C in the calculating method of the code B. If the code C is not coincident with the code B of the SRAM 6, it's decided that the EEPROM 7 is illegally copied Then the original operation of the device 10 is discontinued.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of preventing unauthorized use of a pager device and a pager device with unauthorized use prevention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a pager apparatus, an ID code assigned to each paging service subscriber is stored in an ID-ROM (EEPROM) in the apparatus. According to this, there were the following problems. (1) It is possible to manufacture a duplicate product by disassembling the device, illegally copying the data of the ID-ROM, and mounting the data on another device. (2) By manufacturing a duplicate product by the above method, a person other than the original user can acquire the personal information of the authorized user. (3) It is difficult for the service company to notice the duplicated product even if it is used, and even if the notice is noticed, the service company may have been considerably used. That is, malicious acts cannot be prevented beforehand. (4) Conventionally, as a method for preventing illegal copying, the device structure is made to be a structure that cannot be easily disassembled, or EE is used when disassembled.
There are methods such as erasing the data in the PROM. However, in these methods, special structural parts and electric circuits have to be added to the device, so that the cost is increased and the size of the device is increased. In addition, the method of erasing the EEPROM data does not allow the identification of the copy source device, making it difficult to investigate the process of performing the wrongdoing. (5) As a method for preventing illegal copying, an EEPROM
There is a method of using the data backup of the SRAM without using the data. However, according to this method, there is a danger that data (system information and frequency data) which is originally required during the operation of the system may be lost due to static electricity or the like. Data cannot be reset.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a pager device which can prevent the ID code from being used illegally. A pager device is provided.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method for preventing unauthorized use of a pager according to the present invention is used to write an ID code, system information, and frequency data to a pager device using a code programmer. The apparatus receives the identification code A determined for each contractor from the code programmer and writes it in the nonvolatile memory. The pager device calculates a comparison code B uniquely corresponding to the identification code A from the identification code A, stores the comparison code B in the volatile memory, and ends the writing process by the code programmer.

Next, when the power is turned on and when the system is restarted, a calculation code C is obtained from the identification code read from the nonvolatile memory by the method of calculating the comparison code B from the identification code A, and the calculated code C and the comparison code B are obtained. By comparing and collating, the non-volatile memory is detected as not being copied illegally, thereby preventing unauthorized use.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a pager device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a CPU in the pager device.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pager device 10
Is a radio unit 1 for receiving a transmission signal from a base station and demodulating and decoding the digital signal into a digital signal that can be processed by the CPU 2, a CPU 2 for controlling and processing the radio unit 1, a ROM 5 for storing a main program, a data processing and recording Volatile memory SRAM 6 and nonvolatile memory E for storing individual ID data
An external interface 3 for connection to an EPROM 7, a code programmer 9 for writing an ID code to a terminal, a main battery 4 and a backup battery 8 for retaining data in the SRAM 6 when the main battery 4 is replaced, and a received message and system data. A display device 11 for displaying and an operation switch 12 are included.

Next, the CPU in the pager device will be described.

Referring to FIG. 2, CPU 2 in FIG.
Reads the data of the main program in the ROM 5, the radio unit control means 14, the switch input control means 15, the external data input / output control means 16, the SRAM data input / output control means 18, the EEPROM data input / output control means 19, the display unit control ROM data input control means 17 for outputting data necessary for execution of the means 20, and ROM data input control means 1
7, radio unit control means 14, switch input control means 15,
External data input / output control means 16, EEPROM data input / output control means 19, SRAM data input / output control means 18 for writing and reading data necessary for execution of display section control means 20 to and from SRAM 6, and input from code programmer 9. External data input / output control means 16 for outputting the input data to SRAM data input / output control means 18 and outputting data input from SRAM data input / output control means 18 to code programmer 9; Input data to EEPROM
7 for writing data to the EEPROM 7 and outputting read data from the EEPROM 7 to the SRAM data input / output control means 18.
OM data input / output control means 19; switch input control means 15 for outputting switch state data input from switch 12 to SRAM data input / output control means 18;
The control data input from the AM data input / output control means 18 for controlling the reception operation of the radio section is output to the radio section 1, the reception message data is input from the radio section 1, and the output is output to the SRAM data input / output control means 18 Unit control means 14
And display unit control means 20 for inputting a received message, system display data and display control data from the SRAM data input / output control means 18 and outputting the system display data and display control data to the display unit 11.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing each data stored in the EEPROM and the SRAM in the authentic case according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the data in the authentic case according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for storing the data in the EPROM and the SRAM, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the power is turned on and the system is restarted.

In FIG. 3A, an ID code, system information, frequency data and an identification code A received from a code programmer 9 are stored as data A5 of the EEPROM 7. In the data A6 of the SRAM 6, a comparison code B calculated from the identification code A received from the code programmer 9 is stored.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the code programmer 9 and the pager device 10 are connected via the external data input / output unit 3, a series of partner confirmation sequences is performed. To confirm that they are valid connection partners (step A
1). The CPU 2 receives the ID code, system information, frequency data, and identification code for each subscriber from the code programmer 9 (step A2). The CPU 2 stores the received data in a predetermined area of the EEPROM 7 (Step A3). The CPU 2 calculates a comparison code B obtained by a predetermined calculation method from the received identification code,
It is stored in a predetermined area of AM6 (step A4). Thereafter, the write operation of the code programmer 9 ends.

Here, when the power is turned on or the system is restarted, the pager apparatus 10 starts an EEPRO.
The identification code A is read from M7, and the calculation code C is obtained by a method of calculating the comparison code B. By comparing the calculated code C with the comparison code B of the SRAM 6, the EE is obtained.
This is to determine whether the PROM 7 has been copied illegally. That is, assuming that the EEPROM 7 is copied from another terminal, the copied identification code is actually an identification code unique to the copy source terminal and is not equal to the original identification code A. Therefore, if this is set as the identification code D, the calculation code E calculated from the identification code D does not match the comparison code B of the SRAM 6. As a result, it can be determined that the EEPROM 7 has been illegally copied. In this case, the operation of the original pager device is stopped to prevent unauthorized use.

As a processing procedure, as shown in FIG. 4, when the power is turned on and the system is restarted, the pager device 10 causes the CPU 2 to start executing the program in the ROM 5,
Initial settings for starting the operation of the system are performed (step B1). Next, the CPU 2 reads the identification code A from the EEPROM 7 (step B2). The calculation code C is calculated by the method of calculating the comparison code B from the read identification code A.
(Step B3). Next, the comparison code B is read from the SRAM 6 (step B4). The calculation code C calculated in step B3 is compared with the comparison code B read in step B4 (step B5). If the result of this comparison matches, the normal operation of the pager is started,
If they do not match, the subsequent operations are stopped (step B6).

Now, suppose that the value of the identification code A is 100 (de
c), and the calculation formula for calculating the comparison code B is (identification code A-45 = comparison code B). In this case, 100
−45 = 55 (dec), and the identification code B is 55 (d)
ec). Since the calculation code C is obtained by the same calculation method, the calculation code is also 55 (dec).

Next, the operation in the case of the unusable state will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing each data of the EEPROM and the SRAM when an illegal copy is made. FIG. 3 shows that the identification code D written by the code programmer is copied to a pager device different from the pager device 10 and the EEPROM 7 of the pager device 10 is copied.
It is a case where it is replaced and mounted. In this case, the pager device 10 obtains the calculation code C 'by a method of reading the identification code D by turning on the power or restarting the system to calculate the comparison code, and comparing the calculation code C' with the comparison code B results in a mismatch.

In FIG. 5B, the pager device 10
In the case where the backup power supply is cut off due to exhaustion of the backup battery of the SRAM 6,
This is a case where the comparison code B in the RAM 6 has disappeared. Also in this case, the pager apparatus 10 obtains the calculation code C by a method of reading the identification code A by turning on the power or restarting the system and calculating the comparison code B, and reads out the comparison code B from the SRAM 6 and compares it. Again, the results are inconsistent because the data has been lost. In this case, in order to make this device usable, the pager user needs to bring it into a service company and write the identification code again by the code programmer.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the pager device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first embodiment (FIG. 1)
The difference is that a battery voltage monitoring unit 13 is added. In this embodiment, the output voltage of the backup battery 8 is constantly monitored, and when the voltage is higher than the data retention limit voltage of the SRAM 6, the battery voltage can be quantitatively indicated to the user on the display unit 11. According to this, since the pager user can know the time to replace the backup battery 8, it is possible to prevent the data in the SRAM 6 from being inadvertently lost and unusable during normal use.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 shows the EEPRO in the third embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data of M and SRAM.

Referring to FIG. 7, the difference from FIG.
The point is that the area for storing the comparison code B in M6 is increased to three places. In the present embodiment, a predetermined 3
The comparison code B is stored in the area of the three places, and the data of the three comparison codes B is read when the data is compared with the calculation code C calculated from the identification code A. If the data values of at least two places match, the matched value is read. The value of the comparison code B is compared with the calculation code C. In this embodiment, the SRAM
6 has the effect of improving the reliability of the comparison code B in consideration of accidental data destruction due to static electricity or the like.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for restarting the system according to the fourth embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, this figure shows that during the operation of the system, the fixed data in the EEPROM is periodically read and checked against the data prepared for comparison in advance, and if the data is incorrect or the EEPROM access fails. In that case, a program to restart the system is added. This embodiment uses EEP during operation of the pager system.
When an attempt is made to replace the ROM, the system is restarted due to an EEPROM access error. As a result, the identification code mismatch is detected and the device becomes unusable. This embodiment has an effect of preventing the EEPROM from being replaced and used during the operation of the system even when the collation results of the identification codes match when the power is turned on and when the system is restarted.

In FIG. 8, the pager device sets an interrupt by a timer to confirm the EEPROM during normal operation (step C1). Wait until there is a corresponding interrupt (step C2). When an interrupt occurs, the corresponding interrupt is released, the fixed data in the EEPROM is read, and the data is checked against the prepared data (step C).
3). If the collation result is determined, if OK, the process proceeds to the timer interrupt setting (step 1) again, and if NG, the system is restarted (step C4).

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

The first effect is that CPUs, ROMs, SRAMs, which are components necessary for realizing the original system,
No special hardware is required besides EEPROM, backup battery, code programmer and the like. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to mobile phones.

The second effect is that if the EEPROM is illegally copied and the device is to be duplicated and used, the device becomes unusable at that time. And the service on the master station side is not affected.

A third effect is that the service company can check the use situation when the device cannot be used.

The reason is that illegal use of the EEPROM and the complete discharge of the backup battery make it impossible to use the EEPROM. Therefore, in order to continue using the EEPROM, it must be brought to a service company and the identification code must be written again. At that time, E
This is because the identification code of the EPROM does not disappear, so that it can be determined by reading it by a code programmer whether it has been illegally copied.

A fourth effect is that during normal system operation, system data can be reset in preparation for destruction of SRAM data due to static electricity or the like.

The reason is that the ID code, system information, and frequency data are stored in the EEPROM,
The identification data stored in the AM is checked only when the power is turned on and when the system is restarted.
This is because the use can be continued even if the identification code stored in the RAM is destroyed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a pager device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a CPU in the pager device.

FIG. 3 (A) EEPR in the case of authenticity in the present embodiment
The figure which shows each data stored in OM and SRAM,
(B) A flowchart showing a procedure for storing the data in the EEPROM and the SRAM in the authentic case according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when power is turned on and when the system is restarted.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing each data of an EEPROM and an SRAM when an illegal copy is performed, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing each data of the EEPROM and an SRAM when a backup power is turned off;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a pager device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an EEPROM and an SR according to a third embodiment.
Diagram showing each data of AM

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for restarting the system according to the fourth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 wireless unit 2 CPU 3 serial interface (external data input / output unit) 4 main battery 5 ROM 6 SRAM 7 EEPROM 8 backup battery 9 code programmer 10 pager device 11 display device 12 operation switch 13 voltage monitoring unit 14 wireless unit control means 15 Switch input control means 16 External data input / output control means 17 ROM data input control means 18 SRAM data input / output control means 19 EEPROM data input / output control means 20 Display control means

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 7, 1999 (1999.5.7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

2. A previously stores the comparison code into a plurality of areas of the volatile memory, it reads pager of claim 1, wherein comparing the calculated code with the highest comparison code from among the comparison codes How to prevent unauthorized use of the device.

3. The page according to claim 1 or 2.
With a function to prevent unauthorized use of the device
It can be a pager, a wireless unit for demodulating decoded into a digital signal receives the transmission signal from the base station, CP radio section control and data processing
U, a ROM for storing a main program, a volatile memory for data processing and recording, a non-volatile memory for storing individual ID data, an external interface for connection with a code programmer for writing an ID code in the non-volatile memory, Unauthorized use comprising: a main battery; a backup battery for retaining data in the volatile memory when the main battery is replaced; a display device for displaying a received message and system data; and an operation switch. Pager device with prevention.

4. A battery voltage monitoring unit for constantly monitoring an output voltage of a backup battery.
3. The pager device with improper use prevention according to 3 .

Wherein said CPU includes a ROM data input control means for outputting data necessary for the execution of each unit, SRAM data input-output control means for performing write and read to the SRAM data required for execution of the respective means External data input / output control means for outputting data input from the code programmer to the SRAM data input / output control means, and outputting data input from the SRAM data input / output control means to the code programmer, and SRAM data input / output control means Write the data input from the
EEPROM data input / output control means for outputting read data from the EPROM to the SRAM data input / output control means;
The switch input control means for outputting to the AM data input / output control means, the control data for controlling the reception operation of the radio section inputted from the SRAM data input / output control means are outputted to the radio section, and the reception message data is inputted from the radio section. SRAM
Wireless unit control means for outputting to data input / output control means,
A display control means for inputting a received message, display data of the system and display control data from the SRAM data input / output control means, and outputting the display data and display control data of the system to the display part. 3. The pager device with improper use prevention according to 3 .

Claims (6)

[Claims] An ID code, system information, frequency data, and an identification code for each subscriber are acquired from a code programmer, and the acquired identification code is stored in a non-volatile memory in the apparatus. A method for preventing unauthorized use of a pager device, wherein a comparison code obtained by a calculation method is stored in a volatile memory. 2. When a power is turned on or a system is restarted, an identification code stored in a nonvolatile memory is read out, and a value of a calculation code calculated by a predetermined calculation method from the identification code is read out. 2. The pager device according to claim 1, wherein a comparison is made between the data and the comparison code stored in the volatile memory. If the codes match, the operation shifts to a normal operation, and if the codes do not match, the subsequent operation is stopped. How to prevent unauthorized use. 3. The pager according to claim 2, wherein the comparison code is stored in a plurality of areas of the volatile memory, and the comparison code with the largest comparison code among the read comparison codes is compared with the calculation code. How to prevent unauthorized use of the device. 4. A radio unit for receiving a transmission signal from a base station and demodulating and decoding the digital signal into a digital signal, a radio unit control and data processing CPU, a main program storage ROM, a data processing and recording volatile memory, A non-volatile memory for storing individual ID data, an external interface for connection with a code programmer that writes an ID code in the non-volatile memory, and a main battery for storing data in the volatile memory when the main battery is replaced. A pager device with an unauthorized use prevention, comprising a backup battery, a display device for displaying a received message and system data, and an operation switch. 5. The pager device with unauthorized use prevention according to claim 4, further comprising a battery voltage monitoring unit that constantly monitors the output voltage of the backup battery. 6. The CPU comprises: a ROM data input control means for outputting data necessary for execution of each means; and an SRAM data input / output control means for writing and reading data necessary for execution of each means to and from the SRAM. External data input / output control means for outputting data input from the code programmer to the SRAM data input / output control means, and outputting data input from the SRAM data input / output control means to the code programmer, and SRAM data input / output control means Write the data input from the
EEPROM data input / output control means for outputting read data from the EPROM to the SRAM data input / output control means;
The switch input control means for outputting to the AM data input / output control means, the control data for controlling the reception operation of the radio section inputted from the SRAM data input / output control means are outputted to the radio section, and the reception message data is inputted from the radio section. SRAM
Wireless unit control means for outputting to data input / output control means,
A display control means for inputting a received message, display data of the system and display control data from the SRAM data input / output control means, and outputting the display data and display control data of the system to the display part. 4. The pager device with unauthorized use prevention according to 4.