Mobile software terminal identifier

1. A method for use in an electronic device including at least one software component and at least one hardware component, the method comprising:

performing an installation process comprising the steps of:

generating, in the electronic device, a hash value by performing a hashing algorithm on an identifier of the at least one software component and an identifier of the at least one hardware component; and

storing the generated hash value;

subsequent to performing the installation process, performing a start-up process comprising the steps of:

generating, in the electronic device, another hash value by performing the hashing algorithm on an identifier of the at least one software component and an identifier of the at least one hardware component;

comparing the another hash value with the stored hash value;

determining whether software used by the electronic device for accessing a wireless network remains unmodified based on the comparison of the another hash value and the stored hash value; and

enabling wireless network access pursuant to the step of determining, the wireless network access being disabled until a determination is made in the step of determining that the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified based on the comparison of the another hash value and the stored hash value.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the hash value and/or the hashing algorithm is stored in a removable card operatively coupled with the electronic device.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein the hash value is encrypted prior to being stored in the removable card.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the hash value and/or hashing algorithm is stored in a memory of the electronic device other than a memory provided on a removable card installed in the electronic device.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the determining of whether software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified is initiated by a start-up process of the electronic device.

6. The method as in claim 1 wherein the electronic device externally transmits a signal indicative of the determining of whether the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein the determining of whether software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified is initiated in response to a challenge signal received by the electronic device from the wireless network.

8. The method as in claim 7 wherein the electronic device externally transmits a response signal to the received challenge signal, the response signal indicating the determining of whether the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified.

9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising encrypting the generated hash value and transmitting the encrypted hash value from the electronic device to the wireless network.

10. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the identifier of the at least one software component includes a WLAN access software identifier.

11. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the identifier of the at least one hardware component includes a WLAN module MAC address identifier.

12. An electronic device including at least one hardware component and at least one software component, the device comprising:

means for performing an installation process comprising:

means for generating a hash value by performing a hashing algorithm on an identifier of the at least one software component and an identifier of the at least one hardware component; and

means for storing the generated hash value;

means for performing, subsequent to performance of the installation process by the means for performing the installation process, a start-up process comprising:

means for generating another hash value by performing the hashing algorithm on an identifier of the at least one software component and an identifier of the at least one hardware component;

means for comparing the another hash value with the stored hash value;

means for determining whether software used by the electronic device for accessing a wireless network remains unmodified based on a comparison of the generated hash value and the another hash value; and

means for enabling wireless network access pursuant to said determining of whether the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified, the wireless network access being disabled until a determination is made by the means for determining that the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified based on the comparison of the generated hash value and the another hash value.

13. The electronic device as in claim 12 further comprising a removable card operatively coupled with the electronic device for storing the generated hash value and/or the hashing algorithm.

14. The electronic device as in claim 13 further comprising means for encrypting the generated hash value prior to being stored in the removable card.

15. The electronic device as in claim 12 wherein the hashing algorithm and/or the hash value is stored in a memory of the electronic device other than a memory provided on a removable card installed in the electronic device.

16. The electronic device as in claim 12 wherein operation of the means for determining is initiated by a start-up process of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device as in claim 12 further comprising means for transmitting a signal indicative of the determination of whether the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified.

18. The electronic device as in claim 12 wherein operation of the means for determining is initiated in response to a challenge signal received by the electronic device from the wireless network.

19. The electronic device as in claim 18 wherein the electronic device externally transmits a response signal to the received challenge signal, the response signal indicating the determining of whether the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified.

20. The electronic device as in claim 12 further comprising means for encrypting the generated hash value and means for transmitting the encrypted hash value from the electronic device to the wireless network.

21. The electronic device as in claim 12 , wherein the identifier of the at least one software component includes a WLAN access software identifier.

22. The electronic device as in claim 12 , wherein the identifier of the at least one hardware component includes a WLAN module MAC address identifier.

23. A computer readable computer program storage medium carrying a computer program for an electronic device including at least one software component and at least one hardware component, said program being capable, when executed, of effecting a method comprising:

performing an installation process comprising the steps of:

generating, in the electronic device, a hash value by performing a hashing algorithm on an identifier of the at least one software component and an identifier of the at least one hardware component; and

storing the generated hash value;

subsequent to performing the installation process, performing a start-up process comprising the steps of:

generating, in the electronic device, another hash value by performing the hashing algorithm on an identifier of the at least one software component and an identifier of the at least on hardware component;

comparing the another hash value with the stored hash value;

determining whether software used by the electronic device for accessing a wireless network remains unmodified based on the comparison of the another hash value and the stored hash value; and

enabling wireless network access pursuant to the step of determining, the wireless network access being disabled until a determination is made in the step of determining that the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified based on the comparison of the another hash value and the stored hash value.

24. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 23 wherein the generated hash value and/or the hashing algorithm is stored in a removable card operatively coupled with the electronic device.

25. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 24 wherein the hash value is encrypted prior to being stored in the removable card.

26. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 23 wherein the hashing algorithm and/or the hash value is stored in a memory other than a memory provided on a removable card installed in the electronic device.

27. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 23 wherein the determining of whether software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified is initiated by a start-up process of the electronic device.

28. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 23 wherein the electronic device externally transmits a signal indicative of the determining of whether the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified.

29. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 23 wherein the determining of whether software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified is initiated in response to a challenge signal received by the electronic device from the wireless network.

30. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 29 wherein the electronic device externally transmits a response signal to the received challenge signal, the response signal indicating the determining of whether the software used by the electronic device for accessing the wireless network remains unmodified.

31. The computer readable computer program storage medium as in claim 23 wherein the computer program, when executed, effects the method which further comprises encrypting the generated hash value and transmitting the encrypted hash value from the electronic device to the wireless network.