Providing access to and enabling functionality of first device based on communication with second device

• US 10,306,443 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2015
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rivera, David, Wetsel, Peter Hamilton, Jakes, Philip John, Hebel, Daniel Justin, Laltrello, Joseph Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Brandon S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ambaye, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US14/842,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20150373543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 726 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In one aspect, a device includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive at least a first Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signal from a BLE beacon and enable a first function of the first device at least in part in based on receipt of the first BLE signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a container which provides a first level of electromagnetic isolation;

a network interface which is accessible from the container and which provides access to a network that extends beyond the electromagnetic isolation of the container;

a sensor which detects the presence of at least one device within the container; and

circuitry which automatically authenticates the device upon placement in the container and which provides to the device network access through the network interface in response to the sensor sensing the presence of the device, the device being different from the circuitry, the device established by one or more of;

a smartphone, a laptop computer, a convertible computer, a tablet computer;

wherein the apparatus allows Internet access for the device while the first level of electromagnetic isolation is in effect, and wherein the apparatus disallows cellular telephone communication for the device while the first level of electromagnetic isolation is in effect.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first level of electromagnetic isolation disallows frequencies from 380 megahertz to 2100 megahertz from penetrating the container and allows at least frequencies from 2400 megahertz to 5900 megahertz to penetrate the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery charger for wirelessly charging the device while the device is within the container.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second sensor which detects whether the container is open or closed, and wherein the container provides the first level of electromagnetic isolation responsive to a determination by the circuitry that the container is closed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second sensor which detects whether the container is open or closed, and wherein network access is provided in response to the second sensor detecting that the container has been electromagnetically isolated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is a first computer, and wherein the circuitry is controlled by a second computer to authenticate the first computer upon placement in the container, the second computer being different from the first computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is established by a smartphone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is established by a laptop computer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry provides a first level of access to the device within the container at another device outside the container, the first level of access pertaining to a first at least one file on the device within the container and/or a first at least one application on the device within the container, the first level of access not permitting access to a second at least one file on the device within the container that is different from the first at least one file and/or a second at least one application on the device within the container that is different from the first at least one application.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a container which provides a first level of electromagnetic isolation;

providing a network interface which is accessible from the container and which provides access to a network that extends beyond the electromagnetic isolation of the container;

providing a sensor which detects the presence of at least one device within the container; and

providing circuitry which automatically authenticates the device upon placement in the container and which provides to the device network access through the network interface in response to the sensor sensing the presence of the device, the device being different from the circuitry, the device established by one or more of;

a smartphone, a laptop computer, a convertible computer, a tablet computer, wherein Internet access is allowed for the device while the first level of electromagnetic isolation is in effect, and wherein cellular telephone communication is disallowed for the device while the first level of electromagnetic isolation is in effect.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first level of electromagnetic isolation disallows frequencies from 380 megahertz to 2100 megahertz from penetrating the container and allows at least frequencies from 2400 megahertz to 5900 megahertz to penetrate the container.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the circuitry provides a first level of access to the device within the container at another device outside the container, the first level of access pertaining to a first at least one file on the device within the container, the first level of access not permitting access to a second at least one file on the device within the container that is different from the first at least one file.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and wherein the method comprises:

providing a second sensor which detects whether the container is open or closed, the second sensor being different from the first sensor, wherein the container provides the first level of electromagnetic isolation responsive to a determination by the circuitry that the container is closed.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and wherein the method comprises:

providing a second sensor which detects whether the container is open or closed, the second sensor being different from the first sensor, wherein network access is provided in response to the second sensor detecting that the container has been electromagnetically isolated.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the circuitry provides a first level of access to the device within the container at another device outside the container, the first level of access pertaining to a first at least one application on the device within the container, the first level of access not permitting access to a second at least one application on the device within the container that is different from the first at least one application.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the device is established by one or more of:

a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

hardware circuitry which authenticates a first device upon placement in a container that provides a first level of electromagnetic isolation, the hardware circuitry providing to the first device network access through a network interface responsive to a sensor sensing the presence of the first device, the first device being different from the hardware circuitry, the first device established by one or more of;

a smartphone, a laptop computer, a convertible computer, a tablet computer;

wherein the hardware circuitry allows Internet access for the first device while the first level of electromagnetic isolation is in effect, and wherein the hardware circuitry disallows cellular telephone communication for the first device while the first level of electromagnetic isolation is in effect.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hardware circuitry provides a first level of access to the first device within the container at a second device outside the container, the first level of access pertaining to a first at least one application on the first device within the container, the first level of access not permitting access to a second at least one application on the first device within the container that is different from the first at least one application.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hardware circuitry provides network access to the first device responsive to the container being electromagnetically isolated.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hardware circuitry provides a first level of access to the first device within the container at a second device outside the container, the first level of access pertaining to a first at least one file on the first device within the container, the first level of access not permitting access to a second at least one file on the first device within the container that is different from the first at least one file.