IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,126,507
Granted Patent B2
US 8,126,507 · App. 12/293,896 · Granted Feb 28, 2012

Communications device monitoring

Assignee: British Telecommunications public limited company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,126,507
App. No.
12/293,896
Granted
Feb 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, and devices, for a first communications device ( 10 ) e.g. a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) to monitor a second communications device, e.g. a mobile telephone ( 1 ). The method comprises: the SIM ( 10 ) sending a program ( 16 ) stored at the SIM ( 10 ) to the mobile telephone ( 1 ); the mobile telephone ( 1 ) running the program ( 16 ) to provide one or more outcomes; the mobile telephone ( 1 ) sending the one or more outcomes to the SIM ( 10 ); the SIM ( 10 ) comparing the one or more outcomes to one or more correct outcomes ( 18 ) stored at the SIM ( 10 ); and the SIM ( 10 ) evaluating the result of the comparison according to one or more policies ( 20 ) stored at the SIM ( 10 ).

Claims (29)

1. A method for a first communications device to monitor a second communications device, the method comprising:

the first communications device sending a program stored at the first communications device to the second communications device;

the second communications device running the program to provide one or more outcomes;

the second communications device sending the one or more outcomes to the first communications device;

the first communications device comparing the one or more outcomes to one or more correct outcomes stored at the first communications device; and

the first communications device evaluating the result of the comparison according to one or more policies stored at the first communications device, wherein the first communications device is a smart card and the second communications device includes means for coupling with the smart card.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first communications device is located in the second communications device.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first communications device comprises cellular communications system Subscriber Identity Module, SIM, functionality and the second communications device is a mobile communications device that uses the SIM functionality of the first communications device.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first communications device does not have a capability to run the program.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first communications device selects the program to send to the second communications device from among a plurality of programs stored at the first communications device.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the first communications device selects randomly or pseudo-randomly the program to send to the second communications device from among the plurality of programs stored at the first communications device.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein as a result of the evaluating step, when one or more received outcomes is not the same as the correct outcomes, the first communications device ceases co-operating with the second communications device.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein ceasing co-operating comprises declining to provide cellular communications system authorisation.

9. A method according to claim 3 , wherein as a result of the evaluating step, when one or more received outcomes is not the same as the correct outcomes, the first communications device contacts a network operator of the cellular communications system through the second communications device.

10. A first communications device adapted to monitor a second communications device, the first communications device comprising:

storage means, the storage means storing a program, correct outcomes of the program, and policies;

means adapted to send the program to a second communications device;

means adapted to receive one or more outcomes of running the program from the second communications device;

means adapted to compare the received one or more outcomes to corresponding correct outcomes of the stored correct outcomes; and

means adapted to evaluate the result of the comparison according to one or more of the stored policies, wherein the first communications device is a smart card.

11. A first communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the first communications device is adapted to be located in the second communications device.

12. A first communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the first communications device further comprises cellular communications system Subscriber Identity Module, SIM, functionality.

13. A first communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the first communications device does not have a capability to run the program.

14. A first communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the program is one of a plurality of programs stored by the storage means; and the first communications device further comprises means adapted to select the program from among the plurality of programs.

15. A first communications device according to claim 14 , wherein the means adapted to select the program from among the plurality of programs are adapted to perform the selection randomly or pseudo-randomly.

16. A first communications device according to 11 , further comprising means for, as a result of the evaluating step, when one or more received outcomes is not the same as the correct outcomes, ceasing co-operating with the second communications device.

17. A first communications device according to claim 16 , wherein ceasing co-operating comprises declining to provide cellular communications system authorisation.

18. A first communications device according to claim 12 , further comprising means for, as a result of the evaluating step, when one or more received outcomes is not the same as the correct outcomes, contacting a network operator of the cellular communications system through the second communications device.

19. A non-transitory storage medium storing processor-implementable instructions for controlling one or more processors to carry out the method of claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2008
From: COFTA, PIOTR LEON
To: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
Reel/Frame 021564/0413 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 06251528 · Mar 22, 2006 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090131109A1 · May 21, 2009