`[19]
`[11] Patent Number:
`6,141,563
`
`Miller et al.
`[45 J Date of Patent:
`Oct. 31, 2000
`
`USIIII6141563A
`
`[54]
`
`SIM CARD SECURED SUBSCRIBER UNIT
`
`5,444,764
`5,687,2lo
`
`851995 (talccki
`|I,"l997 Svcnsson .
`
`455/558
`370/357
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Mlchael Addison Mlller. Chandler;
`James Morrls Tooker, Phoenix, [mm
`01AM
`
`[73] Assigncc: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.
`
`[2|] Appl. No: 08/991,580
`--
`,
`.
`,
`[,7] Wed
`Dec 16 1997
`[51]
`Int. Cl] ....................................................... H04Q 7/20
`I53] U-S- 0- .......................... 455/553; 455141 1; 4551550;
`3791357
`Field of Search .............................. 455190, 403, 410,
`455.1411, 418, 422, 550, 55], 558, 566,
`575; 3791357; 2353375, 380, 382, 384,
`385, 474, 492; (XIII-“36; 34018253, 82534;
`380,123, 25
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`References Clted
`
`_
`U'S' PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4.11995 Simpson ct al.
`........................ 4551558
`551995 .Iohansson cl al,
`379.5357
`
`5,404.58“
`5.418.937
`
`
`
`4151158
`2":1999 M05510!
`3:3754494
`...... 455/53]
`3,1009 kolev cl a1.
`3.884.")8
`FOREIGN PAI‘EN‘I‘ DOCUMEN'IS
`
`European Pal. 011. .
`731994
`0607767A1
`Primary Examiner—Dwayne D. Bost
`Assistant Examiner—Nay Mating
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Bradley J. Bolsch
`57
`v ,
`..
`.
`I
`I
`AB“ RA”
`Asubscriber unit (101) includes a SIM card reader (107) for
`receiving a SIM card (105). The subscriber unit (101) is
`serialized and has stored therein an alphanumeric signature
`value which is associated with the specific serialized sub-
`scriber unit (101). The subscriber unit ( 10!) is fully operable
`only with a SIM card (105) having stored therein the specific
`signature value corresponding to the serialized subscriber
`unit (101). A user having a SIM card (105) containing the
`specific signature value for that subscriber unit can select a
`mode of user operation which will permit multiple selected
`SIM card holding users to use the subscriber unit.
`
`14 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`INSERT SDI CARD
`
`501
`
`
`
`IS SIM
`
`CARD I’VALID
`
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`USER SELECTS “USER PROFILE" MENU
`
`507
`
`NO ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`505
`
`PROMPT USER FOR PASSWORD
`
`USER ENTER PASSWORD
`
`511
`
` IS
`
`PASSWOR’P VALID
`
`YES
`
`N0 ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`513
`
`NO
`
`508
`
`509
`
`512
`
`514
`
`515
`
`517
`
`loflO
`
`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1022
`
`
`
`
`
`20f10
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 0f 5
`
`6,141,563
`
`\
`
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`103
`
`l—
`
`I
`
`|
`
`_I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`:
`:
`1
`|
`L ______________ .1
`
`
`MEMORY
`
`"8
`3111 CARD
`MEMORY
`READER
`
`
`5111
`CARD
`105
`
`w
`
`
`
`SU SIGNATURE VALUE
`SU SERIAL NUMBER
`
`302
`30’
`00000001
`87396736A ,
`
`
`
`
`303
`00000002
`17639754C
`304
`
`00000003
`98736514F
`
`305
`
`306
`
`
`USER MODE
`ALLOWABLE $111 LIST
`
`
`SINGLE
`3111 87839676A
`
`
`
`
`$111 87839676A
`
`
`
`
`
`MULTIPLE
`
`401
`
`403
`
`405
`
`3111 176397540
`SIM 98736514F
`
`401
`
`F10. 4
`
`3of10
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`6,141,563
`
`INSERT SIM CARD
`
`501
`
`
`
`
`
`IS SIM
`
`CARD VALID
`a
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`USER SELECIS "USER PROFILE" MENU
`
`507
`
`PROMPI USER FOR PASSWORD
`
`508
`
`USER ENTER PASSWORD
`
`509
`
`511
`
`IS
`
`PASSWORD VALID
`?
`
`
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY MENU
`
`512
`
`USER SELECTS "CHANGE PASSWORD"
`
`514
`
`USER CHANGES PASSWORD
`
`515
`
`USER EXIIS MENU
`
`517
`
`NO ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`505
`
`NO ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`513
`
`FIG. 5
`
`4of10
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 0f 5
`
`6,141,563
`
`INSERT SIN CARD
`
`501
`
`
`
` IS SIN
`CARD OVALID
`
`
`N0
`
`YES
`
`USER SELECTS "USER PROFILE'I MENU
`
`507
`
`PROMPT USER FOR PASSWORD
`
`508
`
`USER ENTER PASSWORD
`
`509
`
`511
`
`IS
`
`PASSWORD VALID
`9
`
`
`
`N0
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY MENU
`
`512
`
`USER "TOGGLE MODE" SELECTS
`
`514
`
`N0 ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`505
`
`N0 ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`513
`
`602
`
`
`IS
`
`USER A "PRIMARY USER"
`?
`
`
`
`N0
`
`N0 ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`604
`
`YES
`
`USER SELECTS USER MODE
`
`601
`
`USER EXITS MENU
`
`517
`
`FIG.
`
`6
`
`50f10
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`0a.31,2000
`
`Sheet 5 01's
`
`6,141,563
`
`INSERT SIN CARD
`
`501
`
`N0
`
`N0 ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`505
`
`
`IS SIN
`
`CARD VALID
`
`
`
`9 '
`
`YES
`
`USER saws "USER PROFILE" MENU
`
`507
`
`PROMPT USER FOR PASSWORD
`
`508
`
`USER ENTER PASSWORD
`
`509
`
`511
`
` IS
`
`PASSWORD VALID
`?
`
`N0
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY NENU
`
`512
`
`SELECT “EDIT ATHHORIZATION"
`
`701
`
`602
`
`IS
`USER A "PRIMARY USER"
`9
`
`
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`EDIT SIM SIGNATURE AND
`PASSWORD OF EACH USER TO BE
`ADDED/ DELETED
`
`703
`
`N0 ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`513
`
`N0 ACTION POSSIBLE
`
`604
`
`FIG.
`
`7
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`6of10
`
`
`
`6,141,563
`
`
`
`1
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`SIM CARD SECURED SUBSCRIBER UNIT
`
`
`
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
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`The present invention pertains to communication systems,
`
`
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`
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`in general, and to personal communication devices or sub-
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`scriber units used in such communications systems and of a
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`type utilizing a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM), in
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`particular.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
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`In radiotelephone systems such as the Global System for
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`
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`Mobile Communications (GSM) radiotelephone system in
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`use in Europe, a SIM card is inserted into a radiotelephone
`
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`for providing subscriber identification, billing information
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`and other information concerning the operation of the radio-
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`telephone. The SIM is a key component of the GSM and
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`typically comprises a card which is inserted into a GSM
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`phone in order to make the phone work.
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`In a typical cellular telephone communication system,
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`each subscriber unit is assigned a mobile subscriber identi-
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`
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`fication (MSI) which uniquely identifies the subscriber unit
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`from other subscriber units. In the European cellular com-
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`munication system, one such identifier is the international
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`mobile subscriber identification number (IMSI).
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`It is highly desirable to provide a personal communication
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`system which utilizes a personal telecommunications device
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`or subscriber unit which is operable in various available
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`telecommunications systems across all available cellular
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`frequencies and which is operable with satellite based com-
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`munication systems such as the Iridium based communica-
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`tions system from Motorola Inc
`
`
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`
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`In the present
`telecommunications environment, SIM
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`
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`cards are used to allow the SIM card holder to have access
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`to any telecommunications device such as a cellular tele-
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`phone which will receive the SIM card. The SIM card is
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`used primarily to provide a customer profile from which the
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`customer may be billed for usage of the telecommunications
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`network. Thus,
`the SIM card is used to authenticate or
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`authorize a user.
`
`
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`With the advent of subscriber units which are useable in
`
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`
`
`it
`satellite systems and across other systems as well,
`is
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`desirable to provide for limited use of subscriber units. In
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`certain circumstances it is desirable to allow a subscriber
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`unit to be used only by a single user. In other instances it is
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`desirable that a single user decides additional specific users
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`who are permitted to use the subscriber unit. By providing
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`these security features, the incidence of theft or misappro-
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`priation of subscriber units may be decreased.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`
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`The invention will be better understood from a reading of
`
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`the following detailed description in conjunction with the
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`drawing in which like reference designators are used to
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`designate like elements and in which:
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`FIG. 1 illustrates a subscriber unit in accordance with the
`
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`
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`invention;
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the subscriber unit of FIG.
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`1;
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`FIG. 3 is a translation table of serial numbers to signature
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`values;
`
`FIG. 4 is a table of user modes for the device of FIG. 1;
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`and
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`FIGS. 5 through 7 are flow charts illustrating the opera-
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`tion of the radiotelephone system of FIG. 1
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`70f10
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`2
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`
`The present invention associates each subscriber unit with
`
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`a preset and predetermined signature alphanumeric value.
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`The predetermined alphanumeric value is programmed into
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`the memory on a SIM card. The subscriber unit is thereafter
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`uniquely associated with the particular SIM card. Full oper-
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`ability subscriber unit can only occur if the particular SIM
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`card associated with the subscriber unit is used in conjunc-
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`tion with the subscriber unit. For purposes of clarity, the SIM
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`card containing the predetermined alphanumeric signature
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`value associated with a specific subscriber unit is referred to
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`as a primary SIM card for that subscriber unit.
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`In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a user
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`having a primary SIM card can access a menu in the
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`subscriber unit which permits the primary SIM card holder
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`to enter the signature values of other SIM cards authorized
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`to enable operation of the subscriber unit.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention a
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`subscriber unit is operable in a selectable single/multiple
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`user mode. When in the multiple user mode, the subscriber
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`unit will function with any SIM card which is formatted for
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`operation within the particular subscriber unit and which the
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`subscriber unit has been programmed with the predeter-
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`mined alphanumeric values programmed into the SIM cards.
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`Thus multiple users may use a single subscriber unit. When
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`in the single user mode, the subscriber unit will function
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`with the primary SIM card which is formatted for operation
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`within the particular subscriber unit. By providing these
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`modes of operation, a subscriber unit may be used for
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`commercial use while also providing for personal users of
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`the same type of subscriber units to prevent unauthorized
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`use of the subscriber unit. Additionally, single mode opera-
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`tion offers a form of theft deterrence for would be thieves of
`
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`subscriber units without SIM cards. A subscriber unit set up
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`in the single user mode is rendered useless without a proper
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`primary SIM card.
`
`
`
`US. Pat. Nos. 5,615,260; 5,257,414 and 5,444,764 all
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`issued to Motorola, Inc,
`the assignee of the present
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`invention, are incorporated herein by reference.
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`
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`FIG. 1 illustrates a subscriber unit in accordance with the
`
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`
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`principles of the invention. The subscriber unit of FIG. 1 is
`
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`a radiotelephone. Radiotelephones such as the one shown in
`
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`FIG.
`1 are also known as cellular telephones, personal
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`communication devices and subscriber units. It is intended
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`that the term “subscriber unit” as used herein encompasses
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`all such devices and equivalents thereof. It is also intended
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`that the term “subscriber unit” as used herein is not limited
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`to personal communication devices and subscriber units that
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`are wireless. A transceiver 103 transmits and receives radio
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`frequency (rf) signals to and from mobile and portable
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`subscriber units located within a geographic service area. In
`
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`the case where a conventional cellular telephone system is
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`the system being used,
`transceiver 103 is a fixed site
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`transceiver and the geographic service area is fixed as the
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`cell served by transceiver 103. In the instance of a satellite
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`type system, such as GSM or IridiumTM, transceiver 103
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`
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`may be a low earth orbiting satellite. Subscriber unit 101 is
`
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`one of a plurality of subscriber units served by transceiver
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`103. The rf signals transmitted between transceiver 103 and
`
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`subscriber unit 101 include data or voice signals, subscriber
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`identification and billing information. The billing informa-
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`tion sent from subscriber unit 101 to transceiver 103 is
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`
`stored in a memory contained on SIM card 105. SIM card
`
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`
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`105 can be a full size card such as shown in FIG. 1 or can
`
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`
`
`be a chip sized card. Subscriber unit 101 contains a card
`
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`reader which reads the subscriber billing information from
`
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`Ul
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`10
`
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`20
`
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`tom
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`mm
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`40
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`7 of 10
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`6,141,563
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`
`3
`
`SIM card 105. The card reader may be of a type described
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,260.
`
`
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`FIG. 2 illustrates the system of FIG. 1 with subscriber unit
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`101 shown in block diagram form. SIM card 105 may be
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`inserted into SIM card reader 107 contained within the
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`subscriber unit 101. A typical subscriber unit 101 includes a
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`transceiver portion comprising a
`transmitter 115 and a
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`receiver 113 both coupled to an antenna 111 to provide
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`communication to the transceiver 103. Subscriber unit 101
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`includes a controller or processor unit 117. Controller 117
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`includes a microprocessor, such as a commercially available
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`processor identified as an MC68332 which is available from
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`Motorola, Inc., and memory which includes a program
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`memory 119 and a random access memory 118. Memories
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`118 and 119 are shown as separate memory modules. It will
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`be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the memories
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`118 and 119 can be portions of a common memory. Program
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`memory 119 is non volatile memory which, for example, is
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`an EEPROM and includes operational programs for oper-
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`ating subscriber unit 101. Memory 118 is a random access
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`memory of the nonvolatile type. As will also be appreciated
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`by those skilled in the art, memory 118 can be any of a
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`number of commercially available memory types. Sub—
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`scriber unit 101 also includes a user interface 109. User
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`interface 109 is used to convey information between a user
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`and subscriber unit 101. In the illustrative embodiment of
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`the invention, user interface 109 includes a microphone, a
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`speaker, a data port, a display and a keypad none of which
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`is separately shown in the drawings for purposes of clarity.
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`As will be understood by those skilled in the art
`that
`the
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`display and keypad may be of any type used to input
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`information and the display may be any of the types avail-
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`able for use in subscriber units.
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`In rising subscriber unit 101, information inputted at user
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`interface 109 as voice and/or data signals may be processed
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`by controller 117. The processed signals are provided to
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`transmitter 115 which converts the information into rf sig-
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`nals or modulates rf signals with the processed information
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`for transmission via antenna 111 to transceiver 103. The rf
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`signals received at
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`extract the information which in the case of a cellular
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`telephone system is then transmitted over the terrestrial
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`based telephone network. In the case where the transceiver
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`103 is a satellite based transceiver, the rf signals will be
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`processed in accordance with the satellite system standards.
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`Similarly, receiver 113 receives signals from antenna 111
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`which were transmitted from transceiver 103. Controller 117
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`processes the signals and extracts voice and/or data from the
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`signals and provides the voice and/or data to user interface
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`109.
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`Subscriber unit 101 includes a “signature value” stored in
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`the memory 119 to uniquely identify the subscriber unit 101.
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`The signature value is assigned at
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`distributor subscriber unit. For purposes of this disclosure, it
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`is intended that
`the term “manufacturing” includes the
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`assigning of the signature value to the subscriber unit 101
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`and as explained below to a SIM card 105. The signature
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`value is stored in the subscriber unit 101 as an alphanumeric
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`identity which corresponds to a particular serial number for
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`a subscriber unit 101. This mode is referred to herein as
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`“open” mode 405 which allows any number to be dialed
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`whereby an emergency number may be dialed without a
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`SIM.
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`Turning to FIG. 3, an exemplary table of serial numbers
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`and the corresponding signature values are shown in tabular
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`form. The serial numbers 301, 303 and 305 are indicated in
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`the left column and the signature values 302, 304 and 306
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`Ul
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`10
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`20
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`tom
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`mm
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`40
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`80f10
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`4
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`corresponding to each serialized subscriber unit is indicated
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`in the right column. Of particular interest to the present
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`invention, for each subscriber unit 101 a SIM card 105 is
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`also programmed with the signature value corresponding to
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`that subscriber unit 101. For each subscriber unit 101 a
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`primary SIM card 105 having the corresponding signature
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`value is required in order for the subscriber unit 101 to be
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`made operable. Thus, associated with each serialized radio—
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`telephone there is a corresponding serialized SIM card 105
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`which acts as a key to enable operation of the subscriber unit
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`101. As shown in FIG. 3, there is a one to one correspon—
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`dence between the subscriber unit serial numbers and the
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`subscriber unit signature values. The signature values are
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`typically alphanumeric combinations, however,
`it will be
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`apparent that the signature values may be solely alphabetic
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`or numeric or may include specific characters. The term
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`“alphanumeric” as used herein is intended to include corri-
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`binations which are numeric only, or alphabetic only or
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`which include unique characters.
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`In accordance with the principles of the invention, a
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`subscriber unit may be operable in one or more modes. The
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`illustrative embodiment of the invention is operable in three
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`modes. The various modes of operability for a subscriber
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`unit are illustrated in FIG. 4. For a particular subscriber unit
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`corresponding to the subscriber unit having the serial num-
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`ber 301 listed on the first line of the table of FIG. 3 the
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`corresponding signature value 302 is preprogrammed into
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`the subscriber unit. The signature value 302 is also prepro—
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`grammed into a primary SIM card. Only if the primary SIM
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`card is inserted as SIM card 105 into the subscriber unit 101
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`of FIG. 1 will subscriber unit 101 be operable for any mode
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`of operation. The subscriber unit 101 is otherwise inoper-
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`able. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
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`subscriber unit can also be preprogrammed to permit access
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`to use Without any SIM card for emergency number calls
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`such as to emergency fire or police numbers. The forgoing
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`mode of operation is referred to herein as a “single” user
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`mode 401. Aprimary SIM card 105 enables a user to access
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`all modes of operation of subscriber unit 101.
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`A user with a primary SIM card 105 may program
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`subscriber unit 101 to be operated with multiple SIM cards
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`105. This is referred to herein as the “multiple” user mode
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`403. In the multiple user mode, the SIM card signature
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`values for other SIM cards 105 permitted to have use of the
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`subscriber unit 101 are entered into the subscriber unit 101.
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`Thus the signature values 402 of allowable SIM cards 105
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`are stored in the subscriber unit 101. In addition, a subscriber
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`unit 101 may be programmed to permit any valid SIM card
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`to be used to activate a subscriber unit 101 for a limited
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`number of user modes such as access to emergency tele-
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`phone numbers such as police or fire numbers. This mode is
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`referred to herein as the “open” mode 405.
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`FIG. 5 is a flow chart of operation of a subscriber unit 101
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`to change a password for accessing features of the subscriber
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`unit. A SIM card 105 is first inserted into the subscriber unit
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`101 as indicated at step 501. Subscriber unit 101 makes a
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`determination of whether SIM card 105 is valid or nor at step
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`503. The validity determination is made from information
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`stored on the SIM card 105. More specifically, the signature
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`value stored in the SIM card 105 is compared against the
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`signature value for a primary SIM card stored for the
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`subscriber unit and against a list of authorized signature
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`values also stored in memory 119 as shown in FIG. 2. If SIM
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`card 105 is not valid, no use of the subscriber unit 101 is
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`permitted and the subscriber unit 101 provides a display
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`indication that access to use of the subscriber unit 101 is
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`denied as indicated at 505. If SIM card 105 is valid, a menu
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`8 of 10
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`6,141,563
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`5
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`is displayed using the user interface 109 of the subscriber
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`unit as shown in FIG. 1. The user may select options from
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`the menu including the selection of a “user profile” selection
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`as indicated at step 507. The user profile selection option is
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`used to set specific user settings for the user. Examples of
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`such settings include ring options and volume, prepro-
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`grammed numbers and similar operational options for the
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`subscriber unit 101. The selection of the operational options
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`is stored in memory 118. Before these options can be
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`changed, subscriber unit 101 prompts the user for a pass-
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`word as indicated at step 508. The user must enter a
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`password as indicated at step 509. The password may be
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`alpha, numeric or alphanumeric depending upon the type
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`and capability of the subscriber unit. Subscriber unit 101
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`determines whether the password entered is valid or not at
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`step 511. If the password entered is not valid, no further
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`action is possible with the subscriber unit 101 as indicated
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`at step 513. If the password entered is a valid password for
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`the subscriber unit 101, a menu of operation choices is
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`displayed as indicated at step 512. The menu displayed
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`includes as one choice a “change password” option. If the
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`user selects the change password option as indicated at step
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`514, the user can then change the password as indicated in
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`step 515. The user can only change the password for the SIM
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`card 105 inserted in the subscriber unit 105. After changing
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`the password, the user exits the change password menu as
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`indicated at step 517. The use of password protection in the
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`unit is to provide a second level of security in the event, for
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`example, that the subscriber unit and matching SIM card are
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`stolen or lost. In addition, it is significant to note that in the
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`embodiment of the invention, a user can only change his or
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`her own password and cannot change the password of any
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`other authorized user. It is to be noted that the functionality
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`attributed above and below to the subscriber unit 101 is
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`provided by controller 117 utilizing programs and data
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`stored in the memories 118 and 119. It is to be noted that
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`each SIM card 105 includes a memory 1059 which stores the
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`subscriber value for the SIM card 105.
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`FIG. 6 is a flow chart of operation of the subscriber unit
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`101 for toggling the operation of the subscriber unit such
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`that it is changed from the single user to the multiple user
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`mode or vice versa. The operation is the same as set forth
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`above for steps 501 through 512. One of the menu choices
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`is to select the “toggle” mode. If the user selects the “toggle”
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`mode in step 514, the subscriber unit will determine if the
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`SIM card is a primary SIM card in step 602. If the SIM card
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`105 is not a primary SIM card 105 further access to menu
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`functions is denied in step 604. If the SIM card 105 is
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`determined to be a primary SIM card, then the toggle mode
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`menu item is entered into at step 601 and the user mode can
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`be toggled, When the user mode is toggled it is switched
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`from its present user mode which may be either one of the
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`single or multiple open mode to the other of the three modes.
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`Thus, a user having a primary SIM card 105 can determine
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`whether the subscriber unit 101 is to be useable only with the
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`primary SIM card 105 or is useable with other SIM cards.
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`FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the operation of editing the
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`subscriber unit 101 list of authorized SIM cards. Operation
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`of the subscriber unit 101 is the same for steps 501 through
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`512 as described with respect to FIG. 5. From the menu
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`displayed in step 512, the user selects the “edit authorized
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`users” mode in step 714. Prior to allowing the user to edit the
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`list of authorized SIM cards, the subscriber unit 101 will
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`determine whether the SIM card 105 is a primary SIM card
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`in step 602. If the SIM card 105 is not a primary SIM card,
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`further access is denied as indicated in step 604. If the SIM
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`card 105 is a primary SIM card, the user is permitted to edit
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`Ul
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`10
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`20
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`tom
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`mm
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`90f10
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`6
`the SIM signature value and password of each user to be
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`added or deleted from a list of authorized users in step 716.
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`After making the selections, the user exits the menu in step
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`517.
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`The invention has been described in terms of a specific
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`embodiment. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
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`that various modifications and changes may be made to the
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`illustrative embodiment of the invention without departing
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`from the spirit of scope of the invention. It is intended that
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`the invention not be limited by the embodiments shown and
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`described. It is intended that the invention be limited only by
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`the claims appended hereto.
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`What is claimed is:
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`1. A method of operating a subscriber unit having a
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`subscriber identification module SIM card reader, said
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`method comprising the steps of:
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`reading a first preprogrammed signature value from a
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`subscriber identification module (SIM) card;
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`comparing said first preprogrammed signature value to a
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`preprogrammed signature value stored in said sub—
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`scriber unit, said preprogrammed signature value being
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`singularly unique to said subscriber unit;
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`enabling communications functions of said subscriber
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`unit only if said preprogrammed signature value cor-
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`responds to said first preprogrammed signature value
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`prompting a user to enter a password;
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`comparing said password with a predetermined password
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`stored in said subscriber unit; and
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`enabling predetermined operational features of said sub-
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`scriber unit that were not otherwise accessible via a
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`proper SIM card only if said password matches said
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`predetermined password.
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`2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
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`said preprogrammed signature value is determined by a
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`provider of said subscriber unit.
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`3. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:
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`disabling said communication functions if said SIM card
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`is removed from said card reader.
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`4. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined
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`operational features includes selecting a mode of operation
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`for said subscriber unit.
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`5. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined
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`operational features includes changing said predetermined
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`password stored in said subscriber unit.
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`6. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined
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`operational features includes editing a list of authorized SIM
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`cards.
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`7. A subscriber unit useable with a subscriber identifica-
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`tion module (SIM) card, comprising:
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`a SIM card reader for receiving and reading information
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`stored on said SIM card;
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`a memory storing a specific predetermined signature
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`value, said specific predetermined signature value
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`being unique to said subscriber unit;
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`a controller for comparing a signature value stored on said
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`SIM card with said specific predetermined first signa—
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`ture value stored in said memory, said controller deny-
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`ing access to said subscriber unit if said SIM card
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`signature value does not match said specific predeter-
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`mined