Privacy protection in a server

• US 20040192268A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pyhalammi, Seppo
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215

Abstract

A resource controller may store a plurality of files or other data that are at least partially accessible by one or more users in a network. The user may operate a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone and/or personal digital assistant, to call or otherwise contact the resource controller. The mobile device and/or a communications network may send identification information to the resource controller that identifies the mobile device and distinguishes it from other mobile devices. Based on the identification information, the resource controller may grant or deny access to files. The resource controller may further provide the user with the appropriate user ID and/or password based on the identification information. The user may then enter the user ID and/or password to gain access to files stored at the resource controller.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to files, comprising:

receiving caller ID information from a mobile device over a first communication link; and

determining whether a file may be at least partially accessed by the mobile device over a second communication link based on the caller ID information.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of transferring at least part of the file to the mobile device if the file may be accessed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the file includes an image.

4. The method of claim 1, further including maintaining association data that associates identification information with access rights of at least one user, the step of determining including determining based on a comparison of the association data and the caller ID information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the association data comprises user ID information, password information, caller ID information, and accessibility information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication link is established via a cellular telephone network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication link is a short-range wireless communication link.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the short-range wireless communication link is a BLUETOOTH link.

9. A method for providing access to files, comprising:

receiving information identifying a mobile device over a first network;

based on the information identifying the mobile device, providing the mobile device a password over the first network;

receiving the password over a second network; and

providing access to files based on the password.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first network comprises a cellular telephone network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second network comprises a short-range wireless network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second network comprises a BLUETOOTH network.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone and the information identifying the mobile device comprises caller ID information for the cellular telephone.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a first wireless interface configured to communicate with a mobile device over a first wireless communication link;

a second wireless interface configured to communicate with the mobile device over a second wireless communication link;

a storage device storing association data that associates access rights with corresponding identification information; and

a processor coupled to the first and second wireless interfaces and the storage device and configured to receive from the first wireless interface information identifying the mobile device, compare the received information identifying the mobile device with the stored association data, and provide access to at least part of a file via the second wireless interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication link is a cellular telephone link and the second wireless communication link is a short-range wireless link.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the short-range wireless link is a BLUETOOTH link.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to provide access to the at least part of the file via the second wireless interface based on a comparison of the received information identifying the mobile device and the stored association data.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the file includes an image.

19. A system, comprising:

a mobile device configured to communicate over first and second communication links, and to send identification information over the first communication link;

a resource controller configured to communicate with the mobile device over the first and second communication links;

a storage device storing association data that associates access rights with corresponding identification information; and

means for determining whether the mobile device has access to at least part of a file based on the association data and the identification information and the identification information,

the resource controller further configured to provide the at least part of the file to the mobile device over the second communication link.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first communication link includes a cellular telephone network and the second communication link includes a short-range wireless link.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the short-range wireless link is a BLUETOOTH link.