Mobile terminal with encryption chip and related network locking/unlocking method

Abstract

A mobile terminal is provided with a network lock functionality for a network. The mobile terminal includes a subscriber identity module (SIM) slot configured to host a SIM card or an unlocking device, a control chip, an encryption chip, and a network locking module. The control chip is coupled to the SIM slot through a first interface, the encryption chip is coupled to the SIM slot through the first interface to communicate with a module inserted into the SIM slot, and the network locking module is coupled to the encryption chip through a second interface. Further, the network locking module is configured to perform the network lock functionality. The network locking module also has an “open” state supporting a network unlocking operational mode and a “close” state supporting a network locking operational mode. In addition, the encryption chip is configured to determine whether the module inserted into the SIM slot is the SIM card or the unlocking device and, when the encryption chip determines that the inserted module is not the unlock device, to set the “open” state or the “close” state of the network locking module to control the mobile terminal to enter in the network unlocking operational mode or the network locking operational mode, respectively.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.