Method and apparatus for supporting self-destruction function in baseband modem

A method and an apparatus for supporting a self-destruction function in a baseband modem are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a self-destruction method and apparatus in which a self-impossible state is autonomously entered if the baseband modem of a receiving terminal which supports mobile communication is necessary. Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for deleting information stored in memory when a command is received over a mobile communication network in which a baseband modem has been constructed and then entering a self-impossible state so that the terminal is not recovered although it is booted up again.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for supporting a self-destruction function in a baseband modem.

BACKGROUND

With the development of mobile communication technology, a user stores various pieces of information in a terminal and manages the pieces of information. Accordingly, if the terminal is lost, problems attributable to personal information distribution and the reuse of the terminal may occur.

In order to solve the problems, if a user sends a specific command to a lost terminal through a base station, the lost terminal autonomously deletes data stored in the lost terminal's flash memory in order to protect the user's personal information. Although the data stored in the flash memory is deleted, all chips included in the terminal may not be made in a fully impossible state because all the functions of the chips remain intact. If the functions of chips remain intact, a finder who picks up a lost terminal may recover the lost terminal because the lost terminal may be booted up and resell/reuse the lost terminal. In order to prevent such a problem, there is a need for technology in which chips are made in a fully impossible state in some cases.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a self-destruction method and apparatus in which a self-impossible state is autonomously entered if the baseband modem of a receiving terminal which supports mobile communication is necessary.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for deleting information stored in memory when a command is received over a mobile communication network in which a baseband modem has been constructed and then entering a self-impossible state so that the terminal is not recovered although it is booted up again.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a self-destruction method of a baseband modem is provided. The method includes sending a request for supplying power to a self-destruction unit to a power management unit when a command for performing the self-destruction is received from a base station and controlling the self-destruction unit to output a signal corresponding to a specific bit value. The signal output by the self-destruction unit is used to block a clock supplied from a TCXO to the baseband modem through a logical operation with a signal output by the TCXO.

An apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes a baseband modem configured to support self-destruction, a power management unit configured to supply power to the baseband modem, and a TCXO configured to supply a clock to the baseband modem. The baseband modem includes a self-destruction unit configured to output a signal corresponding to a specific bit value for blocking the clock through a logical operation with a signal output by the TCXO and a control unit configured to send a request for supplying power to the self-destruction unit to the power management unit when a command for performing the self-destruction is received from a base station and to control the self-destruction unit to output a signal corresponding to a specific bit value.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described in association with a terminal. The terminal may also be named as a mobile, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, a user device, or User Equipment (UE). The terminal may be a cellular phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device having a wireless access ability, a computing device. Alternatively another processing device connected to a wireless modem.

It is to be noted that technical terms used in this specification are used to describe only specific various embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the technical terms used in this specification should be construed as having meanings that are commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains unless especially defined as different meanings in this specification and should not be construed as having excessively comprehensive meanings or excessively reduced meanings.

Furthermore, an expression of the singular number used in this specification includes an expression of the plural number unless clearly defined otherwise in the context. In this specification, terms, such as “comprise” and “include”, should not be construed as essentially including several elements or several steps described in the specification.

Hereinafter, some various embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in describing the various embodiments of the present disclosure, a detailed description of known functions or constructions related to the present disclosure will be omitted if it is deemed that such description would make the gist of the present disclosure unnecessarily vague. Furthermore, terms to be described later are defined by taking the functions of various embodiments of the present disclosure into consideration, and may be different according to the operator's intention or usage. Accordingly, the terms should be defined based on the overall contents of the specification.

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing the structure of a known apparatus including a baseband modem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, a known apparatus100is configured to include a baseband modem110. The baseband modem110may also be named as a baseband processor. The baseband modem110may perform a function for controlling the voice and data communication of the apparatus100and perform major functions for input and output between the apparatus100and a user using operation/control functions.

A control unit111manages an overall operation by controlling the elements of the baseband modem110. An Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C)112controls the supply of power by controlling a device external to the baseband modem110, for example, a Power Management IC (PMIC)120under the control of the control unit111. A Phase-Locked Loop (PLL)113is a frequency synthesizer and is configured to operate as a control loop for continuously supplying an output signal having the same phase and size as an input signal. The PLL113receives a source clock from an external Temperature-Compensated crystal Oscillator (TCXO)130and provides the control unit111with a clock having a specific cycle. The control unit111may perform a normal operation in response to power supplied by the PMIC120via the I2C112and a clock supplied by the TCXO130via the PLL113.

The PMIC120supplies required power to each of the elements of the apparatus100. The PMIC120may have a function for managing a total amount of power consumed by the apparatus100depending on implementations.

The TCXO130operates as a source for supplying a frequency for the apparatus100. The TCXO130supplies a reference frequency and a source clock to the baseband modem110and RF unit150of the apparatus100. The TCXO130may adopt temperature compensation techniques of various methods in order to prevent the deterioration of characteristics of the apparatus100that is attributable to a temperature change and a change in the frequency of other surrounding environments while the apparatus100operates.

A memory unit140may store data (e.g., an Operation System (OS) that enables the apparatus100to be booted up) for the apparatus100. In various embodiments, the memory unit140may be provided separately from the baseband modem110as shown inFIG. 1or may be provided within the baseband modem110. Alternatively, the memory unit140may be provided both inside and outside the baseband modem110. The memory unit140may include at least one of a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk, but is not limited thereto.

The RF unit150performs data communication with the outside of the apparatus100under the control of the control unit110. The RF unit150may perform data communication with, for example, a base station. The RF unit150may modulate an external signal into a signal of a low frequency band (i.e., a baseband) that may be processed by the baseband modem110or may modulate a signal of a low frequency, processed by the baseband modem110, into a signal of a high frequency and send the signal of a high frequency.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing the structure of an apparatus including a baseband modem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 2, an apparatus200in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to include a baseband modem210. The baseband modem210is configured to include a control unit211, an I2C212, and a PLL213.

The control unit211manages an overall operation by controlling the elements of the baseband modem210. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a self-destruction command is received from a base station through a HUNT character218, the control unit211may request a PMIC220to supply power to an eFuse cell215by controlling the I2C212. Furthermore, the control unit211may control an eFuse writer214so that a specific bit of the eFuse cell215is set to a bit value for controlling the baseband modem210in a self-destruction state. The control unit211may manage and delete data stored in a memory unit240by controlling a Static Memory Controller (SMC)217. A more detailed operation of the control unit211is described later.

The I2C212controls the supply of power by controlling a device external to the baseband modem210, for example, the PMIC220under the control of the control unit212. The PLL213is a frequency synthesizer and is configured to operate as a control loop for continuously supplying an output signal having the same phase as an input signal. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the PLL213receives a signal from an eFuse logic circuit216as a source clock and supplies the control unit211with a clock having a specific cycle. The control unit211may perform a normal operation in response to power supplied by the PMIC220via the I2C212and a clock supplied by the TCXO230via the PLL213. The baseband modem210in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to include the eFuse writer214and the eFuse cell215.

The eFuse writer214sets a specific bit, stored in the eFuse cell215, to a bit value for controlling the baseband modem210in a self-destruction state under the control of the control unit211. In one embodiment, when a signal for controlling the self-destruction state is received from the control unit211, the eFuse writer214may set a specific bit of the eFuse cell215as ‘1’. The bit value for controlling the baseband modem210in the self-destruction state may be previously set by the manufacturer of the apparatus200and may be, for example, a binary value of 1 bit, such as ‘1’. The specific bit value set in the eFuse cell215is a one-off value and thus may not be externally changed after it is set.

The eFuse cell215externally outputs a specific bit value set by the eFuse writer214. In one embodiment, if a specific bit value of the eFuse cell215is set as ‘1’ by the eFuse writer214, the eFuse cell215may output a signal corresponding to the bit value ‘1’.

The signal output by the eFuse cell215is input to a first AND gate216afor receiving a signal output by the eFuse cell215and a signal output by an eFuse ENA260as its input. The first AND gate216aperforms an AND operation based on the signal output by the eFuse cell215and the signal output by the eFuse ENA260and outputs a signal corresponding to a result of the operation. The signal output by the first AND gate216ais input to a NOT gate216b. The NOT gate216binverts the input signal and outputs an inverted signal. The inverted signal output by the NOT gate216bis input to a second AND gate216cfor receiving the signal output by the NOT gate216band a signal output by the TCXO230as its input. The second AND gate216cperforms an AND operation based on the signal output by the NOT gate216band the signal output by the TCXO230and outputs a signal corresponding to a result of the operation. The signal output by the second AND gate213cis supplied to the PLL213, thus acting as a clock for the control unit211.

The eFuse cell215may be supplied with power from the PMIC220. To this end, the control unit211may control the PMIC220through the I2C212so that the PMIC220supplies power to the eFuse cell215. The PMIC220may additionally include an LDO_eFuse221for supplying power to the eFuse cell215.

The baseband modem210in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to further include the SMC217and the HUNT character218.

The SMC217operates as an interface for controlling the memory unit240provided inside or outside the baseband modem210. In various embodiments, if an additional interface for controlling the memory unit240is not necessary, the SMC217may be omitted. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the SMC217may perform control for deleting data stored in the memory unit240under the control of the control unit211.

The HUNT character218performs a function for detecting a self-destruction command received through an RF unit250and sending the self-destruction command to the control unit211. When the self-destruction command is received from a base station through the RF unit250, the HUNT character218may detect the self-destruction command and send the self-destruction command to the control unit211in an interrupt form. In various embodiments, if the control unit211directly detects the self-destruction command, the HUNT character218may be omitted.

The PMIC220supplies required power to each of the elements of the apparatus200. The PMIC220may control the supply of power in response to a command from the control unit211that is received through the I2C212.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the PMIC220may be configured to include the LDO_eFuse221for supplying power to the eFuse cell215. When a command that supplies power to the eFuse cell215is received from the control unit211through the I2C212, the PMIC220supplies power to the eFuse cell215through the LDO_eFuse221.

The TCXO230operates as a source for supplying a frequency for the apparatus200. The TCXO230supplies a reference frequency and a source clock to the baseband modem210and RF unit250of the apparatus100. The TCXO230may adopt temperature compensation techniques of various methods in order to prevent the deterioration of characteristics of the apparatus100that is attributable to a temperature change and a change in the frequency of other surrounding environments while the apparatus100operates.

The memory unit240may store data (e.g., an OS that enables the apparatus200to be booted up) for the apparatus200. In various embodiments, the memory unit240may be provided separately from the baseband modem210as shown inFIG. 2or may be provided within the baseband modem210. Alternatively, the memory unit240may be provided both inside and outside the baseband modem210. The memory unit240may include at least one of a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk.

The RF unit250performs data communication with the outside of the apparatus200under the control of the control unit210. The RF unit250may perform data communication with, for example, a base station. The RF unit250may modulate an external signal into a signal of a low frequency band (i.e., a baseband) that may be processed by the baseband modem210or may modulate a signal of a low frequency, processed by the baseband modem210, into a signal of a high frequency and send the signal of a high frequency.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the RF unit250may receive various control commands, for example, the self-destruction command from a base station, modulate the control command into a signal of a low frequency band that may be processed by the baseband modem210, and send the signal of a low frequency band to the control unit211.

The baseband modem210in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured to further include an eFuse ENA260. The eFuse ENA260performs a function for turning on or off whether or not to supply a self-destruction function to the apparatus200. The turn-on or -off function for determining whether or not to supply the self-destruction function may be determined in response to a user's input to the apparatus200or a message received from a base station.

In order to control the turn-on or -off function, the eFuse ENA260outputs a signal to the first AND gate216aconnected to the eFuse cell215. When the turn-on or -off function for determining whether or not to supply the self-destruction function is determined to be on by the apparatus200, the eFuse ENA260receives a pull-up signal. When the pull-up signal is received, the eFuse ENA260outputs a signal corresponding to the same value set to be identical with a value output by the eFuse cell215when the self-destruction command is executed. Accordingly, the self-destruction function in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may be performed because the first AND gate216aoutputs a signal corresponding to the same value as that output by the eFuse cell215through the AND operation. In contrast, when the turn-on or -off function for determining whether or not to supply the self-destruction function is determined to be off by the apparatus200, the eFuse ENA260does not receive the pull-up signal. In such a case, when the self-destruction function is performed, the eFuse ENA260outputs a signal corresponding to a value different from a value set to be output by the eFuse cell215. Accordingly, the self-destruction function in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may not be performed because the first AND gate216aoutputs a signal corresponding to a value different from a value output by the eFuse cell215through the AND operation.

In various embodiments, if the function for turning on or off the self-destruction function is not provided, the eFuse ENA260may be omitted.

In a state in which the self-destruction function has been controlled so that it has been on and the pull-up signal has been send to the eFuse ENA260, when the self-destruction command is received from a base station, the control unit211controls the I2C212so that power is supplied from the LDO_eFuse221to the eFuse cell215. If a value for controlling the baseband modem210so that it enters the self-destruction state is set as ‘1’, the control unit211controls the eFuse writer214so that it outputs a signal corresponding to ‘1’ to the eFuse cell215. ‘1’ output by the eFuse cell215and ‘1’ output by the eFuse ENA260are input to the first AND gate216a, and the first AND gate216aoutputs a signal corresponding to ‘1’ based on a result of its AND operation. The NOT gate216breceives ‘1’ and outputs a signal corresponding to an inverted signal of ‘0’. The TCXO230outputs a clock signal, such as ‘101010, . . . ,’ in order to provide a periodic clock. The second AND gate216cperforms an AND operation based on ‘0’ output by the NOT gate216band the clock signal ‘101010, . . . ,’ output by the TCXO230. In this case, the second AND gate216coutputs the signal ‘0’ because the NOT gate216bcontinues to output the signal ‘0’. The PLL213sends the signal ‘0’, output by the second AND gate216c, to the control unit211. As a result, the periodic clock signal send by the TCXO230is blocked, and thus the control unit211to which the clock signal is not provided, does not normally operate. In accordance with the aforementioned operation, a value set in the eFuse cell215may not be changed in response to external input, and the control unit211to which a clock is not provided may not perform a normal operation. Accordingly, the baseband modem210becomes the self-destruction state.

In various embodiments, in order to implement the baseband modem210, elements including the eFuse logic circuit216may be replaced with other elements or a different structure or may be omitted. For example, if the same results as those of the aforementioned bit operation may be provided, the first AND gate216aand the second AND gate216cmay be replaced with an OR gate or an XOR gate. Alternatively, if the same results as those of the aforementioned bit operation may be provided, the NOT gate216bmay be omitted. To this end, for example, the structure of an apparatus including a baseband modem in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail below with reference toFIG. 4.

A method in which the apparatus200including the baseband modem210in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure performs the self-destruction function of the baseband modem is described below with reference to FIG.3.

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a method of supporting the self-destruction function of the baseband modem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 3, the method of supporting the self-destruction function in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is started by supplying the pull-up signal to the eFuse ENA at operation301.

The apparatus200controls the self-destruction function of the baseband modem210so that the self-destruction function is in the turn-on state. If the self-destruction function of the baseband modem210is controlled so that it is in the turn-off state, the self-destruction function to be described later may not be performed. The function for turning on or off the self-destruction function may be determined in response to a user's input or a message received from a base station.

If the self-destruction function of the baseband modem210is controlled so that it is in the turn-on state, the pull-up signal is sent to the eFuse ENA260through the control unit211of the apparatus200. When the pull-up signal is received, the eFuse ENA260outputs a signal corresponding to the same value as that set so that the value is output by the eFuse cell215when performing the self-destruction function. For example, the eFuse cell215may output a signal corresponding to ‘1’.

The control unit211determines whether or not the self-destruction command has been received from a base station at operation303.

The RF unit250performs data communication with the base station, modulates the signal, received from the base station, into a signal of a baseband, and sends the signal of the baseband to the HUNT character218. The HUNT character218determines whether or not the self-destruction command has been received from the base station based on the received signal. If, as a result of the determination, it is determined that the self-destruction command has been received, the HUNT character218sends the self-destruction command to the control unit211in an interrupt form.

The self-destruction command may be sent from the base station to the apparatus200in a situation in which the self-destruction function is necessary owing to a reason, such as a loss of the apparatus200. The self-destruction command is a term for denoting the signal sent from the base station to the apparatus200and is only an example. The self-destruction command may also be named as an emasculation command or an impossible-state entry command. Furthermore, the self-destruction command may be transmitted through an existing message format or a newly defined message format. The self-destruction command may be transmitted over a public network or the private network of a service provider which provides network service to the apparatus200. A format, a method, etc. in which the self-destruction command is sent are not specially limited.

When the self-destruction command is received, the control unit211may delete data stored in the memory unit depending on an embodiment of the present disclosure at operation305.

The control unit211sends a command for deleting data stored in the memory unit to the SMC217. The SMC217initializes the memory unit or sends a command for deleting data stored in the memory unit so that all the data stored in the memory unit is deleted.

Thereafter, the control unit211performs control so that power is supplied to the eFuse cell215through the I2C212at operation307. The control unit211controls the I2C212so that the I2C212sends a request for the supply of power to the eFuse cell215to the PMIC220. The I2C212requests the supply of power to the eFuse cell215from the PMIC220under the control of the control unit211, and the PMIC220controls the LDO_eFuse so that power is supplied to the eFuse cell215.

Furthermore, the control unit211performs control so that a specific bit for the self-destruction function is set in the eFuse cell215through the eFuse writer at operation309. The control unit211controls the eFuse writer so that it writes the specific bit for the self-destruction function in the eFuse cell215. For example, the control unit211may control the eFuse writer so that it writes a value of ‘1’ in the eFuse cell215.

When power is supplied to the eFuse cell215and a signal corresponding to the value set in the eFuse cell215is output according to the aforementioned control, a clock supplied to the control unit211is blocked through the eFuse logic circuit. As a result, the clock is not supplied to the control unit211according to the aforementioned operation, and thus the control unit211enters the self-destruction state because it does not perform a normal operation.

For example, when the eFuse cell215outputs a signal corresponding to ‘1’ and the eFuse ENA260outputs a signal corresponding to ‘1’, the first AND gate216aoutputs a signal corresponding to ‘1’ through its AND operation. The NOT gate216breceives the signal corresponding to ‘1’ from the first AND gate216aand outputs a signal corresponding to ‘0’, that is, an inverted signal. The second AND gate216cperforms an AND operation based on a periodic clock signal ‘101010, . . . ,’ output by the TCXO230and the signal output by the NOT gate216band continues to output a signal corresponding to ‘0’. The PLL receives the signal from the second AND gate216cand sends the received signal to the control unit211. The control unit211does not perform a normal operation because it is supplied with a signal corresponding to ‘0’ not a clock signal, thus entering the self-destruction state.

FIG. 4is a block diagram showing the structure of an apparatus including a baseband modem according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 4, an apparatus400is configured to include a baseband modem410in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The baseband modem410is configured to include a control unit411, an I2C412, and a PLL213. A detailed operation of the control unit411, the I2C412, and the PLL213is the same as that described with reference toFIG. 2.

The baseband modem410in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to include a self-destruction unit414and a self-destruction logic circuit unit415.

The self-destruction unit414may correspond to the eFuse writer214and the eFuse cell215in the embodiment ofFIG. 2. The self-destruction unit414outputs a signal corresponding to a specific bit that blocks a clock supplied to the PLL413through a specific logical operation with a signal output by a TCXO430through a self-destruction logic circuit unit415. The specific bit that blocks the clock may be determined depending on a construction of the self-destruction logic circuit unit415. Alternatively, the specific bit that blocks the clock may be determined may be previously set when fabricating the apparatus400. If the self-destruction unit414and the self-destruction logic415correspond to the eFuse writer214, the eFuse cell215, and the eFuse logic circuit216ofFIG. 2, the specific bit that blocks the clock may be ‘1’.

The self-destruction logic circuit unit415may include a specific logic circuit for blocking the clock supplied to the PLL413through a logical operation of a signal output by the self-destruction unit414and a clock signal output by the TCXO430. The self-destruction logic circuit unit415may correspond to the eFuse logic circuit216in the embodiment ofFIG. 2.

The self-destruction unit414and the self-destruction logic circuit unit415may be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

The apparatus400may be configured to include the TCXO430, a memory unit440, and an RF unit450, which have been described in detail with reference toFIG. 2.

In accordance with the self-destruction method and apparatus of the baseband modem according to the various embodiments of the present disclosure, information within a specific terminal is deleted and the baseband modem is made in a recovery-impossible state in response to a command transmitted over an existing communication network when the terminal is lost or in an urgent situation. Accordingly, an attempt to information spill and the reuse or resell of a terminal may be blocked.

Those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will appreciate that the present disclosure may be implemented in other detailed forms without departing from the technical spirit or essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the aforementioned various embodiments should be constructed as being only illustrative not as being restrictive from all aspects.