JP4601042B2 - Mobile terminal and power supply control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a non-contact IC card function and a biometric authentication function and a power supply control method thereof.

  With the spread of mobile phones, in addition to the call function, various functions such as a network connection function and a camera photographing function are added, and the number of functions is increasing.

Under such circumstances, a mobile phone equipped with a non-contact IC card function has been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2), and its commercialization is also planned. When a contactless IC card is used for an application with a monetary value such as a prepaid card, credit card, or public transport ticket, the person who confirms that the user is the owner of the IC card. It is desirable to be able to authenticate. In addition to the input of a personal identification number (PIN or password) (Patent Document 2), personal authentication has also been proposed that has a biometric authentication function using a fingerprint sensor or the like (Patent Document 3).
JP 2002-218031 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-16398 JP 2003-271937 A

  The biometric authentication function is an effective function for preventing use by a person other than the owner of the mobile phone with a non-contact IC card function. However, in order to realize the biometric authentication function, a sensor device is used, so an operating power source is necessary, and a considerable amount of power is consumed at present. For this reason, if power is constantly supplied to the biometric authentication unit, there is a problem that the usage time that can be used in the original usage of the battery-powered mobile phone is shortened.

  It is also conceivable that the biometric authentication unit is energized only when necessary, not always energized. However, in this case, it is necessary for the user to perform control for that purpose, and the biometric authentication unit must be turned on every time a non-contact IC card is to be used. This diminishes the original convenience of the non-contact IC card that the intended operation can be performed simply by bringing the IC card closer to the reader / writer.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal having a non-contact IC card function and a biometric authentication function without compromising the original convenience of the non-contact IC card function. It is possible to reduce power consumption by the authentication unit.

  A mobile terminal according to the present invention is a mobile terminal having a non-contact IC card function and a biometric authentication function, and a detection means for detecting an electromagnetic wave generated from an external non-contact IC card reader / writer and generating a detection signal; A battery-driven power supply unit that generates an operating voltage, a biometric authentication unit that performs the biometric authentication function, a switching unit that supplies / shuts off power from the power supply unit to the biometric authentication unit, and the non-contact type A non-contact IC card function unit that executes an IC card function, and power supply from the power supply unit to the biometric authentication unit in a normal state is cut off, and power is supplied to the biometric authentication unit according to a detection signal of the detection means Control means for controlling the switching means so as to permit the execution of the function of the non-contact IC card function unit according to the authentication result of the biometric authentication unit.

  Under the control of the control means, the power supply of the biometric authentication unit that executes the biometric authentication function is normally cut off by the switching means, and when the detection means detects electromagnetic waves generated from an external non-contact IC card reader / writer, Power is supplied to the unit. Furthermore, the function execution of the non-contact IC card function unit is permitted according to the authentication result of the biometric authentication unit. Thereby, the user of the portable terminal automatically supplies power to the biometric authentication unit when using the non-contact IC card function without performing a special operation for switching the power supply of the biometric authentication unit. This eliminates waste of power consumption by constantly supplying power to the biometric authentication unit.

  The non-contact IC card function unit includes an IC card signal processing unit that receives and processes a signal generated from the non-contact IC card reader / writer, and the detection unit includes the IC card signal processing unit. An IC card signal processing unit may generate the detection signal. Alternatively, the non-contact IC card function unit includes an IC card power generation unit that generates an operation power of the non-contact IC card function unit from energy of electromagnetic waves generated from the non-contact IC card reader / writer, The IC card power generation unit may be configured such that the IC card power generation unit generates the detection signal.

  A power supply control method according to the present invention is a power supply control method in a portable terminal including a non-contact IC card function unit, a biometric authentication unit, and a battery-driven power supply unit, from an external non-contact IC card reader / writer Detecting a generated electromagnetic wave and generating a detection signal; and in a normal state, power supply from the power supply unit to the biometric authentication unit is cut off, and power is supplied to the biometric authentication unit according to the detection signal And a step of permitting function execution of the non-contact IC card function unit according to an authentication result of the biometric authentication unit.

  According to the present invention, in the portable terminal having both the non-contact IC card function and the biometric authentication function, the power control of the biometric authentication function can be performed regardless of the user prior to the use of the non-contact IC card function. Can benefit from the identity authentication by the biometric authentication function without worrying about the power on / off of the biometric authentication unit, and the convenience of the user is improved.

  In addition, since the portable terminal identifies the state where the biometric authentication function is required without turning on the power manually, the energization time of the biometric authentication unit is minimized and the battery consumption of the portable terminal can be saved. .

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a mobile terminal 100 of the present invention. (In this specification and claims, the terminal device is simply referred to as a terminal.) The mobile terminal 100 includes a mobile phone function unit 10, a non-contact IC card function unit 20, and a biometric authentication function unit 40. The operating power of each functional unit is supplied from a power supply unit 30 that generates various operating voltages based on the battery 31. In the present embodiment, as the non-contact IC card function unit 20, for example, a specification based on the international standard ISO / IEC18092 can be adopted.

  The mobile phone function unit 10 is a part that executes functions provided in a general mobile phone such as a call, standby for incoming calls, and data communication, and a display unit that displays the state of the main body CPU 11, mobile terminal, key input response, communication result, and the like. 12, an input operation unit 13 using various keys, a voice input / output unit (including a microphone, a speaker, etc.) 14 for inputting / outputting a voice, a wireless communication unit 18, and a communication antenna 19. The main body CPU 11 constitutes the “control means” of the present invention.

  The non-contact IC card function unit 20 is substantially a non-contact IC card built in a portable terminal, and can be used in an application with a monetary value such as a prepaid card, a credit card, or a ticket for public transportation. . The non-contact IC card function unit 20 includes an IC card CPU 21, an IC card signal processing unit 22, and an IC card antenna 23. The IC card signal processing unit 22 receives the electromagnetic wave 201 from the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200 via the IC card antenna 23 and outputs the reader / writer detection signal 25 to the main body CPU 11. Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 1, the IC card signal processing unit 22 constitutes the “detecting means” of the present invention. The IC card CPU 21 receives the operation permission signal 15 from the main body CPU 11 and executes predetermined control.

  The biometric authentication function unit 40 is a function for identifying a person using the feature that fingerprints, finger vein patterns, and the like are different for each human individual. The biometric authentication function unit 40 performs biometric authentication with a switching unit (SW) 41 that controls supply and cut-off of power (power) from the power supply unit 30 in accordance with the switching control signal 16 from the main body CPU 11 of the mobile phone function unit 10. And a biometric authentication unit 42 having a biometric authentication device to perform. In the present embodiment, the biometric authentication unit 42 performs fingerprint authentication and returns an authentication result signal 17 to the main body CPU 11.

  Using the non-contact IC card function means that the mobile terminal 100 approaches the non-contact IC card reader / writer (or non-contact IC card reader) 200. The non-contact IC card reader / writer and the non-contact IC card reader are only different in whether or not the data in the target non-contact IC card is changed. Therefore, only the reader may be used instead of the reader / writer. . Therefore, in the present specification and claims, the reader / writer and the reader are collectively referred to as a reader / writer. When the portable terminal 100 sufficiently approaches the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200, the electromagnetic wave 201 output from the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200 reaches the IC card antenna 23. As a result, the IC card antenna 23 generates an output, which is sent to the IC card signal processing unit 22, and the IC card signal processing unit 22 performs signal detection and demodulation processing.

  Communication between the non-contact IC card function unit and the reader / writer is performed using electromagnetic waves (in this embodiment, radio waves in a predetermined frequency region). A non-contact IC card as a single unit is not a non-contact IC card built in a device with a built-in power source as the object of the present invention, and a non-contact IC card as a single unit does not have or does not have a power source. The entire contactless IC card system is constructed so that the contact IC card can obtain operating power from the received electromagnetic wave energy and perform transmission / reception using this power.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the portable terminal 100 including such a non-contact IC card function unit 20 ′. The same parts as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. The non-contact IC card function unit 20 ′ in FIG. 2 includes an IC card power generation unit 24. The IC card power generation unit 24 has a function of rectifying the output of the IC card antenna 23 according to the electromagnetic wave 201 to make it a constant voltage, and supplies the generated voltage to the IC card CPU 21 and the IC card signal processing unit 22. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the IC card power generation unit 24 generates the reader / writer detection signal 25 instead of the IC card signal processing unit 22. This is because the same signal is generated as soon as possible. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the IC card signal processing unit 22 constitutes the “detection means” of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the operation in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a schematic operation in the present embodiment. In this operation, it does not matter whether the portable terminal is shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. As an example, the biometric authentication function unit 40 includes a biometric authentication unit 42 exposed to the outside of the terminal housing as illustrated in FIG. 3. The portable terminal is configured so that the user can use the non-contact IC card function while holding the terminal housing with one hand and maintaining a state in which the necessary input is given to the biometric authentication unit with one hand. (FIG. 3A). The installation position of the biometric authentication unit 42 on the housing is not limited to the illustrated position, and may be another position such as a side portion of the terminal housing. When fingerprint authentication or finger vein authentication is used, the non-contact IC card function unit 20 with the finger portion of the user's predetermined finger (finger registered with a fingerprint or finger vein pattern) facing the biometric authentication unit 42 is used. Make use of. As a result, the user can be safely authenticated after biometric authentication is completed by a chain of automatic processes without performing any additional operation other than bringing the mobile terminal close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200. Card function can be used.

  When the mobile terminal 100 (and thus the non-contact IC card function unit 20) approaches the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200, an electromagnetic wave 201 emitted from the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200 reaches the IC card antenna 23 (FIG. 3 ( b)). In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the output of the IC card antenna 23 is input to the IC card signal processing unit 22 and the IC card power generation unit 24. At this time, power is supplied to the IC card signal processing unit 22. These are not working because there is no. When the output of the IC card antenna 23 becomes sufficiently strong to reach a level at which the IC card power generation unit 24 can output a predetermined constant voltage, the IC card power generation unit 24 sends the IC card signal processing unit 22 and the IC card CPU 21 to each other. The power is supplied, and the IC card signal processing unit 22 and the IC card CPU 21 start to operate. On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the power to the IC card signal processing unit 22 is always supplied. In any case, when power is supplied to the IC card signal processing unit 22, the output from the IC card antenna 23 is subjected to signal detection and demodulation processing by the IC card signal processing unit 22, and the result is obtained. Data is sent to the IC card CPU 21. The IC card CPU 21 that has received the data communicates by returning a response corresponding to the contents to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200 through the IC card signal processing unit 22 and the IC card antenna 23, and the communication is performed on the non-contact IC card. The application is executed. However, in the present embodiment, at least the response operation of the IC card CPU 21 to the reader / writer 200 is executed by obtaining the operation permission signal 15 from the main body CPU 11.

  With the above-described configuration, a certain time difference is allowed from when the electromagnetic wave from the reader / writer 200 is sensed until the non-contact IC card function unit 20 responds. Therefore, the IC card signal processing unit 22 outputs the reader / writer detection signal 25 to the main body CPU 11 when the electromagnetic wave 201 output from the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200 is detected, even if the signal cannot be demodulated. To do. When receiving the reader / writer detection signal 25, the main body CPU 11 instructs the switching unit 41 to turn on the power, and turns on the biometric authentication function unit 40 (FIG. 3 (b), S1).

  As a result, the biometric authentication unit 42 enters a biometric authentication operation and outputs an authentication result signal 17 to the main body CPU 11. If the authentication result is OK, the main body CPU 11 outputs an operation permission signal 15 to the IC card CPU 21 (FIG. 3 (c), S2). The IC card CPU 21 may receive data from the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200 demodulated from the IC card signal processing unit 22 before receiving the operation permission signal 15 from the main body CPU 11, but until the stage before returning a response. May be proceeding. On condition that the operation permission signal 15 is received, the IC card CPU 21 sends a response corresponding to the data received from the IC card signal processing unit 22 to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 200 through the IC card signal processing unit 22 and the IC card antenna 23. Communication is performed in the form of return, and the desired application operation is executed.

  After the application is finished, at least a part of the functions of the non-contact IC card operation as described above is disabled and returned to the prohibited state again, and the biometric authentication unit 42 is also turned off (FIG. 3 (d), S3). .

  In this way, since the biometric authentication function is operated only when necessary, the use time of the mobile terminal itself is not greatly affected.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a specific processing example executed by the main body CPU 11.

  When the main body CPU 11 detects the reader / writer detection signal 25 from the non-contact IC card function unit 20 by, for example, interruption (S11), the main body CPU 11 controls the switching unit 41 to turn on the power to the biometric authentication unit 42, and the power is turned on. (S12). As a result, the biometric authentication unit 42 operates, executes a predetermined biometric authentication process, and returns an authentication result signal 17. For example, in fingerprint authentication, the read fingerprint and a pre-registered fingerprint are collated, and if it is determined that they match, an authentication result signal 17 of authentication OK is output. In this example, when the authentication result signal 17 indicating the biometric authentication result OK is not received (S13), the main body CPU 11 performs the biometric authentication process until a predetermined time elapses (timeout by a timer not shown) (S18). The process is repeatedly executed (S19), and when a timeout occurs, an error notification is given to the user (S20). This error notification is, for example, generation of a predetermined sound or voice and / or display of a predetermined message. After the error notification, the process proceeds to step S17 described later.

  When the authentication result signal 17 indicating the biometric authentication result OK is received in step S13, the operation permission signal 15 is output to the IC card CPU 21 (S14). Thereafter, when a predetermined end condition is satisfied (S15), the output of the operation permission signal 15 to the IC card CPU 21 is stopped (S16). Thereby, it returns to the state in which substantial operation | movement of the non-contact IC card function part 20 was disabled. Next, the switching unit 41 is controlled by the switching control signal 16 so as to return the power supply to the biometric authentication unit 42 to the OFF state (S17). The case where the predetermined end condition is satisfied is, for example, the end of the authentication process, the end of use of the IC card function, or the elapse of a predetermined time from the output of the operation permission signal 15.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made. For example, a mobile phone is taken as an example of a mobile terminal, but the present invention can be applied to any device having a non-contact IC card function and a biometric authentication function in a portable housing. Examples of biometric authentication functions include fingerprints and finger vein patterns, but are not necessarily limited to these, and other biometric features such as irises and voiceprints may be used.

It is the block diagram which showed the structural example of the portable terminal of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the other structural example of the portable terminal of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline operation | movement in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the specific process example which main body CPU in embodiment of this invention performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Mobile phone function part, 11 ... Main body CPU, 12 ... Display part, 13 ... Input operation part, 14 ... Voice input / output part, 15 ... Operation permission signal, 16 ... Switching control signal, 17 ... Authentication result signal, 18 ... Wireless communication unit, 19 ... Communication antenna, 20 ... Non-contact IC card function unit, 21 ... IC card CPU, 22 ... IC card signal processing unit, 23 ... Card antenna, 24 ... Card power generation unit, 25 ... Reader / writer detection Signals 30 ... Power supply unit 31 ... Battery 40 ... Biometric authentication function unit 41 ... Switching unit 42 ... Biometric authentication unit 100 ... Mobile terminal 200 ... Non-contact IC card reader / writer 201 ... Electromagnetic wave

Claims (4)

A portable terminal having a non-contact IC card function and a biometric authentication function,
A power supply that is driven by a battery and generates an operating voltage;
A biometric authentication unit that executes the biometric authentication function;
Switching means for supplying / cutting off power from the power supply unit to the biometric authentication unit;
An IC card signal processing unit that detects an electromagnetic wave generated from an external non-contact IC card reader / writer, generates a detection signal, and receives and processes a signal generated from the non-contact IC card reader / writer; A non-contact IC card function unit for executing the non-contact IC card function by a signal processing unit ;
In the normal state, the power supply unit cuts off the power supply to the biometric authentication unit, and controls the switching means to supply power to the biometric authentication unit according to a detection signal from the non-contact IC card signal processing unit A control unit that permits a response operation of the non-contact IC card function unit to the non-contact IC card reader / writer according to an authentication result of the biometric authentication unit;
A portable terminal characterized by comprising: A portable terminal having a non-contact IC card function and a biometric authentication function,
A power supply that is driven by a battery and generates an operating voltage;
A biometric authentication unit that executes the biometric authentication function;
Switching means for supplying / cutting off power from the power supply unit to the biometric authentication unit;
An IC card signal processing unit for receiving and processing a signal generated from an external non-contact IC card reader / writer, and an electromagnetic wave generated from the non-contact IC card reader / writer to detect a signal and generate an electromagnetic wave A non-contact IC card function unit that generates the operation power of the non-contact IC card function unit from the energy of the non-contact IC card function ,
In the normal state, the power supply unit cuts off the power supply to the biometric authentication unit, and controls the switching means to supply power to the biometric authentication unit according to a detection signal from the non-contact IC card power generation unit A control unit that permits a response operation of the non-contact IC card function unit to the non-contact IC card reader / writer according to an authentication result of the biometric authentication unit;
A portable terminal characterized by comprising: Non-contact IC card function unit including an IC card signal processing unit that receives and processes a signal generated from an external non-contact IC card reader / writer , a biometric authentication unit that executes a biometric authentication function, and a battery-driven power source A power supply control method in a mobile terminal comprising:
Detecting electromagnetic waves generated from an external non-contact IC card reader / writer by the non -contact IC card function unit, and generating a detection signal;
Shutting off power supply from the power supply unit to the biometric authentication unit in a normal state, and supplying power to the biometric authentication unit according to a detection signal from the non-contact IC card signal processing unit ;
Allowing a response operation of the non-contact IC card function unit to the non-contact IC card reader / writer according to an authentication result of the biometric authentication unit supplied with the power. . After the supply of power to the biometric authentication unit, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, as well as cutting off the power supply to the biometric authentication unit from the power supply unit, the non-contact IC card function section the contactless IC card The power supply control method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of stopping permission of a response operation to the reader / writer .

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