IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,971,902
Granted Patent B2
US 9,971,902 · App. 15/005,818 · Granted May 15, 2018

Terminal device, method for protecting terminal device, and terminal management server

Inventor: Eungsuk Lee (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
G06F21/6218G06F9/44G06F9/4416G06F11/30G06F15/16G06F21/60G06F21/604H04L63/083H04L63/0853H04W12/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,971,902
App. No.
15/005,818
Granted
May 15, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A terminal device includes: a memory unit to store a lock program for locking the terminal device; a condition checking unit to determine whether the terminal device is in a state of a preset condition for terminal protection when the lock program is executed; a lock control unit to allow the terminal device to be locked by the lock program when the terminal device is determined to be in a state of the preset condition for terminal protection; and a information deleting unit to delete an unlock key for use in unlocking the locked terminal device from the memory unit after the terminal device is locked.

Claims (59)

1. A terminal device comprising:

a memory unit configured to store a lock program for locking the terminal device;

a condition checking unit configured to determine whether the terminal device is in a state of a preset condition for terminal protection when the lock program is executed;

a lock control unit configured to allow the terminal device to be locked by the lock program when the terminal device is determined to be in a state of the preset condition for terminal protection; and

an information deleting unit configured to delete an unlock key for use in unlocking the locked terminal device from the memory unit after the terminal device is locked,

wherein the preset condition for terminal protection includes at least one of;

a case where the terminal device receives a lock command from a terminal management server remotely managing the terminal device,

subscriber identity module (SIM) separation away from the terminal device,

SIM replacement which is occurred in the terminal device, and

a country code change or a firmware update which is occurred in the terminal device,

wherein the memory unit includes data storage areas, the data storage including a non-volatile storage area, a non-user area and a user area, and

wherein the unlock key is stored in the non-volatile storage area which is not reset in case of initialization, among the data storage areas of the memory unit and the unlock key is erasable from the terminal device.

2. The terminal device of claim 1 ,

wherein the lock program is stored in the non-user area among the data storage areas and is configured

to compare an authentication unlock key created by using an entered password and identification information of the terminal device with the unlock key stored in the non-volatile storage area to perform authentication, and

to lock the terminal device depending on a result of the authentication or decision on whether the condition for terminal protection is satisfied, and

wherein a terminal management application program is stored in the user area among the data storage areas and is configured

to access a terminal management server remotely managing the terminal device in accordance with an instruction from the terminal management server, and

to lock the terminal device when a lock command is received from the terminal management server.

3. The terminal device of claim 2 ,

wherein when booting the terminal device starts, the lock program is driven to detect whether the terminal management application program exists in the user area, and

wherein the terminal device is locked when the terminal management application program is not found in the user area.

4. The terminal device of claim 2 ,

wherein the non-volatile storage area stores a public key for use in creating a key signature value and the key signature value,

wherein a root file system area in the non-user area stores a lock checking program configured to verify the public key with the public key whether the key signature value is a normal value while performing functions of the lock program, and

wherein a secure boot area of the non-user area stores a lock monitoring program to be driven, when the booting the terminal device starts, to detect whether the lock checking program exists in the root file system area and the terminal device is locked when the lock checking program is not found in the root file system area.

5. A method for protecting a terminal device comprising one or more processors and/or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), the method executed by the one or more processors and/or the ASICs, the method comprising:

determining whether the terminal device is in a state of a preset condition for terminal protection;

locking the terminal device when the terminal device is determined to be in a state of the preset condition for terminal protection; and

deleting an unlock key for use in unlocking the terminal device, from the terminal device after locking the terminal device,

wherein the preset condition for terminal protection includes at least one of;

a case where the terminal device receives a lock command from a terminal management server remotely managing the terminal device,

subscriber identity module (SIM) separation away from the terminal device,

SIM replacement which is occurred in the terminal device, and

a country code change or a firmware update which is occurred in the terminal device,

wherein the unlock key is stored in a non-volatile storage area which is not reset in case of initialization, among data storage areas of the terminal device and the unlock key is erasable from the terminal device.

6. The method of claim 5 ,

wherein a lock program is stored in a non-user area among the data storage areas and is configured

to compare an authentication unlock key for created by using an entered password and the identification information of the terminal device with the unlock key stored in the non-volatile storage area to perform authentication, and

to lock the terminal device depending on a result of the authentication or decision about whether the condition for terminal protection is satisfied, and

wherein a terminal management application program is stored in a user area among the data storage areas and is configured

to access a terminal management server remotely managing the terminal device in accordance with an instruction from the terminal management server, and

to lock the terminal device when a lock command is received from the terminal management server.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

driving the lock program, when booting the terminal device starts, to detect whether the terminal management application program is found in the user area; and

locking the terminal device when the terminal management application program is not found in the user area.

8. The method of claim 7 ,

wherein the non-volatile storage area stores a public key for use in creating a key signature value, and the key signature value,

wherein a root file system area in the non-user area stores a lock checking program configured to verify with the public key to whether the key signature value is a normal value while performing functions of the lock program and

wherein a secure boot area of the non-user area stores a lock monitoring program to be driven, when the booting the terminal device starts, to detect whether the lock checking program exists in the root file system area, and the terminal device is locked if the lock checking program is not found in the root file system area.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program stored therein to perform the method for protecting a terminal device comprising one or more processors and/or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), the method comprising:

determining whether the terminal device is in a state of a preset condition for terminal protection;

locking the terminal device when the terminal device is determined to be in a state of the preset condition for terminal protection; and

deleting an unlock key for use in unlocking the terminal device, from the terminal device after locking the terminal device,

wherein the preset condition for terminal protection includes at least one of;

a case where the terminal device receives a lock command from a terminal management server remotely managing the terminal device,

subscriber identity module (SIM) separation away from the terminal device,

SIM replacement which is occurred in the terminal device, and a country code change or a firmware update which is occurred in the terminal device, and

wherein the unlock key is stored in a non-volatile storage area which is not reset in case of initialization, among data storage areas of the terminal device and the unlock key is erasable from the terminal device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2016
From: LEE, EUNGSUK
To: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037576/0515 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2013-0103335 · Aug 29, 2013 · national
KR 10-2013-0104293 · Aug 30, 2013 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2014008047 · Aug 28, 2014
Related Publication 20160140358A1 · May 19, 2016