Vodafone Group Plc.

Vodafone Group, Plc. of Vodafone House

David Jeal

Charles William Debney

George Stronach Mudie

Stephen Paul Hughes

Patrick Douloubakas

George Mudie

Karl James Hewson

Anthony Jonathan Bedford

A computer, such as a Windows-based PC (), has associated with it a Subscriber Identity Module (or SIM) (), such as of the type used in a GSM cellular telephone system. The SIM () can be authenticated by the telephone network (), in the same way as for authenticating SIMs of telephone handset users in the network, and can in this way authenticate the user of the PC () or the PC () itself. Such authentication can, for example, permit use of the PC () in relation to a particular application () which is released to the PC () after the authentication is satisfactorily completed. The application may be released to the PC () by a third party after and in response to the satisfactory completion of the authentication process. A charge for the session can be debited to the user by the telecommunications network and then passed on to the third party.

User authentication in a mobile telecommunications system

A device or 'dongle' () is provided for controlling communications between a Subscriber Identity Module (or SIM) (), such as of the type used in a GSM cellular telephone system, and a computer, such as a WINDOWS&#xae; operating system-based PC (). The SIM () can be authenticated by the telephone network, in the same way as for authenticating SIMs of telephone handset users in the network, and can in this way authenticate the user of the PC () or the PC () itself. Such authentication can, for example, permit use of the PC () for a time-limited session in relation to a particular application which is released to the PC () after the authentication is satisfactorily completed. The application may be released to the PC () by a third party after and in response to the satisfactory completion of the authentication process. A charge for the session can be debited to the user by the telecommunications network and then passed on to the third party. The dongle () provides additional security for the authentication data stored on the SIM by requiring a PIN to be entered and/or by only being responsive to requests received from the PC () which are encrypted using a key, which requests are generated by a special PC interface driver (). The PIN may be stored only temporarily. The dongle () has an electrical connector (), and means may be provided for selectively rendering the connector () available for coupling to the PC ().

Facilitating and authenticating transactions through the use of a dongle interfacing a security card and a data processing apparatus

A device or 'dongle' () is provided for controlling communications between a Subscriber Identity Module (for SIM) (), such as of the type used in a GSM cellular telephone system, and a computer, such as a WINDOWS&#xae; operating system-based PC (). The SIM () can be authenticated by the telephone network, in the same way as for authenticating SIMs of telephone handset users in the network, and can in this way authenticate the user of the PC () or the PC () itself. Such authentication can, for example, permit the use of the PC () for a time-limited session in relation to a particular application, which is released to the PC (), after the authentication is satisfactorily completed. The application may be released to the PC () by a third party after and in response to the satisfactory completion of the authentication process. A charge for the session can be debited to the user by the telecommunications network and then passed on to the third party. The dongle () provides additional security for the authentication data stored on the SIM by requiring a PIN to be entered and/or by only being responsive to requests received from the PC () which are encrypted using a key, which requests are generated by a special PC interface driver ().

Device and method for authenticating a transaction with a data processing apparatus

Casing assembly for an electrical connector

Growing community of inventors

Marlborough, United Kingdom

David Jeal