JP2007060102A - Use limit system and portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a use limit system by which positive security can be attained outside a safety region and favorable convenience can be attained in the safety region, and to provide a portable terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The use limit system 10 comprises a portable terminal 100 equipped with a terminal side wireless authentication section 120, a wireless communication unit 200 equipped with a unit side wireless authentication section 52, and a charger 400 for charging the portable terminal 100 wherein the use limit of the portable terminal 100 is canceled when mutual authentication can be carried out. As conditions for deciding that the wireless communication unit 200 is connected with the charger 400 for power supply, and the portable terminal 100 is located in the safety region, the use limit system 10 employs a fact that the strength of an authentication signal for mutual authentication is not lower than a specified value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides high security by restricting the use of a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, or a personal computer when it is misplaced or stolen, and also provides good convenience at home or at work. The present invention relates to a use restriction system that is used, and a portable terminal device that is used in the use restriction system.

In recent years, mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and personal computers are widely used as communication means and information processing means. However, along with this, there are many cases where the portable terminal device is left behind or stolen, and there is an increased risk of unauthorized use by others or leakage of personal information such as a telephone directory.
Therefore, a technique capable of obtaining reliable security when the mobile terminal device leaves the user has become important.

  The mobile terminal device usage restriction system shown in FIG. 9 includes a mobile phone 1 (FIG. 9A), a PDA 2 (FIG. 9B), and a personal computer 3 (FIG. 9) having a specific identification code (authentication number). C)) and the like, and a wireless communication unit 4 that is attached to each portable terminal device and can always be carried by the user.

This use restriction system cancels the use restriction of each portable terminal device by mutually communicating (polling) the identification code between each portable terminal device and the wireless communication unit 4 to mutually authenticate each portable terminal device. When the distance between the device and the wireless communication unit 4 is a predetermined distance or more and the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication is below a certain level, it is determined that the mutual authentication is not established and the use of each portable terminal device is restricted. In addition, the notification means of the wireless communication unit 4 is activated to notify the user (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 293276

  In Patent Document 1, the use of the mobile terminal device is restricted when only the mobile terminal device leaves the user due to misplacement or theft, and the user is notified by the notification means of the wireless communication unit. A user who has noticed misplacement or theft can quickly perform post-processing, and until the post-processing is completed, the mobile terminal device is illegally used by another person, or personal information such as a telephone directory is leaked. This has the effect of avoiding the danger of being restricted by use restrictions.

By the way, in Patent Document 1, when the mutual authentication between the mobile terminal device and the wireless communication unit is interrupted, all the functions of the mobile terminal device cannot be used immediately.
For this reason, in Patent Document 1, if the user does not always carry the wireless communication unit even in a safe area such as a home or work place, the portable terminal device and the wireless communication unit are less likely to be stolen. However, there is an inconvenience that it is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages, and the object thereof is to provide a use restriction system and a portable device that can provide reliable security outside the safe area and good convenience within the safe area. It is to provide a terminal device.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the fact that there are an original radio communication unit and a duplicate radio communication unit as radio communication units as an operation mode of Patent Document 1.

That is, the original wireless communication unit is supplied to the user at the same time as the portable terminal device, and is often stored at an arbitrary location in a safe area such as home or work.
On the other hand, the replicated wireless communication unit can be replicated using the original wireless communication unit as an original, and is assumed to be regularly carried by a user. These original radio communication unit and duplicate radio communication unit are equivalent in authentication function with the mobile terminal device, but can be discriminated in the mobile terminal device by an identification code (ID). It is assumed that a duplicate wireless communication unit can be created from an original wireless communication unit, but the reverse is not possible.

  Here, when the mobile terminal device and the original wireless communication unit mutually authenticate, it may be determined that the mobile terminal device is in the safe area and the use restriction is lifted. Since it is not used at all times, there is a risk of storage loss or loss due to moving.

In addition, the original wireless communication unit, like the duplicate wireless communication unit, has a constant authentication signal strength for mutual authentication because the unit-side wireless authentication unit is driven by a built-in battery that must always be consumed. Restricted to: Therefore, the conventional original wireless communication unit cannot cover the entire safety area such as home or work, and is not practical.
Furthermore, the original wireless communication unit may become unusable due to exhaustion of the internal battery due to aging.

In view of the above situation, the following use restriction system has been devised.
That is, the use restriction system of the present invention includes a portable terminal device including a terminal-side wireless authentication unit, a wireless communication unit including a unit-side wireless authentication unit that performs wireless authentication with the terminal-side wireless authentication unit, the portable terminal device, and A charger having a power supply unit for supplying power to or charging the wireless communication unit, and when the terminal-side wireless authentication unit and the unit-side wireless authentication unit can mutually authenticate, The use restriction system for releasing the use restriction, wherein the mobile terminal device is sent from the wireless communication unit and received by the mobile terminal as a determination condition for determining that the mobile terminal device is in a safe area. The signal strength is not less than a specified value.

  Here, there are two types of wireless communication units: the original wireless communication unit and the duplicate wireless communication unit described above. A mobile terminal user may wear any wireless communication unit. The strength of the authentication signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device and received by the wireless communication unit may be measured.

Usually, a charger of a mobile terminal device is often installed at a fixed point in a safe area such as a home or work place, and is less likely to be taken out of the safe area or stolen.
And in such this invention, when carrying out mutual authentication with the unit side radio | wireless certification | authentication part of the radio | wireless communication unit electrically connected to the charger with high possibility that the terminal side radio | wireless certification | authentication part is fixedly installed in the safe area | region in this invention The authentication signal strength is detected, and whether or not the detected value is equal to or greater than a specified value is used as a determination condition. Therefore, the reliability of the determination is high, and even if the use restriction is canceled after the determination, there is a risk that the security may be impaired. There will be less.

  Therefore, in such an invention, if the use restriction is canceled after it is determined that the mobile terminal device is in the safe area, even if the user moves and moves only the mobile terminal device in the safe area, The use of the portable terminal device is not restricted, and thereby, a favorable convenience can be obtained as compared with the conventional case.

In the present invention, since the wireless communication unit is electrically connected to the charger, it is possible to avoid the possibility of being unusable due to exhaustion of the internal battery, and it is not necessary to consider the exhaustion of the internal battery. For this reason, the unit-side wireless authentication unit can be driven with the maximum output defined by the Radio Law.
Therefore, in the present invention, the safe area where the unit-side wireless authentication unit can mutually authenticate with the terminal-side wireless authentication unit can be set in a wide range such as the whole detached house or one household of a condominium. Sex will be obtained.

  Further, the use restriction system of the present invention discriminates an authentication signal sent from the original radio communication unit and an authentication signal sent from the duplicate radio communication unit in the portable terminal device, and the original radio communication in the portable terminal device. When the strength of the authentication signal emitted from the unit is equal to or higher than a specified value, it is determined that the mobile terminal device is present in a safe area.

  In the present invention, when the mobile terminal device is in a safe area and there is no use restriction, and when the mobile terminal device is outside the safe area and there is no use restriction. It is possible to perform control that distinguishes between cases. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the user has a duplicate wireless communication unit when the user tries to go out, that is, when only the portable terminal device is out of the safe area. Therefore, when the user does not have the duplicate wireless communication unit, it can be prompted to have it.

Further, the use restriction system of the present invention is characterized in that it has means for detecting that the portable terminal device is connected to the power supply unit as a determination condition as to whether or not it is within the safe area.
In the present invention, since the determination condition is that the mobile terminal device is physically connected to a charger that is likely to be installed at a fixed point in the safety area, the reliability of the determination is further increased. Will improve.

  Furthermore, the use restriction system of the present invention includes a terminal-side global positioning unit (terminal-side GPS device) provided in the mobile terminal device, and the mobile terminal device uses the terminal-side global positioning unit in advance. The safe area positioning information is stored in a memory in the unit-side wireless authentication unit, and the safe area positioning information stored in the memory is transmitted to the portable terminal-side wireless authentication unit, and the portable terminal device Compares the terminal-side positioning information obtained from the terminal-side global positioning unit with the positioning information in the memory to calculate the relative distance. When the relative distance is equal to or less than a certain distance, it is determined that the safety area is within the safe area, and the restriction of the mobile terminal device is released.

Here, when the unit-side wireless authentication unit sends the charger positioning information to the terminal-side wireless authentication unit, wireless may be used, or a contact-type connector provided in the charger may be used. Good.
The use restriction system of the present invention sends the terminal-side positioning information in the safe area to the unit-side wireless authentication unit in advance and stores it as charger positioning information. This eliminates the need to provide the device, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

  In the present invention, since the relative distance between the portable terminal device and the charger is used as a determination condition based on the terminal-side positioning information and the charger positioning information, the portable terminal device exists in the safety area. The reliability of determining whether or not there is a further improvement.

  The use restriction system of the present invention includes a wireless communication unit-side global positioning unit (wireless communication unit-side GPS device) provided in the charger, and the wireless unit-side wireless authentication unit is connected to the wireless unit-side global earth. The wireless unit side positioning information sent from the positioning unit to the terminal side wireless authentication unit and the mobile terminal device obtained from the terminal side global positioning unit (terminal side GPS device) and the wireless unit side earth The wireless unit side positioning information obtained from the positioning unit is compared, the relative distance between the mobile terminal device and the wireless communication unit is grasped, and when the relative distance is equal to or less than a certain distance, it is within the safety region. It is characterized by canceling | releasing a restriction | limiting of a portable terminal device.

In the present invention, since the wireless communication unit-side global positioning unit is provided in the charger, the relative distance between the portable terminal device and the charger can be accurately calculated, thereby making the determination condition highly accurate. The credibility of determination is further improved.
In the present invention, since the charger-side global positioning unit is provided in the charger, the charger positioning information can be updated at any time even if the charger installation location in the safety area is changed. Thus, the determination condition can be maintained with high accuracy.

Further, the use restriction system of the present invention has notification means provided in at least one of the mobile terminal device and the wireless communication unit, and the notification is provided when the strength of the authentication signal becomes less than a specified value. The means is activated.
Here, as the notification means, sound, light, vibration, and the like can be exemplified, and may be appropriately selected according to the user's preference.

  In the present invention, when the strength of the authentication signal becomes less than the specified value, in other words, only the mobile terminal device is out of the safe area, the notification means is activated, so that the user tries to go out. In this case, it is possible to prompt the user to carry the duplicate wireless communication unit, or to inform the user of the theft or unauthorized removal of the portable terminal device within the safe area.

  Furthermore, in the use restriction system of the present invention, when the strength of the authentication signal becomes equal to or higher than the first threshold, the mobile terminal device releases the use restriction, and the strength of the authentication signal is lower than the first threshold. The portable terminal device restricts use when it becomes less than a second threshold value.

In the present invention, since the second threshold when performing the use restriction again after the use restriction is released is lower than the first threshold,
For example, when the user of the mobile terminal device once enters the safe area and the use restriction of the mobile terminal apparatus is lifted, the user moves to the second floor where the radio wave intensity of the authentication signal in the safe area is weak. If the strength of the authentication signal is larger than the threshold value, the use restriction is not imposed on the portable terminal device, and convenience can be improved.

  The use restriction system of the present invention includes a storage unit in which the charger stores an infrared communication unit, an electronic device in the safety area, and a control signal of the electronic device in association with each other, and the portable terminal device When the portable terminal device determines that the battery is within the safe area, the charger can control the electronic device within the safe area via the infrared communication unit.

In the present invention, since the electronic device can be controlled within the safety region, the convenience can be further improved.
For example, triggered by detecting that the mobile terminal owner has returned home, the mobile terminal owner automatically turns on the power of the TV, air conditioner, stereo, lighting, etc. without performing each operation. It becomes possible. In addition, when the user goes out, the device can be automatically turned off without operating each of the devices, so that it is possible to avoid forgetting to turn off the electric device.

  On the other hand, the mobile terminal device of the present invention is used in each of the above-described use restriction systems.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to always carry a wireless authentication unit within a safe area, and a use restriction system and a portable terminal device that can provide good convenience can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a use restriction system and a portable terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
(Overview)
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a use restriction system 10 of the present invention. The usage restriction system 10 includes a mobile terminal device 100, an original wireless communication unit 200 and a duplicated wireless communication unit 300 that perform wireless authentication with the mobile terminal 100, and an AC power supply 401 for charging the mobile terminal device 100 to the mobile terminal device 100. And a charger 400 capable of supplying electric power.
The portable terminal device 100 can perform mutual authentication wirelessly with the original wireless communication unit 200 or the duplicate wireless communication unit 300, and can be used after canceling the use restriction when the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication is a specified value or more. It becomes.

The original wireless communication unit 200 is supplied to the user at the same time as the portable terminal device 100, and is usually stored in a safe area 500 such as a home where misplacement or theft is unlikely to occur. The duplicated wireless communication unit 300 duplicated with the original 200 is regularly carried with the portable terminal device 100.
The original wireless communication unit 200 and the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 are equivalent in terms of the authentication function with the portable terminal device, but can be distinguished by an identification code (ID). Further, it is assumed that a duplicate wireless communication unit can be created from an original wireless communication unit, but the reverse is not possible.

  In such a usage restriction system 10, when the user returns home with the mobile terminal device 100, the mobile terminal device 100 determines that it is in the safe area 500 and cancels the use restriction. Various controls including power on / off of a device such as a television receiver can be performed.

(Mobile terminal device)
A mobile terminal device 100 whose block diagram is shown in FIG. 2 is a general mobile phone that performs wireless communication with a base station (not shown) via an antenna 111, and is a terminal side for functioning a use restricting means. The wireless authentication unit 120 and the use restriction device 142 are incorporated.

The functional part as a mobile phone in the mobile terminal device 100 is configured such that mutual authentication is established by the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 144 that switches the antenna 111 for transmitting / receiving a telephone radio wave according to transmission / reception and the terminal-side wireless authentication unit 120 ( In a usable state) when the authentication is established by the transmission unit 145 that sends a signal from the function unit 143 that can be used when authentication is available to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 144 and the signal received via the antenna 111 and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 144 And a receiving unit 146 that causes the usable function unit 143 to function.
In addition, the mobile terminal device 100 includes an alarm circuit unit 121 that is a notification unit for notifying the user that the use restriction is performed by the use restriction device 142, a speaker that operates by the alarm circuit unit 121, and an LED An external output unit 122 such as a liquid crystal display is provided.

The wireless authentication unit 120 includes a transmission / reception unit 133 connected to the authentication antenna 110 that performs communication for mutual authentication between the original wireless communication unit 200 and the duplicate wireless communication unit 300, and the original wireless communication unit 200 and the duplicate wireless communication unit 300. Authentication signal strength detection unit 141 for detecting the strength of the authentication signal of the signal transmitted from communication unit 300 and received by transmission / reception unit 133, and the detected value and authentication ID (replication) of authentication signal strength detection unit 141 A wireless authentication control unit 140 that determines authentication success / failure from the authentication ID of the authentication unit of the authentication unit (for wireless communication unit) storage unit 123 or the authentication ID (for original wireless communication unit) storage unit 134.
The wireless authentication control unit 140 includes a relative distance determination unit 140a, wireless communication unit side positioning information 140b, and portable terminal side positioning information 140c. Then, the positioning information sent from the original radio communication unit 200 from the radio communication unit-side global positioning unit 80 is stored as the radio communication unit-side positioning information 140b via the authentication antenna 110 and the transmission / reception unit 130. The positioning information from the side global positioning unit 150 is stored as the mobile terminal side positioning information 140c. The relative distance determination unit 140a calculates the distance between the wireless communication unit and the portable terminal device based on the wireless communication unit side positioning information 140b and the portable terminal side positioning information 140c, and determines whether the distance is within a desired distance.
FIG. 2 shows the case where the wireless communication unit side positioning information 140b and the terminal side positioning information 140c are stored in the wireless authentication control unit 140, but are stored in the memory 148 in association with the time information from the timer 147. You may do it.

The mobile terminal device 100 can distinguish whether the wireless authentication control unit 140 is in a state where mutual authentication is established with the original wireless communication unit 200 or whether mutual authentication is established with the duplicate wireless communication unit 300.
Radio communication between the mobile terminal device 100 and the original radio communication unit 200 or the duplicate radio communication unit 300 is, for example, radio waves for short-range communication used in RFID (radio frequency identification), ZigBee, Bluetooth, UWB (ultra-wideband radio). ) Etc. to communicate a predetermined identification code signal.

  The alarm signal output from the wireless authentication control unit 140 is alerted to the user by means of sound or liquid crystal display at the external output unit 122 via the alarm circuit unit 121, and the detection value of the authentication signal strength detection unit 141 is detected. Is determined by the use restriction device 142 via the memory 148, and when it is determined that the use is not possible, the use restriction device 142 blocks the function of the function unit 143 that can be used when authentication is established. The memory 148 stores the time based on the timer 147 and the signal intensity detection value detected by the signal level detection unit 141 at that time in association with each other.

In addition, a mobile terminal side global positioning unit (terminal side GPS device) 150 is connected to the wireless authentication control unit 140.
Therefore, the mobile terminal device 100 can obtain the terminal-side positioning information from the mobile terminal-side global positioning unit (terminal-side GPS device) 150 as needed.

(Original wireless communication unit)
The original wireless communication unit 200 whose block diagram is shown in FIG. 3 is built in the charger 400 of the mobile terminal device 100.
The charger 400 is fixedly installed at a predetermined position in the safety area 500 and has a terminal portion (not shown) for charging the mobile terminal device 100.

In the charger 400, the external power supply 401 supplies power to each part in the original wireless communication unit 200 via the AC / DC conversion and voltage conversion unit 58, and serves as a power source for the mobile terminal device charging function unit 59.
When the portable terminal device 100 is connected to the portable terminal device charging function unit 59 in a state where the AC / DC conversion and voltage conversion unit 58 is connected to the external AC power supply 401 (see FIG. 1), the switch 61 is turned on. The mobile terminal device 100 starts to be charged as in the conventional case.

  Furthermore, the charger 400 has a built-in infrared transmission / reception unit 84 and an infrared device control unit 85 that controls the infrared transmission / reception unit 84. The memory 82 stores electronic device control information 83 such as a power ON / OFF signal pattern corresponding to the electronic devices in the safety area 500.

  Note that a mobile terminal device charging control unit 87 provided between the mobile terminal device charging function unit 59 and the AC / DC conversion and voltage conversion unit 58 is equipped with a function for controlling charging in the mobile terminal device 100. In some cases, it may be omitted.

The original radio communication unit 200 includes a unit-side radio authentication unit 52, an authentication antenna 53, an alarm circuit unit 56, an external output unit 57, a radio communication unit-side global positioning unit 80, and a memory 82.
The unit-side wireless authentication unit 52 includes a transmission / reception unit 54 connected to the authentication antenna 53, a wireless authentication unit control unit 62 that controls the operation of the original wireless communication unit 200, and an authentication ID (for original) storage unit 55. ing.
In the unit-side wireless authentication unit 52, a charger-side global positioning unit (GPS device) 80 and a memory 82 that stores positioning information 81 are connected to the transmission / reception unit 54.
When restricting the use of the portable terminal device 100, an alarm signal is sent from the wireless authentication unit control unit 62 to the alarm circuit unit 56, and the external output unit 57 notifies the user. As the external output unit 57, a form such as sound, light, vibration or the like is adopted and can be selected according to a user's desire.

(Replication wireless communication unit)
The duplicate wireless communication unit 300 whose block diagram is shown in FIG. 4 has the same function as the original wireless communication unit 200 described above with respect to the authentication function with the mobile terminal device, but is duplicated using the original wireless communication unit 200 as an original. Yes, it can be discriminated by the portable terminal device by the identification code (ID). A duplicate wireless communication unit can be created from an original wireless communication unit, but the reverse is not possible.
Therefore, it is assumed that the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is regularly carried by the user together with the mobile terminal device 100.
The duplicate wireless communication unit 300 in FIG. 4 has a configuration in which the wireless communication unit side global positioning unit 80 and the memory 82 are omitted from the original wireless communication unit 200 in FIG. 3. However, the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 may be included. .

  The duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is a unit side including a transmission / reception unit 37 connected to the authentication antenna 36, a wireless authentication unit control unit 34 that controls the operation of the duplicate wireless communication unit 300, and an authentication ID (for duplication) storage unit 38. An alarm circuit unit 40 for issuing an alarm when the strength when the authentication signal transmitted from the wireless authentication unit 39 is received by the portable terminal device is below a specified value, its external output unit 41, and these wireless An authentication unit 39, an alarm circuit unit 40, and a battery 42 serving as a power source for the external output unit 41 are included.

In the use restriction system 10 as described above, when the user enters the safe area 500 such as at home, the wireless authentication control unit 140 of the mobile terminal device 100 detects the signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 for mutual authentication. To do.
In this use restriction system 10, as one of the determination conditions for the mobile terminal device 100 to determine that the mobile terminal device 100 is in the safe area 500, the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication is a specified value. The above is adopted.

In the use restriction system 10, the mobile terminal device 100 is connected to the charger 400 as one of other determination conditions for the mobile terminal device 100 to determine that the mobile terminal device 100 is within the safe area 500. It has been adopted.
Specifically, the switch 61 of the mobile terminal device charging function unit 59 detects that the mobile terminal device 100 is connected to the charger 400.

  Furthermore, in this use restriction system 10, the terminal-side global positioning unit 150 obtained as one of other determination conditions for the mobile terminal device 100 to determine that the mobile terminal device 100 is within the safe area 500. The terminal-side positioning information is compared with the wireless communication unit-side positioning information obtained by the wireless communication unit-side global positioning unit 80, and the relative distance between the mobile terminal device 100 and the charger 400 is not more than a certain distance. is doing.

The original wireless communication unit 200 sends the positioning information of the charger 400 acquired from the wireless communication unit side global positioning unit 80 to the terminal side wireless authentication unit 120 of the mobile terminal device 100.
The mobile terminal device 100 compares the positioning information obtained from the mobile terminal-side global positioning unit 150 with the wireless communication unit-side positioning information.

When the relative distance between the portable terminal device 100 and the charger is equal to or smaller than a certain distance and the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication between the portable terminal side and the master key side is equal to or higher than a specified value, The terminal device 100 is determined to be within the safe area, and the use restriction signal is not sent from the use restriction device 142 to the function unit 143 that can be used when authentication is established, and the portable terminal device 100 can be used.
Alternatively, the use restriction of the mobile terminal device 100 may be released by sending a use permission signal from the use restriction device 142 to the function unit 143 that can be used when authentication is established.

That is, in the use restriction system 10 of the present embodiment, it is determined that the mobile terminal device 100 is in the safe area 500 when all the above-described three determination conditions are satisfied.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the case where it is determined that the mobile terminal device 100 is within the safety area 500 when all of the plurality of determination conditions are satisfied, and the mobile terminal device is satisfied when only specific determination conditions are satisfied. It may be determined that 100 is within the safety area 500.

In the use restriction system 10 described above, when it is determined that the mobile terminal device 100 is in the safety area 500, the charger 400 is connected to the electronic device 402 in the safety area 500 via the infrared communication unit 84 (see FIG. 1). ) Can be controlled.
Specifically, based on settings made in advance in the mobile terminal device 100, the mobile terminal device 100 sends a predetermined signal to an electronic device 402 such as a home appliance having an infrared receiving unit, and performs operations such as turning on the electronic device 402, Take control.

(Single threshold)
5 (A) and 5 (B) show the relationship between the change in the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication adopted as one of the determination conditions described above, the use restriction release time, and the start time. Has been.
In this example, the thresholds for determining whether to cancel or start the use restriction are the same.
According to these FIG. 5 (A) and FIG. 5 (B), when the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication is equal to or higher than the threshold, the use restriction is released, and when the strength of the authentication signal is lower than the threshold. It can be seen that usage restrictions will begin.

  When the use restriction is started, at least one of the alarm circuit unit 121 of the mobile terminal device 100 and the alarm circuit unit 56 of the original wireless communication unit 200 is activated, and the user is notified that the use restriction has started. Is done.

(Flow with a single threshold)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of releasing or starting the use restriction depending on one of the determination conditions shown in FIG. 5, whether or not the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication is equal to or higher than a specified value. .
When the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication with the original wireless communication unit 200 is less than the specified value, the use restriction is started. In this state, the authentication signal for mutual authentication with the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is started. When the strength of the battery exceeds the specified value, the use restriction is lifted.

First, when a signal from a radio communication unit corresponding to the mobile terminal device 100, that is, the original radio communication unit 200 or the duplicate radio communication unit 300 is detected, the signal level of the original radio communication unit 200 or the duplicate radio communication unit 300 is measured. (Step S001).
As a result of measuring the strength of the authentication signal of the original radio communication unit 200, it is determined whether or not the strength of the authentication signal is equal to or higher than a specified value (step S002). It is determined that the user has returned home, the use restriction function of the mobile terminal device 100 is released (step S003), and the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is continuously or intermittently measured (step S004).

Then, it is determined whether or not the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is equal to or greater than a specified value (step S005). If the strength of the authentication signal is equal to or greater than the specified value, the use restriction function of step S003 is determined. The release is continued, and thereafter, the same processing as in steps S004 and S005 is repeated.
This state is a state in which it is determined that the owner of the mobile terminal device 100 has returned home and all the functions of the mobile terminal device 100 can be used.

  In step S002 and step S005, if the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is less than the specified value, whether or not the strength of the authentication signal of the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is greater than the specified value in step S006. Judgment is made.

Here, when the strength of the authentication signal of the duplicated wireless communication unit 300 is equal to or higher than the specified value, it is determined that the user has gone out with the duplicated wireless communication unit 300 and the use restriction of the portable terminal device 100 is restricted. It is canceled (step S009).
On the other hand, if the strength of the authentication signal of the duplicated wireless communication unit 300 is less than the specified value, the portable terminal device 100 may cause the mobile terminal device 100 to forget to take the duplicated wireless communication unit 300 by assuming that the user is going out. Notification is made (step S007), and then use restriction of the portable terminal device 100 is started (step S008).
Thereafter, the operation returns to the initial state again, and the operation of measuring the strength of the authentication signal from the original radio communication unit 200 or the duplicate radio communication unit 300 is resumed.
In the state where the use of the mobile terminal device 100 is restricted, if the authentication with the original radio communication unit 200 or the duplicate radio communication unit 300 is established as a result of the operation of measuring the strength of the authentication signal, the mobile terminal device 100 Usage restrictions are lifted.

(Multiple thresholds)
In addition to the method shown in FIG. 5, the method for releasing and starting the use restriction of the mobile terminal device 100 may be as follows.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show the relationship between the change in the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication adopted as one of the determination conditions described above, the use restriction release time, and the start time. ing.
In this example, the release of the use restriction is determined by the first threshold, and the start of the use restriction is determined by the second threshold.

  In the control based on FIG. 5, the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 exceeds a specified value on the first floor (see FIG. 1) in the safe area 500 such as at home, and is used by the mobile terminal device 100. After canceling the restriction, when the user goes up to the second floor and the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 becomes less than the specified value, the mobile terminal device 100 is in the safe area 500. The use restriction device 142 is activated and the use of the mobile terminal device 100 is restricted.

In contrast, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the use restriction is canceled by the first threshold and the start of the use restriction is determined by the second threshold, Even if the person goes up to the second floor and the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is less than the first threshold, the mobile terminal device is not less than the second threshold for determining the start of use restriction. In spite of the fact that 100 is in the safe area 500, the trouble of being restricted in use and not being usable can be avoided, and good convenience can be obtained.
In addition, when it becomes less than the 2nd threshold value which determines the start of use restriction, use restriction device 142 restricts use of a portable terminal device.

(Flow with multiple thresholds)
FIG. 8 shows an operation of releasing or starting the use restriction depending on one of the determination conditions shown in FIG. 7, whether or not the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication is equal to or higher than the first threshold value or the second threshold value. It is a flowchart for demonstrating.
Even in this case, when the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication with the original wireless communication unit 200 is less than the specified value, the use restriction is started, but in this state, for mutual authentication with the duplicate wireless communication unit 300. When the strength of the authentication signal exceeds a specified value, the use restriction is released.

As in the case of FIG. 6, when a signal from a wireless communication unit corresponding to the mobile terminal device 100, that is, the original wireless communication unit 200 or the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is detected, the original wireless communication unit 200 or the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is detected. The strength of the authentication signal is measured (step S201).
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 has increased (step S208).

If the strength of the authentication signal of the original radio communication unit 200 is increased as a result of the determination, it is further determined whether or not the strength of the authentication signal of the original radio communication unit 200 is equal to or higher than the first threshold value in FIG. This is done (step S209).
When the strength of the authentication signal is equal to or higher than the first threshold, it is determined that the user of the mobile terminal device 100 has returned home, and the use restriction of the mobile terminal device 100 is released (step S210).

  Next, the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is measured again (step S211), and it is determined whether or not the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is decreased (step S212). When the strength of the authentication signal of the wireless communication unit 200 is decreasing, it is further determined whether or not the strength of the authentication signal is less than the second threshold (step S213).

  If it is determined in step S212 that the strength of the authentication signal of the original radio communication unit 200 has not decreased, the restriction on use of the mobile terminal device 100 is canceled in step S210, and the operations from step S210 to step 212 are thereafter performed. Is repeated.

  As a result of the determination in step S213, when the strength of the authentication signal is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the process returns to step S210 to continue the use restriction cancellation of the mobile terminal device 100, and thereafter the operations from step S210 to step S213 are repeated. .

  Further, when the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is less than the second threshold value at step S213, or when the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 has not increased at step S208, and at step S209. When the strength of the authentication signal of the original wireless communication unit 200 is less than the first threshold, the authentication signal of the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is assumed assuming that the user of the mobile terminal device 100 is out. It is determined whether or not the intensity is greater than or equal to the first threshold (step S214).

As a result of the determination, when the strength of the authentication signal of the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the use restriction of the mobile terminal device 100 is released (step S219), and when the strength is less than the first threshold, the user Assuming that the user is about to go out, the portable terminal device 100 is notified of forgetting to hold the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 (step S215), and then the use restriction of the portable terminal device 100 is started (step S216).
Thereafter, in either case, the initial state is returned to the initial state, and the authentication signal strength measurement operation of the original radio communication unit 200 or the duplicate radio communication unit 300 is resumed.

If it is determined in step S209 that the strength of the authentication signal is equal to or greater than the first threshold, it is determined that the user of the mobile terminal device 100 has returned home, and a signal notifying the user 400 of returning home is transmitted to the charger 400. (Step S217).
The charger 400 sends an ON signal from the infrared transmitter to the electronic device 402 in the safety area 500 based on the electronic device control information 83 in the memory 82 (step S220).

If the strength of the authentication signal of the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is greater than or equal to the specified value as a result of the determination in step S214, it is determined that the user of the portable terminal device 100 is going out with the duplicate wireless communication unit 300. Then, a signal notifying the user of going out is sent to the charger 400 (step S218).
The charger 400 sends an OFF signal from the infrared transmission unit to the home appliances in the home based on the electronic device control information 83 in the memory 82 (step S221).

  With such a configuration, when the user returns home and the strength of the authentication signal for mutual authentication is equal to or higher than the first threshold, the use restriction of the mobile terminal device 100 is released, and all functions of the mobile terminal device 100 are safely performed. The use restriction is started when it is less than the second threshold when going out, and a warning is given that the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 is forgotten, so that high security can be obtained and good convenience can be obtained. Secured.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the original wireless communication unit 200 is built in the charger 400 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, the original wireless communication unit 200 is charged. It may be connected via an outlet of the charger 400, or the original wireless communication unit 200 may be attached to the charger 400 so as to be removable from the outside.
7 and 8, the operation of the use restriction system 10 that controls the original radio communication unit 200 and the duplicate radio communication unit 300 using the same threshold value, which is the first threshold value and the second threshold value, will be described. However, the original wireless communication unit 200 and the duplicate wireless communication unit 300 may be controlled by providing a first threshold value and a second threshold value, respectively.

  Further, since this embodiment is an example in which the mobile terminal device 100 is applied to a mobile phone, the communication function of the mobile phone main body is shown, but the mobile terminal device 100 is a PDA, notebook PC, MP3 player, HDD. It may be a player or the like.

  As described above, the use restriction system and the mobile terminal device according to the present invention can restrict the use in the event of misplacement or theft and prevent unauthorized use by others or leakage of personal information via the terminal device. The power management and storage management of the unit can be facilitated, and it is also useful for preventing forgetting to hold the wireless communication unit.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows schematic structure of the use restriction system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the portable terminal device of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the original radio | wireless communication unit which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the replication radio | wireless communication unit which concerns on this invention. It is the graph and time chart which show the cancellation | release time and start time of use restrictions by a single threshold value. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of FIG. It is the graph and time chart which show the cancellation | release time and start time of use restrictions by the 1st threshold value and the 2nd threshold value. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the use restriction system of the conventional portable terminal device.

Explanation of symbols

10 Usage Restriction System 52 Unit-side wireless authentication unit 40, 56, 121 Alarm circuit unit (notification means)
80 Charger-side global positioning unit 84 Infrared communication unit 100 Portable terminal device 120 Terminal-side wireless authentication unit 150 Terminal-side global positioning unit 200 Original wireless communication unit (wireless communication unit)
300 Duplicate wireless communication unit (wireless communication unit)
400 Battery Charger 401 AC Power Source 402 Electronic Device 500 Safe Area

Claims (9)

A portable terminal device including a terminal-side wireless authentication unit;
A wireless communication unit comprising a unit-side wireless authentication unit that performs wireless authentication with the terminal-side wireless authentication unit;
A power supply unit for charging the mobile terminal device and feeding or charging the wireless communication unit;
A determination unit that determines that the mobile terminal device exists in a safe area when the strength of an authentication signal issued from the wireless communication unit in the mobile terminal device is equal to or greater than a specified value;
Control for canceling the use restriction of the portable terminal device when it is determined that the portable terminal device is present in a safe area and the terminal-side wireless authentication unit and the unit-side wireless authentication unit can perform mutual authentication. And a use restriction system. A portable terminal device including a terminal-side wireless authentication unit;
An original wireless communication unit comprising a unit-side wireless authentication unit that performs wireless authentication with the terminal-side wireless authentication unit;
A duplicate radio communication unit that can be duplicated from an original radio communication unit comprising a unit side radio authentication unit that performs radio authentication with the terminal side radio authentication unit;
A power supply unit for charging the mobile terminal device and feeding or charging the original wireless communication unit;
An identification means for identifying an authentication signal transmitted from the original wireless communication unit and an authentication signal transmitted from the duplicate wireless communication unit in the portable terminal device;
A determination unit that determines that the portable terminal device exists in a safe area when the strength of an authentication signal issued from the original wireless communication unit in the portable terminal device is equal to or higher than a specified value;
Control for canceling the use restriction of the portable terminal device when it is determined that the portable terminal device is present in a safe area and the terminal-side wireless authentication unit and the unit-side wireless authentication unit can perform mutual authentication. And a use restriction system.   3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that detects that the mobile terminal device is electrically or physically connected to the power supply unit as a determination condition as to whether or not the safety region is included. The portable terminal device described. The mobile terminal device has a terminal-side global positioning unit, and the mobile terminal device uses the terminal-side global positioning unit to store the safe area positioning information in a memory in the unit-side wireless authentication unit in advance. Means,
The terminal obtained by the mobile terminal device from the global positioning unit on the terminal side by sending the safe area positioning information stored in the memory to the mobile terminal side wireless authentication unit by the unit side wireless authentication unit Means for comparing side positioning information and the safety area positioning information, and grasping a relative distance between the mobile terminal device and the safety area;
4. The use restriction system according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that determines that the relative distance is within a certain distance when the relative distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance. 5. A terminal-side global positioning unit in the mobile terminal device,
A unit-side global positioning unit in the unit-side wireless authentication unit,
Further, the unit-side wireless authentication unit sends unit-side positioning information to the mobile terminal-side wireless authentication unit, whereby the mobile terminal device obtains terminal-side positioning information obtained from the terminal-side global positioning unit and the unit-side positioning information. Means for comparing the unit side positioning information obtained from the earth positioning unit, and grasping the relative distance between the mobile terminal device and the unit side wireless authentication unit;
4. The use restriction system according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that determines that the relative distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance. Informing means provided in at least one of the mobile terminal device and the wireless communication unit,
The use restriction system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the strength of the authentication signal becomes less than a specified value, the notification unit is activated.   When the strength of the authentication signal becomes equal to or higher than the first threshold, the portable terminal device releases the use restriction, and when the strength of the authentication signal becomes lower than the second threshold lower than the first threshold The use restriction system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the portable terminal device restricts use. The power supply unit is an infrared communication unit;
A storage unit storing the electronic device in the safety area and the control signal of the electronic device in association with each other;
When the mobile terminal device determines that the mobile terminal device is within the safe area,
8. The power supply unit according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to control electronic devices in the safety area based on information in the storage unit via the infrared communication unit. Use restriction system as described.   A portable terminal device used in the use restriction system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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