Electronic apparatus and method of selectively applying security mode according to exceptional condition in mobile device

• US 10,085,151 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2018
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seungman Kim
• Original Assignee: Seungman Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Seungman
• Primary Examiner(s): Osifade, Idowu O
• Application Number:
  US15/984,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20180270663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 128 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile device includes a display unit to display a screen to set the mobile device in a security mode and an external network connection and an area condition as a safe zone in the security mode, a user interface to receive a user input to activate the mobile device, and a control unit to selectively apply the security mode according to whether the mobile device communicates the external network and whether the mobile device is in the area condition, and a method thereof.

Claims

1. A mobile device which is configured to photograph an object, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a user input, and configured to wirelessly communicate with an external network to transmit or receive a data signal;

a switch configured to change the mobile device from a power saving mode to a normal mode;

a display unit having a panel to display a photographing object; and

a control unit;

configured to set a password as a security mode and to set an exceptional condition as a safe zone of the security mode, wherein the exceptional condition comprises a wireless communication condition and an area condition;

configured to not display a screen on the display unit to receive the password, and to change the mobile device from the power saving mode to the normal mode without the password as the safe zone of the security mode when the mobile device is in the area condition and when the mobile device wirelessly communicates with the external network according to the wireless communication condition; and

configured to display the screen on the display unit to receive the password, and to change the mobile device from the power saving mode to the normal mode by receiving the password as a security check process of the security mode when the mobile device is not in the area condition or when the mobile device does not wirelessly communicate with the external network according to the wireless communication condition.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication condition of the exceptional condition comprises a wireless communication of the mobile device with the external network; and

the area condition comprises an area in which the mobile device is located.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the area condition is associated with the data signal of the external network.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the area condition comprises a home or an environment.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the area condition comprises an area defined by a line.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the area condition comprises a house location;

the control unit displays the screen when the mobile device is not in the house location; and

the control unit does not display the screen when the mobile device is in the house location and when the mobile device wirelessly communicates with the external network according to the wireless communication condition.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the external network comprises at least one network using a WIFI device, a wireless communication station, a carrier service station, a service provider, a wireless communication device, another mobile device, a home appliance, a vehicle, and a medical device.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a sensor to detect a motion of the mobile device or to detect a motion or image of a user.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the area condition is set after the password is set or input as the security mode.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether to display the screen or not when the mobile device is changed from the power saving mode to the normal mode after the exceptional condition is set.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the screen to perform the security check process of the security mode in response to an operation of the switch when a location of the mobile device does not match an area of the area condition or when the mobile device is not connected to the external network for wireless communication.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the control unit does not display the screen to skip the security check process of the security mode in response to an operation of the switch when a location of the mobile device matches an area of the area condition and when the mobile device is connected to the external network for wireless communication.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the display unit displays an unlock message section for an unlock operation according to an operation of the switch; and

the display unit does not display the screen in response to the unlock operation when a location of the mobile device is an area of the area condition and when the interface of the mobile device wirelessly communicates with the external network.

14. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the external network comprises a plurality of external devices; and

the control unit is configured to select a combination of the plurality of external devices to set the wireless communication condition of the exceptional condition.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication condition of the exceptional condition comprises a connection state of the external network for wireless communication.

16. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the screen to receive the password when the area condition is set or when the area condition is changed.

17. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication condition of the exceptional condition comprises a wireless communication method between the mobile device and the external network.

18. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the interface wirelessly communicates with a plurality of external networks; and

the control unit is configured to set a combination of the plurality of external networks as the wireless communication condition of the exceptional condition.

19. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the control unit is configured to select the external network as the wireless communication condition of the exceptional condition; and

the control unit does not display the screen on the display unit to receive the password, and to change the mobile device from the power saving mode to the normal mode without the password as the safe zone of the security mode when the mobile device is located at an area of the area condition or when the mobile device is connected to the selected external network.

20. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the control unit is configured to select an area as the area condition of the exceptional condition; and

the control unit does not display the screen on the display unit to receive the password, and to change the mobile device from the power saving mode to the normal mode without the password as the safe zone of the security mode when the mobile device is located at the selected area or when the mobile device is connected to the external network.